The Unofficial Underground Comix thread... 14 14

[OtherEric]

On 4/10/2024 at 4:50 PM, 50 Cent #II (1st) said:

It’s being reported that Trina Robbins has passed away.

https://www.newsfromme.com/2024/04/10/trina-robbins-r-i-p/

Just a legendary creator, and one of my favorite underground artists.  I'll try and get some covers scanned later tonight.

 

[Darwination]

She was a real counter-balance to "the boys" of the UG comix, and I mean that in a good way.

A hell of a historian, too.  I was just looking at The Brinkley Girls today, a gorgeous book, and she helped shine some light on other strip and comics artists from the 20s through the golden age like Lily Renee as well as other types of history in her own comics.

Absolutely one of a kind. R.I.P., Trina.

 

Edited April 11 by Darwination

[OtherEric]

[Darwination]

[Jayman]

Designed one of the most iconic costumes in comic history. RIP

[50 Cent #II (1st)]

I don’t know if it’s common knowledge, but Trina Robbins (used to be known as Trina Petit) and Heidi Saha were inspirations to Vampirella.

I don’t know how she felt about that though as I have been informed she would not answer questions regarding Forrest Ackerman in interviews.

Edited April 11 by 50 Cent #II (1st)

[Darwination]

As the kids would say, "cringe."

I was looking through some Trina stuff last night and did think about the fashion/design aspect for a minute.  Her bio at the end of Swift Comics (a bantam paperback where the page I posted above comes from that gave Deich, Spiegelman, Trina, and Allan Shenker each a quarter of the comic) mentions her having a boutique:

The clothing design angle reminded me of California Girls in the 80s on Eclipse (which there was a thread about the other day because of, um, the Eclipse).  What a great label that was.  I think of it as an 80s take on Patsy Walker or the golden age teen comics with the dolls and designs that you could cut out.   Teen comics aren't really my thing, but I did think it was really cool how Trina included designs from readers and also encouraged young girls to draw and do their own comics.  I know this isn't very "underground," but it is very indy/DIY - not to mention very 80s Anyways, just very cool in getting young girls involved in art and design and making their own comics.

From issue 1

 

In issue 2

You can tell from all the different names in California Girls that she touched and engaged a lot of people with this approach.

Edited April 11 by Darwination

[The humble Watcher lurking]

On 4/11/2024 at 12:27 PM, Darwination said:

As the kids would say, "cringe."

I was looking through some Trina stuff last night and did think about the fashion/design aspect for a minute.  Her bio at the end of Swift Comics (a bantam paperback where the page I posted above comes from that gave Deich, Spiegelman, Trina, and Allan Shenker each a quarter of the comic) mentions her having a boutique:

The clothing design angle reminded me of California Girls in the 80s on Eclipse (which there was a thread about the other day because of, um, the Eclipse).  What a great label that was.  I think of it as an 80s take on Patsy Walker or the golden age teen comics with the dolls and designs that you could cut out.   Teen comics aren't really my thing, but I did think it was really cool how Trina included designs from readers and also encouraged young girls to draw and do their own comics.  I know this isn't very "underground" but it is very indy/DIY - not to mention very 80s Anyways, just very cool in getting young girls involved in art and design and making their own comics.

From issue 1

 

In issue 2

You can tell from all the different names in California Girls that she touched and engaged a lot of people with this approach.

Nice post. Love her art. I met her at a con in New England. She came off to me as a very kind woman.

[Axe Elf]

OMG She engaged with underage girls??

[comixbible]

Trina appeared in a handful of adult magazines back in the '60s. She made the front cover of the November 1961 issue of Vue.

[Darwination]

Fantastic, you don't happen to know which others do you?

 

[Robot Man]

BIG loss to the medium and especially the UG movement. A wonderful lady who was a true champion to many forgotton and lost to time women creators. A heck of a nice lady as well.

RIP Trina! 

[Darwination]

On 4/11/2024 at 12:26 PM, comixbible said:

Trina appeared in a handful of adult magazines back in the '60s. She made the front cover of the November 1961 issue of Vue.

There's some debate amongst the comic scanners whether this one's actually Trina or not, just based on the photo, but I am in fact finding reference to the fact she used the last names of Perlson then Castillo as well as Petit, so that would seem to back it up. Also appearances in Caper, Rogue, and Dude as well as possibly Man's Thrills. Did find a few photos of Trina Castillo on eBay as well, still totally unsure if they are one in the same.  Looks like her fashion designs, though?

 

Also a list of possible love conquests for Miss Trina would include Jim Morrison (trophy) and Harlan Ellison (not a trophy lmao).

Btw, no disrespect at all intended by sharing photos and gossip of a young Trina.  Hopefully when I die people dig out the pictures of me all young and studly

I did find one of Trina and Forry c.1960, Forry be creepin'

Edited April 12 by Darwination

[comixbible]

On 4/12/2024 at 1:43 PM, Darwination said:

There's some debate amongst the comic scanners whether this one's actually Trina or not, just based on the photo, but I am in fact finding reference to the fact she used the last names of Perlson then Castillo as well as Petit, so that would seem to back it up. Also appearances in Caper, Rogue, and Dude as well as possibly Man's Thrills. Did find a few photos of Trina Castillo on eBay as well, still totally unsure if they are one in the same.  Looks like her fashion designs, though?

 

Also a list of possible love conquests for Miss Trina would include Jim Morrison (trophy) and Harlan Ellison (not a trophy lmao).

Btw, no disrespect at all intended by sharing photos and gossip of a young Trina.  Hopefully when I die people dig out the pictures of me all young and studly

I did find one of Trina and Forry c.1960, Forry be creepin'

Everything considered, I feel confident that it's her. Perhaps those people disputing it, or some of them, don't want it to be her. I also don't think you need to apologize, or explain yourself, for posting any of the above. I digress.

She also posed for, or had some of her shoots appear in, Man to Man, Rogue, Sir Knight, and South Sea Stories. There may be others, but I'd have to go back and look through my email threads and research from many years ago.

[Darwination]

A fun little article she wrote on her relationship with Harlan Ellison

[OtherEric]

In today.  This gives me the complete run of Slow Death, 1-11 and Zero.  It's really one of my favorite undergrounds titles, very much drawing on the EC tradition:

[wpbooks01]

I hate to harp and be THAT guy, but it's really not a complete run without this missing tidbit, at least to my OCD on the matter!

 

Oh wait....maybe I can sneak this one by?

 

[OtherEric]

On 4/13/2024 at 5:30 PM, wpbooks01 said:

I hate to harp and be THAT guy, but it's really not a complete run without this missing tidbit, at least to my OCD on the matter!

 

Oh wait....maybe I can sneak this one by?

 

It's on the "keep an eye out for this" list, to be sure.

[Jayman]

Or the second print of issue 1…

First print

[OtherEric]

On 4/13/2024 at 8:11 PM, Jayman said:

Or the second print of issue 1…

First print

What I have is the 2nd print, actually.  Would like to get a 1st, I think it looks better.