The Complete Crumb Comics #17

In "The Adventures of 'Wichita' the Rat Dancer," Wichita finds herself caught in a surreal web of desire and discomfort when Dave’s peculiar fetishes disrupt their intimacy. Meanwhile, Brice and Tanya navigate the oddities of Max’s restaurant, while John and his wife attempt to spark passion in a scene that blurs the line between romance and performance. Across the story’s quirky vignettes, a soap opera plays on, adding layers of irony to the tangled dynamics between the characters.

In this wry, satirical slice of prehistoric life, Cave Wimp—ever the reluctant outsider—stumbles into unexpected favor among the alpha males of his clan, all thanks to a moment of accidental brilliance. As Gub, Mog, and Grek navigate the shifting tides of tribal politics, one small man’s misstep might just change everything—temporarily, of course.

In "Rotten to the Core," the Checkered Demon and Coochy Cooty navigate a surreal, jam-packed journey toward a mythical "Zap #12" show in New York City, where the air hums with chaotic energy and every step feels like a step deeper into the absurd. With a cameo from Jimmy Durante, the story unfolds in a fever-dream collage of style and nonsense, where the line between performance and madness blurs.

In "A Short History of America," a quiet grassland evolves through time into a bustling commercial street, capturing the changing face of the American landscape with Crumb’s signature blend of irony and observation. The story concludes with an epilogue that presents three possible futures for the same stretch of land, leaving the outcome open to imagination.