Gary Edson Arlington (October 7, 1938 – January 16, 2014) was an American retailer, artist, editor, and publisher, who became a key figure in theunderground comix movement of the 1960s and 1970s.[1] As owner of one of America's firstcomic book stores, theSan Francisco Comic Book Company, located inSan Francisco'sMission District, Arlington's establishment became a focal point for theBay Area's underground artists. He published comics under the name San Francisco Comic Book Company, as well as publishing anddistributing comics under the nameEric Fromm (not connected tothe German critical theorist). CartoonistRobert Crumb has noted, "Gary made a cultural contribution in San Francisco in the late 1960s, through the '70s, '80s & '90s that was more significant than he realizes."[2]
Julian Guthrie, in theSan Francisco Chronicle, described the youthful Arlington's art interests:
The fascination with comic books began when Arlington was six years old. His father, who worked at a lumberyard inHayward, stopped at a store on Fruitvale Avenue inOakland and bought ten comic books. There were funny-looking animals, men who looked like melting monsters, and women who were distressed and barely dressed. "I remember thefunny animals," he said. "And I remember my mother taking me to a theater where I saw an animatedSuperman. My mother was really good to me."[2]
In 1968, Arlington was down on his luck, penniless and essentially homeless. The closure of his parents' house forced him to sell his extensive personal comics collection, which included many rare comics from the era'sGolden Age as well as a trove ofEC Comics.[1] Arlington opened the San Francisco Comic Book Company, located inSan Francisco'sMission District at 3339 23rd Street, in April that year.[3] It soon became a focal point for the Bay Area's underground artists. (The Bay Area itself was a Mecca for underground cartoonists from all over the country.)[4]Lambiek's Comiclopedia offers this description of the artistic avenues provided by Arlington:
As guru and "godfather" of underground comics, he encouraged and directed many artists on their path to publication. His tiny 200-square-foot store became the underground nexus where artists met, discussed projects and exchanged ideas. Employees at Arlington's store included Simon Deitch,Rory Hayes, andFlo Steinberg.[3]
Arlington also published some important early underground titles, including the first two issues ofRobert Crumb'sMr. Natural. He published a number of experimentalminicomics byArt Spiegelman.
Arlington was particularly devoted to the underground anthologySan Francisco Comic Book, which featured the work of many of the region's top talents, includingBill Griffith,Robert Crumb,Kim Deitch,Justin Green,Rory Hayes,Willy Murphy, Jim Osborne,Trina Robbins, andSpain Rodriguez. Arlington published the first issue himself and the next two with the assistance of fellow Bay Area publisher thePrint Mint. Arlington edited all seven issues ofSan Francisco Comic Book (the final issue appearing in 1983) even when the title was taken over by Print Mint and laterLast Gasp.[5]
As the San Francisco Comic Book Company, Arlington published comics sporadically from 1968 to 1972 and photocopiedminicomics from 1970 to c. 1980. One of his last publishing projects (published under the Eric Fromm brand) wasNickel Library, a weekly series of single-page homages toEC Comics by an ever-changing list of contributors from underground comix and the mainstream. 64 pages were produced by 1973 before former EC publisherWilliam M. Gaines sent Arlington acease-and-desist letter and he was forced to give it up.[6]
Arlington lived in an apartment at 225 Berry Street in San Francisco before moving to the Mission Creek Senior Community apartment complex for low-income or disabled seniors.
On January 17, 2014, Arlington's death was announced on theSan Francisco Bay Guardian Online website. He was 75 years old and died "from complications of diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and [a previously] crushed leg.[8] Ron Turner, founder ofLast Gasp Press, talked about his death, his ailing health, and how "The comic community will remember Gary as founding one of the first comic book stores in America, on 23rd st. in the Mission."[9]
Arlington's art was exhibited inArt Almighty, a group exhibition at the 111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco, in March–April 2011.[10] Arlington's artwork was collected in the bookI Am Not of This Planet: The Art of Gary Edson Arlington, published byLast Gasp in 2011.
All Stars #2 (1970) — taking over fromAll Stars #1 (1965, Golden Gates Features); copyright by Marty Arbunich/Bill DuBay
Bogeyman Comics (2 issues; Fall 1968–1969) —Rory Hayes
Ebon (January 1970) —Larry Fuller; considered by many to be the first comic book title to star a black superhero (Marvel'sBlack Panther predating Ebon but not having his own title)[11]
Hee Hee (1970) — anthology published in conjunction withCompany & Sons
