Zines
The NewPages
Zine Rack
Number 30 (Posted Nov 19, 2005)
Zines Reviewed by Sean Stewart
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by Matt Wiegle
Using stark black and white drawn panels, Matt brings us his adaptation of a Naskapi Indian story of a man’s experiences with marriage. It’s a morbid tale, sparse in dialogue, but rich in visual detail. I won’t comment too specifically on the story so as not to give anything away, but I highly recommend it. This is just one of many fine publications from the talented folks at PARTYKA, a little artist collective that I was very happy to stumble upon recently. I recommend having a look at their website and seeing what else they have to offer. [4.25” x 5.5”, $4, available through the Partyka website, www.partykausa.com]
The
I’m fascinated by Liz Mason’s dedication to celebrating the horror that can be found in many contemporary popular music lyrics. She is so serious about this project that she even set up a listening station in her house! I’d say that sends her zine cred sky high. Almost the first half of this consists of explanation of the project’s purpose, parameters she’s set, qualifications, methodology...there are even freakin’ charts in here! It’s a highly scientific undertaking. After the introductory material, which is good reading on its own, Liz brings us her annotated list, including snide comments and smart-assed attempts at interpretation. This is hilarious reading, of course, and just shows that Liz continues to raise the bar when it comes to tongue-in-cheek investigative zine writing. [5.5” x 8.5”, $2 ppd., Liz Mason, PO Box 476802, Chicago, IL 60647, caboosezine@yahoo.com]
Just in time for the Halloween season, William P. Tandy brings us this collection of poems, informative essays, and first-person narratives about encounters with Baltimore ghosts. It’s a special edition of Tandy’s popular zine, Smile, Hon, You’re in Baltimore!, one that I find even more fascinating now that I’m living in Charm City myself. Inside you’ll read tales of a store that seemed to have vanished into thin air, a ghostly wooden horse-drawn carriage, a haunted Fells Point bar, and phantom parishioners attending a showing of Othello at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. And that’s only a sample of the contents. You’ll just have to order your own copy in order to experience the full range of spookiness. [5.5” x 8.5”, $2, Eight-Stone Press, PO Box 11064, Baltimore, MD 21212, www.eightstonepress.com, wpt@eightstonepress.com]
#4: Rehearsal
It took me awhile to get into this zine. It looks really nice and is very nicely produced, including dramatic photos of southeastern Utah landscapes, but I wasn’t finding anything gripping in the text. That is, until I reached about page 21, where Andrew wanders into a thoughtful discussion of homesickness and nostalgia. And while the ideas he writes about aren’t earth-shattering, there’s a simple truth to them that rang true with me. After reading this section, I was feeling better about the zine, and so I read on, enjoying the interview with Geoff Merritt of Parasol Records, and Andrew’s sprawling personal examination of love and heartbreak that winds through Utah, Colorado, and my native state of New Jersey, unearthing a few similarities between Andrew’s story and mine, namely the churchgoing childhood and the familiar towns we both traveled in and around while growing up. So, Living Proof grew on me, proving it’s worth reading deep enough into a zine to have a chance to revise your first impression. My conclusion: this is a welcome indulgence for perzine junkies. [5.5” x 4.25”, ISSN 1553-0922, $3 ppd., PO Box 14211, Chicago, IL 60614, www.atm4.net, livingproof@atm4.net]
#2: Cutting the Cord
The appearance of another issue of Mamaphiles stands as a testament to the continuing strength and popularity of the mama zine scene. This one isn’t quite as thick as the last (precluding any stapling difficulties), although it still clocks in at 70 pages. The theme is “Cutting the Cord,” which, according to Stacey Greenberg’s introduction, was chosen so as to “explore the many ways that we mothers have to let go while still holding on.” Of course with such a big compilation, there is a wide variety of interpretations of this theme. Contributors include, among many others, Laurel Dykstra (BabyBloc), Ariel Gore (Hip Mama), Kate Haas (Miranda), Ayun Halliday (The East Village Inky), China Martens (The Future Generation), and Jessica Mills (Yard Wide Yarns). My overall impression of this issue is that based on reading the essays written by these mothers, I think there are some very lucky children out there. This is a good introduction to the mama zine genre, and essential reading for those fans already hooked. [5.5” x 8.5”, $4, PO Box 4803, Baltimore, MD 21211, www.mamaphiles.com]
by Sara Edward-Corbett
Wow, this comic rules! It follows the antics of four children named Chucky, Georgie, Olga, and Meals. Practical yet fretful Olga and brilliant but socially awkward Georgie are siblings. They’re friends with bad boy Chucky and lovesick Meals, whose head is off in the clouds dreaming about Chucky, who in turn is oblivious to her feelings for him. These four make an interesting group whose interactions are often hilarious. When Georgie and Chucky pal around together, it frequently results in Georgie thinking up some elaborate rationale for Chucky’s id-inspired troublemaking. And there’s a lot of truth buried in the absurdity of much of the dialogue. For example, the way kids who are friends can suddenly turn mean toward each other, and how the most callous kids can still sometimes be unexpectedly sensitive. This book collects strips that all originally appeared in The New York Press. It’s handbound with a beautifully screenprinted cover, and tucked inside a pocket on the inside back cover is a free cootie catcher filled with cute little drawings! [8.75” x 9.5”, $8, available through the Partyka website, www.partykausa.com]
Autumn 2005
Here’s an example of what is wonderful about zine publication. It’s the inaugural issue of what publisher DJ Frederick calls “the /wave project,” which will focus on various creative ways people utilize the radio airwaves. I just think it’s great when different types of independent and underground media intersect. It really shows how much freedom is available when you’re doing it all yourself. This issue is an easy and fascinating read that provides a short history of shortwave pirate radio, including definitions of relevant terms and reasons why pirates broadcast, and then offers several pirate radio station profiles. Also included is a CD of shortwave pirate radio shows. The one I got has broadcast programs from WLIS (“We Love Interval Signals), but there are four other different CDs being distributed, as well. A good pick for those who’ve always been curious about pirate radio. [5.5” x 8.5”, $3 ppd. (includes CD), DJ Frederick, 36 West Main St., Warner, NH 03278]
Twenty-Eight
Pages Lovingly Bound with Twine
#13
Christoph Meyer is a one-man publishing powerhouse. In addition to this, his regular zine, he’s now also putting out comix on the side. There is a change in 28PLBWT format this time around, and although the zine is now much larger and professionally printed, it’s still lovingly bound with twine. However, Christoph discovered that the new size results in some leftover paper scraps, and so he created a new publication, The Scrap Paper Review, to use up these scraps. In the first issue of this mini-supplement, Christoph relates tales his wife Lisa has told him about her day upon returning home from work. These often showcase the country charm of their neck of the woods in rural Knox County, Ohio. In the big zine, Christoph includes illuminating essays on such topics as whether cops are pigs, the value of his family’s new “hi-bread” car, and the romance of his no-frills wedding. If you haven’t had the 28PLBWT experience yet, then this would be a fine place to start. [6.5” x 11”, $4/trade (also can pay by stamps, checks made out to Christoph Meyer allowable, foreign orders add extra for postage), 3-issue sub $9, 6-issue sub $15, Christoph Meyer, PO Box 106, Danville, OH 43014]
#1
Nate Gangelhoff is also somewhat of a zine-making machine, having previously put out several issues of Pick Your Poison and You Idiot, as well as having created the useful Zine Street website. His latest publication is a music zine, of sorts. The first issue contains less standard music magazine fare, veering more into the mocking personal commentary vein, not unlike the spirit of Liz Mason’s Bad Lyrics Project. Nate takes it upon himself to get acquainted with Billboard’s popular music charts, and then systematically picks apart various representative songs. There is also a review of a night at a karaoke bar, a close examination of songs titled “Fuck You,” reviews of music his coworker listens to, and a review of an old Korn show, which is less about Korn and more about irresponsible drug use and Nate’s disillusionment with the whole stadium concert scene. As with most of Nate’s stuff I’ve read in the past, I wasn’t particularly drawn to the topics he chooses to write about, but his sense of humor and enthusiasm for his subject matter always seems to win me over. For a first issue, this is pretty good, and I imagine Nate will be polishing it up even more in the future. [8 3/8” x 10.5”, $1 plus stamp or 2, Nate Gangelhoff, PO Box 8995, Minneapolis, MN 55408, whiskeyplus@gmail.com, www.pickyourpoison.net]
“Six stories by Eddie Willson.” Over a year and a half ago, I reviewed a publication called The Any Dream Will Do Review, and my favorite pick from its pages was a story called “Thankful Sturdy” by Eddie Willson. Well, Eddie has since collected a number of his stories and fiction vignettes that have been previously published elsewhere into this photocopied volume. It’s a solid collection that flows well, as Eddie’s stories all share common ground, that of normal working class folks, maybe feeling a little past their prime, and just struggling to find a little joy in their lives. Most of the stories carry a melancholy tone, as they deal with themes of lost love, premature death, and missed opportunities. The dialogue is realistic, and the pacing shows careful crafting. This is definitely among the best fiction writing I’ve read in a zine. [5.5” x 8.5”, 1 pound plus 35p UK or $3 ppd. US, 20 Rochdale Way, Deptford, London SE8 4LY, www.eddiewillson.cjb.net, eddie@paperjam.wanadoo.co.uk]