Love that bunch – Kominsky
Aline Kominsky stands as a trailblazer in the world of alternative comics, known for her distinctive voice and unapologetic exploration of feminist themes. Her work, particularly the groundbreaking “Love That Bunch,” serves as a testament to her ability to intertwine humor, raw vulnerability, and social commentary within the pages of graphic storytelling.
Aline Kominsky, Women are funny too!
Born in 1948, Aline Kominsky-Crumb (her married name) emerged as a prominent figure in the underground comix movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Her unique perspective and willingness to address taboo subjects set her apart in a male-dominated industry. Collaborating with her husband, cartoonist Robert Crumb, Aline gained recognition for her bold narratives that challenged societal norms.
“Love That Bunch”
“Love That Bunch,” a collection of autobiographical comics by Aline Kominsky, provides an intimate look into her life, thoughts, and experiences. Through her unfiltered storytelling, Kominsky dismantles the traditional expectations of women in both society and the comic industry. The narrative is a candid exploration of womanhood, relationships, and the challenges of navigating a world that often attempts to confine women to predetermined roles.
Much of this comic includes very unappealing and conventionally unattractive and distasteful styles of illustrations for the women. This is purposeful as it conveys both an exaggerated in your face humor and poking fun at oneself.
“Love that Bunch” is unapologetically raw and gritty narratives that laid bare the innermost thoughts and desires of a woman navigating the tumultuous landscape of the 1960s. Unconcerned with self-flattery, Kominsky-Crumb fearlessly transformed her darkest secrets and deepest insecurities into groundbreaking stories.
Her comix alter ego, Bunch, an exaggerated representation of herself, emerges as self-destructive and grotesque, yet brimming with the self-deprecating humor and honesty characteristic of a cartoonist confidently steering the narrative she wishes to convey.
The collection, “Love That Bunch,” spanning from the 1970s to the present day, remains remarkably prescient while authentically encapsulating the essence of its era.
As one of the most renowned and idiosyncratic cartoonists of our era, Kominsky-Crumb takes readers on a journey through her evolution—from a Beatles-loving fangirl and an East Village groupie to an adult grappling with her childhood and a 1980s housewife and mother. The narrative unfolds further with a new thirty-page story, “Dream House,” providing a retrospective lens on her childhood four decades later.
“Love That Bunch” stands as Kominsky-Crumb’s sole solo-authored book in print, originally published in 1990. This expanded edition, following her trajectory to the present, includes an insightful afterword by the esteemed comics scholar Hillary Chute.
