Punk and comics, two of America’s greatest subcultures, together at last in 1976 for Issue no. 6 of John Holmstrom and Legs McNeil’s revolutionary Punk magazine.
Cover of Punk magazine issue no. 6 with art by John Holmstrom, from The San Francisco Academy of Comic Art Collection, The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum (click to enlarge)
We won’t be able to include the entire juicy story here–starring some of the Lower East Side’s finest from the 1970s scene including Debbie Harry, Richard Hell, David Byrne, David Jo Hansen, and so many more–but below you can enjoy a few of our favorite pages from this fine photo comic.
The scene is set with Special Agent Victor Martino, as played by Lenny Kaye of the Patti Smith group.
Page 1 of Punk magazine Issue No. 6, from The San Francisco Academy of Comic Art Collection, The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum (click to enlarge)
The star of the show, as indicated on the cover, is the great Richard Hell-pioneer of the punk look himself-as Nick Detroit, a former government agent who had been framed by the press for killing 966 people in the line of duty and forced into retirement. Detroit is called back into action by Chief (and guitarist) Bob Quine to solve some mysterious murders around town.
Page 4 of Punk magazine issue No. 6, from The San Francisco Academy of Comic Art Collection, The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum (click to enlarge)
Page 7 of Punk magazine Issue No.6, from The San Francisco Academy of Comic Art, The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum (click to enlarge)
The New York Doll’s David Jo Hansen as the evil Tony, mob king and prime suspect.
Page 8 of Punk magazine Issue No. 6, from The San Francisco Academy of Comic Art Collection, The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum (click to enlarge)
As the plot unfolds, we’re introduced to a star-studded feminist gang who reveal themselves as the real perpetrators in their plot for total world domination, which must begin with the extermination of Nick Detroit, “as he is the living living symbol of masculinity”. High-fashion chaos ensues.
Page 18 of Punk magazine issue No. 6, from The San Francisco Academy of Comic Art Collection, The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum (click to enlarge)
…as for the rest of the story, you’ll have to dig through your old zines or visit us at the Cartoon Library to read on.
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