Last Gasp (publisher)

Last Gasp
Founded1970; 54 years ago (1970) in Berkeley, California
FounderRon Turner[1]
Headquarters locationSan Francisco, California
DistributionSCB Distributors[2]
Key peopleColin Turner[3][4]
Publication typesBooks, graphic novels, comics
Nonfiction topicsRock music, art, poetry
Fiction genresUnderground comix
ImprintsHell Comics
Cocoanut Comics
Priaprism Press
Sexploitation Comics Group
Official websitewww.lastgasp.com

Last Gasp is a San Francisco–based[5] book publisher with a lowbrow art and counterculture focus.[6] Owned and operated by Ron Turner, for most of its existence Last Gasp was a publisher, distributor, and wholesaler of underground comix[7] and books of all types.

Last Gasp was established in 1970. Although the company came onto the scene a bit later than some of the other underground publishers, Last Gasp continued publishing comics far longer than most of its competitors. In addition to publishing notable original titles like Slow Death, Wimmen's Comix, Binky Brown Meets the Holy Virgin Mary, and Weirdo, it also picked up the publishing reins of important titles—such as Zap Comix and Young Lust—from rivals who had gone out of business.

Although Last Gasp no longer publishes "floppy" comics; the company continues to publish art and photography books, graphic novels, fiction, and poetry, producing 10–15 new titles per year.[4]

  1. ^ Ron Turner at Michigan State University Libraries
  2. ^ "The 2016 Book Distributors Profiles - Publishing Trends". Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  3. ^ Lepage, Cécile. "A 40-year Last Gasp that's getting stronger," San Francisco Bay Guardian online (March 30, 2010).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Aoki was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "F A Q." Last Gasp Books. Retrieved on July 30, 2012. "Last Gasp 777 Florida Street San Francisco, CA 94110"
  6. ^ "Last Gasp Hero" The Wave Magazine Archived November 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "On the Town: with Ron Turner" SF Chronicle, April 29, 2007