Otherwise known as "Crabman," R. L. Crabb grew up in the California foothills where he still makes his home. Many of his comix have featured the wildlife of the region. He did Junior Jackalope (which became Tales of the Jackalope for Blackthorne Press) for some years, and The Natural Enquirer for Fantagraphics. He collaborated with Steve Lafler, later George Parsons, on the eight-issue Rockers series chronicling the adventures of a home-grown rock band, for Rip Off Press.

After the collapse of his marriage in the early '90's, Crabman roamed the country for a period of time. His real-life adventures with crazy women, hopped up crack-heads, demon cocaine, the Mitchell Brothers and Hunter S. Thompson are chronicled in the 5-issue series, Adventures on the Fringe, released by Fantagraphics. There is also a stand-alone, magazine size Crabbs comic that tells of his adventures as a repo man. Never one to pass up a trend, Crabman produced two issues of his x-rated "Little Orphan Annie" parody, Little Greta Garbage, for Rip Off Press. His more recent work has been found in the pages of the local Nevada City, California weekly alternative newspaper.

Says Crabman of his career:

"I didn't really want to be an underground cartoonist. I had hoped to build a career working for Archie or maybe Hanna-Barbera and eventually work my way into newspaper syndication with some type of "Garfield" character. Alas, it was not meant to be! I noticed early on that when my brain instructed my hand to write the word "shucks," it would always come out as "shit." The problem grew worse as time went by, and soon I had no control over the devilish hand. I found myself forced to draw naked women with large breasts, and other obscenities too lurid to describe. Years of therapy and several operations have had no effect, so I am resigned to a life of depravity. Just remember, if you ever meet me and I grab your melons, goose you or punch you out--It wasn't me, it was The Hand!"