The NewPages
Zine Rack

Number Seventeen (Posted Dec 14, 2003)

American Libaries (sic)

 “A zine of the American Library Workers Ass’n.”  Librarians and library students need to know that there are alternatives to the tired old crap that appears in Library Journal and American Libraries.  And zinester-librarian Donny Smith aims to do his small part in making that happen.  With the formerly published biennial anthology Alternative Library Literature (ALL) as his partial inspiration, Donny brings us a digest-sized zine full of carefully selected reprints and original articles on library issues that are much more pressing than where to eat while at ALA and how great Harry Potter is.  There’s even an interview with Sandy Berman and James Danky, the former editors of ALL.  Donny deserves a commendation for putting this together, and I hope that he continues to publish it, just as I also hope that it falls into the hands of librarians who need to read it.  [5.5” x 8.5”, $1 cash, free to prisoners in exchange for a letter: Box 411, Swarthmore, PA 19081, dwanzine@hotmail.com]

Binocular Rebellious

Spring/Summer 2003

I found this zine to be fascinating, and, as I read it, I tried to imagine what kind of a person Sean Goblin is.  If he is even half as interesting as the sum of the topics addressed in his zine, then I think I’d enjoy meeting him and engaging him in some discussion.  The zine is a sprawling eclectic collection of Sean’s artwork, historical artist profiles, personal writing, descriptions of Asian folk art and mythology, and record and zine reviews.  Relationships between the occult and societal and political power structures are explored.  Sean describes his shifting interaction with punk as a movement and a source of inspiration.  His artwork style is like a punk-edged fantasy hybrid.  I’ve never seen anything like it, but it’s cool.  And even though the topics seem at first to be scattered, after I read the zine through in one sitting, it all kind of made sense.  And after a first look at his zine, I had my doubts that Sean would be found on the Web, but he actually maintains quite an extensive site at www.goblinko.com.  It’s well worth a look, too.  [5.5” square, $2 from PO Box 3635, Oakland, CA 94609-0635, www.goblinko.com]

Clip Tart

#1

2004

I’ve been corresponding with Susan Boren for a few years now.  We used to be fellow Zine World staff members, and we continued trading and writing back and forth after we both quit working for that publication.  This is the first zine Susan has produced in a while, and it’s an interesting resource.  Susan calls it “a compilation of images and excerpts that have dislodged suppressed thoughts from my mind.”  It’s her hope that the material assembled within the zine will provide entertainment, encouragement, and supplies for other people’s projects.  The publication consists of three main components: full-color collages, some clip-art, and selections of text from sources ranging from Albert Camus’s The Plague to the Los Angeles Times.  The collages are intriguing and the text selections are thought provoking.  Overall, the zine offers a candid peek into Susan’s artistic and intellectual wanderings.  [8.5” x 11”, no price ($3?): Clip Tart, PO Box 66512, Austin, TX 78766]

Cryptozoa

Number Seven

Androo Robinson might be a familiar name to those interested in mini-comix.  He’s been publishing consistently for many years now, and shows no sign of quitting any time soon.  His latest single-panel cartoon series is called Cryptozoa, and it showcases Androo’s dedication to telling good stories in his whimsical style.  Androo’s thoughts never run straight from point a to point b, but instead meander lackadaisically through realms of fantasy and magical realism.  Androo is a true storyteller and a really nice guy, and his comix are always a treat.  I highly recommend all of his work!  And also check out Secret Mystery Love Shoes, a zine that he publishes with Maria Goodman.  [4.25” x 5.5”, $1-2?, Androo Robinson, 2000 NE 42^nd Ave. #303, Portland, OR 97213]

The Flow Chronicles

By the Urban Hermitt

In this book, the Hermitt spins a collection of related tales about her search for meaning and identity in her life.  During her quest, she takes drugs, obsessively listens to certain techno and indie rock bands, and interacts with a revolving cast of fascinating characters.  Eventually, she comes to realize that things aren’t quite so easily categorized as many people would have her believe.  It’s an inspiring tale of the value and importance of expressing and embracing your own individuality.  Hermitt’s prose flows lyrically from one page to the next, open and honest in its treatment of everything from sex to neo-hippie culture.  This is a unique and refreshing read, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.  [5.5” x 8.5” perfectbound, ISBN 0972696709, $8 ppd or $5 ea. for 6 or more copies: Microcosm Publishing, PO Box 14332, Portland, OR 97293-0332, joe@microcosmpublishing.com, www.microcosmpublishing.com]

The Future Generation

Issue #11

May 2002

When considering the recent explosion of mama zines, one might wonder how all of this mama zine business got started.  Who or what was the catalyst?  Well, China of TFG was certainly one of the first to produce a zine focusing on radical motherhood.  She started her zine back in 1989, helping to blaze a path for all of these new breed mama zines, and after a few years’ hiatus, she is now publishing once again.  China’s perspective at this point is an interesting one, as she is now the mother of a young teenager, whereas many of today’s mama zinesters are still relatively new to motherhood.  The topics in this issue range from a feature on synchronized pregnant woman swimmers to a photo essay on Woodberry Woods (an area of Baltimore) and thoughtful angst on being a mother to a teen.  China also includes excerpts from some of her favorite mama zines and websites.  This issue is from 2002, but I heard that she was working on a new one, so you might want to email her about it.  China also writes a column for the long-running punk DIY zine, Slug and Lettuce.  [5.5” x 8.5”, $2 to: The Future Generation, P.O.B. 4803, Baltimore, MD 21211, china410@hotmail.com]

Naked Biped

#4

October 2002

Naked Biped is a no-frills, desktop-published literary zine featuring fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and commentary in the form of video and book/zine reviews.  The bulk of this issue consists of a nonfiction piece by the editor entitled “Unemployment Follies 2,” a tale of working in an automobile parts factory.  This clicked with me, as I’m usually appreciative of any and all tales of blue-collar work, having done more than my fair share of it.  The work might be less than ideal, but the atmosphere and co-workers are usually much more colorful than in a drab office environment.  Kenneth dissects his factory work and the people who he works with in neatly organized and well-written paragraphs.  Overall, this is an interesting little publication, and I believe he’s published a couple more since this one came out.  Check the website for more information.  [5.5” x 8.5”, $3 US/$4 Canada/$5 World, one year sub (3 issues) $9 US/$12 Canada/$15 World, check or MO to Kenneth Odle, Naked Biped c/o Kenneth Odle, POB 691, Portage, MI 49081-0691, www.geocities.com/bipedzine]

Nervy Girl!

Vol. 3 No. 1

September/October 2002

Nervy Girl! addresses current issues related to women through investigative reporting, creative writing, profiles, and news bytes.  Most of the articles are not in-depth, but are good starting points for future reading.  This is the crime issue, and it covers activists confronting violence against women, prison issues, murders of women in Mexico, a profile of a bio-cleanup service owned by two women, and much more.  The magazine is based in Portland, Oregon, and features a lot of advertisements for local businesses and events.  Also included is some creative writing and a few book and music reviews.  Overall, it’s a good publication with diverse content and is definitely suitable for libraries.  [8.5” x 11”, ISSN 1536-9889, $4 single issue, $20 annual sub, Nervy Girl! LLC, PO Box 16601, Portland, OR 97292, (503) 256-3789, submit@nervygirl.com, www.nervygirlzine.com]

Stainless Steel Lens

Issue #1

March 2003

The cardstock cover of this zine features eye-catching color photographs on both the front and back, and high quality black-and-white photos inside.  Jen Dolan is the photographer, and she has this to say:  “the photos are representative of two themes that seem to resound with me as of late – plasticity and futility, specifically the plasticity and futility of memory.”  Most of the photos were shot around Jen’s neighborhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  They are bleak and depict urban decay, but they also contain a certain meditative quality if you look long enough.  Text from R. John Xerxes, the creative force behind Love Bunni Press, complements the photos.  An interesting zine, and well worth a buck.  Two addresses are included; presumably you can order from either one.  [6.5” x 7”, $1, Jen Dolan, PO Box 070674, Milwaukee, WI 53207; Love Bunni Press, 2641 Euclid Heights #3, Cleveland Heights, OH 44106]

Things Are Meaning Less

By Al Burian

Al Burian is known by many for both his personal zine Burn Collector and his band Milemarker.  What some people might not know is that Al is also a talented comix artist.  Between 1997 and 1998, he drew a bunch of comix and Ian Lynam published them in several books under the Migraine Comics label.  Recently, Microcosm Publishing released this perfectbound paperback compilation of all of the comix Al did during this time period.  I have a couple of the original books, so I had seen most of these, but it was still nice to sit down and read this cover-to-cover.  Al wrote these while living in Portland, OR, Providence, RI, and Chapel Hill, NC.  Each little story more or less reflects how Al was feeling while he was living in each of these places.  Reading these after already being familiar with Al’s writing is a treat, as it adds a whole new (visual) dimension to Al’s obsessive self-examination and his ruminations on the people he interacts with and the places he finds himself in.  Fans of Burn Collector should enjoy this book, as will most folks with a penchant for autobiographical comix.  [perfectbound, ISBN 0972696733, $7 from Microcosm Publishing, PO Box 14332, Portland, OR 97293-0332, joe@microcosmpublishing.com, www.microcosmpublishing.com]