Laugh in the Dark #1 ! ! ! - 1st Printing / August, 1971 / 44 pages / Last Gasp Eco-Funnies. This 44-page underground was originally supposed to be Bogeyman #4, but Last Gasp or somebody figured it would be better under a different title. Regardless, this is a terrific and gruesome but often funny underground-style horror comic featuring Rory Hayes (of course), Kim Deitch, Spain, Bill Griffith, S. Clay Wilson and Justin Green, among others. One of Green's contributions is one of his best Binky Brown stories. The four-page "The Agony of Binky Brown" is like a condensed origin story for Green's signature character. It's a practical yet powerful tale, relating the odd influences of Binky's youth and his inability to rationalize them out of his fervent (and clinically neurotic) mind. The key contributors also collaborate on "Bimbo's Private Fun-House," which stands as one of the better jams in underground history. With thanks to comixjoint.com for their hard work in documenting these amazing pieces of art.

FINE