Author Description

Catalog to the exhibition FUNNY (not funny), held at the University of Michigan School of Art & Design WORK-DETROIT gallery, from January 22 - February 26, 2010. The exhibition concerned the presence of Black Humor as manifest in contemporary American alternative comics, and included the work of Ivan Brunetti, Chris Cilla, Sue Coe, Lisa Hanawalt, Glenn Head, Tim Hensley, Ian Huebert, Ben Katchor, Michael Kupperman, Mats!?, Daniel Maw, Taylor McKimens, Travis Millard, Tom Neely, Mark Newgarden, David Paleo, Jonathon Rosen, David Sandlin, Rob Sato and Jon Vermilyea. This publication is fully illustrated with images both new and old (many of which are previously unpublished), and contains a comprehensive essay on the history of Black Humor in American comics, using Surrealist founder André Breton's groundbreaking literary definition as a starting point. In addition, there are new statements written by all of the participating twenty artists, addressing the relationship of their work to Black Humor as well as a complete and up-to-date bio-bibliography.