Ninja Sushi #3

4 pages, 11.5 x 8.5", trade or friendly letter will get you a copy from Yves Albrechts, Postbus 100, 2000 Antwerpen 1, Groenplaats, BELGIUM + kapreles [at] gmail [dot] com The usual mad stuff from Kapreles here, including single panel gags, a (fake?) movie review, breaking news on Pamela Anderson, drawings, and whatever else he feels like throwing in.

Node Pajomo

24 pages, 8.5 x 5.5", $2.00 US/$3.00 World, US cash or stamps, or your nation's currency >>> Post Office Box 2632, Bellingham WA 98227-2632, USA, or, "If you must", nodepajomo [at] gmail [dot] com A terriffic zine for the papernetters here. "We endeavour to be a Real World access point for mailartists, tape traders, and the otherwise postally inclined." This issue is combined with Pukka Joint Massif, so the first half is listings for mail art projects, as well as other random projects. For example, one of the listings: "RED 28.02.13. Send a drawing, object or whatever represents the idea RED. Doc to all. Gue Schmidt, c/o MAG3, Schiffamtsgasse 17, 1020, Vienna, AUSTRIA." The other half, Pukka Joint Massif, is reviews, and there are dozens of 'em. Really great. You could happily get just this one zine and spend the whole year writing to those inside, participating in mail art projects, and trading zines, tapes, all kinds of stuff through the post. If somebody asks you where the action is at, tell them it's right here.

Sweet Stuff Comix #1

ADULTS ONLY! 32 pages, 7.5 x 5.5 ", $4.00, by Dexter Cockburn, thecomixcompany.ecrater.com In the middle of 'de-briefing' Ensign(?) Jane, space captain Marty Marz is called to the bridge by 'Number Two', Spunkmeyer. He and the rest of the crew are invited to the wedding of Lunaria, the only daughter of the King of the Moon, to Lord Smut. Before that happens, Spunkmeyer is seduced by the maidbot, F1F1; then at the moon we see the bride-to-be attended to by a couple of slave girls; then Marty reminisces about his sexual exploits with various alien women. We don't get to see the groom, Lord Smut. That will probably happen in Sweet Stuff #2, as this story is 'to be continued!' Other porntacular shenanigans involve Pippa Creme having to stay back after class, and Junior Ranger Becky investigating who has been taking down the 'Do Not Feed The Bears' signs. You guessed it! It's Bosco the Bear. Wall-to-wall smutty comix is the name of the game, so don't show this one to your granny. Unless she happens to be Andrea Dworkin.

Dudes Magazine #20

98 pages, magazine size, $5.00, Edited by Nighthawk >>> Dudes Magazine World Headquarters, 6819 Minnesota Ave, Saint Louis MO 63111, USA + www.dudes.mag.com + dudesmagazine [at] gmail [dot] com Congrabulations are in order for Nighthawk and the rest of the Dudes for getting to issue 20, and 10 years in the publishing biz. Great job! Same as usual, this issue is packed with good stuff. 'Moc Talk', a roundtable discussion on moccasins sounds like a Dr Seuss book. "Is it possible to rock your mocs with an undocked frock?" I didn't understand it, but it was funny. Do they really wear moccasins? Wouldn't that be like an Aussie wearing 'boat shoes' with his collar popped? Ha ha. I'm out of my depth... In 'KITB: Indiana Via Virginia', Doug Sea reports on the uniquely crazy women of Indiana. Like Holly. She's got a kid called Billy. "...I find out that she used to live in NY, and that her kid's father is a deadbeat rapper from the Bronx. Wow. And I always thought Bronx rappers were excellent father figures." Later, talking about music, Pantera comes up. ""I used to play Pantera to my son while he was in my womb," she says. Damn I'd heard people doing this with Mozart, but Pantera? I found myself even more attracted to her." Dudes staffer DR.E.W. has been living in China for over two years, and in 'How To Be A Jiugui' [Jiugui means alcoholic but uses the Chinese characters for booze and ghost/monster.] he reports on Chinese booze. Most Chinese people refer to all types of booze as "wine". "By far the most popular "wine" here in Beijing is erguotou, a type of baijiu, or white booze. Its name roughly translates as two pot head, meaning it has been distilled twice. It is cheap as hell and 112 proof. It will get you wiped on the cheap. Erguotou tastes awful." There are two big tour diaries back-to-back, written by Nighthawk. The first one from a Haddonfields tour he went on, working on the merch stall, the second one still with The Haddonfields, but as part of something called Awesome Fest. Must be a big travelling punk rock show. Lots of punky tunes, lots of drinking, lots of pissing. Sounds fun. That's only the tip of the iceberg there. It just goes on and on. Talk about bang for your buck. Here it is.

Doodlin' Funnies #2

ADULTS ONLY! 32 pages, $4.00, digest, by Dexter Cockburn >>> thecomixcompany.ecrater.com Wow, looky here! A behind-the-scenes peek into Dexter's wild comix art - ideas & characters both used and unused, or even on hold for use sometime in the future. Dexter provides notes and commentary which is really cool, rather than going the easy way and just slapping together a bunch of sketchbook material. The highlight for me is Dexter's three-page anti-drug comic he produced for the local health unit. He was just out of high school when they approached him for a contribution. He finished it in the course of one coke-fueled evening. They were "horrified". Naturally, it was full of tits and cocks. But this rejection sent him into a depression. Anyway, this is great stuff. The kind of thing you'd love to see from all your favourite comix artists.

Xerography Debt #32

68 pages, digest, $4.00, edited by Davida Gypsy Breier >>> davida [at] leekinginc [dot] com + Davida Gypsy Breier, PO Box 11064, Baltimore MD 21212, USA This issue kicks off with a terrific piece by Al Burian on music and politics. Inspired by and leading with the Russian Pussy Riot outrage, then covering Rage Against the Machine and Megadeth (Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan's favourite bands), George Orwell's 1984 and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, and Jello Biafra and his Oprah Winfrey appearance going head-to-head with Tipper Gore and her comically infamous Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC). Great stuff. In another article, Jeff Somers writes about his decision last year to stop printing hard copies of his zine, The Inner Swine, and go digital only. His zine was chunky as hell but if you ask me, he could have cut it by half since half of each issue was his fiction stories, which were the weakest part. Sorry Jeff! Ha ha. In his column, Kris Mininger writes about his disappearance from the world of zines. For one thing, he was MIA from the pages of this very zine last issue. Why? One of the reasons turns out to be the repercussions of a lukewarm review he wrote and the retaliation by that zinester in his (or her) own zine. I always seem to forget that it's these columns, along with the multitude of zine reviews, that makes XD such a great read. And it's even more important now, after the other big zine review zine, Zine World, has bit the dust. Order your copy from Microcosm! P.S. Since the format of XD is such that each reviewer has his or her own section, you'll enjoy (or not) the reviews of each to varying degrees. But I gotta say, this time around those of Joe Biel really bugged me. In one review, he writes, "As an anthropologist...", then in the very next one, "...as a budding language theorist..." I expected the next review to include a sentence beginning with, "As a professional douchebag, ..." I mean, "budding language theorist"? The review after the next one includes the sentence, "She addresses the conflicting emotions she feels about an ex, who despite saving her life did not respect her needs and ultimately needed shed for her life." What the hell does that mean? ... To paraphrase the saying: writing is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. But with Joe, the formula seems to be 1% inspiration and 99% irritation. The latter experienced by the reader.

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

   

La Poubelle: La lutte eternel

La Poubelle by Derek Baxter and Brian Canini is a comic in French. I took French in high school and remember some, so I was able to read about...50% of the words? Or maybe more. But there were a lot of gaps. I could understand, "Now I am going to kill the ninjas," toward the end, and, "I want to be rich and have sex with a whore," which someone told a lamp genie. There are a few scenes and I don't understand the relationships between them, for the most part, but there are no divisions that make me think they're not supposed to be related. So I don't know if that's my failure to fully understand the French or if the connections really are very loose.

Overall it's light and sometimes funny, like when the bull-person says, "I'm going to eat this rose," and does. Or when they're suddenly at a disco at the end. I like the beginning, which is about the way the word for poison and the word for fish are very similar in French. But the part with the dead prostitute is disturbing, and I'm clearly missing some of the jokes. "L'amour, c'est comme une etoil de mer...dur et pointu." I knew that says, "Love, it's like a star something...something and something," then looked up three words and learned it says, "Love, it's like a starfish, hard and pointy."

Overall, I think I'm not the audience for this comic. I am a big fan of graphic memoir and some non-superhero independent comics, and this one's non-superhero, but my sense of humor mostly doesn't work with the sense of humor of the creators. I'm sure lots of comics lovers would really enjoy this, though.

And I feel like I can't give a fair review since I'm not fluent in French. But lots of people aren't fluent in French, so maybe people who don't know French or who took French in school are supposed to be able to enjoy it too? Maybe the makers who sent it to me assumed I was French from my name, which I'm not. And I know I assumed that non-French speakers would be able to get something out of it since they were sending it to me without asking if I speak French. Maybe it was a misunderstanding.

The drawing is very good in a cartoon way, and I like the cover with its blues. Maybe I should have known from the name of the comics publisher, Drunken Cat Comics, that it would not match my sense of humor. I don't drink. I feel like a prude for not enjoying this more. But I want to be cool with who I am too.

Again, I think a lot of people would enjoy this, and I encourage you to get a copy of this zine if you're into this type of comic. As for me, I will pass it along to my comics-loving neighbors who work at a comic book store and probably have much broader comics tastes than my narrow ones.

http://www.drunkencatcomics.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

Zine News Round-Up: 24.02.13

image by Angry Violist - thanks!

1. Zine Releases

2. Upcoming Events

3. Submission Calls

4. AOB

---

1. Zine Releases - Poor Lass #1, “a collection of stories of what it's really like to be working class”, is out now! Buy a copy for £2 at http://sugarpaper.bigcartel.com/product/poor-lass-1

- Becoming: A Feminist Coming of Age, a zine created by Project:BABE, is out now! Contact the editors for a copy at projectbabecollectiveATgmail.com.

2. Upcoming Events - Workshop on Zines and Feminism: Thursday 8^thMarch, 10.30am at Swansea University. Part of the Swansea Feminist Network’s workshop day for International Women’s Day. More info at http://swanseafeministnetwork.wordpress.com.
- Sheffield Zine Fest: Saturday 16 March, 12 til 5pm. The organisers are looking for people to table and hold workshops – more info and contact details can be found at http://sheffieldzinefest.wordpress.com/.
- REVOLT #2: Saturday 16 March, Taylor John’s House, Coventry. A riot grrrl night with zine stalls and feminist music. http://www.facebook.com/events/532368940127398/?ref=2
- DIY Cultures 2013: Sunday 7 April, 12 til 7pm. A festival of zines, comics, artist-run spaces, talks, films, art and workshops. http://www.facebook.com/events/590291354321604/?ref=2
- Any upcoming UK zine events? Let us know – spillthezinesukATgmail.com!

3. Submission Calls - Pandora Press, a feminist compzine published by the Swansea Feminist Network, is looking for contributors for its 5^thissue (theme: media). Extended deadline: 28 February. More info at http://swanseafeministnetwork.wordpress.com

- Kat W is looking for reviews, essays, quotes and artwork for her Stephen King fanzine, titled ‘Death Is When The Monsters Get You’. For more info, email kjwilliams1986ATgmail.com.
- ‘Narwool’is a new zine by and for crafty people, featuring tutorials, how-to’s, artwork, and more. To submit, contact the editor Kim at narwoolzineAThotmail.co.uk.

- There’s a Doctor Who fanzine in the works! Lots of detailed information can be found at http://type-40-zine.tumblr.com/Submission-Guidelines

- Twigs and Apples, a zine collective based in Preston, are looking for submissions for their latest comp zine. Welcome topics include “art, illustration, photography, writing, reviews, music, film, veganism, recipes, anarchism, environmentalism, sports, gardening, bike-riding, philosophy, travel, DIY & craft”. More info at http://twigsandapples.tumblr.com.

4. AOB
- Kirsty, of Make It Work/Hard Femme zines, is currently doing an oral history project on zinesters as part of an MA in Archives and Records Management, and is looking for people to get involved. She can travel to you (or vice versa) and you'll have a 1-2 hour chat about zines, how you started making them, your involvement in the community and so on, anything you want to talk about! Fancy being involved? Or know someone who does/want to recommend someone? Email Kirsty at kirsty.fifeATgmail.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

Adventures in the Land of Greasecars and Fireflies

Zine Review: Adventures in the Land of Greasecars and Fireflies

from One Minute Zine Reviews by DJ Frederick

Adventures in the Land of Greasecars and Fireflies

By Sascha Scatter

PO Box 18

Spring Glen NY 12483

This slim zine is a reprint from Slug & Lettuce c. 2004 and had me nodding and smiling from first page to last. InAdventures in the Land of Greasecars and Fireflies, Sascha writes about personal world view, cultural and economic considerations that led to the decision to convert an old diesel vehicle into one that runs alternatively on vegetable oil. A kit was purchased, a workshop and party thrown for the community, and willing hands showed up to help with the process. Sascha’s writing is engaging and informative and this zine just might be an inspiration for your next mechanical project. 

Psionic Plastic Joy #17

Zine Review: Psionic Plastic Joy #17

from One Minute Zine Reviews by DJ Frederick

Psionic Plastic Joy

digest / $2

Jason Rodgers

PO Box 62

Lawrence MA 01842

So now we come to it – the absurdity of writing paper zine reviews within an online blog called One Minute Zine Reviews. I’m plagued by this dichotomy all of the time, and often teeter on the edge of abandoning the digital world altogether. I use the internet as a tool, I remind myself. But what is the tool and who is the user? Or who is the tool and what is the user?

Jason Rodgers has released Psionic Plastic Joy, issue number 17, a compendium of articles, imagery, semi-dadism, anarchy, and beautiful nonsense. The two primary essays in this issue are thematically linked by references to the domestication of humans, which I suspect allows for our enslavement by consumerist culture: Jason delves into concepts of psychic nomadism as a means to remove our shackles, and John Zerzan stares into the eyes of what we call happiness, and doesn’t blink. These articles are both well written and articulate thoughts beyond the typical curve of acceptable discourse in this frenzied and distracted culture. Psionic Plastic Joy also includes a fantastic allegory (parable?) titled “The Tale of One Thousand and One Words” which describes an encounter between The Cook, the Waitress, the Dishwasher and Trickster.

Psionic Plastic Joy is unapologetic about being suspicious of technology, which I am grateful to read for a change. Every email we send, skype call we make, google search we do, etc is monitored by someone, and we just don’t care anymore. We have met Big Brother and he (and she) is us. At least paper mail has to be opened and resealed, and yes that happens too (witnessed by my own receipt of a QSL card from Radio Havana).

By questioning our domestication and creating actions that bring us one step closer to freedom, we can reimagine our lives. Psionic Plastic Joy is a zine about that journey of reimagining and re-creation.

King Cat No. 73

King Cat No. 73

from One Minute Zine Reviews by DJ Frederick

King-Cat Comics and Stories No. 73

$4 ppd

John Porcellino

PO Box 142

So. Beloit IL 61080

johnporcellino.blogspot.com

I have to admire anyone who has released 73 issues of a comic or a zine. The centerpiece of this comic is the hunt for the elusive cuckoo bird (no… really!). There are some other short stories, a top 40 list, and a primer on the 13 lined ground squirrel if you’re into wildlife & natural history. Cool variety. 

Mixt Media Audio Zine Winter 2013

Mixt Media Audio Zine Winter 2013

from One Minute Zine Reviews by DJ Frederick

Ok ... so I got motivated to record one more Mixt Media Audio Zine ... maybe more will follow ... your honest feedback would be appreciated, warm, cool, or in between. 

Mixt Media Audio Zine Winter 2013 can be downloaded here: 

http://radio4all.net/index.php/program/65123