Robert Crumb's Book Of Genesis (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
R. Crumb's artwork as usual, paying so much attention to detail, character's expressions, light and composition. Some chapters get (quite) a bit tedious, as when listing the extensive family tree of early patriarchs, but hey! this is the Genesis book! There is a nice addendum at the end providing research notes and explanations on why and where the author chose specific interpretations, so all in all it feels like Mr. Crumb made his homework. Finally, one could expect some irreverent posture from such an underground culture author. Far from it, my feeling is that he paid special attention to treat this ancient and sacred book with the respect it deserves. This book is fantastic.The Bible is weird shit and Genesis is the cream of the weirdness.R. Crumb's art has the perfect earthy and primitive vibe for the subject matter (not that his art is actually primitive, but it gives a very visceral sense of early civilization), but is packed with details and pathos. Developed from a great translation of the book of Genesis by Robert Alter, Crumb's direct approach of illustrating the various chapters lets the strangeness and inconsistencies of the work stand on their own. In a commentary at the end of the book, Crumb includes some thoughts about the inconsistencies and the sordid behavior of God's chosen through reference to historical scholarship on the Bible and the civilizations mentioned therein.This book is the perfect way to read the first book of the Bible. I think as a kind of ur-narrative it is of crucial importance, but I think by letting the words stand on their own it also points out how much of the work has been repurposed to justify the actions of founders of Western faith. I just wish Crumb would do Exodus as well.
What do You think about Robert Crumb's Book Of Genesis (2009)?
Found this at the Jewish Museum bookstore in Manhattan. R. Crumb is amazing.
—erenik
I loved it. Interesting amateur feminist analysis at the end was fun too.
—soccer
Who can imagine the Bible by R. Crumb! A fun read.
—Boop
