The “Underground Comix” movement of the 1970s flourished with small press and self-published comics, heralding a new era of original artistic expression. Its roots run deep in the heart of the Midwest, particularly in Wisconsin. Denis Kitchen, a Racine-born alumnus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, emerged as a pivotal figure, founding the groundbreaking Kitchen Sink Press in 1970. This avant-garde comix publishing house became a beacon for countercultural themes, diverging from mainstream conventions to explore topics such as free love, rock music, drug culture, and alternative political views.

Midwest Underground Cartoonists Jam-Style Illustration embodies the essence of a “comic jam,” a collaborative endeavor by multiple artists to create a singular artwork. In this drawing, seven cartoonists contributed self-portrait caricatures in their distinctive styles. Alongside Kitchen, Wisconsin-born talents Don Glassford, Bruce Walthers, Jim Mitchell, and Wendel Pugh participated in this jam session, accompanied by Chicagoans Jay Lynch and Skip Williamson.

Created in 1972, this jam comic represents the formative years of comix, celebrating the collective spirit of Midwestern cartooning. From whimsy to satire, from raucous humor to incisive wit, the artwork encapsulates the zeitgeist of the comix counterculture. It stands as a vibrant tapestry of visual styles, a testament to the enduring legacy of the Midwest’s role in shaping the rich tapestry of the Underground Comix movement and, more broadly, the history of cartooning.