“A damned good book, it is a book of timeless, illuminating truth …This book is one of a kind.

— Nick Tosches 

You Can’t Win, the beloved memoir of real lowdown Americana by criminal hobo Jack Black, was first published in 1926, then reprinted in 1988 by Adam Parfrey’s Amok Press, featuring an introduction by William S. Burroughs.

After its Amok Press edition went out of print, You Can’t Win found popularity once again with the AK Press edition.

Feral House’s new version takes this classic American narrative much further, including two remarkable nonfiction articles by Jack Black written for Harper’s Magazine in the 1920s. Extraordinary illustrations by Joe Coleman and new biographical revelations by Donald Kennison round out the new edition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the original release: On highly-detailed canvases that are packed to the margins with strange symbols, bleeding body parts, Bible verses, and nightmare genitalia, Joe Coleman paints the wondrous carnival of his psychotic universe. His work is even blessed by a blurb from Charles Manson: “His art is something else. Praise! Praise! Praise! He’s a caveman in a space ship.” 

This is an artist no horror fan can afford to miss: He does serial killers, sideshow freaks, deranged sex, evil doctors, and religious iconography like no one else on Earth. This is a superb introduction to Coleman’s world and work, with a biographical article, photos, 32 color plates, and numerous illustrations. Warning: Disturbing!

Twenty-six years later, Joe Coleman is recognized as a genius lauded by critics and collectors throughout the world.