News Shorts and Other Busyness

Knockabout Win Obscenity Trial

Squall 12, Spring 1996, pg. 6.

Knockabout Comics, importers and distributors of Robert Crumb, Gilbert Shelton (Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers) and numerous other underground, rad, fem, drug and anarcho comic book publications, were found not guilty on all four counts of obscenity at Uxbridge Magistrates Court, 30th January.

HM Customs, who appear to have more hands-on legal power than Judge Dredd, seized US imports of Robert Crumb’s “My Troubles With Women” objecting to just two single frames. Then, four months later, they seized US imports of the radical women’s comic “Twisted Sister”, again objecting to just two frames depicting oral sex. Both cases were asked to be tried together.

The facts that the Twisted Sisters graphic novel documents the fall of young woman into prostitution and is a highly moral story, and “My Troubles...” is an innovative collaboration between Crumb and his wife catharting about sexuality, was of no consequence. Again it was just two frames of an eighty page book that were isolated and condemned, out of context, as porn. When asked why they had allowed other frames of similar content, from the same collection, through their net, HM Customs were lost for an explanation.

Upon being confronted with gratuitous photo pornography purchased in an Uxbridge newsagent near the court, officials were shocked and, on gaining their repose, wanted to know the whereabouts of the vendor. Next month’s Penthouse may well not arrive.

Knockabout’s application for costs was granted. Any monies remaining from fund raising efforts will be put into the Comic Legal Defence Fund.