MY HERO: Vaughn Bode' -Comix Artist Master

I discovered Vaughn Bode’ (pronounced Bo-Dee) in my late teens from the pages of National Lampoon, Heavy Metal, and the occasional “underground” comic I found in head shops and alternative bookstores (back when we HAD alternative bookstores that carried odd, “alternative” things- like stuff you can only find online or E-bay today). His work had a profound effect upon my life and work. I still have almost everything he has done in print (some in multiple copies), though I still uncover the occasional gem here and there, and HIGHLY recommend his work to any new rising comic artist out there, just to show that there are INCREDIBLE artists and thinkers in comics that never went the Marvel and DC route.

To describe his art as “psychodelic” really does not do it justice. “Groundbreaking” and “totally unique” come closer, but with its timelessness, charm, imagination, and style his work still remains completely recognizable, just as whimsical and enjoyable, and still a potent influence on modern art.
I like to point out to folks that most spray painted graffiti would look completely different today if he hadn’t lettered most of his work in that cartoony run-together balloon style of his. It remains a mystery to me why he’s not more recognized, though it doesn’t mystify me as to why there aren’t more people copying his art and aping his style.


Vaughn was truly a one of a kind, or almost at least, his son Mark comes close in style and wit, but anyone who has studied their collective style can still tell them apart, and both are unbelievable in their own way.


His most famous creation is a little lizard in a hat called Cheech Wizard, though that may change soon as Zach Snyder (of 300 and Watchman movie fame) is said to have another of his and his son Mark’s creations, Cobalt 60 on his slate to adapt into film. You MAY have seen a ripped-off (“homaged” some say) version of Cobalt 60 as the red dressed assassin from Ralph Bakshi’s WIZARDS movie (that’s him on the movie poster).
Once again, the Bode’ design style stands out as totally unique, and always fresh. Bode' is also known for his well rounded, well busted, well shaped, cute women (known as Bode' Babes), which admittedly probably also had quite the effect on me as a youth as most of his drawing of women mirror my tastes with incredible accuracy.

Most, if not all, of Vaughn and Mark Bode’s printed works are still in print from Fantagraphics. I personally recommend any of the Deadbones, Cheech Wizards, or the Cheech Wizard in Oz book(s). If you’ve never read Bode’, then please do so ASAP. If you click on the headline above, it'll take you to everything Amazon has to offer of Bode's. You'll thank me for it later.

Upon surfing the web I found an old film clip of an interview of Vaughn Bode’ from 1974. The interview was at a comic or art convention, it is definitely not of the best quality as it has numerous glitches and sound problems, but it’s definitely worth a look. It amazes me of how much of his philosophy mirrors my own, especially when it comes to working and owning the work that you do (not so much about the drug use, but hey, the film was shot in 1974, so those times were a bit different than now in regards to drug use). These three clips fit together one right after another into about 25 minutes total. If Vaughn Bode' is not fascinating to you you may find it somewhat dull and dry, but to me finding these clips were more like finding a small time capsule to a guy whose work has always kept my interest and it was great to listen to him speak, and speak candidly about his art, his work ethics, and his life.

Vaughn Bode' died in 1975 according to Wikipedia due to a failed experiment in auto erotic asphyxiation, but other sources list other causes. Quite frankly it doesn't matter how he died, what mattered is that he lived and left behind an incredibly long lasting volume of work.

One of the things I find most fascinating about Vaughn’s personal work life is that he did work anywhere he could and got printed in numerous places, numerous times. Bode’s work is nothing short of genius, and that makes him one of my heroes…








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