The design immediately caught on, and exploded. Roth debuted Rat Fink with an ad in a car magazine in 1963, but that would only be the beginning. No matter how feral Rat Fink’s design appears, the satirical edge of Roth’s intent is always there to serve as a self-reflexive wink, creating a sense of solace for the counterculture without ever pandering to a wider market. He is usually drawn behind the wheel of either a car or motorcycle with the engine roaring, and even when he isn’t, you can tell by the look in his eyes that he’s up to some kind of mischief. While echoes of Mickey can still be seen in the ears and nose, this still comes across clearly as a new beast. Usually colored green or gray, the rat is known for having a dramatically exaggerated body shape to capture his depravity including a twisted smile, eyes bulging out of their sockets, and rows of sharp, crooked teeth. Rat Fink embodies everything that makes Roth’s style so simultaneously kooky and clever. As a response to Mickey Mouse’s chipper demeanor, Rat Fink - the inverse of everything cutesy, sanitized, and family friendly - was born. Seeing that poverty and suffering in the world were largely ignored by consumer culture, Ed Roth felt the same way. If this sappy, utopian portrait of life makes you want to barf, don’t worry. Life in a Disney movie is cheery, carefree, and upbeat, with any problem being easily solvable in the length of a motion picture. The expansive pop culture effect of Walt Disney’s films was his primary inspiration. We’ll break it all down for you right here.Īfter selling airbrushed t-shirts for a few years at the end of the 1950s, Roth would come up with the idea for Rat Fink. If you don’t know the history of one of Kustom Kulture’s most underappreciated figures, just keep on reading. You’ve more than likely seen shirts and patches indebted to Roth’s signature style, or even featuring one of his designs, including from us. His work as a custom car designer was defining in the Southern California scene, but it was his playfully malformed monster caricatures like Rat Fink that led to his now cult status as a pop-art iconoclast. Our love for the rat extends to a love for his creator, Ed “Big Daddy” Roth. In fact, we love that gnarly little creature and the mayhem he represents so much, that he just might be our number one choice. If Rat Fink wasn’t one of the images that just appeared in your head, you may want to reconsider your answer, at least if you’re in earshot of anyone in the Lethal Threat family. Limited Runs, the premier destination for discovering and buying the best in original vintage posters, print art and fine art photography, continues to add new items to the site every day and each week we feature some of our latest additions of original vintage film, advertising and rock posters, art prints and photography.Take a moment to think about the iconography from hot rod and biker culture that holds the most significance. Sign-up for our newsletterand get news, updates and special offers For lovers of Vintage Posters, Photography and Art - Limited Runs! This limited edition print of 150 is Signed and Numbered By Ed “Big Daddy” Roth.Ĭlick here to see the complete collection of Ed “Big Daddy” Roth. This Signed Original Pencil Drawing by Ed “Big Daddy” Roth also features Rat Fink. This Original Pencil Drawing by Ed “Big Daddy” Roth is signed and dated by Roth.Ī Tired Back Keeps Your Brain Straight (1992) Rat Finks Have More Fun! Shake Up The Troops! (1992) Many of these early concept drawings feature Rat Fink. In addition to the fine art silkscreen prints, Limited Runs’ has released a series of rare one-of-a-kind original hand-drawn pencil drawings by Ed “Big Daddy” Roth which were created by Roth in 1992. Limited Runs has just released a number of rare fine art silkscreen prints which have been numbered and signed by Ed “Big Daddy” Roth. Rat Fink’s popularity continues in Hot Rod and Kustom Culture and be found reproduced on t-shirts, toys, decals, and other paraphernalia. First introduced in the July 1963 issue of Car Craft magazine and the character quickly became popular, so much so that the Revell Model Company issued a plastic model kit of Rat Fink which initially ran from 1963 to 1965, but has along with other charactres created by Roth been re-issued since. Instantaneously recognizable, Rat Fink is comically grotesque with bulging, bloodshot eyes, an oversized mouth with sharp, narrow teeth, and wears overalls with the initials “R.F.” on them. Roth originally conceived of Rat Fink as an anti-hero answer to Mickey Mouse. Rat Fink became and still is a hot-rod icon. Custom car designer and builder Ed “Big Daddy” Roth was a key figure in Southern California’s Kustom Kulture and hot-rod movement of the late 1950s and 1960s but as an artist and cartoonist Roth created several extreme characters including Rat Fink.
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