Has anyone ever heard of “outlaw comics”?

Saw guy with a t-shirt with what looked the the old comic code authority stamp on it but it said Outlaw Comics.

Did a websearch and found this article (https://sewermutant.com/an-introduction-to-outlaw-comics-2b009cf833c4?gi=a9d805423337 ). Quote: “ The late comics seller Glen Hammonds coined the term “Outlaw Comics” in the early 1990s to refer to the hyperviolent, often sexual, comics he sold, ” There is a website. Outlawcomics.com but that goes to a page about stand up comedians.

Are these still a thing?

I think Outlaw comics means “non-code.” When comics were at the height of popularity in the 1990s, following The Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns, many self-published non-code comic books popped up in shops.

The one I remember was Mark Hamill's “The Black Pearl,” about a stalker who saves his victim from being abducted. It was geared towards adults and had nudity and graphic violence. The article mentions “Faust,” which had a movie adaptation. There was Dawn, Razor, Evil Ernie, Avengeline, and Lady Death. Even Image Comics did a lot of non-code stuff, like Witchblade and the gory violence in Invincible, though it was not an Outlaw comic book company.

Barbarella, and Valerian and Laureline were a decade before but I think they would qualify.

sleeping_gorilla wrote:
I think Outlaw comics means “non-code.”

The one I remember was Mark Hamill's “The Black Pearl,”

Could a comic like that exist on the Duck? Seems like the violence, and sex could but the combination depending on how far it went might not.

I'll have to check out the Black Pearl. Sounds interesting.

I know a little from youtube videos. CartoonistKayfabe used to talk about them once in a while, with one of the hosts doing his own homage in his stuff. A few other smaller channels were also found as recommended from there.
the term specifically refers to when Comics Code was in action. because with print on demand you can put whatever into a comic now. Or make your own at home (zine?)

the whole indy comics scene ignores webcomics iirc, going back to preferring the whole collectability and ‘investment’, as it were, of having floppy issues in a protected baggy and away from anyones dirty hands.

i have a couple channels im subscribed to that just talk about small print comics.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ZKOyFp1aXXDXrfwGzB1Ig
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBKSEtmaot1ZaITfWYdAjAQ
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-6O8dVjqLQFkByHXU2M8AA

ksteak wrote:

i have a couple channels im subscribed to that just talk about small print comics.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ZKOyFp1aXXDXrfwGzB1Ig
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBKSEtmaot1ZaITfWYdAjAQ
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-6O8dVjqLQFkByHXU2M8AA

A bit like the underground comix from the 60s, 70s.

I'll give the links a go.

plymayer wrote:
Could a comic like that exist on the Duck? Seems like the violence, and sex could but the combination depending on how far it went might not.

Yes of course, we can have comics like that here. As long as there are no underage people in adult situations!