Me

Me
4.25" x 5.5", 40 pgs., $4
Neil Fitzpatrick gets personal in this aptly titled comic. Some terrible things happened in Neil's life (a bad break-up being one apparently), so Neil used his comic book making skills as an outlet to deal with it. Having read and thoroughly enjoyed some of Neil's other books, I was excited to explore this one. It did not disappoint. However, here is my dilemma: Neil went through a rough time, and then I got to enjoy reading a comic about it. Sorry, Neil. The truth is, this is stuff most anyone can relate to, which is partly what makes it so good. We go through rough times, we beat ourselves down while simultaneously trying to build ourselves back up, and ultimately we get through it. In the meantime, some of the best art gets made as (for whatever reason) our creative juices flow when life is sucking the most. Hopefully Neil can take heart from that. 
www.neiljam.com

The Recoup #1

The Recoup #1
digest, perfect bound, 42 pages
$5 digital copy/$7 print copy
Joseph Kyle is a music journalist who believes that "a record has no expiration date," and so, frustrated with the lack of coverage older, lesser known bands receive in today's music magazines (even when classic albums are reissued), he decided to do something about it. And that's how The Recoup was born. It's "a journal dedicated to music -  superb, excellent, forgotten-about music." In the debut issue you will find interviews with the drummer of Semisonic, a member of Texas is the Reason, Peter Byrne/Naked Eyes, and Brother. Following the interviews, there are 8 pages of reviews of reissued/classic albums. The issue ends with Joseph discussing his Yoko Ono obsession with a friend of his who shares his obsession. It's a great looking little magazine, and, in my opinion, a very worthy cause.
http://therecoup.wordpress.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/josephhkyle

Burning Building Comix

Burning Building Comix by Jeff Zwirek
6.25" x 12.25" (unfolds to 6.25" x 24.5"), hardcover, 40 pgs., 19.95
Probably the most creatively designed and manufactured comic book I have ever seen. The main book unfolds to reveal two smaller books. Each of the smaller books includes 5 floors of a 10 floor apartment building. Each floor is a separate story, and so each floor is meant to be read individually from bottom to top. However, there is an underlying theme to each story/floor. The building has caught on fire! As you read through each floor, you'll see the reactions of the characters to the fire as they discover it, attempt to put it out, and then ultimately exit the building. This is a silent comic, so all of the "dialog" is shown using various pictures and symbols. This is such a fun read and well worth getting your hands on.
Here is a link for it at Top Shelf Productions.
jeffscomix@gmail.com
www.jeffscomics.com

Temporary Brothers

Temporary Brothers
digest, 16 pages (cardstock cover), $?
A one-shot zine by DJ Frederick Moe. DJ Fred is an only child, despite the longing he had for siblings in his youth. Since he didn't have brothers of his own, he thought of some of his close friends as brothers. This zine profiles a few of DJ Fred's "temporary brothers." "Temporary" because these friendships did not endure...at least not to the same degree as when he "adopted" them. I don't want to give any spoilers. I think you should read this zine for yourself in order to discover the nature of the friendships that DJ Fred had growing up and the adventures he and his "brothers" had. The stories are worth a few minutes of your time. And they are well-written...of course they are - it's DJ Fred. My only complaint: it's far too short. Perhaps there is more to come? DJ Fred alludes to that at one point, so let's hope.
Frederick Moe
36 West Main Street
Warner NH 03278
USA
singinggrove@conknet.com

A Survival Guide for Supply Teachers

A Survival Guide for Supply Teachers (1st Edition)
8 1/2" x 11", 22 pages, $3 (cash money preferred, trades accepted)
To clarify, supply teacher = substitute teacher. I wasn't sure what a supply teacher was at first, so I have to assume that there are others out there who are/were equally ignorant. And now on with the review...
Gary's zine is - exactly as the title suggests - advice for new (and experienced) supply teachers. Gary covers it all, from what to do in order to get supply teaching jobs, what to expect once you've received jobs, what to do when trouble arises while on the job (and Gary assures us that it will from time to time), what to do at the end of a job, and how to get more jobs in the future. This zine is quite comprehensive despite its length, and considering that I have never supply taught and do not plan to, I was surprised by how interested I was in the subject matter. Perhaps it is because my dad has been an elementary school teacher for more than 30 years now. Or maybe it is because Gary has a very approachable and engaging writing style. Probably both. Seriously, this is worth checking out. The only suggestion I would make as far as improvements go would be to add more personal anecdotes, tell more stories. Five plus years of supply teaching should provide some pretty entertaining/interesting stories. Perhaps we can expect to see that in a future edition...if there is one. So, here's my plan: everyone within reading distance of this review gets their hands on a copy of this zine so that Gary feels compelled to put out a second edition. Should work.
Gary Flanagan
3-42 Spring Street
Saint John, NB
E2K 3X5
Canada
muzikman84@hotmail.com

I Am My Own Stereotype: The My Small Diary Collection

I Am My Own Stereotype: The My Small Diary Collection
5.5" x 8.5", 112 pages, perfect bound, $8 + $2 shipping ($6 shipping outside of U.S.A)
Delaine has been writing diary comics for at least 20 years. She publishes her comics in her zines (My Small Diary and Not My Small Diary) as well as various other zines. This book compiles three out of print My Small Diary books and includes 40 additional pages. Each page in this book is a single comic strip, and (for the most part) the content is (as the title suggests) basically a diary entry in comic form - highlights from Delaine's life. The artwork is simple, the writing is concise, and the book leaves the impression that Delaine is a spirited and adventurous person who loves life. Diary comics run the risk of coming across as overly narcissistic and self-indulgent, but Delaine's book largely avoids falling into this trap. Instead Delaine comes across as a sincere and generous person, happily sharing the (oftentimes mundane) happenings of her (occasionally charmed) life. It's all in good fun, exactly the way entertainment for entertainment's sake should be.
www.mysmallwebpage.com
DELANGEL3@hotmail.com
 

Elephant Mess #27

Gardening is for Eaters

Gardening is for Eaters
digest, 24 pages, $?
This is Laura-Marie and Ming's new gardening zine. Laura-Marie has been involved with gardens and gardening for much of her life but had found the experience to be mostly frustrating - until now. The gardens she has created and worked on with Ming have given her a newfound passion for gardening and a new level of satisfaction with her gardens. And so to share the excitement, she created this zine. In it she lists all of the plants that are growing in her gardens and includes a brief statement about each one. Then she interviews Ming about permaculture, Jade about food gathering, and Marcus about biointensive farming. This is a fun and informative zine, but it has left me wanting more, so I'm hoping that future issues are in the works.
robotmad@gmail.com
www.dangerouscompassions.blogspot.com

Jerry's Journal, Volume 2

Jerry's Journal, Volume 2
5.5" x 7.5", 32 pages, black and white w/ color cover, $5
Jerry is back and appears to be fresh out of a relationship that must have ended terribly. It isn't clear if it was a romantic relationship or a friendship that has come to such a tragic end; regardless, it has left Jerry in a sour mood. Jerry's creator, Neil Fitzpatrick, is incredible at conveying the emotion of the situation, both with his blunt and succinct writing and his simple yet well executed artwork. The words and art combine to create something quite profound. The 15 or so minutes that it will take you to read this book is well worth it. Whether you can relate to Jerry's situation or not, his monologues will offer you some food for thought, and the overall presentation will entertain you.

 



Neil Fitzpatrick

neil@neiljam.com

www.neiljam.com



Jerry's Journal, Volume 1

Jerry's Journal, Volume 1
5.5" x 7.5", 32 pages, black and white w/ color cover, $5
Jerry is a bird and a depressive, and this is his journal. He is the creation of Neil Fitzpatrick, and so immediately one must wonder just how similar Jerry is to Jerry's creator...but perhaps that's beside the point. As it is, Jerry is an observer of life, and ultimately he seems to conclude that life is quite pointless, sad, absurd, and boring. From my perspective, Jerry's cynical view is very relatable, and so I like him. However, even if you're not a cynic and you don't find self-deprecation to be all that funny, I'm sure you will still find something to like about Jerry. If nothing else, you have to admit that he is pretty damn adorable.

 

Neil Fitzpatrick

neil@neiljam.com

www.neiljam.com

 



All My Fathers

All My Fathers
digest, 12 pgs. (cardstock cover), $?
This is is a one-shot zine about the father and father figures of Frederick Moe. After a brief introduction to his childhood with a difficult father, Fred goes on to profile various mentors he has had throughout his life that have helped him to learn and grow and ultimately appreciate more fully his biological father. From mentors in the 4-H program to supervisors at work, Fred discusses lessons he has learned and great examples he has had over the years. Whatever I can say here won't do this zine justice. You should read it for yourself. I'm sure you will find things to relate to, as well as be inspired and impressed by Fred's candor.
Frederick Moe
36 West Main Street
Warner NH 03278
USA
singinggrove@conknet.com

Cuneiform #4

Cuneiform #4
8 1/2" x 11", 10 pgs, $?
This is a compilation zine. It's composed of contributions from those dedicated to keeping print alive and making communication through the postal mail system a priority. James Dawson starts off the zine by sharing some of his recent experiences at the public library and offering some of his thoughts about the internet as well as some other random things. Very interesting. Next there are some letters and zine reviews. This issue ends with a piece extolling the virtues of books, "a wonderful concept." Worth a look for those devoted to the world of print. The editor of the zine changes from time to time, but for now write to:
James Dawson
PO Box 950
Spokane WA 99210
USA

Joyful Dissent, Spring 2013

Joyful Dissent, Spring 2013
legal-size paper, 8 pages, donation
A zine for folks interested in activism involving political issues. The first article introduces an organization called Public Accountability Initiative, which investigates "power and corruption at the heights of business and government." The following article addresses drone strikes in Afghanistan. Another article is a personal account about working with an organization that provides basic necessities to Mexicans attempting to cross the border into the United States - the purpose being to help prevent migrants from dying in the dessert. Some of the information in this zine may only be pertinent to people living in and around Charlottesville, VA (the city in which this zine is produced). What I like most about this zine is the look of it. It's a cut 'n paste zine that takes me back to when I was first introduced to the world of zines. Very nostalgic for me at least, and good to know that little publications like this are still around. Worth a look.
Joyful Dissent
1310 Florence Road
Charlottesville VA 22902
USA

Possum Garage Press #14

Possum Garage Press #14
mini zine, 12 pgs w/ cardstock cover, $3 per issue or $6 for 3 issue subscription
The Possums are back! In this issue, Peter Possum offers a brief description of what his life is like living under the garden shed. As it turns out, it's a prime location. A couple of pleasant poems and lots of great possum illustrations fill up most of the rest of the issue. Very enjoyable (albeit quick) read.
Possum Garage Press
c/o Lanyon Studio
8 Winston Avenue
Wilmington DE 19804 USA

Koogmo #4

Koogmo #4
8 1/2" x 11", 12 pages, $1/trade
Koogmo (formerly Whuddafug) is a text heavy zine with a particularly simple and uninteresting layout. Its saving grace is that the writing is good and the content is typically engrossing. Most issues have a wide variety of content, however this issue happens to be an exception. It starts out with some journal entries where you get a real feel for Anthony's view of the world. His view is either unique or he just writes about it well - possibly both. Either way, Anthony's telling of his day to day life and his perspectives on things are the most interesting parts of this zine. After the journal entries there are letters to the editor and a few zine reviews. The bulk of the zine is then taken up with a recounting of a trip to Cabo San Lucas. If you have never read Koogmo or Whuddafug, this issue may not be your best introduction, however I do recommend contacting Anthony and getting your hands on an issue or two.
Anthony Abelaye
PO Box 861294
Plano TX 75086
USA
anthony@koogmo.com
http://koogmo.com

   

The Juniper #16

Hello friends and foes! The 16th issue of The Juniper is out now! It's about time, right? In this issue, I write about embracing change, being human, raised bed gardening, the proper way to add organic matter to your garden, purposeful gardening, and pruning rosemary plants. This zine is free, but if you have a dollar or stamps to donate to the cause, that would be greatly appreciated as printing and mailing costs add up. I am also, for the first time, offering a pdf version of the zine. If you would like a free pdf copy, just send me a request by email. Otherwise, send your dollar or stamp(s) to the following address:

Dan Murphy
PO Box 9862
Boise ID 83707
USA

dnlmrphy@gmail.com

The Ken Chronicles #26

The Ken Chronicles #26
digest, 36 pages, $2
Ken is a big traveler now that he is retired, and so this issue of his zine (like many others) largely consists of the details of a recent trip. This time around his travels took him to Europe in celebration of a friend's 60th birthday. My favorite part is a single page entitled "Random Thoughts on the EuroTrip" in which he distills his trip down to a few interesting observations. He also includes a story about a giant pin oak falling onto his garage during Hurricane Sandy. As a plant geek, I especially enjoyed learning about the different trees in Ken's yard and their unusual placement. The last three pages of this issue are taken up with Ken's regular column, "What I've Been (Listening/Watching/Reading) Lately." This is a regularly published and consistently entertaining zine.
Ken Bausert
2140 Erma Drive
East Meadow NY 11554
USA

PassScribe@aol.com
http://thekenbausertchronicles.blogspot.com
http://kenbausertsnostalgicmuseum.blogspot.com

Something for Nothing #65

Something for Nothing #65
digest, 36 pages, free (send stamps)
This is the Tape Issue of Something for Nothing. Idy has dug out his cassette tape collection and written reviews of all the cassette only releases that he has. There are a bunch of them, so the bulk of this issue is taken up by that. But he also squeezes in some beverage reviews, “Kinko’s I’ve Been To” (for the old school zine folks), and a piece about how he spent a recent birthday. Whether it’s this issue or another one, it's always worth your time to get your hands on a copy of SfN.
Something for Nothing
516 Third Street NE
Massillon, OH 44646
USA

Something for Nothing #64

Something for Nothing #64
digest, 40 pages, free (send stamps)
Just as you’ve come to expect from Something for Nothing, this issue is packed with interesting and informative reading. Idy reviews the records of three very lesser known punk bands: Group of Individuals, AOS3, and Schwartzeneggar. He also reviews 11 Christian themed books, offering his thoughts and views (from a faithful perspective) along the way. His familiar “______ I’ve Been To” section is about record stores this time around, plus Beverage Reviews are back this issue. Always text heavy and always worth picking up.
Something for Nothing
516 Third Street NE
Massillon, OH 44646
USA