Back of It Ain't Me, by Willy Mendes 1970
Back cover of It Aint, Me, Babe. 

Willy Mendes started her career in underground comix when she joined Trina Robbins and Nancy Kalish on Gothic Blimp Works, a comic tabloid published by underground newspaper the East Village Other. Inspired, Robbins and Mendes worked together on the all-women comic book 'It Ain't Me, Babe', in 1970. Apart from her and Robbins, other artists who published in It Ain't Me, Babe were Nancy Burton, Lisa Lyons, Carole, Michele Robinson and Meredith Kurtzman (daughter of Harvey Kurtzman). 

Oma, in It Ain't Me Babe, by Willy Mendes 1970
'Oma', It Ain't Me, Babe, 1970. 

Mendes published 'Illuminations' in 1971, which included some of her psychedelic work. Eventually, Willy Mendes, changing her name to Barbara Mendes, moved away from comics to painting. She is still running her own gallery in downtown Los Angeles.

Streetlige in Meashearim, by Barbara Mendes 2000
'Streetlige in Meahearim', 2000. 

Barbara Mendes art gallery

Series and books by Willy Mendes you can order today:

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