Bukowski, Charles; Schultheiss, Matthias

A Couple of Winos

Seattle, WA: Fantagraphics Books, 1991. First Edition, First Printing. Stapled Wrappers. "The guy didn't have much of a face, | he didn't have much of anything. | But sometimes small people who | stay in the same place for a long | time achieve minor prestige and | power. He had the truck and he | was hiring. Sometimes you have | to go along with that." (excerpt, A Couple of Winos," panel 18). Published in 1991 by Fantagraphics Books out of Seattle, WA, "A Couple of Winos" (Debritto D35, pg. 485) tells the tale of two desperate men as they get through a week of arduous work with little reward. German graphic novelist Matthias Schultheiss (b. 1946) does an excellent job illustrating this short story from Charles Bukowski’s (1920-1994) South of No North: Stories of the Buried Life, published in 1973 by Black Sparrow Press. In the comic scene, Schultheisss has a similar status as Bukowski in literature. His artwork shows the world in all its depravity, yet he is able to find beauty in dirt like no other. The panels are cold and simple, adhering to the overall desperation in the story. Fantagraphics Books is an American publisher of alternative comics, classic comic strip anthologies, manga, magazines, graphic novels, and the erotic "Eros Comix" imprint. Founded in 1976 by Gary Groth (b. 1954) and Michael Catron (b. 1954) in College Park, Maryland, with a permanent move to Seattle, WA in 1989, Fantagraphics is still publishing today. A Couple of Winos is evocative of Bukowski at his most successful, when he was one of the premier short story writers still at the top of his talent. The oddness of the subject matter can be explained by the fact that Bukowski's early lack of popularity in the U.S. meant that he wasn't being published in mainstream magazines. Instead, he was part of the mimeograph revolution in letters of the 1960s, appearing in mimeographed poetry magazines or chapbooks during the decade, including a magazine he himself published with San Francisco Renaissance poet and eventual biographer Neeli Cherkovski (1945-2024), "Laugh Literary and Man the Humping Guns" from 1969 to 1971. With contemporary ads and subscription page. See our vast Bukowski collection, including Item No.s 7102, 8310, 8314 et al. for more. Comic Book in Stapled Wrappers: presumed first edition/ first-&-only printing with no references to further printings at copyright-contents page (inner front cover). A most collectible and unique Bukowski/Schultheiss production in its rarest contemporary form. In relatively fine-to-very fine condition with mild rubbing, age-toning and creasing to front, back covers & spine; a bit of wear & some tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same; residual price sticker residue at bottom left corner of front cover near spine, one minute enclosed tear to center fine edge of back cover; mild age-toning to text block. Interior fine-to-very fine with mild age-toning to most page leaves; at top right corner of title page, a previous owner has signed their name in black felt-tip marker. Fine-Very Fine. [Item #8357]

Price: $40.00