'Hyman Glick' (Tits & Clits #2).
Lyn Chevli was a pioneer in underground comix as the creator and publisher of the first fully professional feminist comic book Tits & Clits (1972), together with Joyce Farmer. This was also the second feminist underground comix book after 'It Ain't Me, Babe' (1971). Chevli and Farmer further wrote comic history with 'Abortion Eve' (1973), the first comic book to deal with abortion from a didactic viewpoint.
Early life and career
Chevli was born in 1931 as Marilyn Keith in Connecticut, but was later mainly known under her married name Lyn Chevli. She has also worked under the pen name Chin Lyvely, and she is often referred to as Lyn Chevely, although she has never used this alternate spelling of her name. Chevli graduated with a bachelor's degree in art from Skidmore College, and was initially making silver jewelry and bronze sculptures with a welding torch. She moved to California in the early 1960s. With her then husband Dennis Madison, she ran the bookstore Fahrenheit 451 Books in Lagnuna Beach from 1968 to 1972. The store regularly got into legal battles with the City of Laguna Beach for selling obscene literature, including underground comix by Robert Crumb.
'Fonda Peters' Vaginal Drip' (Tits & Clits #1).
Tits & Clits / Abortion Eve
The anarchic nature of underground comix like Zap Comix inspired her to create similar books, but from a feminist viewpoint. She teamed up with local artist Joyce Farmer, with whom she began Nanny Goat Productions. The first issue of Tits & Clits hit the bookstores in July 1972. It was the first in its genre, followed after a few weeks by Wimmen's Comix. Chevli and Farmer were also active as pregnancy counselors at Laguna's Free Clinic. This work inspired them for the creation of 'Abortion Eve' (1973), an educational comic book about the medical aspects of an abortion and the emotional stress of an unwanted pregnancy.
'The End of the World' (Tits & Clits #1).
The publication of Tits & Clits wasn't without controversy. The rather bold title kept it from being reviewed in mainstream magazines. The authors also faced the prospect of being arrested for publishing and distributing pornography. Their second comic book was therefore published under the title Pandoras Box Comix, although Tits & Clits returned in 1976. A total of seven issues was published until 1987. The first two issues were created solely by Chevli and Farmer. From the third issue on, other authors joined, such as Dot Bucher, Roberta Gregory, Ruth Lynn, Trina Robbins, Shelby Sampson, Chris Powers, Jennifer Malik, Michelle Jurris, Paula Gray, Miriam Flambe, Rocky Trout, Terry Richards, Beverly Hilliard and Sharon Rudahl. Chevli dropped most of her drawing activities after three issues, and then focused on writing and editing. By then, the title was published by Last Gasp.
Later career and death
From the 1980s on, Chevli was mainly active as a writer. She made her debut with 'Alida' (1981), an erotic book for women. She also wrote for The Blade, a local magazine for the gay community, and other publications. Lynn Chevli passed away on 8 October 2016, at the age of 84.
