Simon Deitch

active 1970s

Explore selected works

This is a drawing of a creature emerging from a coffin, set against a vivid background. The image is drawn in a style reminiscent of comic book art, filled with bold colors and dramatic lines. At the center, a beast with sharp teeth and red eyes emerges from an ornately decorated coffin. The background has swirling green and purple patterns. Below the illustration, the title "SKULL" is displayed in large, jagged letters colored in pink and purple. Additional text reads "NO. 4 SPECIAL ISSUE: LOVECRAFT."
Various Artists, Gary Arlington, Jack Jackson, Simon Deitch, Dave Sheridan, Charles Dallas, Michael C. Smith, Herb Arnold, Larry S. Todd, Last Gasp Eco Funnies, Skull #4, 1972, 36-page paperback bound volume with half-tone and offset lithograph illustrations on wove paper, with front cover in full color, Gift of William and Abigail Gerdts, 2014.126.118

Skull #4

Various Artists, Gary Arlington, Jack Jackson, Simon Deitch, Dave Sheridan, Charles Dallas, Michael C. Smith, Herb Arnold, Larry S. Todd, Last Gasp Eco Funnies · 1972 · 36-page paperback bound volume with half-tone and offset lithograph illustrations on wove paper, with front cover in full color ·  Accession ID  2014.126.118

Three monstrous faces with gaping jaws lined with sharp teeth are stacked in this vertical lithograph. The creatures are canary yellow shaded heavily with pale and grass green. The bottom face, which is the largest and closest to us, has beads of sweat running down each side of the furrowed forehead. This creature’s lips are pulled up into a cavernous smile, and liquid drips from the lower lip. A ruffle around the neck could be a collar, and the creature is flanked to each side by scale-patterned forms that could be the body of the creature behind. This middle creature’s pale blue eyes slope down, and the bottom corners of the open mouth pull down, too. This creature has horns and gill-like forms around the mouth. The third creature, at the top and farthest away, leans back with taloned hands reaching to each side. The drooping eyes appear to look up, and wings spread from the creature’s back. The background is sky blue dotted with white.
Various Artists, 7 Freds Press, Fits Collective, Rory Hayes, Robert Crumb, Alan Senauke, Jon Meyer, Cynthia Meyer, Charlie Vermont, Kenneth Greene, Tom Clark, Downtown Peace Coalition, Ron Padgett, George Schneeman, Mitch Sisskind, Les Gottesman, Andrei Codrescu, Alice Codrescu, Hilton Obenzinger, Britt Wilkie, David Anderson, Tom Veitch, Anne Waldman, Lewis Marsh, Judy Grahn, Peter O'Keefe, Dick Cogswell, John Brown, Greg Irons, John Giorno, Simon Deitch, Fits No. 1, 1971, paperback bound volume with half-tone and offset lithograph illustrations on wove paper, with cover in full color, Gift of William and Abigail Gerdts, 2014.126.53

Fits No. 1

Various Artists, 7 Freds Press, Fits Collective, Rory Hayes, Robert Crumb, Alan Senauke, Jon Meyer, Cynthia Meyer, Charlie Vermont, Kenneth Greene, Tom Clark, Downtown Peace Coalition, Ron Padgett, George Schneeman, Mitch Sisskind, Les Gottesman, Andrei Codrescu, Alice Codrescu, Hilton Obenzinger, Britt Wilkie, David Anderson, Tom Veitch, Anne Waldman, Lewis Marsh, Judy Grahn, Peter O'Keefe, Dick Cogswell, John Brown, Greg Irons, John Giorno, Simon Deitch · 1971 · paperback bound volume with half-tone and offset lithograph illustrations on wove paper, with cover in full color ·  Accession ID  2014.126.53

Various Artists, Roger Brand, Justin Green, Kim Deitch, Simon Deitch, Bill Griffith, Paul Rodgers, Rory Hayes, S. Clay Wilson, Michelle Brand, The Print Mint, Inc., Tales of Sex and Death #1, 1971, 36-page paperback bound volume with half-tone and offset lithograph illustrations on wove paper, with cover in full color, Gift of William and Abigail Gerdts, 2014.126.134

Tales of Sex and Death #1

Various Artists, Roger Brand, Justin Green, Kim Deitch, Simon Deitch, Bill Griffith, Paul Rodgers, Rory Hayes, S. Clay Wilson, Michelle Brand, The Print Mint, Inc. · 1971 · 36-page paperback bound volume with half-tone and offset lithograph illustrations on wove paper, with cover in full color ·  Accession ID  2014.126.134

This is a drawing of a comic book cover. The cover, titled "Thrilling Murder Comics," features bold red letters with the word "Murder." The background is bright yellow. On the right side, a figure is depicted holding a knife. The figure’s forehead bears a star symbol. The subtitle is "Terrifying Tales of Total Paranoia." The cover is designed with vivid colors and shocking imagery typical of vintage horror comic aesthetics.
Various Artists, Simon Deitch, Greg Irons, Jim Osborne, S. Clay Wilson, Bill Griffith, Robert Crumb, Kim Deitch, Spain Rodriguez, San Francisco Comic Book Company, Thrilling Murder Comics, 1971, 36-page paperback bound volume with half-tone and offset lithograph illustrations in black and red on wove paper, with cover in full color, Gift of William and Abigail Gerdts, 2014.126.140

Thrilling Murder Comics

Various Artists, Simon Deitch, Greg Irons, Jim Osborne, S. Clay Wilson, Bill Griffith, Robert Crumb, Kim Deitch, Spain Rodriguez, San Francisco Comic Book Company · 1971 · 36-page paperback bound volume with half-tone and offset lithograph illustrations in black and red on wove paper, with cover in full color ·  Accession ID  2014.126.140

This is a painting of a figure on the cover of a comic titled "Bogeyman." The image shows a creature with large eyes and sharp teeth, holding an insect in one hand. The creature's hair is electrified and it wears a tattered garment with a patch on the shoulder. The background features a surreal landscape with a graveyard, a twisted barren tree, and gravestones under a moonlit night sky. The top part of the image displays the title "BOGEYMAN" in yellow letters against an orange-red background. Additional text labels the book as "Soul Snatcher Comix." The illustration has a vintage horror style reminiscent of 1970s underground comic art.
Various Artists, Jack Jackson, Rory Hayes, Jay Lynch, Simon Deitch, Spain Rodriguez, Rick Griffin, Greg Irons, Geoffrey Hayes, San Francisco Comic Book Company, Bogeyman Comics #3 (red cover), Published 1970, 28-page paperback bound volume with half-tone and offset lithograph illustrations black and white on wove paper and cover in full color, Gift of William and Abigail Gerdts, 2014.126.26

Bogeyman Comics #3 (red cover)

Various Artists, Jack Jackson, Rory Hayes, Jay Lynch, Simon Deitch, Spain Rodriguez, Rick Griffin, Greg Irons, Geoffrey Hayes, San Francisco Comic Book Company · Published 1970 · 28-page paperback bound volume with half-tone and offset lithograph illustrations black and white on wove paper and cover in full color ·  Accession ID  2014.126.26

The image depicts a monstrous creature on a comic book cover. The creature has large, hollow eyes, a gaping mouth, and stands in the foreground holding a glowing insect. There are buzzing flies or small creatures around it. In the background, there is a landscape with gravestones, a sun, and twisted trees. The title "BOGEYMAN" and additional text "Soul Snatcher Comix" are displayed prominently. The color palette is vivid and surreal, creating a nightmarish atmosphere typical of vintage horror or underground comics.
Various Artists, Jack Jackson, Rory Hayes, Jay Lynch, Simon Deitch, Spain Rodriguez, Rick Griffin, Greg Irons, Geoffrey Hayes, San Francisco Comic Book Company, Bogeyman Comics #3, Published 1970, 28-page paperback bound volume with half-tone and offset lithograph illustrations black and white on wove paper and cover in full color, Gift of William and Abigail Gerdts, 2014.126.25

Bogeyman Comics #3

Various Artists, Jack Jackson, Rory Hayes, Jay Lynch, Simon Deitch, Spain Rodriguez, Rick Griffin, Greg Irons, Geoffrey Hayes, San Francisco Comic Book Company · Published 1970 · 28-page paperback bound volume with half-tone and offset lithograph illustrations black and white on wove paper and cover in full color ·  Accession ID  2014.126.25