The Complete Crumb Comics
The Complete Crumb Comics is a series of collections from Fantagraphics Books which was intended to reproduce the entire body of American cartoonist and comic book artist/writer Robert Crumb's comics work in chronological order, beginning with his fanzine work from as early as 1958.
While the series was intended to be complete, there is some material missing.
Its publication is considered to have brought more serious attention to Crumb's oeuvre, and was one of the earliest attempts to collect a cartoonist's full body of work. The series lasted 17 volumes and was published up until 2005. After this, Crumb's work was to be collected in individually titled collections, and not be part of the official numbered series.
Volumes
All volumes have been published at some point in both softcover and hardcover editions. Two box sets have also been produced, collected Volumes #1-5 and #6-10, with a slip case and signed plate, limited to 400 sets each.The first two volumes contain material going back as far as Crumb's teenage years, from before he had had his comics professionally published. Some consider this material to be non-essential, and that it would be better for a newcomer to start with later volumes.
| Vol | Year | Title | Period | ISBN | Notes |
| 1 | Oct 1987 | The Early Years of Bitter Struggle | 1958–1962 | Introduction by Marty Pahls Expanded in 2012 | |
| 2 | May 1988 | Some More Early Years of Bitter Struggle | 1959–1964 | Introduction by Marty Pahls | |
| 3 | 1988 | Starring Fritz the Cat | 1960-1966 | 1989 Harvey Award for Best Domestic Reprint Project Introduction by Marty Pahls | |
| 4 | Dec 1988 | Mr. Sixties! | 1966–1967 | Reproduces Zap Comix #0 and #1, as well as Crumb's contributions to the underground newspaper Yarrowstalks | |
| 5 | 1990 | Happy Hippy Comix | 1967–1969 | Reprints stories from East Village Other, Zap #2-3, Bijou Funnies #1, Motor City Comics # 1, and other publications | |
| 6 | 1990 | On the Crest of a Wave | 1969–1970 | Reprints stories from Big Ass #1, Zap #4, Snatch #3, Jiz #1, Despair, and Motor City #2. Also includes 16-page color section 1991 Harvey Award for Best Domestic Reprint Project Includes the notoriously X-rated Joe Blow | |
| 7 | 1991 | Hot 'n' Heavy | 1970–1971 | 1992 Harvey Award for Best Domestic Reprint Project | |
| 8 | 1992 | Featuring the Death of Fritz the Cat | 1971–1972 | ||
| 9 | 1992 | R. Crumb versus the Sisterhood | 1972–1973 | Introduction by Crumb Features work from XYZ Comics Zap #6, Tales from the Leather Nun, and others; as well as collaborations with Harvey Pekar, and illustrations from the 1972 cookbook Eat It, written by Crumb's ex-wife Dana. | |
| 10 | 1994 | Crumb Advocates Violent Overthrow | 1973–1975 | 1995 Harvey Award for Best Domestic Reprint Project | |
| 11 | 1995 | MR. NATURAL COMMITTED TO A MENTAL INSTITUTION!!! | 1975–1977 | 1996 Eisner Award for Best Archival Collection; 1996 Harvey Award for Best Domestic Reprint Project | |
| 12 | 1996 | We're Livin' in the "Lap o' Luxury"! | 1976–1979 | ||
| 13 | 1998 | The Season of the Snoid | 1976–1980 | ||
| 14 | 2001 | The Early 1980s and Weirdo Magazine | c. 1981–1983 | earliest Weirdo comics | |
| 15 | 2001 | Featuring Mode O'Day and her Pals | 1983–1985 | Introduction by Peter Bagge | |
| 16 | 2002 | The Mid-1980s: More Years of Valiant Struggle | 1985–1987 | ||
| 17 | 2005 | Cave Wimp, Mode O'Day, Aline 'N' Bob, R. Crumb Goes to the Academy Awards | 1988–1992 |