The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb

From an R. Crumb fan

I came to R. Crumb later in life as I was too young to see Fritz the Cat and Mr. Natural (my favorite). I saw a documentary on his life and became interested in his unique story.

"The Book of Genesis Illustrated" is a great example of his work. The meticulous effort that went in to create it is impressive in its scope and attention to detail. I have never had any interest in the Bible whatsoever, but have come to understand why the lessons in this book have become such powerful influences on world culture and our common sense of morality.

The emotion Crumb is able to convey through his illustrations turns the book of Genesis into both a heartfelt and dynamic story. The analysis by biblical scholars provided as footnotes are also helpful in clarifying some of the often mysterious aspects of the text.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

An engaging way to read the first book of the bible

I've been surprised by how meaningful and down to earth R. Crumb has made the Book of Genesis.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb

In a way Crumb has been doing biblical stories all along and that he has now completed the book of Genesis it all seems to come together. The confused, conflicted and frequently brutal characters of the bible go perfectly with Crumb's style. More than any reverent illustrator, Crumb has brought some human reality to the characters of Genesis although Crumb is sometimes baffled by the way they act and the strange inconsistencies of the stories. His footnotes will help you along with understanding the historical origins these stories came from. Here's to hoping that he can somehow get to more books.

A Bible for Atheists!

As a lifelong atheist (74 years old) I can't help but applaud Crumb's take on Genesis. It's brillaint and actually fun to read. It accuately captures the word and the total sillyness of this influencial and destructive tome Crumb's illustrations combine with the actual old testements' words to place this work in the correct genre it justly deserves-the comics! Highly recommended for a fun read. Not to be taken seriously!

Illustrated, comic-book style, Genesis

The drawings, the visual comic-book narrative, are excellent, as one would expect from a masrter such as Crumb. The choice to use the whole text of Genesis, without editing, makes this version more valuable than just on account of the powerful and magnificent drawings. The commentary at the end is, however, amateurish and worthless, finding publication and massive circulation only because it piggy-back rides on the drawn version of Genesis. Crumb is not only not a biblical scholar, he does not even have the research know-how required for a sophomoric start at it. The result is an anachronistic, agenda-driven text. Fortunately, it is all at the end and can be ignored.

An Incredible Achievement

Anyone who has any interest in the Old Testament Bible should own this work. R. Crumb, his reputation notwithstanding, has made the Book of Genesis come to life in a way I would not have thought possible. Almost word-for-word, largely based on the King James version, nothing left out, nothing added. His artistic license is held in firm check--this is not a parody or an insult to your beliefs, folks. If anything, it shows the good with the bad, the exciting with the mundane, exactly as written. The overall artwork is stunning, and every person from Adam and Eve to Joseph and his brothers are presented as unique, real, believable individuals. God appears as the Old Testament, "Charlton Heston" portrayal most of us grew up with. I expect there will be people who will be very uncomfortable with this portrayal, but there will be little or no basis for criticism. Scenes involving violence and sex are featured in a matter-of-fact manner. Where there are contradictions, Crumb has presented a very useful appendix to explain them (and the sources for his interpretation), as well as frequent (but not disruptive)asides as to where the origin of a name or term may have likely originated. In short, a magnificent, respectful, unbiased, and scholarly work by an alleged non-believer. A very worthwhile investment. I'm hoping that he will continue with the project as long as possible.

Book of Genesis

This book is very good. The pictures are very good. One word of caution is that some of the pictures would not be suitable for young children due tot he graphic nature of some of the drawings. Overall a different tool to explain Genesis to children compared to reading straight from the bible.

How to get them to actually read Genesis

I bought this book as a collectors item, (1st printing, hardcover, R Crumb! yes!). However when I received it I found myself drawn by the illustrations into the actual text. Crumbs, anabashedly, realistic depictions of events make the text much more compelling than the sanitized illustrations that I remember from Sunday School in my youth.
A good addition to anyone's permanent library.

Sunday School Seems Brighter....

While the subject matter is debatable mythology, The artwork brings a different perspective to the minds eye. This was my Xmas gift to friends and family last year. Most remember R Crumb from the Zap Comix & Mr. Natural Hippy era. Although the art work is the same, all dialog is word for word the King James dogma. The church y folks were taken aback expecting a prank, until they read passages. Quiet disorientation soon afterwards. I can imagine those that read Zap Comix expecting some S.Clay Wilson style chapters. Sunday school will never be the same.

An Artist's Challenge

Shaking us out of conventional thinking is one of the important things an artist can do. R. Crumb has done just that with his illustrations for the Book of Genesis. He has applied his well-known style and mannerisms to sacred text, but only after a probing personal investigation into its meaning. This apostle of the '60s approaches Genesis with utter seriousness, and his illustrations offer a remarkable commentary. One of the unexpected benefits of Crumb's approach comes with the genealogies. Each person named in these lists receives an individual portrait, reminding us that every individual is significant, even those of whom we know no more than their names. Crumb's work is challenging and brave, and it will surely spark discussion.

A must for biblical scholars or underground comix fans

The headline says it all. There has never before been a book which brings these two elements together. With Robert Alter's superlative translation and Crumb's honest illustration this is a wonderful addition to almost any library.

A masterpiece of the cartoonist's art

R Crumb illustrates The Book of Genesis, following the excellent Alter translation (with a few understandable exceptions that he explains in his introduction and notes.) I would say "faithfully following," except that Crumb makes it clear that he is treating Genesis with the reverence that it is owed as a piece of world literature rather than as the revealed word of God. His style -- detailed, messy, human -- meshes wonderfully with the text. The people look as if they could have been living in the harsh world of ancient times -- or in the Garden of Eden, as appropriate -- rather than as if they were snatched from a shopping mall and dressed in funny outfits. The women in particular are substantial, while appropriately sensual. And Crumb learned how to evoke the world of Biblical times by showing his first drafts to people educated in the subject and amending. All in all an immense labor, and a wonderful book.

Somewhat dismayed

I found the concept interesting, to say the least. However, I find the execution of the project to be racist and anti-Semitic. The characters are drawn with all the stereotypical racism portrayed for centuries by the most vile anti-Semites. Yet the reason for my dismay is that a publisher like Norton would market this kind of product. Ugh!

0 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

R. Crumb should do this for the whole Bible!

R. Crumb should do this for the whole Bible. If he did maybe there would be a revitalized movement to understand and read the Bible. His drawings and attention to detail are amazing. But then what else would you expect for R. Crumb?

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