10 Comics That Broke All The Rules

Ask anyone about the world of underground comix in the 1960s, and one name above all would be spoken. Robert Crumb began working on his particular style of comics in the 1960s as a founder of Zap Comix, the first widely successful underground comix publisher.

Crumb's work was driven, largely in response to the limitations placed on the mainstream in 1954, and his analysis of the counterculture movement resonated with people looking for something out of the ordinary. His books contained overt sexual themes, which included everything from anthropomorphic animal sex to scatological pornography — clearly not within the confines of the so-called "rules."

Crumb worked tirelessly through the 1960s to the 1990s with numerous countercultural icons solidifying themselves in comic book history. He's best known for creating Keep on Truckin', Fritz the Cat, Mr. Natural, and Weirdo, which ran from 1981 until 1993.

Crumb's work morphed from countercultural analysis to more autobiographical fare as it progressed, and in 1991, he was recognized for his contributions to the medium. Crumb was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame.

Few comics illustrated by Crumb throughout his career could be considered even remotely appropriate for the mainstream, so his entire career stands as a testament to not following the established rules of the comic book industry.