Comic book series : Spain

A curated selection of the best of Spain’s work as a graphic artist, underground comix pioneer, illustrator, and graphic novelist and biographer spans over 43 years, beginning with Spain’s early covers for The East Village Other.

There are nearly 60 illustrations in all, more than 40 of which are plates of works in the exhibition, mostly original ink-over-pencil drawings.

Along the way are

• Color covers for Zap #7 (1974) and Zap #12 (the 2-page wraparound, 1989)

• Spain’s earliest Road Vultures story in its entirety, “Tales of R.V.M.C.” (1969)

• Many pages and covers featuring his iconic characters Trashman, Sangrella, and Big Bitch

• Many pages from autobiographical stories about his youth in Buffalo, NY, including his days with the Road Vultures and cruisin’ buddy Fred Tooté

• Pages from historical stories about Ukrainian anarchist Nestor Makhno, “The Discovery of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Chicago ’68, Italy’s Red Brigades, and Smedley Butler (Devil Dog, 2010)

• Poster art, including an example of his many posters for the San Francisco Mime Troupe

• Several pages from his book-length graphic works Nightmare Alley and Che: A Graphic Biography.

This exhibition catalog is published for the career retrospective of the late Manuel “Spain” Rodriguez, at The Burchfield Penney Art Center in Buffalo, NY

The book contains a foreword by Anthony Bannon, Ph.D, director of the Burchfield Penney Art Center, and informative and insightful essays by the Center’s Associate Director, Don Metz, who co-curated the show, and guest-curator Edmund Cardoni.