Stuck Rubber Baby
Encyclopedia
Stuck Rubber Baby is a graphic novel
written and illustrated by Howard Cruse
, first published in 1995. Set mostly in the 1960s in the Southern United States
, in the midst of the Black Civil Rights
movement, it deals with homosexuality and racism.
, an imprint of DC Comics
which published "alternative" comics. Cruse spent nearly five years writing and illustrating it; however, during that time the imprint was discontinued. It was instead published in hardcover as part of DC's Paradox Press
line, an imprint aimed at the bookstore market, featuring mostly mysteries
, crime fiction
, and humorous non-fiction
. It was reprinted in paperback in 1996 by HarperCollins
.
man who gradually comes to grips with his homosexuality
while struggling with his own learned racism
and that of his community. Although Cruse drew heavily upon his own experiences as a gay man growing up in Birmingham, Alabama
, the story is fictional. It is densely illustrated, using a detailed cross-hatching technique and typically 8-12 panels per page. The story is 210 pages long.
's Lesbian and Gay Book Award, and for the Lambda Literary Award
. It was named "Best Graphic Novel" by the United Kingdom Comic Art Awards and has won the 2002 French Prix de la critique
.
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
written and illustrated by Howard Cruse
Howard Cruse
Howard Cruse is an American alternative cartoonist known for the exploration of gay themes in his comics.Cruse was raised in Springville, Alabama, the son of a preacher and a homemaker. His earliest published cartoons were in The Baptist Student when he was in high school. His work later appeared...
, first published in 1995. Set mostly in the 1960s in the Southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
, in the midst of the Black Civil Rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
movement, it deals with homosexuality and racism.
Publication history
The book was originally intended for publication through Piranha PressPiranha Press
Piranha Press, an imprint of DC Comics from 1989 to 1994, was a response by DC to the growing interest in alternative comics. The imprint was edited by Mark Nevelow, who instead of developing comics with the established names in the alternative comics field, chose to introduce several unknown...
, an imprint of DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
which published "alternative" comics. Cruse spent nearly five years writing and illustrating it; however, during that time the imprint was discontinued. It was instead published in hardcover as part of DC's Paradox Press
Paradox Press
Paradox Press was a division of DC Comics formed in 1993 after editor Mark Nevelow departed from Piranha Press. Under the initial editorship of Andrew Helfer and Bronwyn Carlton the imprint was renamed. It is best known for graphic novels like A History of Violence and Road to Perdition...
line, an imprint aimed at the bookstore market, featuring mostly mysteries
Mystery fiction
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
, crime fiction
Crime fiction
Crime fiction is the literary genre that fictionalizes crimes, their detection, criminals and their motives. It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as science fiction or historical fiction, but boundaries can be, and indeed are, blurred...
, and humorous non-fiction
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
. It was reprinted in paperback in 1996 by HarperCollins
HarperCollins
HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
.
Overview
The central character of Stuck Rubber Baby is Toland Polk, a young white working classWorking class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
man who gradually comes to grips with his homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
while struggling with his own learned racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
and that of his community. Although Cruse drew heavily upon his own experiences as a gay man growing up in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, the story is fictional. It is densely illustrated, using a detailed cross-hatching technique and typically 8-12 panels per page. The story is 210 pages long.
Characters
Toland Polk - Protagonist
Melanie - Toland's Sister
Orley - Melanie's Husband
Ginger Raines - Toland's Girlfriend
Riley Wheeler - Toland's Friend
Mavis Greene - Riley's Girlfriend
Awards and recognition
Stuck Rubber Baby was nominated for the American Library AssociationAmerican Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
's Lesbian and Gay Book Award, and for the Lambda Literary Award
Lambda Literary Award
Lambda Literary Awards are awarded yearly by the US-based Lambda Literary Foundation to published works which celebrate or explore LGBT themes. Categories include Humor, Romance and Biography. To qualify, a book must have been published in the United States in the year current to the award...
. It was named "Best Graphic Novel" by the United Kingdom Comic Art Awards and has won the 2002 French Prix de la critique
Prix de la critique
The Prix de la critique is a prize awarded by the Association des Critiques et des journalistes de Bande Dessinée to the best comic album released for a year in France. Previously, from 1984 to 2003, it was called Prix Bloody Mary and awarded at the Angoulême International Comics Festival...
.