Xerography Debt #6
Table of Contents
I know this issue is late, but I think I may be making zine history here by not apologizing. I could rattle off a list of reasons why I didn’t work on the zine for over two months, but I don’t feel like getting into for the moment. I’m here now and that’s all that matters. Initially I decided I wouldn’t work on the issue until I had a new job. Yes, I quit my job. Weeks were drifting by and still no job, thus - no zine. With everything that has happened in the world in recent weeks I have realized that nothing is as permanent as we’d like to think and that the present is the only thing we can minutely control. So with that, I decided to pick of the reigns of this neglected issue and get to work. Also, in the spring of 2001 the Leeking Inc. website went online. All back issues of Xerography Debt are available there. You’ll also find information about my other zines (Leeking Ink and The Glovebox Chronicles), Eight-Stone Press, and Ped Xing. Go take a look if you get a chance – www.leekinginc.com.
Davida
October 31st, 2001
One of my Favorite Pieces of Reader Mail
Thanks for XD#5
and for the splendid review. Yes, we have to ask ourselves – what is it
all for? Mostly vague glory.
G. Hischak
If this is your first issue, this should clarify things: XEROGRAPHY DEBT is a review zine for zine readers by zine writers. It is a hybrid of review zine and personal zine. XEROGRAPHY DEBT has its own freestyle approach. It is all about communication, so each reviewer has used the format or style most comfortable to him or her. Also, each reviewer "owns" the zine in a completely communal, non-possessive sense. We are individual artists and writers coming together to collaborate and help keep zineland flourish-ing. It is a communal experience from start to finish. It is available for free online (some artwork will only be available in print) or paper copies can be ordered.
There is no way I can review everything that I receive. I will do the best I can. I am but one overworked person with a few splendid reviewers. Do your part by ordering a few zines from the many reviewed here and, if you self-publish, please consider including a few reviews in your zine.
If you are interested in reviewing for XEROGRAPHY DEBT, please contact me by mail or e-mail for some rather vague, but supposedly helpful guidelines. All you need to do is write five reviews that will excite people to send money, stamps, or a trade. Due to the ridiculous pressures of self-imposed deadlines, #7 will be done when it is done, but hopefully early winter.
Basically, I don't have what one would call a cash flow. Cash trickle
would be an overstatement. I would like to keep publishing Xerography
Debt, so if you would like to help sponsor Xerography Debt with a
few stamps or cash, please feel free to do so. Also, let me know if you wish to
remain anonymous. This issue's sponsors are:
Al Cene, DB Pedlar, Androo Robinson, Rudi Rubberoid, Donny Smith, Patrick Tandy, Owen Thomas, Ken Carl, Kristy Henshaw, Richard Jacob, Sam Cucchiara, Zebulun, Christopher Robin, Anne Thalheimer, and a few anonymous folks.
In the last issue I mentioned that Dwayne-Michael Alborn, had taken over as the new editor of FACTSHEET 5. Well, he disappeared and took the zines he had been sent to review with him. There should be an update on the mess and news on the new editors in the new issue of A READER’S GUIDE TO THE UNDERGROUND PRESS.
Adam Winsenburg of ADC ZINE has set up a new online “Zine Scene.” Go to www.addam.com and list your zine or read about others.
Predators and Prey in
the Zine Community
Donny Smith's
Response to the Bill Price problem
Some of my favorite zines of all time have been Amusia, Peppermint
Soda, My Straight-Faced Twin, The Messy Eater, and Sludge Pond. All
intense, funny, smart, very personal zines written by young women. And, I hate
to say it, naive young women. They wrote out all their hopes and fears and
their daily routines, then gave out their home addresses and (in most cases)
their first and last names. A horror movie waiting to happen.
I admire the way zinesters open up their lives for all to see. There
aren't many places you can read truth. But you wouldn't publish your credit
card number, would you? You can take a few steps to protect yourself:
But what about Bill Price?
Yes, there are serial rapists, stalkers, and child molesters out there.
The scary thing is, most of them haven't been caught. You don't know their
names. The creepiest letters I've gotten have all been from long-time
members of the "zine community."
What can you do?
Some of my best mail friends are prisoners. And even though we've
corresponded for years, I'd be cautious about meeting them in person. But no
more cautious than I'd be about meeting any zine person for the first time. We
zinesters are a bunch of misfits, punks, wackos, and queers. We're hypocrites
if we single out prisoners as a group that we won't have anything to do with.
The legal term courts use to describe queers (and justify mistreating
us) is "unapprehended felons." Remember, prisoners are just the ones who got
caught.
Notice About Bill Price:
Bill Price is a twice-convicted child molester. In 1984, he was sentenced to 8 years in prison for molesting a 9-year-old girl. He went to jury trial with 5 counts of child molestation. In the early 90's, he molested the two girls starting at ages 5 and 6, respectively. In 1993, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He is approximately 50 years old.
Distros and zinewriters have reported that he has shown particular interest in zines with topics of rape, abuse and sex, and zines by young women, heavy-set women, and lesbians. He is having some of his zines and letters mailed from outside the prison, so that people he contacts do not necessarily know he is incarcerated. He is currently up for parole this year.
He has published three zines: Bars, Ishi, and Fem Zine. The first issue of Ishi is written as if he is a sexually abused, young girl, and attempts to appeal to the same. Fem Zine is a listing of zines by young women. Zinewriters have reported an increase in orders from prisons after being listing in Fem Zine, which implies he is distributing this to other prisoners.
He was released on parole in May 2001.
How’s it going, Debt heads? Welcome once again to my little corner of this fine review zine. First of all, I’ve got a couple of odds and ends to take care of- odd & end #1- some of you may have heard through the zine grapevine that I am the “review administrator” for the new FACTSHEET 5. Well folks, it ain’t happening. No one has heard from Dwayne Michael in over 3 months so I think it’s safe to assume that the project is dead. He doesn’t respond to any attempts to contact him so it’s a mystery to everyone what happened... but there is some good news in all of this- if this new FACTSHEET 5 had taken off and become a huge success I may have been so busy that with that that I may not have had time to review for XEROGRAPHY DEBT. But no, happily I am able to devote all my reviewing energies to XEROGRAPHY DEBT. Damn, you people are lucky.
Odd & end #2- if you’re reading this and you are a zinester and you’re not an obnoxious, pretentious, self important jerk you ought to join my new internet group. It’s called “Zine Geeks” and you can join by sending an e-mail to zinegeeks-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. If you love to argue politics and other serious issues you can go somewhere else. It’s great that you ponder these things, but I really don’t give a shit what you think. If you want to talk zines or anything else of a not so terribly serious nature come join the zine geeks. I was going to write a longer explanation of why exactly this group exists, but it started to turn into a rant so you’ll have to live with the short version. Now on with the reviews…
DESPERATE TIMES #8
This here is on entertaining zine.
Sometimes I read a zine review that says something along the lines of
“there was a laugh on every page” and it sort of pisses me off
because it sounds like typical hyperbole and I just don’t take it
seriously. So listen to me when I tell you that that this zine features a solid
laugh on damn near every page and for the pages that don’t feature a laugh
there are other pages that feature multiple laughs so it all evens out. Will
this zine change the way you look at the world? Doubtful. Will it inspire new
and deep philosophical thoughts? Probably not. Will it make you laugh? Sure.
Will you find it entertaining? You sure will and I’ll take that over pages
of political pondering any day. Highlights include Janelle’s really funny
and well drawn auto bio comics, and article on “Dead Girls I Want to Party
With” (and it sounds like it’s be a pretty swingin’ party) an
article on making a gay porno flick (not for your more sensitive readers, but I
liked it) and a piece I found hilarious for some reason- a photo centerfold on
“the Four Food Groups of Poverty” I found the pictures to be
completely hysterical, though for the life of me I can’t figure out why
it’s so damn funny. But it is and this zine is funny and really nicely put
together- color cover and everything, 44 full size pages and just a really nice
looking package- send $3.50 to: Janelle 3122 Burgundy, New Orleans LA 70177 No
website or e mail address. Hell yeah! You kick it old school, Janelle!
EYEBALL MAGAZINE #2
The first issue of this zine (magazine?
I don’t know. This is one of those zines that straddles the line between
magazine and zine. But seeing as how I’m writing zine reviews and not
magazine reviews I’m going to call it a zine) was called Indy-Media but
they changed it to avoid confusion with an organization called Indymedia. Makes
sense, but I much prefer the title Indy-Media because that in a nutshell
describes what this zine is all about- independent media in all it’s
forms- zines, comics, movies and happily no music (I’m sorry, but if I
read one more article about or interview with some band I never heard of
I’ll bang my head against a wall...) The zine content this issue features
an interview with Jen Angel and Jason Kucsma of CLAMOR magazine, an article on
Beantown Zinetown and a ton of reviews. There’s also an article on Jordan
Crane of NON comics which was very interesting and...one could argue that there
is too much focus on “micro cinema” featured in here and I won’t
argue with that, but I find these articles to be quite interesting and
informative just because I know nothing about it and the articles are long
enough to be interesting, but not so long that they get boring. And besides,
I’m pretty sure the micro cinema guys read EYEBALL and say
“What’s up with this zine shit? Who needs it?” It’s
probably near impossible to do a zine of this sort that will appeal 100% to all
of it’s audience, but these guys do a pretty damn good job of it and I can
honestly say that I read every article in here, even the ones that on first
glance didn’t look too interesting to me, and found all of them
interesting on some level. Send $3 to: Eyeball Magazine PO Box 21141, Oklahoma
City OK 73156 www.eyeballmagazine.com; eyeballmag@onebox.com
GET BENT #8
When I went to Beantown Zinetown this year I got
there before the place was open and there was a massive throng of zinesters
standing outside the building. Standing there in the midst of all these punks,
anarchists, and misfits in general was one fairly “normal” looking
middle-aged guy. I assumed that he was some sort of narc just because he
didn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the crowd (of course I didn’t
quite fit in with the crowd either) but I soon found out that this was no narc,
it was Ben T Steckler, author of the comic GET BENT! At any rate, GET BENT #8
is the final appearance of Sid Ska and Dex. This might mean something to
longtime readers, but since this was my first issue it didn’t mean a whole
lot to me. And that actually is my main problem with this comic- this is the
last issue of the story and as a result it’s maybe a little hard to get in
to. But having said that, Ben does an excellent job of being readers up to
speed with a text piece at the beginning that explains the basic plot and tells
us what went on before. Ben is fully aware of what should be the first rule of
comics (or zines for that matter) which is “every issue is somebody’s
first” but it’s still a little hard to fully get into the story when
you’ve already missed so much. But this is still a very funny and
entertaining story and worth reading even if you’ve never read an issue
before- the basic premise is that Sid and Dex go to Hell and Sid’s mom has
sex with God and it’s hard to explain but it’s all good. I’m
eager to see what the next story will be like so I can read it all from the
start. And the back up story is also cool if somewhat corny. But Ben promised a
text piece explaining all the various pop culture references but it was nowhere
to be found. Where the Hell was it, huh? (minor detail, I know, but it’s
my right to complain) send $2 to: Ben T Steckler PO Box 7273, York PA 17404
bsteckler@netrax.com
THE WORLD IS BROKEN #5
Hey, while I’m on something of a
Beantown Zinetown theme here I should mention that I met Bri (editor of The
World is Broken) while I was there. I said “hi” and we exchanged
small talk for a couple seconds and... well, that was pretty much it. Damn,
that was a pointless anecdote not worth mentioning, wasn’t it? Hell, not
everything I write can be brilliant, interesting and funny y’know...
Anyhow, this issue is part one of “the West Coast Saga” which tells
of Bri’s trip out west where she basically got drunk, did a whole bunch of
drugs and had a couple crushes, but it’s a whole Hell of a lot more
interesting than I make it sound (though now that I think about it that sounds
pretty interesting in and of itself, doesn’t it?) Bri tells the story
mostly through the journals she was keeping at the time and she occasionally
includes an entry on how she feels now about what was going on then. It’s
a very well written and interesting read and it never veers too far into
“punk road trip” clichés, which is a trap that a lot of zines
of this sort can fall into. There is a lot of good, emotional writing in here,
which is the key to any good personal zine. The only problem I had with this
zine is that it’s too short- 20 half-size pages and as soon I was really
starting to get into the story and what was happening...Bam! It ended. Since
this is labeled “Part 1” you know going in that you’re only
getting a small portion of the story, but it still ends a little too abruptly
for me. But it did make me eager to know what happens next, so maybe
that’s a good thing. And this zine also boasts an excellent cover by Shawn
Granton that I would be remiss in not mentioning. Send $1 and a stamp to Bri:
85 Scituate Ave., Scituate MA 02066 And Bri also does the very entertaining
Puke zine that is full of vomit stories by various folks which is also $1 and a
stamp and in addition to that she also runs Broken Distro which carries a bunch
of cool zines and other stuff.
CHATTY PIG #3
On the inside front cover this zine is
referred to as “Trifling tales of grown up life” and that’s
pretty much what this zine is...well, maybe not the “trifling” part,
but Abby seems like a fairly “normal” well adjusted woman with a
husband and a “real” job...it begs the question-what the Hell is she
doing a zine for? I though only misfits were allowed to do zines...go figure,
huh? anyhow, the highlight of this issue is Abby’s look back at life on
her 30th birthday including some sweet though somewhat sappy letters her
parents wrote her when she was a baby, plenty of embarrassing photos, and
excerpts from her childhood diary (including pearls of wisdom like “I wish
I could meet Rick Springfield” well, dammit, don’t we all?) complete
with Abby’s comments on it as an adult. The whole diary piece was
interesting and funny and made me wish I kept a diary as a kid so I could rip
of the concept. I also enjoyed her article “I wish you hadn’t said
that” which featured...well, things Abby wishes people hadn’t said to
her. There was also an article on women’s magazines, which was
interesting, but the accompanying collage of various headlines taken from such
magazines was a bit much. Interesting at first, but she included a few too many
pages of it...though I must admit, I never realized how warped these magazines
were so it was interesting in that respect, there was just a little too much of
it. This is a very enjoyable zine and well worth checking out. Send $2 or a
trade to: Abby Koch PO Box 06311, Chicago IL 60606 Chattypig@yahoo.com
SHORT REVIEWS
Here are a couple short reviews. Some are
zines Davida sent me that I didn’t think needed full reviews for one
reason or another, some are zines I liked but just don’t have a lot to say
about…
MODERN INDUSTRY- FUTURISTA VOLS. 1 + 2
Great comics
anthology of various small press cartoonists views on the future. Would’ve
written a full review, but to tell the damn truth every single review I’ve
ever read of any comics anthology has been exactly the same- some great stuff,
a ton of good stuff, a few duds...you all know the score. Throw in a few names-
vol. 1 features Ben Catmull, Jesse Reklaw, Lark Pien, Sarah Oleksyk. Vol. 2
features Billy McKay, Bruce Orr, Androo Robinson, Chris Larson, Mike Tolento,
Sean Granton and of course the average reader has no idea who most of these
people are so it ends up being a waste of space. See, this review may be
boring, but this anthology is pretty damn good - each volume is $4 and the 2
volumes together are worth $8 but if you’re cheap/broke I’d go for
vol. 2. Send your $ to: Shawn Granton 3719 Hawthorne Blvd #243, Portland OR
97214 Shawntfr@hotmail.com
INNER SWINE VOL. 7 ISSUE 1
Davida sent me this one, but I
didn’t give it a full review because this issue features an excerpt of a
letter of mine and...I dunno. Didn’t seem kosher to give it a full review.
But it’s a damn fine zine. send $2 or a trade to: Jeff Somers PO Box 3024,
Hoboken NJ 07030 mreditor@innerswine.com; www.innerswine.com
THE FALLING CONTEST- A Ped Xing comic
Another one Davida
sent me. I love Androo’s comics. The stories are always good, the art is
always beautiful, but it just seems to me that Davida reviews at least one of
his comics in every issue of XEROGRAPHY DEBT. Not sure Androo really needs any
exposure in here, but you could do a lot worse than sending a couple bucks to:
Androo Robinson 2000 NE 42nd Ave. #302 Portland, OR 97213
pedxing@geeklife.com; www.leekinginc.com/pedxing
And by the way, THE
FALLING CONTEST is good, but so far Androo’s best comic has been JUG. But
like I said, just send Androo a few bucks, say “send me a few comics”
and you won’t be disappointed.
CONTESSA’S TOME #6
Davida sent me this one as well and
it’s the same as Androo - DB gets a ton of well deserved exposure in here
for both CONTESSA’S TOME AND SKUNK’S LIFE and I’m not sure I can
say anything about his zines that Davida hasn’t said already. But this
issue tells the too interesting to be made up story of DD Palmer, the first
ever chiropractor. Very interesting and if you aren’t careful you might
actually learn something. Send $2 to: DB Pedlar 25727 Cherry Hill Rd.,
Cambridge Springs, PA 16403 dbpedlar@toolcity.net
GHOSTRIDE #2
I mention this zine simply because it’s a
zine about biking but for some unexplained reason it features a centerfold of
some (not very attractive) naked dude. Not sure what the purpose is, but the
guy is on a bike so I guess that makes it appropriate for a bike zine. Who the
Hell knows, but this is a fun zine and worth reading whether you’re into
bike riding or not. Mature readers should send $2 to: Ghostride 69 Berkeley
St., Sommerville, MA 02413 Skunk@skul.org; www.skul.org/ghostride
So I thought I was done with my reviews, but then Davida e-mails me and tells me that she plans on doing an expanded issue to make up for the long gap between this issue and the last one. I said sure, but then the problem arose of what exactly to review. Then I came up with a gimmick- classic zine reviews. The following are older zines that I love for whatever reason and feel the need to tell the world about.
COMETBUS #42
Cometbus is something of a legendary zine and
to be quite honest I don’t get it. I think Aaron Cometbus is a talented
writer, but I don’t think he’s the most talented writer in all of
zines. There are others with more talent and still others who don’t have
his talent but do more with the talent they do have. Now Cometbus has been
going on for about 50 issues now, so obviously some people are loving it and
yes, Aaron deserves a ton of respect for what he’s done- I believe
he’s is the originator of a lot of the zine clichés we are all sick
off... not that clichés are good, but to invent a cliché means
you did something that a lot of people want to copy and damned if that
isn’t impressive. But as much as I respect Cometbus, most of the issues I
read have been over long and under interesting... until I read #42. With this
issue Cometbus finally lives up to it’s considerable hype and delivers an
issue that is funny, touching and extremely well written... a lot of times you
hear people say that something is very well written “for a zine”
Well, this issue of Cometbus is extremely well written for anything, for any
writer on any level this is a great piece of work. I’m not sure why this
issue clicked with me in a way that no other issue has, but it really did.
Recommended to anyone who likes good writing. Send $3 to: BBT PO Box 4279
Berkeley CA 94704
SHOUTING AT THE POSTMAN #12
For this issue only Ken changes
the title to “Fist Fucking the Postman” and declares it “the
Offensive issue.” S@TP is always an enjoyable read, but this issue really
tickled my fancy. The idea behind this issue is that people nowadays are just
too easily offended so we should set aside the month of Nov. to be National
Offend Everyone month and he decided to do a zine that would just be as
offensive as possible. I really like this idea... this issue was published in
1995 and sadly, people are a lot more easily offended now than they were
then... especially zinesters...if ever a group needed a good offending,
it’s zinesters... maybe I’ll try to talk Ken into doing a new
offensive issue. Because dammit, we need it now more than ever. Send a stamp
to: Ken B. Miller PO Box 101 Newtown PA 18940-0101 Kenbmiller@aol.com;
members.aol.com/satpostman
THE IMP #2
So have you ever seen those Jack T Chick tracts?
Those little religious comics that people frequently hand you in the street?
They’re pretty insane and the fellow who creates them is one Jack T Chick.
Now religion is pretty nutty in the first place, let’s face it, but
ol’ Jack takes it to a whole new level. From what I can gather, in
Jack’s world the only people who aren’t going to Hell... well, I
think Jack is the only one who’s safe. Anyhow, this zine is an examination
of these tracts and the oddball theories contained within. It’s a
fascinating glimpse into the world of Jack T Chick... and as odd as the guy is
and as bizarre as his theories are, you’ve got to admire the guy for being
dedicated to his cause. This zine is a must read if you’ve ever seen any
of Jack T Chick’s tracts and still worth reading even if you haven’t.
Send $5 ($5?! Yes, but it’s worth it. Trust me. ) to Dan Raeburn 1454 W
Summerdale 2C, Chicago, IL 60640
Too new to be a classic, but I truly love the URBAN HERMITT and issue 11 is the best and funniest issue yet and I just wanted to mention it. Send $2 or a trade to Sarah O’Donnell 1122 E Pike #910 Seattle WA 98122
ACE HERBERT’S JOURNAL (JUNE 2001)
free if you have
Internet access
Romperace / Ace Herbert
http://www.livejournal.com/users/romperace
inside: His diary.
Stories of being a transperson and a women’s studies major. Thoughts on
“femmephobia” among gay men.
quote: “anyway. queen
latifah is on, and she has a boner for a hott cop who is getting a make
over.”
overall: Too soon to tell.
BATTERIES NOT
INCLUDED
$3 (U.S. addresses), $4 (non-U.S.)
Richard Freeman, 513
North Central Ave, Fairborn OH 45324 USA
BNI@aol.com
note: This
is a new mailing address!
inside: Discussions of porn.
CUL-DE-SAC #6 THE RECREATION ISSUE (FEBRUARY 2001)
$1
Liz Saidel
& Julie Halpern, PO Box 6074, Buffalo Grove IL 60089-6074 USA
cul-de-sac@prontomail.com
inside: The article titles sum it up
pretty well: Requiem for Plaza Verde (even though it’s not dead yet).
Andy, the dick-licking dog. Car accidents that were my fault. All Girl Scouts
go to hell. Forensics expert. Bagel bitch. Penile painter. Starbucks tastes
like ass. People my parents would have stay with us when they went out of town.
I went to Denmark all I got was this lousy bastard sword. Audience
participation, and I don’t mean that stupid clap your hands crap. Luv and
fish eyes. Check my butt.
quote: “I YAM A PAPER AEROPLANE OF
LURVE AND I BRING YOU OUTA TIME GUITAR PYROTECHNICS OF THE 3RD KIND!!”
overall: I wish they were my friends.
DWAN
$2 (cash
only), free to prisoners
Donny Smith, Box 411, Swarthmore PA 19081 USA
dsmith3@swarthmore.edu
http://www.geocities.com/dwanzine
note:
This is my zine!
FACTURA NO PAGADA #6 (NO DATE)
$1 or
trade
Lissette Orellana, HC-02 Box 4788, Guayama PR 00784 USA
facturanopagada@hotmail.com
on the cover: Dogs play in a rock band
called We’re Dead.
inside: Badly drawn cartoons.
quote: “PARA de dibujar tanto la A[NARQUIA] y empieza a
VIVIRLA[NARQUIA]” (Stop DRAWING A[NARCHY] so much and start LIVING
it).
overall: Refreshingly poetic.
FOLDED MEMORIES
VOLUME III: THE COSMOLOGY OF THE BABYNOUS CULT (March 28, 2001)
no
price ($2?)
The Babynous Cult, 110 1/2 State Ave, Bremerton WA 98337-1241
USA
babynous@krl.org
on the cover: Star-nosed mole, with a
close-up of the nose and a star-shaped machine part for comparison. Inside the
cover, Library of Congress subject headings.
inside: Snapshots of
family, friends, pets, and coworkers, with allusive, nostalgic, snide,
philosophic, and personal captions.
quote: “She seemed to have
only two or three modes of behaviour. / One was endlessly smoking cigarettes /
& filling in crossword puzzle magazines. / Another was screaming
hysterically. / Between these two dominant activities, there were / innumerable
fuzzy states which usually incorporated / ingredients of the other two. // i
now loath both crossword puzzles & smoking, / which i think are the
stupidest human endeavors, / except for all the others.”
overall: Hermetic.
LIBRARY BONNET 4 (2001)
$2 (cash
only)
Tommy & Julie, 1315-I N Tustin #259, Orange CA 92867 USA
Fulie_4j@yahoo.com
on the cover: Cute bunny, meat cleaver, hot dog
sticker, and the maddening “One-half of the errors (is, are)
unnecessary.” inside: Julie’s thoughts on ponies, catties,
short pants, and Sandy Duncan. Tommy’s story of censorship at his library
(it’ll get you angry). Julie’s secret places in her library. Tommy
musings on “A car crash. A granny. An exposed penis and balls. A
mysterious pot of chicken.” Interviews with Pansy Division and a band I
never heard of. Poems. Song lyrics. Hilariously cute cartoons.
quote: “I still don’t know how to do very many things on my
computer. I figured out how to put a box around text today and felt like Marie
Curie discovering penicillin.”
overall: They’re such cute
librarians! How could I not love them?
my confession: I bought this
at Tower Records. I rarely go into Tower, let alone buy anything there (evil,
evil corporations). But I had a half hour to kill and there it was.
MICHAEL’S JOURNAL PAGE—A GAY TEEN’S PERSONAL PAGE (MAY
2001)
free if you have Internet access
Winson Shuen
http://www.primemasteronline.com/bcpmx/daily
inside: It’s
Winson diary. His friends, his job, his classes at the Rochester Institute of
Technology, his video projects. Strangely, even though he’s not a
Christian, his personal struggles with Christian fundamentalist teachings on
gayness (those bastards got to mess with everyone).
quote:
“But anyways, not to sound like a total sissy, total wuss, total faggot
about the roller coaster, I’m just saying I am scared of Roller Coasters
with my life (ironic eh?)”
overall: So open, so funny, so
fragile. Makes me want to be his uncle or big brother or something. You’ll
want to go back and read all the “back issues.”
WATCH THE
CLOSING DOORS 14 (2001)
$10 for 4 issues (cash preferred)
Fred
Argoff, 1800 Ocean Parkway #B-12, Brooklyn NY 11223-3037
on the
cover: Photo of a New York subway sign.
inside: Meticulous
descriptions of subway rides. Histories of subway lines. Photos of subways and
related architecture. A kind of archeology of subway signage.
overall: Why have I avoided this zine for so long? Just the right mix of
obsession and documentation. Exactly what I want from a zine.
how this
zine invaded my sleep: The night after I read it I dreamt I was in Manhattan,
trying to get somewhere specific. But not sure where. In a tunnel under Times
Square, heading to the cross-town shuttle, but couldn’t walk fast enough.
People kept bumping me from behind, pushing me forward along with the crowd,
right into the train car.
We came out under Grand Central Station and the
crowd started pushing me along again. But I knew there was somewhere I needed
to go. Where were the signs? None of the staircases were marked. I finally
chose one that the crowds were avoiding. It brought me up into a hotel
restaurant. Beautiful nineteenth-century ambience, lace and white
tablecloths.
I step out onto the street, into a scary, unfamiliar
neighborhood. Walk to the corner, flag down a bus. It’s a double-decker.
From the top deck I can see all the things in New York you usually can’t
see. How everyone is keeping livestock on their roof, how the ocean goes right
up into some people’s backyards, the fields of corn behind the rows of
buildings.
WINSON SHUEN’S JOURNAL (JUNE 2001)
free if
you have Internet access
Winson Shuen
http://www.livejournal.com/users/bcpmx
inside: A much briefer
continuation of Michael’s Journal Page (see above).
quote:
“I’m currently in Hong Kong being sick in this very very hot, humid
and homophobic environment.. and how are you sweetie?”
my
confession: I printed this out. I just can’t read things on a computer
screen. I’m very good at skimming a computer screen and highlighting,
cutting, and pasting. But anything of any length I print out and read while
I’m riding the train or eating lunch or lying in bed. I know it goes
against the whole concept of hypertext and it’s doubly environmentally
damaging—not only killing trees with all the paper I use, but killing
everything else with all the electricity used to keep all the server farms
going that run the Internet, not to mention all the toxic waste generated by
microchip factories, and all the Third World workers going blind manufacturing
our computers—but—but—I also printed out the other
e-publications reviewed here.
Fred Argoff (Brooklyn! & Watch the Closing Doors)
RAMBLINGS--THAT IS TO SAY, INTRODUCTION
I used to work in the book publishing industry. Glamorous reputation, and always good for the Impressed Look from Audience. But slave labor nonetheless, save for the owners of the companies. Nowadays, however, I have a fascinating new job as a subway conductor with the New York City Transit Authority or, if you're wondering how I expect to relate this to zine reviews, I have kissed Corporate America and its demands goodbye. I believe more strongly than ever in zines and zinedom. And Davida must surely have a sixth sense about this, because the batch of zines she sent me for reviewing are all right in line with my feelings. People magazine be damned! Let's see what was in the overstuffed envelope this time...
So here's CLAMOR. Full sized, professionally published, and it wouldn't look out of place at all sitting there at your corner newsstand. What's going on here? Al, but the veneer of professionalism and corporate respectability disappears like bad air out of a just-opened window when you delve inside. This is a zinc, no question about it. Each and every one of the writers are people just like you and me--lots of them produce their own zines as well. They have something to say, and they say it. This particular issue, Number 8, is divided into departments called Places, People, Economics, Media, Sexuality & Relationships, Culture (I especially liked editor Jason Kucsma's piece, "Hopped Up on H2O"), and Politics. Quality production values? As we say here in Brooklyn where I live, fuhgeddaboudit! Subs are $18 for six issues or single copies for $4 from Become the Media (which you ought to do, anyway!), P.O. Box 1225, Bowling Green, OH 43402.
Just about at the opposite end of the spectrum from the zinc reviewed above is SKORCH--typed, cut & pasted ... hey, I love it! My favorite part of issue #2 was Katjusa's job-related rant, because let's face it, who among us hasn't screamed and yelled about some job(s) we've had. Probably working for a Boss from Hell, too. Anyway, the featured piece in this issue was a kind of diary of her year in Europe, which resulted in the surprising conclusion that she thinks of herself as an American. These things will happen, I suppose. My summation: one must hope that there will be more issues of SKORCH, because I want to see them! No price listed (I can never figure why anyone would do that), so probably a buck or two lands you a copy, from Katjusa Cisar, 1936 Commonwealth Ave., Madison, WI 53705-3932.
Right on the top of the first page, you see the title FOR THE CLERISY, and I bet you're wondering what kind of religious tract this is going to be, right? Wrong-o, kiddies! "Clerisy," if you don't happen to have a dictionary right at hand for cracking open, means people who read books for the sheer pleasure of it. People who actually read--what brand of subversive activity is this? It's the zine brand of subversive activity, and a highly recommended one it is, too. Craziness and lunacy seem to be carefully edited out, and what we're left with is still fascinating commentary on what's Out There, it's just that it happens to be expressed very well. And this issue, Vol. 8 #42, takes a sneak peek into the cheap laughs department with a selection of quotes from our current, unintentionally hilarious, and selected rather than elected President, Mr. Shrub himself. So go ahead, frighten your family and friends who probably don't know what the word means and join the clerisy today. Just $2 or trade from Brant Kresovich, P.O. Box 404, Getzville, NY 14068-0404.
Many is the time I've heard of a zinc called THE INNER SWINE, and now I can say I've read it, too. And not just any issue, but the special theme on depression. It was actually not depressing at all to read; one might go so far as to say, it was rather a hoot. Without question, Jeff and his cronies (who say they accept submissions, but do most of the writing anyway) write with a twinkle in the eye. How can you really, truly be depressed when you're titling stuff, "You Wouldn't Know Crazy if Charles Manson was Eating Fruit Loops on Your Front Porch," that's what I want to know. Plus, the Inner Swine Suicide Enabling System--which is a hilarious read, but you wouldn't have thought of it unless you had an inner swine in the first place. $2 (a frickin' bargain, as it rightly says on the cover) from Jeff Somers, 293 Griffith St. (#9), Jersey City, NJ 07307. Or, of course, you could really rack up the savings with a full subscription, $5 per year.
Someone once sent a mild criticism my way because I tend to write positive zine reviews. In reply, I said something like, yo, waddaya want me to do if I happen to like the material that comes my way? And for yet more stuff I happen to like, there's MUSEA, which both covers what's happening in the arts, and advises you not to trust anything glossy--generally good advice. #97 was a special issue on education, with a feature article asking the (basically unnecessary) question, Is There a Dunce Cap Big Enough to Fit Every School in America? You know you'll enjoy reading that! Then, #98 returns to the usual, including the contest and ways to win Free Cash. There is an art revolution going on, you know, and one of the ways you can get involved is to start thinking. This zinc will give you a kick start in case. you need one. And the choice is yours: free sample issue, $6 for 6 months, or $10 for one year. Art S. Revolutionary, 4000 Hawthorne (#5), Dallas, TX 75219.
Finally out of me this time, there's SLUGFEST LTD., The International Zine of New Voices. That pretty much tells you what to expect, with editors as well as contributors from an impressive variety of nations around the world. Whether or not you're going to like this zine depends mostly on how you like your contents. If, let's say, you insist on everything revolving around a particular subject, then just say thanks but no thanks. If the thought of poetry--ANY poetry, even just a tiny little haiku--causes you to break out in a sweat, then the less said, the better. But if you're curious to see how our fellow planet dwellers are expressing themselves, you might want to check out a copy. You might even find yourself inspired to send in some of your own scribblings--hard to imagine, I know, but then, you can never tell when inspiration will strike. A sample copy of this full-sized zine is $5.50 from SlugFest Ltd., P.O. Box 1238, Simpsonville, SC 29681-1238. (See? This just proves my point about never being able to tell: when someone mentions South Carolina, you don't immediately think of an international litzine, do you? But here it is!)
William P. Tandy (Eight-Stone Press)
THE FISH THAT WALKS LIKE A MAN
I have been placed under arrest on a charge that has no name.
But you’ll have to wait for the rest of that story, because, right now, it’s time for lunch.
It’s this sort of attention - equal time, as it were - to the Details, large and small, that keeps me corresponding with Eric Lyden. The smallest facial creases that belie which muscles, and expressions, are used most often. An obvious change in the weather or a favorite soft drink. The corroded heart of reasoning, no matter how heinous or beautiful. Camus at 7-11, where he lays his money on the counter just the same, whether he likes it or not.
Mr. Lyden readily holds the mirror before the crowd, but unlike many others that are all-too-willing to try the same, he does so from within the heart of the Swarming Menace, revealing, in the process, his own reflection as well. He is the fish that walks like a man, moving constantly, desperately, just to be able to breathe, because to stop means death. Most impressive, indeed, from the man that taught me All I Know about the WCW.
True, he’s not the only such face in that crowd, but I haven’t known of many others. Paul, an old friend of mine, is the only person that leaps to mind. And it was of Paul that I was reminded upon reading that first letter from Mr. Lyden.
Ah, yes, Paul.
The phone rang.
“Hello?”
“It’s Paul.”
His voice was calm but severe.
“What’s the matter?”
“Well,” he said. “I just got back to my room. I was down the hall taking a shower, just standing there, thinking about work and life and things in general, and that’s when it hit me.”
Christ, I thought, a communal bathroom. What a place to have an epiphany.
But it sounded serious. Life-altering, even.
“What the hell happened?”
“I looked down,” he said, “and that’s when it dawned on me: I’m not even breaking a fucking inch! It was damned cold in there.”
That’s fucking great, Paul, I thought. Thanks for the insight.
But even Freud took care to point out that, despite all else, a cigar is still, sometimes, just that and nothing more.
Which is an important thing to remember, because there’s a fuck of a lot in the world that is what it is, and just as much that is that and then some. And Mr. Lyden, the FISH WITH LEGS, precariously straddles that chasm, moving, swimming, walking, evolving…
Trying to breathe.
$1+stamp/trade; Eric Lyden, 224 Moraine St., Brockton, MA 02301; Ericfishlegs@aol.com
It turns you into a sleep-deprived zombie, makes you question your sanity, impairs the powers of correspondence, and sends you careening through the extremes of exhilaration and despair. At the same time, you get to go to work in your pajamas, and are afforded endless opportunities to act as silly as you want, all in front of an adoring audience. Ah, parenthood! But most babies do take naps (eventually), and in these all-too-brief respites from the fray, the zine-reading parent (or anyone, for that matter) may wish to peruse one of the following.
THE EAST VILLAGE INKY
122 Dean St., Brooklyn, NY 11201
$2
#9 By far my favorite parenting publication, and easily one of
the best zines I’ve read, Ayun’s accounts of life with her daughter
Inky (and recent addition Milo), copiously illustrated with hilarious cartoons,
kick butt over most “parenting” literature. Ayun’s vignettes
capture the turbulence and humor of life with kids, without being at all
cutesy. A recent issue (#9) featured a description of the logistics involved in
leaving the house with a toddler and infant, and a list of the evil
characteristics of her occasional alter-ego, “Bitch Mother”
(“#15: breaking the golden rule right and left; #1: frumpy old clothes
which she hates; #16: pinched and humorless”). The issue’s highlight
was the account of the birth of Milo (“And then, boy howdy, I’ve
never been so happy to feel like acid has been splashed on my genitals because
you know what that means! A head! A big one like his mother’s!”). The
East Village Inky is a revitalizing read for this mama. It reminds me that
despite chaos, fatigue, and getting peed on regularly, parenthood really is
exciting, adventurous and HIP! (There is a more recent issue, but it was last
seen within reach of Mr. Baby, and is probably in shreds by now.)
#12 By far my favorite publication relating to parenthood, and easily one of the best zines I’ve read, Ayun’s accounts of life with her daughter Inky - routinely portrayed in a "f#@* all y’all" t-shirt - and recent addition Milo, copiously illustrated with hilarious cartoons, kick butt over most "parenting" literature. Ayun’s vignettes capture the turbulence and humor of life with kids, without falling victim to the dreaded Cutesy Syndrome. The latest issue offers a travelogue of Brooklyn spots, instructions for making a zine, and confessions of a sporadic housekeeper, ("I tried to honor my home by flicking lavendar scented water…frankly, my home was too gross to enjoy the ritual"). Plus video and zine reviews, and a wonderful drawing of Ayun shampooing her two kids while singing, "Glow Little Glowworm." The East Village Inky is a revitalizing read for this mama. It reminds me that despite chaos, fatigue, and getting peed on regularly, parenthood really can be exciting, adventurous and HIP!
HIP MAMA #24
P.O. Box 12525, Portland OR 97212
$3.95
Hip Mama, “The Parenting Zine” is a reader-written zine containing an
eclectic assortment of articles, poetry, music reviews and advice. It’s
feminist, progressive, indignant, funny, and supportive of moms outside the
mainstream of motherhood, especially teen moms (Ariel Gore, the
editor/publisher was one, so she knows). This issue’s got a memoir of
growing up in the Unification Church (sad and scary) music reviews (Ida, the
Dolly Ranchers, Jai Agnish, Giant Sand), and an article about a bunch of folks
in Portland who get together to sing union songs (sign me up!). There’s
also words of wisdom on raising daughters (“We fear they will say
something about us that we can’t bear to hear.”), and a profile of
the Hip Mama of the Year, a coordinator for a food bank. My favorite in this
issue was a piece ripping into the recent ad campaign to prevent teen
pregnancy, which features pictures of teen with words like “cheap”,
“reject” and “dirty”. Just what a pregnant teen needs to
hear. HM can contain somewhat froofy stuff, represented this time by the nearly
incomprehensible ramblings of a woman who apparently wants welfare mothers to
move to Hawaii and live with the “whales and dolphins [who] bear witness
to and dance to our aspirations of love.” But on the whole, this zine is
well worth the money and its arrival gladdens the stressed-out souls of mamas
everywhere.
10 THINGS JESUS WANTS YOU TO KNOW
8315 Lake City Way NE, PMB
192, Seattle WA 98115
10 Things focuses on the punk-underground-hardcore
community, and is not a zine about parenting. However, in an issue that came
out in ’99 (and was reprinted in The Zine Yearbook), editor Dan Halligan
decided to interview a bunch of punk parents, to find out how they managed to
“work, raise and support a kid, and still have any time left for punk and
hardcore in their lives.” The result, “I Can’t Believe I Have
Punk Rock Parents!” is a most insightful set of interviews. I have no
connection at all to this community, yet I was struck by how universal the
concerns and joys of parenthood are. When one of the parents laments that there
are no playrooms in places where bands play, and another rhapsodizes about the
sight of her kid’s “cute little naked butt running around the
house,” I knew exactly how they felt. The interviews touch on religion,
birth, breastfeeding, music, and the philosophical reasons for having children.
Although not all three-year-olds necessarily enjoy dancing to the Misfits and
Bikini Kill, every person striving to stay true to their values and raise up
kids at the same time (or considering it) will find common ground with these
punk rock parents.
EAT YER HEART OUT, MARTHA #2
316 S. Willard Ave., Hampton,
VA 23663
$2
Subtitled, "A journal of poetic terrorism, radical
motherhood, and practical autonomy," Eat Yer Heart Out, Martha deals with
"parenting, sustainable living, independent health care and mental health". I
really enjoyed this zine, which is a nifty combination of passionately personal
writing and instructions for cool DIY projects. Candyce tells why and how she
homeschools her eight-year-old son, describes her struggle with manic
depression and the doctors who sought to "treat" her, and explains various
methods of natural birth-control. She gives advice on growing plants from
grocery store items (sweet potatoes, beans, limes and the like), and tells you
how to make such items of homemade fashion as a duct tape belt, soap,
hand-dipped candles, and a skirt from a pillowcase. Candyce is an articulate
and powerful writer; she comes accross as the kind of person you’d want to
live next door to, so that you could do neat projects together, while hashing
out the most complex issues of life.
"CRAB LEGS"
There are many walls around us in the world
today; all of them are barriers we could do without. Who built these walls?
What holds them up? These are questions which I would have answers for, but
there are walls around the answers, too. There are two ways to look at the
underground press. Most people see it as a dried up, empty stream, with a damp
spot or a trickle in places. Look further up along its course-- there you will
find a wall, a mighty wall, an official, almighty WALL. This wall is, in fact,
a dam, and behind it lies a vast and sparkling reservoir-- the world of
zines.
Once I tapped this reservoir in earnest, I was awash in fresh and vigorous ideas. At the moment, I am completely inundated; there is no way to stop the incoming rush now-- not that I'd care to. My empty stream runs deep and swift once more. The walls that kept my world so dry have buckled, and fallen! This is what a truly FREE press can do for people: it lets us see the world for what it truly is, not what it gets paid to look like. To me, zines (on PAPER) are the wellspring of free thought amid the tempestuous, overwhelming, and ultimately undrinkable sea of "mainstream" mantra and. dogma.
This is not to say that having to SWIM all the time is just fun and laughs and squirting water. As I said before, I am inundated, flooded, SWAMPED with zines at the moment, I mean hundreds of them, and so a certain review-burnout is taking hold of me. I think the main problem with reviewing zines is that a zine is above all meant to be read, not just read about. This is always in the back of my mind when I am reading a zine I enjoy, and want to share with others.
It is so much better to just put the zine into another person's HANDS, and let them review it for themselves. Well, dear reader, I am not beside you now, though I'd like to think that is your sigh I hear so gently sounded by my cheek. All I can really give you is the next best thing-- a glimpse of the strange and beautiful fish in the zine-stream at the moment, written as I sit up on its bank and rest my limbs for a spell. From where I sit so contemplative and melancholy, I can see clear down to the river bottom; and among the countless living things I see, these are the ones whose colors shine brightest as they pass me by:
BROOKLYN! #32
Fred Argoff
1800 Ocean Pkwy. #B-12
Brooklyn, NY 11223
($2/trade; 24 pp. digest)
Charming, detailed,
endearing zine all about Fred's beloved hometown. Filled with gorgeous photos
taken by Fred. Theme issue: abandoned buildings. Inspired!
BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED, May 2001
Richard Freeman 513 N.
Central Ave. Fairborn, OH 45324
($3 US/$4 WORLD; 12 pp. newsletter)
Top-shelf zine about sex and the sex "industry." Intelligent, enlightened,
often humorous. All-text. Classy and raunchy at the same time.
HOW2ZINE #1
Kyle Bravo PO BOX 14523 Richmond, VA 23221
($2-$3/donation; 112 pp. digest)
Massive and diverse compilation of DIY
tips from zines. Includes making wine, vegan photo-developing, g-spot tips, car
maintenance, human-hair paintbrushes, and on and on. A keeper; a bargain!
THOUGHTWORM #4
Sean Stewart 2216 Terrace Way Columbia, SC
29205
($2 US/$3 WORLD; 28 pp. digest)
Read-in-one-sitting personal
narratives palmetto bugs, working shit-jobs with a college degree in pocket;
getting married the simple way, defeating alcoholism, hating the telephone.
Excellent conversational writing.
SUNBURN #15
Karl Thomsen POBOX 2061 Winnipeg, MB R3C-3R4
**CANADA
($4; 40 pp. full-size PLUS 20 pp. half-legal)
"Beyond Words
2s Underground Wordless Comic Chaos." Packed with superb comic art, collected
from around the world. No words. Burst its seams with fantastic artwork--
20-page supplement is included to display the spillover. A magnificent DIY
publishing achievement.
KING-CAT C0MICS #59
John Porcellino POBOX 881 Elgin, IL
60121
($2; 32 pp. digest)
Eye-pleasing, accomplished line-drawings
about a young man's life. Earthy and sweet.
SHOUTING AT THE POSTMAN #45
Ken Miller POBOX 101 Newtown, PA
18940
($1/trade; 12 pp. digest)
"Weekend in Hell." Visit a friend who
lives in unbelievably trashy circumstances feel deep sadness for her troubled
son, a lovable and sorely neglected boy of 8. Also: the usual extensive list of
active, up-to-date mail-art contacts.
IMAGINE #3
John Johnson POBOX 8145 Reno, NV 89507
($3;
68 pp. digest)
Lucid, interesting, hopeful essays about living life without
telling others what to do. News from the wire services you don't see in the
newspapers (Johnson works for a paper). Matter-of-fact style-- truthful,
candid, understanding. Thoroughly engrossing and enriching.
Davida Gypsy Breier (Leeking Ink & The Glovebox Chronicles)
Due to the gap between issues I had a teeming box of stuff to review. If your zine isn’t reviewed below it is possible I set it aside for the next issue. I’m sorry the reviews are shorter and blunter than usual. I debated with quality over quality, but decided that all the zines listed below had value and to include as many as possible.
Zines that Stand Out from the Rest
CHASING SNAKES IN CHARM CITY
An Eight-Stone Press
Publication
I should have sent a copy of this out to another reviewer, but
I forgot to, thus you get the most biased review in this whole issue. He is
gifted with the ability to create dialog that throws you into the settings he
paints. Chasing Snakes in Charm City is a tale told of St. Patrick’s
Day…Baltimore style. “ Recommended.
$2
William P. Tandy
PO Box 963, Havre de Grace, MD 21078
esp@leekinginc.com;
www.leekinginc.com
DIACRITICA PRESS
Ok, technically Cali doesn’t have a
new paper version of any of his publications available, but his website is
really worth your time. He is putting all sorts of new content online. Check
out www.diacritica.com if you want first hand accounts of what is really going
on in the world; “CNN is too busy saluting the cascade of a few megatons
of western technology on Kabul to notice (and probably wouldn't care anyway),
but war has broken out in the Georgian breakaway province of Abkhazia, and
there's a very real possibility that Moscow may be pulled into the
conflict.”
Cali Ruchala
His is moving soon, so check the website
for a new address: www.diacritica.com
cali@diacritica.com
DWAN #30
If you like poetry, you’ll love Dwan. If you
enjoy the revelations of letters and journals, this is for you. A favorite
since I got hooked on this zine stuff. (I’m currently reading #31 and it
is fantastic!)
$2 (free to prisoners)
Donny Smith
PO Box 411,
Swarthmore, PA 19081
Dsmith3@swarthmore.edu;
www.geocities.com/westhollywood/village/6982
THE FALLING CONTEST
A Ped Xing Comic
The Falling Contest
is Androo’s “broken-fingered, split-lipped, scraped-kneed,
busted-nosed, front-teeth-knocked-out valentine to sisters and brothers
everywhere.” The art and story are beautiful, as always. He also has a new
mini-mini, “Satan Scores a Babe,” which is more perverse than his
usual fare. Send this man money now before he gets all famous and isn’t as
easily swayed by dollar bills in the mail!
A buck for each, send a SASE
for a catalog.
Androo Robinson
2000 NE 42nd Ave. #302 Portland, OR
97213
Pedxing@geeklife.com; www.leekinginc.com/pedxing
FARM PULP #’S 37, 40, 41
#37 Millenial Dinner Music
#40 Fringe Element
#41 The Birthplace of Aviation
Each time I read an
issue of Farm Pulp, I am reminded that some of the finest modern writers are
not limited to bookstore shelves, and are, in fact, among us. I look forward to
reading a new Farm Pulp in the same way I look forward to reading a new Tom
Robbins or Kurt Vonnegut book. There is something about Gregory’s writing
style that greatly appeals to me. Oh, and the design part deserves equal merit.
Recommended.
Issue #41 is $5, back issues are $3.
Gregory Hischak
PO Box 2151, Seattle, WA 98111
Greg.hischak@wa.thinkinc.com
FOR THE CLERISY VOL 8, #43 (JUNE 2001)
Stern Words for
Readers
Brant’s deceptively simply format for talking about books and
things that interest him is quite engaging. This one covers work issues,
Charles Manson, humiliation, the Stanford Prison Experiment, the Byzantine
Empire, and the 8th World Wide Party. Also include are letters and Brant’s
responses. If you read for personal enjoyment, you’ll probably like
this.
$2/Trade/The Usual
Brant Kresovich
PO Box 404, Getzville, NY
14068
Kresovich@hotmail.com
HAVE YOU SEEN THE DOG LATELY?
Throbbing Orange issue from
June 2001
Winter/Spring 2001
I love The Dog. It is a smart look at
nonsense. The ladies will fill your head with circus peanuts, tests for sexual
attraction, bad candy, mind maps, surrealist games for slumber parties,
“The Beats,” the definition of “yobs,” Auntie Mame, and
Rizzo. Fun!
$1
Jenny & Serena Makofsky and Megan
465 38th
St.
Oakland, CA 94609
HOW2ZINE
“A source for
practical and inspirational DIY guides to actively pursuing more independent,
self-sufficient and empowering lifestyles.” This thick zine covers
everything from making a woodstove to how to play a guitar to wine and puppet
making and toilet repair. Contributions and reprints come from all over
zinedom. Cool collection of ideas and suggestions.
$2or$3/Donation
Kyle
Bravo
PO Box 14523, Richmond, VA 23221
How2distro@hotmail.com
THE INNER SWINE
Ya know, it is sort of irritating how Jeff manages
to fill 60 pages every other month, do it well, and make it appear so
effortless. Christ, if he didn’t drink so much he’d probably escalate
to 150 pages a month…then again if he didn’t drink so much, there
probably wouldn’t be the same fuel to his fire. Anyhow, each issue is
packed full of his commentary on life, really good fiction (which makes it easy
to see why he has also recently published a book), and more to round out the
bulging issues. Very worth your time.
$2
Jeff Somers
PO Box 3024,
Hoboken, NJ 07030
mreditor@innerswine.com; www.innerswine.com
MINUSONE 1.0
Dave has been on a hiatus from zine publishing for the
last few years, but he is back with a new (relatively) personal zine. This
lovely publication is an ode to all things geeky! As he says in the
introduction it is “a zine for and about geeks, geek culture, geek topics,
geek issues, etc.” He introduces us to some of his favorite geeky things,
such as the Apollo Guidance Computer, Unix vs. Mac, software reviews, website
architecture, audio-gear, favorite movies, books, tv shows, and albums.
I’ve known Dave for years, but I learned a lot about him I didn’t
know reading this. The design, complete with spiral binding and color cover on
colored cardstock, is beautiful.
$1/postage
c/o Leeking Inc.
PO Box
963, Havre de Grace, MD 21078
dave@minusonezine.org;
www.minusonezine.org
ON SUBBING # 2
Dave does an excellent
job revealing pieces of his life, beliefs, and character while documenting his
often torturous position as a special education substitution education
assistant. His writing is honest, with a dead-pan style, “I experienced
two firsts: my first toileting duties (I had to help a kid take off his
overalls and diaper, get on the toilet, then dress again), and my first kick in
the testicles. She didn’t mean to, but she didn’t particularly care
that she did.”
Recommended.
?$1
Dave Roche
5415 N. Albina
#314, Portland, OR 97217
PSYCHO.MOTO ZINE #14
Emergency Room
Stories
I started reading this and couldn’t put it down. “PMZ is
a collection of stories, urban legends, and 100% true events. We are attempting
to document obscure modern folklore. History isn’t simply made up of big
events covered by CNN.” And thus you get a painful taste of what life is
like in the emergency room. The stories are wild and generally well-written.
Not for the squeamish, but then again, life’s not for the squeamish. St.
Marks Operation on the back cover is a riot. Excellent, fun-to-read layout.
Recommended.
$1 via post/free elsewhere
PO Box 20223, New York, NY
10009
bobashtray@aol.com
QUESTION EVERYTHING, CHALLENGE
EVERYTHING V6N1, #13
This is the Fifth Anniversary Issue. Speaking of
which, I think any zine publisher that sticks around for 5 years should get a
plaque or free stamps or something. Larry evaluates QECE’s success, and
covers the tactics of right-to-lifers on college campuses, patriotism, World
Car-Free Day, the addictive behavior of Americans, voting, Labor Day, and
Larry’s anniversary trip to Cape Cod. His essay about “Conflict
Diamonds” was especially interesting. As much as I knew about jewelry, I
never thought of how diamonds fund wars. I read this right after Sept. 11th,
and despite having been written in the months prior, the topics and tone were
quite timely.
$2.50
Larry Nocella
406 Main St. #3C, Collegeville,
PA 19426
qece@aol.com
SLUDGE POND #8 (AGAIN, SORT OF)
It
has been a couple of years between issues of this zine, but it was worth the
wait. There was always a certain tone in Sludge Pond that I liked, a sweetness,
and this issue is no different. She has graduated college and has been working
as a children’s librarian. And example of the true nature of her job is
revealed, “’Just so you know,’ the girl says, ‘I got sick
and threw up in that book, but my mom cleaned it off real good, so now you
can’t even tell. It doesn’t even smell! Go ahead, sniff!’”
This is a particularly good example of the per-zine where you finish the last
page feeling like you have spent time with a person, not just their words.
?$1-2
Maria K.
PO Box 356, Hatfield, PA 19440
SPUNK
#7
Violet shows us what is possible when you have boundless faith in
independent media, a sharp design sense, interesting ideas, and a superb
silkscreen set-up. I was wowed by the last issue, but this one goes even
further. This limited edition of 400 was all handwritten and silkscreened and
bound by hand on brown kraft paper. Violet introduces us the latest batch of
zines chosen for burial in a time capsule in Joshua Tree, CA. Also included in
the issue is “Think for Yourself,” an essay by Hugh Mansfield, an
article on the government’s attempt at species control, detailed
instructions on “How to Print with Silkscreen,” dialogs with readers,
and zine reviews. This is well-worth your time and $.
Violet says it is
free, but sending at least $3 would be the right thing to do.
Violet
Jones
PO Box 55336, Hayward, CA 94545
THRIFT SCORE
Don’t get excited, there isn’t a new issue or anything, I just
happened to pick up a few early issues of this zine at Atomic Books and was
reminded just how good Thrift Score was. If you’ve never read Thrift Score
and you like to thrift, get a few copies, you’ll be glad you did. Order
directly from Al Hoff or from Atomic Books (see page 41).
Al Hoff
PO
Box 90282, Pittsburgh, PA 15224
al@girlreporter.com;
members.tripod.com/~Al_Hoff/
Personal
Zines
ANYWHERE BY HERE #3
Catlin took me to task about my review
of Anywhere but Here in the last issue. I admit it wasn’t a fair review,
but much of what she presented was a defensive view of being a teenage sex
worker. I didn’t know how to write a review covering that. In her latest
issue she presents a more rounded examination of her life and experiences. She
discusses crushes, childhood fears, sexual experiences in high school, sleeping
in libraries, and friends.
$1
Catlin
PMB 143, 603 W. 13th St.,
#1A, Austin, TX 78701-1795
Abh_zine@hotmail.com
CONFIDENTIAL
#9
This is a thin, inexplicable collection of essays. There are
romantic meetings in the library, sheets assigned to sex work and sheet
assigned for sleeping, finding the name Woodruff on a grave, and Port
Authority. Fact? Fiction? Regardless, the writing is interesting.
Meg
Woodruff
148 Park Pl., Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Favoritebug@hotmail.com
CRAIG KINGSBURY TALKIN’ #8
This
is a good idea for a zine – take someone old enough to have endless
stories and a capable editor and you’ve got Craig Kingsbury Talkin’.
Kristy, Craig’s daughter, collects his stories, as well as those of his
friends. In this issue Doug Dias offers stories about Craig.
$1
Kingsbury
RR1, Box 592
Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
CUL-DE-SAC
#6
The Recreation Issue
This zine gets credit for making me laugh
and snicker all by myself in the middle of Penn Station. They fondly reflect
upon their strip mall of youth, bagels, attempts to buy Girl Scout outfits for
costumes, people who watched them when they were kids, and a Chris Knox
show.
The passage that caused the uncontrolled snickers:
“…That night Scamp [a fat Chihuahua] wore a plaid, Christmas cape
and was perched on a pillow on his mother’s lap in the car.
At
Arthur’s grandparents house lives a freaky, perverted poodle named Andy.
As Scamp entered the house, Andy followed him around, bouncing off all the
nearby furniture, just to get a good shot at Scamp’s dick. Andy
couldn’t get enough of Scamp’s dick.”
Julie’s
account of unwittingly ending up in a forest in Denmark at a Dungeons and
Dragons event surrounded by large Danish men and equally large slugs was also
side-splittingly funny. Recommended.
$1
Liz Saidel and Julie
Halpern
PO Box 6074, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
Cul-de-sac@prontomail.com
THE EXPLODING GIRL #1
In this
debut issue, Jessica theorizes that Maryland’s high cancer rate is
correspondent with the local obsession of devouring blue crabs. She and her
friend Ashley were extras in “Cecil B, Demented.” I think that
article was a tad short, but then again I milked the “Homicide” thing
for as many issues as I could. Scary dating stories, poetry, and local color.
Good first issue.
$1/Trade
Jessica W.
401 Gristmill Xing, Severna
Park, MD 21146-2321
FORTY-TWO #7
Forty-Two shares
Mark’s interests, which include exploring his new neighborhood, mass
transit, baseball, pirate radio, and APA’s. There is a conversational
rambling to his stories. He offers readers letters and responses similar to For
the Clerisy.
$2/Stamps/Trade
Mark Strickert
2100 W. Commonwealth
#238, Fullerton, CA 92833
IN MY ROOM #3
As I passed through
Bellingham, WA this summer, I went on a local tour with Karlos (Throwrug). A
girl walked up to us and gave us copies of her freshly printed zine. This is
the type of zine utopia he lives in. Anyhow, a few weeks after I got home I was
able to sit down and read In My Room. I don’t generally throw the word
“sweet” around, but it is the one adjective I keep coming back to
regarding this zine. Serene is a recent graduate who works as a dishwasher,
gets crushes, travels to New York, gets mistaken for a boy, enjoys
post-structuralism, and goes to shows. She adapts a college presentation on
Eminem and racial identity for the zine. Very approachable per-zine.
No
price listed ?$1-2
Serene
914 North Garden, Bellingham, WA 98225
peterss6@cc.wwu.edu
LIME #6 & #7
This zine has been
around since 1996. It is mostly autobiographical, with a scrapbook feel. Some
fiction, but mostly essay, dialog, and comics. Friendly.
$1
Ariana
6066 Shingle Creek Pkwy, #148, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
MENISCUS
#’S 1-4
These were fun issues that the old F5 would probably have
described as “medley.” There are stories of a landlord and a hole in
the roof, song lyrics, attending a Jerry Springer taping, fiction, and more.
The introduction to his comic, The Blood of Christ (#4) is an interesting
examination of being paid as an artist/writer. He “quantifies joy” by
applying his daily wage to the hours he poured into the comic, then he asks
several people how they would value the comic. He also takes us with him to
Amsterdam. Meniscus is a fun read.
$2 #’s 1-2
$3 #’s 3-4
Matt Fagan
1573 N. Milwaukee Ave. PMB #464 Chicago, IL 60622
hadmatter@hotmail.com
MIRANDA #6
Miranda has been a favorite
from the very first issue. This is the “All Baby All the Time” issue,
as Kate has recently become a mother. She discusses her delivery and trying to
name the baby, “If we had gone by what he looked like, his birth
certificate would now read, ‘Red and Wrinkled Haas
Barbarasch’…” There were problems in the beginning because Simon
wasn’t thriving on breastmilk alone and Kate discusses her disappointment.
He also became very ill with the flu and was hospitalized. Always stimulating,
intelligent, and well-written.
$1
Kate Haas
3510 SE Alder St.,
Portland, OR 97214
bruceandkate@juno.com
PEDESTRIAN PARALLAX #1
(SUMMER 2001)
This mini-zine details Denise’s job working as a
university telemarketer and her current job with the Women’s Health
Initiative. She also argues that Friday the 13th Part III is the ultimate
horror film. Short, but a good introduction.
?$1
Denise
4800
University Dr. Apt 1-H, Durham, NC 27707
POWER DREAMS PART 1
Growing and Moving
While this zine follows a year in the life of student at
Roland Park Day School, I was stunned to realize that the narrator was only 13.
Hannah makes her life in Baltimore, the desire to get into the School for the
Arts, and her subsequent move to New Jersey interesting to read. The raw,
intensity of being young is captured in real-time. A Precocious and promising
writer.
$2
Hannah
PO Box 1375, Princeton, NJ 08542
Power_dreams@hotmail.com
PUNKANUT #2
This zine covers the
experiences and travels of Wylie starting with a trip to Active Resistance in
1998. Wylie drives cross-country to Toronto and leaves by way of freight train.
The writing is sharp and engaging. “There is a special place in hell for
motorists who honk and give the ‘thumbs up’ sign when passing
hitchhikers.” If you like decent travel writing, you’ll surely enjoy
this, I know I did.
$2
Wylie
PO Box 540304, Houston, TX
77254-0304
punkanut@yahoo.com
REJECTED BAND NAMES #6
Jerianne’s zines are always worthwhile. She delves further and further
into her personal life. In this issue she updates us on her life in Berkeley.
She also explains how she and David took a trip and opened the door to a
relationship together. She has a pregnancy scare and goes to Planned
Parenthood. Regular features include rejected band names and the stories behind
them and death’s corner (all sorts of interesting death facts).
Recommended.
$1/Trade
Jerianne
NEW ADDRESS PO Box 330156,
Murfreesboro, TN 37133-0156
jeriannet@hotmail.com
RETAIL WHORE
#3
This issue starts with “The Paxil Diaries,”
“Depression: Is the glass half empty or half full. Who the fuck cares
about the glass? Paxil: Is the glass empty or half full? Either way, it’s
cool.” She gives an incomplete account of first kisses. Her customer
complaint list is frightening. Restaurant reviews for half-hour lunch breaks, a
pregnancy scare, “Urinary Tract Reflections,” and more round out the
issue.
Katherine Raz
$2
5741 N. Ridge Apt. 3NE, Chicago, IL
60660
retailwho_re@hotmail.com
SEGMENT DUE
A Corvid
Revue Corvus Publication
Dave shoots and edits video segments for a
regional news program. Dave had worked on storyboards for an action sequence
that would have taken three cameras and 33 different takes from each camera.
The segment was never produced, so he reprints the storyboards here. He also
explains about other segments he’s worked on and shares those
storyboards.
Dave Hatton
NEW ADDRESS 2087 Pleasant Hill Rd., Pleasant
Hills, CA 94523
SHOUTING AT THE POSTMAN #’S 44 AND 45
#44 (Pecking Like the Postman) offers up the 7th Annual Cult Figure issue with
Abraham Lincoln. Ken reprints artwork from dozens of contributors. #45
(Wallowing with the Postman) details “Weekend in Hell or Mary’s
Friends and Why I Hate Them, Part 2.” Always a good read.
Stamps, 1
IRCs, or something cool in trade
Ken Miller
PO Box 101, Newtown, PA
18940
Kenbmiller@aol.com; members.aol.com/satpostman
SPAGHETTI
#8
Frances explores death in this issue. “The experts say about
serial killers, that once they get you in the car, you’re a goner.
That’s the way it is with Italians and grief. Once they get in
grief’s car and slam the door, they never come back in one piece.”
She offers sidebars on “Ten Best Ways to Die,” “Ten Worse Ways
to Die,” and more. There are several contributors, as well as books
Frances has read since the last issue and brief reviews. You can also
“Dial-a-Death” with a hand rotary phone (remember those!) and address
book. Her creative centerfolds deserve some sort if recognition.
$2
cash/stamps
Frances Biscotti PO Box 8782, Erie, PA 16505
SORE
#12
At first I thought this was going to be another newsprint zine
filled with cd reviews for bands I had never heard of. While there are several
pages of music reviews, the rest of the issue offers a nice balance of essay,
personal accounts, zine reviews, and fiction. Worth your time.
$1
Taylor Ball
PO Box 68711, Virginia Beach, VA 23471
SOREzine@aol.com;
members.aol.com/basspro14
TEARJERKER #2
Teenage Stories and
Lots More
This thick issue is Misun’s look back at her teenage years.
She reprints lots of photos of herself and her family. Her teen years spanned
1978-1985. She grew up in suburbia and faced racism (she is Korean-American),
as well as the social stigmas of glasses, intelligence, hair that refused to
feather, and a flat-chest. Readers respond to questions such as “The first
concert you went to…” There are sections on sign-language, hand-drawn
fashions, and much more. Very full issue.
$3 + 4 stamps
Misun Oh
NEW ADDRESS 101 Arbor St., SF, CA 94131
Misunoh@yahoo.com
THAT
GIRL #7
This is my favorite issue of That Girl yet. Kelli does a good
job telling the story of going to Eastern Europe in 1996 to visit her father as
he worked on the movie “The Peacemaker.” There is evidence of an
older editor, but the fresh reactions of her experiences. These include
interactions with George Clooney, the town hub – K-mart, and traveling
with her younger brother. Recommended.
$2
Kelli
PO box 27894, Los
Angeles, CA 90027
Bottle_blondie@hotmail.com;
www.livejournal.com/users/misscallis
THOUGHTWORM #5
It is
obvious Sean put a lot of thought into this issue. Instead of the standard
“my job sucks!” article, he explains when his job didn’t suck
and what happened to make it suck. He ties this into industry and social
changes. He also worked as a cleaner and explains how he came to clean a
mausoleum one night. He was diagnosed with scoliosis when he was 13, and at 20
he had to have surgery. He had been very insecure and embarrassed by the
problem and is now able to talk about it. There are additional articles and all
are interesting and well-written. Recommended.
$2
Sean Stewart
2216
Terrace Way, Columbia, SC 29205
sean@thoughtworm.com; www.thoughtworm.com
VERSION TWO POINT OH
Kelley is a 5th year college student
studying photography. This issue delves into dreams, journal entries, dealing
with jealousy, and more. There are also a few zine reviews.
$1/Trade
Kelley J. White
1409 Mullins Drive, Plano, TX 75025
Kjwhite10@hotmail.com
WISHBONE #10
Each issue of this
long-running zine is better than the last. In #10 we learn that Angela has
finished school and is getting married. She has been with Bruce for nine years,
and now that school is done, the red tape that was the problem has been
removed. She’s had some bad job experiences and part three of Employment
Hell is quite funny. Kittigrrrl contributes some helpful computer information
in “Geek Grrrls Unite!” and Angela offers some pointers on buying a
computer. Bruce contributes “Drilling for Lies: More Oil Industry
Hype,” Kittigrrrl sounds off about the Confederate flag debate, and Angela
offers up a personal view with several pages of “The Journal.”
$2
Angela
NEW ADDRESS P.O. Box 1098, Grover Beach, CA 93483
lagomorf@wishbonezine.com; www.wishbonezine.com
ZEN BABY #8
Zen Baby is a cornucopia of cut and paste images and words. There are poems by
Christopher and several other contributors. Christopher reports on the SF
Anarchist Book Fair. There is also a review of Christopher’s neighborhood
and the transcript of an anonymous message left on an answering machine. Vernon
Maulsby, an incarcerated transsexual offers his take on the Bill Price issue.
Somewhat scattered, but of all the issues of Zen Baby I’ve read, this is
the one that I felt I could connect with.
Christopher Robin
PO Box
1611, Santa Cruz, CA 95061
Passions,
Obsessions, and Politics
CASHIERS DU CINEMART
I feel really guilty about this –
I got several issues of Cashiers du Cinemart at the UPC last year. I put them
on my “to-read” shelf, instead of the “to-read” stack, and
accidentally forgot about them. If you love weird cinema, or just cinema in
general, there is much to love about CdC.
$5
Mike White
PO Box
2401
Riverview, MI 48192-2401 USA
www.impossiblefunky.com
C.H.U.N.K. 666
To Heed the Moronic Dictum
After a few pages,
their glee at building and riding bikes had become infectious. I wished I lived
somewhere where I could bike to everything and even build my own set of wheels.
Some of their creations are closer to sculptural than transportation. The bike
as a political statement, the bike as a firework display, it is all in
here.
$3 pp
Megulon 5
PO Box 5791, Portland, OR 97228-5791
Megulon5@dclxvi.org; www.dclxvi.org/chunk
CLAMOR
New
Perspectives on Politics, Culture, Media, and Life If you seek news and view
from independent, first-hand sources, this is a great read. I’m rather
impressed with the job that Jen and Jason do with Clamor. Recommended.
$4
($20/6 issue subscription)
Jen Angel and Jason Kucsma
PO Box 1225,
Bowling Green, OH 43402
clamormagazine@hotmail.com;
www.clamormagazine.org
FOUND MAGAZINE #1
Rachel at Atomic
Books pointed this one out to me and I’m glad she did. Yeah, there is
something sleazy and voyeuristic about reading found notes and mementos that
were meant for private eyes, but it didn’t stop me from reading it.
Everything from found and stolen signs and notes, to misaddressed emails. There
is also an interview with Lynda Barry on the subject of scrounging. Every cover
is different.
$5
Davy Rothbart
PO Box 14364, Chicago, IL 60614
Foundmagazine@hotmail.com; www.foundmagazine.com
SUGAR NEEDLE
#15
A zine devoted to candy! They review and wax poetically about
candy, the way the French pontificate about fine wines. They eat nasty candy so
you can read about it and avoid the gelatinous masses of sugar. This is
fun.
$1 +stamp/Trade/Candy
Corina Fastwolf
PO Box 300152,
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Comix
BOOTY #16
This was possibly the most open, personal issue of
Booty yet. Anne has made reference to her friend Galen’s murder, but in
this issue she shares the effects that grief continues to have on her. She also
has a funny comic on mock personal ads. She’s still fighting with her
dissertation, participating in the AIDS Walk in Philly, and working for the
university.
$1 + .55 postage
Anne Thalheimer
5 Kells Ave., Apt 4,
Newark, DE 19711
motes@udel.edu
CLEOPATRA’S HATS
Suzanne has a way cool style. Watch how hard it is for one man to find the
right words as one woman tries to find the right hat.
50¢
Suzanne
Baumann
PO Box 12096, Hamtramck, MI 48212
FridgeMagCo@aol.com
CUCKOO
One woman’s true stories of living with Multiple
Personality Disorder Powerful. Wrenching. Recommended.
$3
Madison
Clell
2000 NE 42nd Ave., #302, Portland, OR 97213
madclell@teleport.com; www.cuckoocomic.com
DRUNKEN MASTER 2 SUMMER
SPECIAL
The Drunken Master has gone all slick and colorful! If you like
wresting, stylish comics, or The Hissyfits, this is definitely for you. Other
features include a cigarette survey (with responses from smokers and
non-smokers), video reviews, and reader letters.
$4
Kiyoshi
Nakazawa
C/o Shino Arihara, PO Box 51033, Pasadena, CA 91115
knakazawa@earthlink.net
INVISIBLE ROBOT FISH #’S 1-10
There is something oddly likable about this mini-comic. Each issue is a short,
generally silly, story. Billy keeps track of the time he spends drawing the
issues and it can range from an hour to a day.
2 stamps
Billy
McKay
PO Box 542, N. Olmstead, OH 44070
billyCSQP@aol.com
MINIMUM SECURITY #1
Wow, smart, well-drawn, political cartoons with
a distinctive style. Get this! Recommended.
?$1-2
Stephanie
McMillian
PO Box 2083, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33303
Steph@minimumsecurity.net; http://minimumsecurity.net/
MY SMALL
DIARY #3
Like a per-zine, only with pictures. This issue covers days
large and small in Delaine’s life, including her wedding. Nice design.
$2
Delaine
1204 Cresthill Rd., Birmingham, AL 35213
delangel@hotmail.com; mysmallwebpage.cjb.net
PLANET NAMED DESIRE
#7
I really enjoyed this one. Joe has a good writing voice in addition
to an appealing about his drawing style. He discusses how he likes to draw
curvaceous women, becoming a father, and sitting in his yard.
$2
Joe
Marshall
PO Box 40321, Tucson, AZ 85717
Joeman66@hotmail.com
TILE #1-3
This sci-fi serialized comic is great! The art is superb
and the character dialog is entertaining. Worth your time. $1/Trade/4
stamps
Billy McKay
PO Box 542, N. Olmstead, OH 44070
billyCSQP@aol.com
UNLUCKY WITH PETS
Kelly discusses the pets
she’s had or known. These included a miniature dachshund that Kelly saved
from almost choking. $1
Kelly Froh
1317 Boren Ave., Apt 206, Seattle,
WA 98101
k.froh@worldnet.att.net
Zines with a Literary Bent
LADY CHURCHILL’S ROSEBUD WRISTLET #8
An Occasional
Outburst
Nicely edited selection of fiction, poetry, and a few non-fiction
pieces.
$3
Gavin Grant
360 Atlantic Ave., PMB 132, Brooklyn, NY
11217
info@lcrw.net; www.lcrw.net
LILLIPUT REVIEW #’S
113-120
Tenny-tiny tomes filled with short poems. Nice style and decent
writing!
$1
Don Wentworth
282 Main St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201
lilliputreview@mailcity.com; donw714.tripod.com/lillieindex.html
A
MULTITUDE OF VOICES VOLUME X
This weighs in as the heaviest zine
I’ve ever received. Matt collects art, poetry, stories, comics, and more
from, well, a multitude of voices. He even has plans for a future issue on cd.
He wants to publish people from all walks of life, so contact him if you are
interested in being one of the voices. At 176 pages, there is quite an
assortment to choose from, including contributions from Bobby Tran Dale,
Delaine Derry, Chandra Cho, Tayte Bicknell, and many more.
He says free,
but the postage alone is going to cost him nearly $3. Don’t be a
cheapskate.
Matt Holdaway
1945 B Berryman St., Berkeley, CA 94709
mholdaway@hotmail.com
SATSUMA #1
Nice, well-produced mixture
of articles, prose, art, poetry, and fiction. This issue includes the
editor’s thumb sucking, the story of a flying boy, “The Many Emotions
of Pasta,” filming the inaugural protests last January. Good start!
$2+50¢ shipping
Sara Schaefer
Satsuma_zine@hotmail.com
SKUNK’S LIFE #18 & #19
Always worthwhile! DB edits together
a nice selection of writers, many from outside the mainstream of zineland. In
#18 Carla Filisha discusses her mother’s death, while retaining her
trademarked humor, “On his way up to give his eulogy my Uncle patted me on
the ass, I guess it was his way of comforting me.” There is also a fun
creature-featuresque story by Kiel Stuart. DB’s “Musty and Dusty Book
Chat” has become a favorite feature. In #19 we are treated to heftier than
usual issue (60 pages). In this one DB busts out with a whole cranky section
and shows off his budding art skills. Stories include time traveling, the
further adventures of Denzil Bond, and all sorts of things that drive DB crazy
about the world. Recommended.
$2
DB Pedlar
25727 Cherry Hill Rd.,
Cambridge Springs, PA 16403
dbpedlar@toolcity.net
TWO EYES
#3
This is a well-done, erudite literary zine printed in English and
Bangla.
$3
Stephanie McMillian and Shapon Majhi
PO Box 2083, Ft.
Lauderdale, FL 33303
minsec@earthlink.net;
home.earthlink.net/~twoeyesmagazine
VICTOR CECIL EDWIN
This
is a short story by Tim Weldzius, written “while sitting behind three
inches of bulletproof glass at the Amoco on 96th Avenue and 143rd
Street…” Cecil is lonely, and an encounter with a stranger leaves him
with a handful of mysterious pills which create vivid dreams of childhood.
$2
Tim Weldzius
22136 Princeton Circle, Frankfort, IL 60423
WHIRLIGIG #3
Pulp with a Pulse
This fiction-based zine offers
stories by Jeff Somers, Ann Sterzinger, Jennifer Callahan, and Jim Monroe.
Jeff’s story does a nice job capturing urban ennui and apathy. Loads of
good storytellers in this one.
$3
Frank j. Marcopolos
4809 Ave. N
#117, Brooklyn, NY 11234
Whirligig21@aol.com;
members.aol.com/whirligig21/whirligig.html
White Buffalo Gazette
I couldn’t figure out how to classify WHITE BUFFALO GAZETTE, so I
gave up and gave it a heading of its own. I’ve got a stack of nine issues
here, so it deserves its own heading! To explain, sort of, White Buffalo
Gazette is a non-sequential publication that has been edited by several
different people. The content is contributor-based and it has the feel of a
zine community newsletter. Jeff Zenick published it for the last few years, and
recently Larned Justin took over.
JEFF ZENICK’S WHITE BUFFALO
GAZETTE
This final issue of Jeff’s is packed with regular
contributors, including Ed Bolman, Delaine Derry Green, Matt Feazell, Violet
Jones, James Kolchalka, John Porcellino, and many more. It weighs in at 81
pages, and I believe is $3.
Jeff Zenick
PMB 174, 210 Bradford Rd.,
Tallahasse, FL 32303
LARNED JUSTIN’S WHITE BUFFALO
GAZETTE
Recent topics have included Briget Reilly’s views on the
“credentials” of homelessness researchers, a profile of George, a man
with a drinking problem that Jeff Zenick befriended, and Great Moments in Rock
and Roll. On a regular basis you’ll find fiction, art, cartoons, reviews,
and reader letters. It is monthly.
$2 each/$24 for a 12 month sub
Larned Justin
PO Box 471, House Springs, MO 63051
candidcartoons@yahoo.com; http://go.to/candidcartoons
Honest to Goodness Perfect Binding!
HOMOEROTICON
Good lawd! Bobby has gone and collected some of
his past issues, artwork, an interview with Playguy Magazine, and new material
and rolled it into a book! Personally, I think he is an exceptionally talented
artist and writer. It isn’t often you get both. If you love old B-movie
horror, comics, and/or penises, this is a goldmine! 120 pages; B/W with a full
color cover.
$20 (postage paid)
Bobby Tran Dale
botda@aol.com;
www.homoeroticon.com
BURN COLLECTOR #11
Suicide as a
Xerox
I picked up a copy of this at Atomic Books. It is no wonder that
there is now a Burn Collector book. The writing is damned sharp, witty, and
engrossing.
“I’ve gotten into a lot of new things
here,” she said, “electronic music. Raves.”
Electronic
music? Raves? These interests, I have found, are much like Mormonism. Those who
ascribe to them seem to possess an unearthly glow about them, as if they are
constantly receiving encouraging pep talks from other planets via transmitters
implanted in their brains.
Recommended.
$4
Al Burian
Personal Mail: 307 Blueridge Rd., Carrboro, NC 27510
Order Sources:
Stickfigure Distro PO Box 55462, Atlanta, GA 30308; www.stickfiguredistro.com;
stickfigure@phyte.com; Atomic Books 1100 W. 36th Street, Baltimore, MD 21211;
(410) 662-4444; info@atomicbooks.com; www.atomicbooks.com
COMETBUS
#47
Lanky
Sometimes it is hard to tell if you are reading something
that is purely autobiographical or vividly detailed literature or both.
Regardless, this is a great read.
$2.50 postpaid, cash only
Aaron
Cometbus
Orders: BBT, PO Box 4279, Berkeley, CA 94704
Letters:
Cometbus, PO Box 4726, Berkeley, CA 94704
WISHHOBBLER
Francis O’Dowd creates a grimy, painful, ridiculous fantasy world for his
characters. Wishhobbler succeeds in being a children’s story for adults,
while never talking down to either. It is well-paced with beautiful drawings.
If you like Lewis Carroll and Michael Ende, you might enjoy this.
£4.50/$5.99
Jam Jar Lurker & Son
PO Box 8883, Coatbridge ML5
3WF, UK
www.jamjarlurker.com
Review
Zines
BROKEN PENCIL
I had heard of this Canadian based (and
legitimately Canadian biased) review zine, but didn't read a copy until I met
editor Emily Pohl-Weary at the UPC. I was very impressed with the articles, as
well as reviews. Well worth your time.
$4.95
PO Box 203, Stn P,
Toronto, ON M5S 2S7, Canada
Editor@brokenpencil.com;
www.brokenpencil.com
EYEBALL #2
This new well-produced
publication covers zine reviews, film reviews (microcinema and independent),
multimedia (ie, an episodic series that is Internet based), and comics. I
really enjoy the diversity and scope of the topics covered.
$3
Christopher Sharpe
PO Box 21141, Oklahoma City, OK 73156
indymedia@onebox.com; www.eyeballmagazine.com
INDY UNLEASHED
#11
Well-written, lengthy reviews by someone who loves zines. How can
you go wrong?
4 or 5 stamps
Owen Thomas
PO Box 9651, Columbus, OH
43209
Vlorbik@delphia.com; member.aol.com/vlorbik
OPUNTIA
47.1B
Nice selection of zine listings, mail art, book reviews, and
more. 16 pages.
$3 for sample copy/trade/or letter of comment
Dale
Speirs
Box 6830, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 2E7
QUEER ZINE
EXPLOSION
This is a long list of small press resources, zines, books,
music, videos, and more for and/or by the Queer community.
2 33¢
stamps/IRCs/$1 overseas
Larry-bob
PO Box 590488,San Francisco, CA
94159
larrybob@io.com; www.holytitclamps.com
A READER’S
GUIDE TO THE UNDERGROUND PRESS #15
Jerianne has taken over as editor of
ARGttUP. I like what she is doing. The news section was as interesting as the
reviews and helps remind us why independent media is so crucial.
$4 (cash,
stamps, or checks with “pay to” left blank only)
Jerianne
NEW
ADDRESS PO Box 330156, Murfreesboro, TN 37133-0156
www.undergroundpress.org
ZINE GUIDE #5
Thousands of zines
listed. The surveys, which rank a zine’s popularity within several
demographics, seem to attract attention, both positive and negative. This issue
offers a forum on zine related topics, with hundreds of responses from
zinewriters. Great resource.
$6
PO Box 5467, Evanston, IL 60204
zineguide@interaccess.com
ZINEHEAD
Zinehead reviews review
zines, letting you know where to send your zines or where to find some new
reviews. He also has a list of international comic anthologies and
distributors.
$1
Karl Thomsen
PO Box 2061, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 3R4
Canada
mosfog@escape.ca; www.escape.ca/~mosfog
Places to Get Zines
ATOMIC BOOKS (Also, check out THE ATOMIC READER, a new zine
about the store.)
1100 W. 36th Street, Baltimore, MD 21211; (410)
662-4444
info@atomicbooks.com; www.atomicbooks.com
ECHO ZINE
DISTRO
3565 N. Morris Blvd., Shorewood, WI 53211
Echozinedistro@chickmail.com; www.geocities.com/echozinedistro
FLYRABBIT
155 Harvard Ave., Allston, MA 02134; (617)
782-1313
FRIDA © DIEGO ZINE MAILORDER
2527 N.
California Ave. 1st floor (South), Chicago, IL 60647
Perezeeb@yahoo.com;
www.geocities.com/oddviolet28/main.html
QUIMBY'S
1854 W.
North Ave., Chicago, IL 60622; (773) 342-0910
info@quimbys.com;
www.quimbys.com
STICKFIGURE DISTRO
PO Box 55462, Atlanta, GA
30308
www.stickfiguredistro.com; stickfigure@phyte.com
THE
WOODEN SHOE
508 S. Fifth Street, Philadelphia, PA; (215) 413-0999
woodenshoe@rocketmail.com; www.thud.org/wooden.htm
And lastly the people responsible for this issue:
Androo Robinson
Cover
Ped Xing Comics
$1/trade
Send a stamp for a catalog
2000 NE 42nd Ave. #302 Portland, OR
97213
androo@leekinginc.com
www.leekinginc.com/pedxing
Donny
Smith
Predators and Prey in the Zine Community, pages 5-6; Reviews
pages 13-15
Dwan
$2/free to prisoners
PO Box 411,
Swarthmore, PA 19081
dsmith3@swarthmore.edu;
www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/Village/6982
Eric
Lyden
Reviews pages 7-12
Fish with Legs
$1+stamp/trade
224 Moraine St., Brockton, MA 02301
Ericfishlegs@aol.com
Fred
Argoff
Reviews pages 16-17
Brooklyn! & Watch the Closing
Doors
Quarterly issues are $2
1800 Ocean Pkwy. #B-12, Brooklyn, NY
11223
William P. Tandy
Review page 18
Eight-Stone
Press
PO Box 11064, Baltimore, MD 21212
esp@leekinginc.com;
www.leekinginc.com
Kate Haas
Reviews pages 19-20
Miranda
$1
Kate Haas
3510 SE Alder St., Portland, OR
97214
bruceandkate@juno.com
Violet
Jones
Reviews pages 21-22
Spunk
$3
PO Box 55336,
Hayward CA 94545
Davida Gypsy Breier
Reviews pages
24-33
Leeking Ink and The Glovebox Chronicles
$2
PO Box
11064, Baltimore, MD 21212
davida@leekinginc.com
If you are reviewed, remember that the reviewers are doing this out of a
sense of community and a love for zines. None of us are getting paid. A quick
thank you goes a long way to motivate us to keep trudging along. I can't
guarantee I'll review everything I receive, but I'll do what I can. If you
would like to send a zine (with a note!) for review direct it to: Davida Gypsy
Breier, PO Box 11064, Baltimore, MD 21212
