Drew Friedman Explores The Underground

About this episode

John Siuntres interviews Drew Friedman about the underground comix movement and its impact on comics.

On this episode, I sit down with Drew Friedman for a deep dive into the wild, rebellious world of the underground comix movement of the 1960s and 70s. It's all covered in his Fantagraphics book Maverix and Lunatix: Icons of Underground Comix We talk about the artists who broke all the rules Figures like R. Crumb, Vaughn Bode, and Trina Robbins , and how their raw, unfiltered storytelling reshaped comics into something far more personal, political, and subversive. Drew shares firsthand insights into that era’s lasting influence and how it informed his own unmistakable style. From his early collaborations with his brother Josh Alan Friedman to his breakout work in publications like RAW and National Lampoon, we track the evolution of his career and the obsessive detail behind his signature caricatures. We also get into his celebrated portrait work, including books like Old Jewish Comedians and his tributes to pop culture legends, where Drew blends satire, reverence, and razor-sharp draftsmanship. It’s a conversation about craft, counterculture, and the artists who refused to play it safe, and in the process, changed comics forever.

People in this episode

Host: John Siuntres

Guest: Drew Friedman

Topics covered

• underground comix
• 1960s
• 1970s
• artistic influence
• comics history
• satire
• counterculture

Keywords

• underground comix
• Drew Friedman
• R. Crumb
• comics history
• satire
• artistic influence
• 1960s
• 1970s

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Fantagraphics

Books & works: Maverix and Lunatix: Icons of Underground Comix, RAW, National Lampoon, Old Jewish Comedians

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