CBCS #20-44FB37B-001
Grade 8.5 - Encapsulated
This is perhaps THE most socially impactful comic book of the last 50 years!!!
According to Eric Orr, this is the first, and only, signed issue #1 of Rappin' Max Robot ever to come to auction.
Growing up in the Bronx of New York City in the 1970s was both a challenge and a blessing for Eric Orr. Encouraged by a grandmother’s love of his childhood sketches, which were and still are proudly displayed on the family refrigerator, Eric discovered his inner voice. He had become the pen behind a hip-hop genre that was growing right along with him.
Eric developed a vision that merged his love of his special brand of comic-book art with the music that was guiding his creativity. As he started to develop a rather impressive portfolio of album covers, graffiti tags, and music his reputation grew. In1982 the “Bronx Icon” – as he would later be called by a fan – met New York City renowned artist Keith Haring. The friendship was easy and lasting. Two years later the pair collaborated on a series of graffiti tags in NYC Subway stations. It was during one of these collaborations that Keith Haring suggested, and provided the first body for Orr’s signature character “Robot”, and “Rappin’ Max Robot” was born.
With Haring’s encouragement and support, Orr set to create the first issue of a four issue mini-series centering on the adventures of Rappin’ Max Robot, a non-smoking, non-drug using, polite, caring hip-hop comic character.
When it became time for the first issue to go public, Orr rallied his friends and family to get that issue to print. Calling upon his mentor, Orr reached out to Haring who immediately bought a full page, the back cover, to advertise the Pop-Shop with one of his original pieces.
Having raised enough money to print 500 copies of Rappin’ Max Robot, Orr walked into a local Bronx printer with his original manuscript. A comic book unlike any that had previously been printed. Funded more like a program for a local theatrical performance, Orr’s issue #1 sported ads for local pizza-shops, a video store, and a record shop, among others.
Distribution of that first issue was a ground-roots effort. Eric circulated issue #1 by personally handing out copies to local business to sell. He was determined to get his vision of a robotic hero into the hands of as many as possible.
Eventually, Rappin’ Max Robot got the attention of the main-line hip-hop community, and more. Now a part of Cornell University’s Rare Book Collection, Rappin’ Max Robot and Orr were on the move.
Ultimately, Rappin’ Max Robot and Orr would go far beyond those early sketches doodled during many a Sunday church service. In due course, Rappin’ Max/Eric Orr would have the opportunity to count on his resume regular appearances at the bi-coastal Comic-Cons, customized X-box face-plates, and exhibits at the Queens Museum, China Heights Gallery in Sydney Australia and at the Hotel Des Arts in San Francisco, California, among others.
Today, Eric Orr continues to evolve Rappin’ Max Robot. Recently Rappin’ Max has appeared on a series of PSAs promoting social distancing and Covid-19 safety steps.
Notes:
- Black & White Pages
- NO folded pages.
- NO missing pages.
- NO written upon pages.
- NO torn pages
- NO stained pages.
Staples are tight. Cover art is vibrant.
Please examine all photographs prior to bidding.
Thank you.