In Loving Memory of the Spam Obituaries
by Russell Barker
50p
A5, black and white, 12 pages
Back in 2006, after a deluge of spam from purportedly from
oddly named people – ie Manitoba M. Parsnip, Enthusing U. Ming, Halibut
Showpiece – Russell (of Lunchtime For The Wild Youth fame) decided to do
something using the emails. Rather than the common route of writing back in a ‘hilarious’
way, he took a more absurdist approach by writing obituaries with his wife for
each name. Metaphorically killing them off as soon as possible.
The obituaries were posted on a blog under the pseudonym William
Ridenhour, which soon caught the attention of other blogs, shared and linked,
leading Russell to be interviewed on Canadian radio. The blog lasted only three
months before they grew bored of writing it, but those entries have taken on a new
life in this zine.
The zine is simply produced, but enlivened by illustrations by Russell and Helen’s daughter Robyn. It is silly, funny, and as
absurd as you’d expect.
Death to spam! Buy a copy here https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/516095453/in-loving-memory-of-the-spam-obituaries
Review by Nathan Penlington.
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