Bosko #1
"America's Least Favorite Cartoon Character"
Punk Comics By John Holmstrom
By Wayne
(SugarBuzz New York City)
In the years leading up to the advent of Punk Rock I learned a healthy disrespect for any form of authority, how to flip a blazing bird to Society and it’s decomposing institutions, occasionally from the more extreme representatives of R&R in those early 1970’s years such as The New York Dolls and Alice Cooper, but even moreso from Mad Magazine and especially Comics, most notably the Underground Comix scene of the late 60’s and early 70’s led by Robert Crumb.
So it was a pivotal event of my life when I came upon someone selling copies of PUNK Magazine #2 at a 1976 Patti Smith concert in Westchester, NY. In addition to helping to give title to the new music scene going on Downtown, PUNK featured lots of comics, hand-lettering that was a direct connection to the underground comix scene before, and all the gut-level humor and a healthy ‘fuck you’ attitude that was essential to fertilize the music scene going on in the clubs as well as to my own survival. For me PUNK Magazine was something simultaneously familiar and completely new at the same time.
PUNK Magazine was the brainchild of John Holmstrom who along with help from an extensive community of writers, artists and photographers who included Lester Bangs, Bob Gruen, Legs McNeil, Roberta Bayley and way too many more to list here. It lasted for 17 issues (an 18th was never printed, rejected by the printer for being “too offensive”) and every one is a collector’s item. During those formative years of punk Holmstrom’s extensive resume included traveling with The Sex Pistols on their 1978 U.S. tour while working on the greatest Punk Rock Documnentary ever “D.O.A.“, and he was closely aligned with The Ramones helping to create two of the greatest album covers ever, penning the cartoons on the inner sleeve and rear of ‘Rocket To Russia’ as well as the front cover artwork for ‘Road To Ruin’
The original PUNK Magazines may not have made John Holmstrom a rich man, though they do great for others doing increasingly lucrative business on Ebay. Speaking for myself I could never part with mine which along with KICKS plus a few issues of Bomp are the only magazines I’ll save forever. Come to think of it I will probably choose to be buried with them.
PUNK Magazine’s demise was followed by two more of the coolest Zines ever published, STOP and Comical Funnies both of which gave initial exposure to cartoonists like Peter Bagge, Drew Friedman, J.D. King, once again too many to list who would form the backbone of the Alternative Comics scene of the 80’s and 90’s. Yet after a long run of doing it mostly for love Holmstrom began Publishing High Times (as well as compiling the monthly ‘Hemp 100’) and in the process brought lots of punk rock and comics to that magazine while giving it a fresh face throughout much of the 90‘s.
Apart from having published a one-off issue of PUNK (#0, still available for cost) back in 2001 Holmstrom was finally called back to action, enticed to pick up his pen again to join an illustrious roster of artists chosen to honor his friends The Ramones, contributing one of the coolest stories to appear in an extensive Ramones Comic collection which accompanied Rhino’s ‘Weird Tales Of The Ramones’ box set.
Holmstrom’s contribution, one of the very best out of many great ones, apparently renewed his passion to create comics as he immediately set to work on Bosko #1, the first true Punk Rock Comic! There were few people more excited than myself about the prospect of this one yet my fan-boy anticipation didn’t equal how sensational it actually turned out. A collection of mostly Bosko stories including both new and vintage material, this ups the ante by adding a glossy, Full Color printing to what is traditionally a Black & White medium.
Bosko is described as “America’s Least Favorite Cartoon Character” and I like to think there‘s a little Bosko in every one of us. Our hero is seen here drinking too much, puking, fighting, getting thrown out of clubs and the ever-popular waking up next to a crazed stranger. Plus there’s a brilliant story on the joys of tuning into the sounds of the street, true life tales of debauchery ‘back in the day’ and a full color “FUCK YOU” centerfold, so be sure to buy an extra copy so you can pull one out and pin it up on your wall or front door. Guaranteed to make those Jehovah’s Witnesses go directly to your neighbor’s door!
The neat hand-lettering and clean uncluttered lines are like a massage to the old globes particularly compared to most any of today’s reading challenges such as your average CD booklet, and further proof is included with ‘10 Reasons Why A Comic Book Is Better Than A Comics Website!’ but we won’t go there for now. This is Rated TS for ‘The Shit’ (or TT for ‘The Tits‘ if you prefer), it’s something special and a long time coming for anyone to put out a comic that is as ‘Punk As Fuck’ as any band. Make no mistake about it Comics are as much a part of the R&R Experience as are Cars, Sex and the Music itself so head on over and pick up Bosko #1 while they’re still available.
Surely even the most pathetic punk among us can afford the $4.95 cover price and for those of you who aren’t too broke there are some amazing Limited Edition prints available as well. Yet the best news of all is that a new one-off issue of the legendary PUNK Magazine is presently in the works. For now we’re lucky to have Bosko #1 which is not only the perfect accompaniment to your favorite CD but coincidentally makes great toilet reading and I’ve been studying it’s apparent stool-loosening properties so Use With Caution!
