April 2003
Booty #17, 18p, odd size (7"X9")
Another great comic! I can't believe how many great comics people are doing.
The drawings in this are very simple, and the content is auto-biographical.
Anne's comics exudes humor, intelligence and honesty. She mostly discusses
what's been happening in her life the past 16 months, by no means an easy
thing to condense into 18 pages. She does it wonderfully, telling us how she
wrote her thesis, got her Ph.D, worked for a while in a boy's dorm, along
with family turmoil and personal issues. Very cool.
Anne Thalheimer
c/o Simon's Rock College
Box 498
84 Alford Rd.
Gt. Barrington, MA 01230
motes@simons-rock.edu
Also available from Safe
Warm Place Distro
--AR
Child That Mind #2, 50p, quarter-size
Another well-written, thoughtful zine from Moira Clunie. It is still clear
that she is obsessed with the idea of location and place, this time discussing
it in relation to environmental engineering. She writes about constructs,
the way a city if put together, the mapping of pipes. She also finds times
for other tangents, discussing her feminist views and sexism, as well as her
vegetarianism/veganism versus working for the meat industry. This issue is
highly provoking and interesting. Excellent stuff.
Moira Clunie
PO Box 7754
Wellesley St.
Auckland
New Zealand
http://nutmeg.gen.nz
moira@nutmeg.gen.nz
--AR
Cutting My Nightmares Out of Paper, 32p, quarter-size
Despite the fact that some of this zine deals with difficult issues such as
being bi-polar and general annoyances with life, it is written and put together
in an almost cheerful and cute manner. Most of it deals with travelling and
moving, along with miscellaneous thoughts, some presented in a journal form.
Visually, the niftiest aspect of this zine, is the paper cover with a button
to hold it together and a secret pocket. This is one of the most surprising
touches.
Becca Sneed
1104 Paulette Dr.
Laporte, IN 46350
pandorra0@hotmail.com
Also available from Safe
Warm Place Distro
--AR
Efficiency Year 1.5, 110p, half-size
I bought this issue in order to catch up on all I have missed. It's so immense
I don't think I've gotten past #4 yet. Thus far, it's a very interesting read,
often because there are so many wonderfully conflicting viewpoints in each
issue. The primary idea of the zine is to fit as much text as possible into
the least amount of space. Most novel, but be prepared for a lot of text.
As a bonus, the collection has a great screenprinted cover, with the cover
of each issue featured. I like this zine a lot.
2501 Ryan Place Dr.
Fort Worth, TX 76110
efficiency@falsepunk.net
--AR
Girl Swirl Fanzine #7, 46p, eighth-size, $2
or trade
A sort of prelude to the catharsis of #8, Taryn deals a lot with the issue
of stasis in her life. She tries, as honestly as possible, to get at the root
of her fears, and to get over them She writes about the good and bad parts
to the relationships with family and friends. By the end of this zine, we
see her thought processes at work and get to know her as a person. This zine
is another reason why I get so gushy about Girl Swirl. This is what
a personal zines should be: honest, well-written, and intimately personal.
Girl Swirl c/o Taryn Hipp
PO Box 8
Allston, MA 02134
http://www.girlswirl.net
taryn@girlswirl.net
--AR
Girl Swirl Fanzine #9, 68p, quarter-size
This issue of Girl Swirl follows an alphabet format, which sounds
a little gimmicky, but Taryn adds her own touch to the entries, using the
letters to address aspects of her life. Some of the entries are fun, while
others are emotional, even a little sad. Many of the entries deal with her
relationship to her family, as well as friends. As always, Taryn's straightforward
writing and honesty is what really carries this one through.
Girl Swirl c/o Taryn Hipp
PO Box 8
Allston, MA 02134
http://www.girlswirl.net
taryn@girlswirl.net
--AR
Horizontal Stripes, 20p, half-size
I just have to say, I was really impressed with this comic. The drawings were
simple and stylish, the story was engaging and I liked the characters too.
The main character/narrator deals with her need to belong versus her desire
for friendship, struggling with the "scene" and people in general.
Beautifully honest and poignant, I fell in love with this comic immediately.
Anthony
15 7 Terrace Plaza #3
Danbury, CT 06810
anthonysorge@hotmail.com
--AR
Oubliete Vol.1, 8p, half-size
In a mixture of typed and hand-written text, Mercedes compiles poetry, personal
tidbits, and her love of music into an engaging and well-written zine. The
design is delightfully simple, and Merecedes herself is a very promising writer.
kobushihime@hotmail.com
--AR
Oubliete #1, Vol.2, 20p, half-size
This issue is thicker and even more full of great content. A lot of the writing
is bout love and the problems arising out of it, along with poetry, music,
rants, photos, and art. This zine continues to get better and better. A good
thing too.
kobushihime@hotmail.com
--AR
Pocket Stuff #0, 60p, half-size, $2 or trade
Randomly nifty perzine that starts out with a list of lists. I like the way
Jill writes, fun, yet lyrical. This zine is chock full of stuff, a compilation
of writings from the summer of 2002. She writes about being in highschool,
her love of photo booths, and her job. Very nice.
Jill
1713 Monroe St.
La Porte, IN 46350
http://www.blurty.com/users/mavieencrayon/
olympiagowns@alloymail.com
--AR
Pocket Stuff #2, 34p, quarter-size, $1 or trade
It would be difficult to find one subject this journal style perzine covers,
as there are so many. Jill is a good writer who draws you in with even the
most random subjects like her personal fashion, her love of music, and libraries.
Also, she has a talent for art and photography that is nearly as inviting.
Nice, fun zine.
Jill
1713 Monroe St.
La Porte, IN 46350
http://www.blurty.com/users/mavieencrayon/
olympiagowns@alloymail.com
--AR
Preternatural, 14p, odd size (4"X7")
A moody read detailing self-mutilation (cutting in particular) and encounters
with a mental hospital by the same writer of Things You Never Said.
It is detailed and well-written, at times recalling the self-confessionals
of Sylvia Plath. I enjoyed it for the honesty and quality of writing, though
some may find rather depressing.
Jon Delz
2943 E. 46th St.
Box #7
Indianapolis, IN 46256
riotgrrrlboi@hotmail.com
Also
available from Safe
Warm Place Distro
--AR
Sometimes...I Want You to Hurt Me, 14p, half-size
Mostly a zine of literature, with a few bits of personal commentary, Teresa
shows some promise as a writer. The poetry and prose is primarily about love
and loss of love. "Is This You" has a particular beauty to it and
the piece of prose has some nice bits. Not too shabby.
gothiah@hotmail.com
--AR
Things You Never Said #3, 30p, half-legal
This issue, predating 34, seems slightly less focused, but probably gives
a more complete picture of who Jon is. Topics range across the board, from
friends to sexuality, gender to depression, nearly all of them captured with
an honest style. Most of the text is hand-written.
Jon Delz/Box 7
2943 E. 46th St.
Indianapolis, IN 46205
riotgrrrlboi@hotmail.com
Also available from Safe
Warm Place Distro
--AR
Things You Never Said #4, 26p, quarter-size
An extremely personal zine, to the point some may find almost uncomfortable,
nevertheless, engaging. I couldn't put it down. Jon mostly writes about his
experiences with relationships, love, lust, infatuation, and sex. His honesty
will drawn you in until the end.
Jon Delz/Box 7
2943 E. 46th St.
Indianapolis, IN 46205
http://angelfire.com/zines/hurtingdistro
riotgrrrlboi@hotmail.com
--AR
Tricks, 37p, quarter-size, $2
Another zine about being a phone-sex operator. What can I say? The sex industry
is endlessly fascinating for me, especially the inner workings of those who
consume it. So, this one I liked. It's not a big issue zine like Two-Way
Freak, instead focusing on some interesting customers in all forms. There
are a number of strange and wonderful stories contained with in. You will
find yourself laughing at several points, perhaps even wrinkling your nose.
dancexrevolution@yahoo.com
Also available from Safe
Warm Place Distro
--AR
Twigmama #2, 32p, half-size, $1 or trade
Crazy and surreal, Twig draws beautifully and writes just as well. What draws
me in mostly is the art, the interesting photographs and bold, comic drawings.
She also writes about weird experiences in diners and the joy of joyrides.
Good stuff.
Suzie Kelly
306 PCC
Alfred, NY 147802
http://www.twigmama.com
Also available through Fat
Cheeks Distro
--AR