The Playboy - Reception

Reception

As one of "The autobiographical comics from Yummy Fur", along with I Never Liked You and several shorter pieces, The Playboy placed #38 on The Comics Journal's list of the 100 best comics of the century. It was also nominated for a Harvey in 1991 for Best Single Issue or Story for "The Playboy Stories" in Yummy Fur #21-23.

The book is admired by critics and many of Brown's fellow cartoonists. Gilbert Hernandez, of Love and Rockets fame, has said, "The Playboy and I Never Liked You are probably the best graphic novels next to Maus". Critic Frank Young said it was the "pivotal work" in the autobiographical comics trend of the early 1990s, and Darcy Sullivan called it a "landmark look at an artist's growth", talking about the pace with which Brown's work matured over the course of three issues. Sullivan calls it required reading for those who are serious about comics.

Brown says a number of women took offense at the book, saying it glorified pornography. Hugh Hefner sent Brown a letter after The Playboy's publication, giving Brown "bewildered fatherly advice", showing concern that a someone who grew up during the sexual revolution could still have suffered through the confusion and anxiety that Brown did.