Spain Rodriguez, Subvert Comics issue 2 back cover (Trashman) (1972)

The great Spain Rodriguez in his 3 issue Subvert Comics series combined the weirdness of underground comics with the distinctive revolutionary political ideologies of the 1970s. Spain could appeal to both underground comix readers and revolutionaries like the Weathermen. This page is the back cover to issue 2 of Subvert Comics.

Spain was a rare UG artist who came from the actual working class, rather than being a college educated drop out. He worked as a mechanic, in a telephone wire company, and similar jobs which helped shape his views on poverty in the lowest paid groups. Spain joined a violent motorcycle gang called the Road Vultures where his leftist-marxist views began to show in his work.

Spain moved to New York and began drawing for the East Village Other, where Harry Barnes, A.K.A. Trashman, first appeared. Underground comics, and comics in general, seem to go through phases where personal account stories or sci-fi issues are prevalent. Spain was unique in writing about class struggle and having a "hero" fighting on behalf of the masses. It is easy to see the imagery Trashman reflected in the later work in Mad Max, Blade Runner and even the Dark Knight Returns. It is highly influential.