Friday, February 27, 2009
"Underground, Overground: the State of Zines Today" - article on Dandizette
This article http://dandizette.net/features/zines-zines talks about the state of zines.
The National Library of Scotland looking for UK zines
The National Library of Scotland looking to document and collect zines from the UK: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7908705.stm
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Ungrateful Black-White Girl (review by Anne)
"This is, above all, a zine about race, but since I experience the world not only as a mixed-race person, but as a mixed-race queer woman with an inconsistent gender presentation, you will find experiences pertaining to all those identities in this zine." I've reviewed a lot of Nia's work before and I always come away from it thinking, Yeah, this is work people need to read. Because it is. That said, I think of all of Nia's work, Ungrateful Black-White Girl is the most articulate I've seen her be in writing about her own experiences. Her work is always powerful, but there's something about this zine that is both direct like her other work and also proactive; the anger is still there, but the setting feels more external--in this zine she's starting at a new school and is in a few setting different from her other zines. Maybe that's it. Maybe this zine feels more tied to a sense of place, whereas her other work was working through specific events or certain issues. UB-WG takes the form of dated individual entries that are titled things like "How to be a better white ally"and "This is what self-care looks like." It'll make you think; it's honest and forthright, and it's evocative of some of the things that I like best about zines. Get it. It's absolutely worth your time.
$2/Digest/24 pgs
Nia Diaspora
available here:
http://strangerdangerdistro.wordpress.com/catalog/
$2/Digest/24 pgs
Nia Diaspora
available here:
http://strangerdangerdistro.wordpress.com/catalog/
Saturday, February 21, 2009
In My Mailbox 2-21-09
Today, a beautiful day. Sunny, filled with promise. And on all such days filled with promise I wddle on down to the PO Box to see if the universe is going to fulfill that promise:
- I got two bizarre letters. One is just a listing of medals won at the 1936 Olympics. Thta's it. No note, no insert, just that and an address. The other is a handwritten plea to protest Sirius/XM radio's elimination of the Punk channel. The Punk Channel on Satellite radio? Punks pay $$$ every month to listen to the radio? This is strange to me. But then my sense of all things punk is still pretty 1985, I suspect.
- Maximumrocknroll (PO Box 460760, San Francisco, CA 94146-0760; www.maximumrocknroll.com): Another day, another MMR with a review of TIS. Not a bad review, thoguh the reviewer does think the issue was a bit more filled with padding and less inspired than usual.
- Underworld Crawl #6 ($2, R. Lee, POB 1421, Oshkosh, WI 54903). Mistah Lee writes in the beginning that he "fell off the wagon" for a while and stopped making or reading zines, then picked one up at random and got all charged up about it again, and thus a new UC. Thank goodness. Digest-sized and filled with words, my favorite.
- A magazine and some trinkets from Antigua, plus a poem, courtesy of Asha Anderson, who I haven't heard from in quite a while. You can check her at http://www.ashabot.com/.
- .ZAP! Spring 09, of which I am part. WE ROCK.
- A whole bunch of zines from Dan Swank, who, in search of humorous zines, heard about me from Eric Lyden, apparently. I will now creully disappoint Dan with issues of my own zine. He sent me Cranky Buddha #6 and #7 ($2, no address listed, www.crankybuddha.com), Tales from the Bus, and Manuscripts Don't Burn #6. All are digest-sized with cardstock covers and look neat. Go complain that he doesn't have contact info on his actual zines, okay?
And that was it. No go forth and make more zines for me. GO!
- I got two bizarre letters. One is just a listing of medals won at the 1936 Olympics. Thta's it. No note, no insert, just that and an address. The other is a handwritten plea to protest Sirius/XM radio's elimination of the Punk channel. The Punk Channel on Satellite radio? Punks pay $$$ every month to listen to the radio? This is strange to me. But then my sense of all things punk is still pretty 1985, I suspect.
- Maximumrocknroll (PO Box 460760, San Francisco, CA 94146-0760; www.maximumrocknroll.com): Another day, another MMR with a review of TIS. Not a bad review, thoguh the reviewer does think the issue was a bit more filled with padding and less inspired than usual.
- Underworld Crawl #6 ($2, R. Lee, POB 1421, Oshkosh, WI 54903). Mistah Lee writes in the beginning that he "fell off the wagon" for a while and stopped making or reading zines, then picked one up at random and got all charged up about it again, and thus a new UC. Thank goodness. Digest-sized and filled with words, my favorite.
- A magazine and some trinkets from Antigua, plus a poem, courtesy of Asha Anderson, who I haven't heard from in quite a while. You can check her at http://www.ashabot.com/.
- .ZAP! Spring 09, of which I am part. WE ROCK.
- A whole bunch of zines from Dan Swank, who, in search of humorous zines, heard about me from Eric Lyden, apparently. I will now creully disappoint Dan with issues of my own zine. He sent me Cranky Buddha #6 and #7 ($2, no address listed, www.crankybuddha.com), Tales from the Bus, and Manuscripts Don't Burn #6. All are digest-sized with cardstock covers and look neat. Go complain that he doesn't have contact info on his actual zines, okay?
And that was it. No go forth and make more zines for me. GO!
Review from Davida: AS THE WORLD BURNS: 50 SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO STAY IN DENIAL
AS THE WORLD BURNS: 50 SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO STAY IN DENIAL
By Derrick Jensen (Author) and Stephanie McMillan (Illustrator)
A friend sent me AS THE WORLD BURNS: 50 SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO STAY IN DENIAL without preamble. Reading it reminded me of the experience (not the content) of going to see “The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover.” I went to see the movie knowing nothing about it and worse yet somehow assuming that it would along the lines of “A Room with a View.” It was like getting visually smacked with viscera. Similarly, I started ATWB with innocence. That shatters after the first few pages and one would have to be an eco-saint not to see one’s own hypocrisy reflected the characters. Jensen and McMillan use fact and humor to explain the world is fucked and we are all responsible. It skewers the myth that changing lightbulbs and recycling are enough. Greedy politicians, ineffectual do-gooders, and aliens are slammed and bunnies are terrorists. A call to arms and arming bears. Highly recommended.
$14.95
224 pages , paperback
Seven Stories Press
ISBN-13: 978-1583227770
By Derrick Jensen (Author) and Stephanie McMillan (Illustrator)
A friend sent me AS THE WORLD BURNS: 50 SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO STAY IN DENIAL without preamble. Reading it reminded me of the experience (not the content) of going to see “The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover.” I went to see the movie knowing nothing about it and worse yet somehow assuming that it would along the lines of “A Room with a View.” It was like getting visually smacked with viscera. Similarly, I started ATWB with innocence. That shatters after the first few pages and one would have to be an eco-saint not to see one’s own hypocrisy reflected the characters. Jensen and McMillan use fact and humor to explain the world is fucked and we are all responsible. It skewers the myth that changing lightbulbs and recycling are enough. Greedy politicians, ineffectual do-gooders, and aliens are slammed and bunnies are terrorists. A call to arms and arming bears. Highly recommended.
$14.95
224 pages , paperback
Seven Stories Press
ISBN-13: 978-1583227770
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Reviews from Delaine Derry Green: Hero Land, Falling Can be Deadly, Scrappy J, Invincible Summer,
Delaine here - making my first-ever appearance as a reviewer for XD. Thank you, Davida, for inviting me to play! I’ll try to briefly introduce myself now… I became enamored with zines back in 1993. That’s when I started contributing to other people’s zines. It didn’t take long before I KNEW I had to do my own zine! So I put out ‘My Small Diary’, a collection of my autobio comics, quickly followed by ‘Not My Small Diary’ (other people’s autobio comics – get it?) and I continue to this day. My next NMSD is going to have a ‘Brushes with Celebrity’ theme (fun!). I have been saving every zine I’ve received over the years and the piles are large, let me tell you. I will now try to share my ziney opinions with you. Enjoy!
delangel3@hotmail.com; www.mysmallwebpage.com; yes, I’m on Facebook
HERO LAND
by Esther Pearl Watson
32 pages, $5
5 1/2 x 6 1/2
Funchicken.com
The focus of this mini rests squarely on the biggest names in superhero land, but it’s done with a twist. Superman, Wonderwoman, Captain America and others find themselves in hilarious situations in single or 2-3 page strips. For example, a spider bites Batman causing his middle finger to become stuck in an unfortunate position. He wonders aloud… “Oh! I hope I don’t offend anyone.” Superman and Wonderwoman have the type of arguments typical of normal couples. Captain America mourns his youth while pulling at his worn-out costume’s crotch. Each super-snippet is illustrated in Esther’s signature funky style that you’ve come to love with her Unlovable comics. The cover is a fabulous red and blue screenprinting job that’ll make you want to show it off on the coffee table. I don’t love superheroes but I love this mini comic!
FALLING CAN BE DEADLY
Ten Foot Rule, Shawn Granton
$2
TFR Industries, PO Box 14185, Portland, OR 97293-0185
Shawn presents his life in a mini comic with polished artwork, detailed stories, moments others might forget and even a fold-out center section focusing on his introspective new year’s resolutions for ‘08. Did he follow his own advice now that it’s a year later? I hope to find out with more comics detailing grand bicycle adventures, self evaluation, brushes with other comic artists and glorious nature! I truly admire Shawn’s body of work.
SCRAPPY J – A STORY ABOUT FIGHTING
Cassie J. Sneider
PO Box 4156, Austin, TX 78765
Cassie recently made a long drive from Austin to Birmingham for our fair city’s first real zine show. Hearing her read from her zines was truly magic. This girl is hilarious and presents her life in the most interesting way possible. Her zines have pages of hand-written stories, funny scribbled drawings and best of all – moxie! This issue takes a look at Cassie’s view of fighting - from a high-schooler wary of her ‘permanent record’ to a present day bar brawl - all told in a chatty/witty style. Cassie also read from another issue of her zine dealing with an odd job she picked up writing first-hand (ha!) reviews of sex toys.
INVINCIBLE SUMMER
Volume II: Issues 9-14, $12
Nicole J. Georges; www.microcosmpublishing.com
Microcosm Publishing, 222 S. Rogers St., Bloomington, IN 47404
Nicole does it again… diary comics filled with the love of animals, band antics, dating, everyday occurrences, minor traumas and some of my favorite drawings ever. It’s not all straight diary comics… Nicole throws in “Advice for Fat Girls who Thrift Shop’, an ‘Ask Nicole’ sassy advice column, a recipe for pumpkin cheesecake, a description of ‘The Points Game’ and more fun than you can shake a stick at. By the end of this pretty pink-covered book you will be bowing down to the gal with the finest beehive hairdo around.
delangel3@hotmail.com; www.mysmallwebpage.com; yes, I’m on Facebook
HERO LAND
by Esther Pearl Watson
32 pages, $5
5 1/2 x 6 1/2
Funchicken.com
The focus of this mini rests squarely on the biggest names in superhero land, but it’s done with a twist. Superman, Wonderwoman, Captain America and others find themselves in hilarious situations in single or 2-3 page strips. For example, a spider bites Batman causing his middle finger to become stuck in an unfortunate position. He wonders aloud… “Oh! I hope I don’t offend anyone.” Superman and Wonderwoman have the type of arguments typical of normal couples. Captain America mourns his youth while pulling at his worn-out costume’s crotch. Each super-snippet is illustrated in Esther’s signature funky style that you’ve come to love with her Unlovable comics. The cover is a fabulous red and blue screenprinting job that’ll make you want to show it off on the coffee table. I don’t love superheroes but I love this mini comic!
FALLING CAN BE DEADLY
Ten Foot Rule, Shawn Granton
$2
TFR Industries, PO Box 14185, Portland, OR 97293-0185
Shawn presents his life in a mini comic with polished artwork, detailed stories, moments others might forget and even a fold-out center section focusing on his introspective new year’s resolutions for ‘08. Did he follow his own advice now that it’s a year later? I hope to find out with more comics detailing grand bicycle adventures, self evaluation, brushes with other comic artists and glorious nature! I truly admire Shawn’s body of work.
SCRAPPY J – A STORY ABOUT FIGHTING
Cassie J. Sneider
PO Box 4156, Austin, TX 78765
Cassie recently made a long drive from Austin to Birmingham for our fair city’s first real zine show. Hearing her read from her zines was truly magic. This girl is hilarious and presents her life in the most interesting way possible. Her zines have pages of hand-written stories, funny scribbled drawings and best of all – moxie! This issue takes a look at Cassie’s view of fighting - from a high-schooler wary of her ‘permanent record’ to a present day bar brawl - all told in a chatty/witty style. Cassie also read from another issue of her zine dealing with an odd job she picked up writing first-hand (ha!) reviews of sex toys.
INVINCIBLE SUMMER
Volume II: Issues 9-14, $12
Nicole J. Georges; www.microcosmpublishing.com
Microcosm Publishing, 222 S. Rogers St., Bloomington, IN 47404
Nicole does it again… diary comics filled with the love of animals, band antics, dating, everyday occurrences, minor traumas and some of my favorite drawings ever. It’s not all straight diary comics… Nicole throws in “Advice for Fat Girls who Thrift Shop’, an ‘Ask Nicole’ sassy advice column, a recipe for pumpkin cheesecake, a description of ‘The Points Game’ and more fun than you can shake a stick at. By the end of this pretty pink-covered book you will be bowing down to the gal with the finest beehive hairdo around.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Maynard goes Zombie with Rigor Mortis
Rigor Mortis Vol 1, Issue 1
$3 cash/check or 1 M.R.E.
Davida Gypsy Breier
P.O. Box 11064
Baltimore, MD 21212
zombie@leekinginc.com
Mmmmm, brains.... This zine fills me with nostalgia for the Pre-Internet days, before cable, when Saturday afternoons were filled with awful Sci-Fi and horror – including zombie – flicks on Channel 20.
And we need zombies like never before to help us cope with modern living: crashing markets, rising unemployment, interest rates at freakin' ZERO percent. These are scary times.
And zombies are great foes. They are purely dead, only want to kill us, and cannot be reasoned with, only stopped with a bullet to the brain. There is no room for compassion or ethical worries with killing them. They are as dead as dead can be; not like a little boy with a bomb strapped to his malnourished body.
Although they tend to win through overwhelming numbers....
But wait, there's more! Not only do you get to ponder zombies with this zine, you'll get high-quality editorializing and excellent reviews of classic and esoteric zombie flicks to add to your queue of viewing pleasure.
The love the writers have for the topic drips off the page, like rotting flesh and congealed blood, in great gobs of well wrought-and-thought writing, which is in darn short supply on that thar “Internet.”
A joy to read.
$3 cash/check or 1 M.R.E.
Davida Gypsy Breier
P.O. Box 11064
Baltimore, MD 21212
zombie@leekinginc.com
Mmmmm, brains.... This zine fills me with nostalgia for the Pre-Internet days, before cable, when Saturday afternoons were filled with awful Sci-Fi and horror – including zombie – flicks on Channel 20.
And we need zombies like never before to help us cope with modern living: crashing markets, rising unemployment, interest rates at freakin' ZERO percent. These are scary times.
And zombies are great foes. They are purely dead, only want to kill us, and cannot be reasoned with, only stopped with a bullet to the brain. There is no room for compassion or ethical worries with killing them. They are as dead as dead can be; not like a little boy with a bomb strapped to his malnourished body.
Although they tend to win through overwhelming numbers....
But wait, there's more! Not only do you get to ponder zombies with this zine, you'll get high-quality editorializing and excellent reviews of classic and esoteric zombie flicks to add to your queue of viewing pleasure.
The love the writers have for the topic drips off the page, like rotting flesh and congealed blood, in great gobs of well wrought-and-thought writing, which is in darn short supply on that thar “Internet.”
A joy to read.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Reviews from Eric: Walking Man, Juichy Ya Ya
WALKING MAN by Tim W. Brown
I got a postcard promoting this book a while back and it sounded interesting, but I wasn't about to pay $15 for it. I'm starting to come around to the POV Jeff Somers has espoused in INNER SWINE from time to time- paying full price for any book is foolish and buying new books when used books are just as readable and much cheaper is a waste. So I was happy to get sent this book for review because the odds of me buying it were slim. However if you're interested in zines and aren't against paying full price for books you can do much worse than this one. WALKING MAN tells the story of one Brian Walker, publisher of the zine Walking Man who through circumstances beyond his control becomes the most famous zinester in the world. There's a lot of semi inside zine humor (such as the holier than thou clique that declare Brian to be a sell out because he dares to try and get his zine good distribution. It's funny, but we've all stumbled across folks like this in real life.)It's a satire, but it's an affectionate one with a lot of mostly good-natured jabs, but most importantly it's a good, well-written story that by the end will have you really caring about the characters. 184 pages . Published by Bronx River Press. Available from bronxriverpress.com, amazon.com, spdbooks.org or bookstores
JUICHY YA YA
I always kind of like these kinds of zines. Just kind of a random hodge-podge of stuff. One issue features an anti-Facebook article, and piece arguing for a naturalistic approach to Scrabble, a one page comic and a review of King Cat. A quick read, not exactly in depth, but pretty enjoyable. 8 pages 5.5 x 8.5 no price listed PO Box 99 Chewton, Vic., Australia 3451 adamford@labyrinth.net.au www.labyrinth.net.au/~adamford
I got a postcard promoting this book a while back and it sounded interesting, but I wasn't about to pay $15 for it. I'm starting to come around to the POV Jeff Somers has espoused in INNER SWINE from time to time- paying full price for any book is foolish and buying new books when used books are just as readable and much cheaper is a waste. So I was happy to get sent this book for review because the odds of me buying it were slim. However if you're interested in zines and aren't against paying full price for books you can do much worse than this one. WALKING MAN tells the story of one Brian Walker, publisher of the zine Walking Man who through circumstances beyond his control becomes the most famous zinester in the world. There's a lot of semi inside zine humor (such as the holier than thou clique that declare Brian to be a sell out because he dares to try and get his zine good distribution. It's funny, but we've all stumbled across folks like this in real life.)It's a satire, but it's an affectionate one with a lot of mostly good-natured jabs, but most importantly it's a good, well-written story that by the end will have you really caring about the characters. 184 pages . Published by Bronx River Press. Available from bronxriverpress.com, amazon.com, spdbooks.org or bookstores
JUICHY YA YA
I always kind of like these kinds of zines. Just kind of a random hodge-podge of stuff. One issue features an anti-Facebook article, and piece arguing for a naturalistic approach to Scrabble, a one page comic and a review of King Cat. A quick read, not exactly in depth, but pretty enjoyable. 8 pages 5.5 x 8.5 no price listed PO Box 99 Chewton, Vic., Australia 3451 adamford@labyrinth.net.au www.labyrinth.net.au/~adamford
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