Crumb: A Cartoonist's Life

Crumb: A Cartoonist's Life is a well written, frank, and overall balanced biography of R. Crumb written and curated by Dan Nadel. Released 15th April 2025 by Simon & Schuster on their Scribner imprint, it's 480 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. 

Crumb, apart from his iconic contributions to fundamentally change the landscape of comic/narrative art, is an interesting oddball and this is an unflinching biography. It's not a soft sell at all, the author relates his difficult childhood, violent/distraught home life, nerdy (bordering on creepy) personality, and sexual kinks. (As such, although factual in recitation and not prurient or sensationalist, it might not be appropriate for children or sensitive readers). 

The biography format is chronological, setting the subject's early life, growing up in a home prone to instability and violence, depression, mental health, and leaving home. It's very often poignant, and every success comes with intense struggle and setbacks. The author has a knack of remaining academically rigorous and factual, whilst conveying the pathos and frustration of Crumb's life. 

Although it's very well annotated and supported throughout, the language is layman accessible and the whole is readable and easily understandable by non-academics. The links and resources are comprehensive and will provide many hours of further reading. About 25% of the book's page count are facsimiles of Crumb's art.

Four and a half stars. Recommended unreservedly to readers of biography, comics, graphic arts, nonfiction, etc. It would make an excellent choice for public library acquisition, home readers, and potentially as a support text for related instruction (comics history, graphic literature, modern American lit, etc).

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.