August 2003

Big Ray's Bad Attitude #6, 6 pages, full size
It's another issue of Big Ray's, full of the same bitter vitriol I love to read. The first piece deals with President Bush's many foibles. Inside, Ray writes about freedom and the lack of certain kinds in our country, along with another rant about the Supreme Court. One of the more unique aspects about this local zine, are the chess strategies and moves inside, which contrast nicely against the more direct political essays and rants. What always strikes me about this zine is the intelligence and sense of humor lurking behind the politics. Ray has fun with his "bad" attitude and holds nothing back. This makes for a fun and interesting read every time.
Ray
PO Box 32774
Kansas City, MO 64171
Smiling_Ibis@hotmail.com
--AR

Birchlane Vol.1 #1, 40p, quarter-size
A reprint of the first issue, this copy of Birchlane lives up to all the expectations of later issues. With a perfect combination of photography and writing, this book always manages to touch me somehow. I think everything inside it worth a look, but I especially liked Bruce Barone's stream of conscious poem, Alaina Burri-Stone's moody photographs, Katherine Tillman's ambiguous yet touching vignette, and Terry Palka's always startling photographs. A beautiful exploration of art and literature.  
www.birchlane.net
--AR

The Female Species #4, 18p, half-size
If "boredom engenders violence," as a slogan on the cover of this zine suggests, I would have blown up half a city after reading it. The best political zines inspire a desire to act, and while I respect and probably agree with the anarchist sentiments behind The Female Species, the issues within were not compellingly presented. For instance, an article on day care voucher cuts in Ohio strings together a few statistics regarding the number of families affected, then closes with the line, "Can we watch the rich live in luxury while the essential service of child care is being taken from those who need it most?" Yes, it is sad that some children in Ohio won't get to attend day care anymore, and yes, the class divide is unfortunate. However, the article explains neither the upper class's relation to day care cuts nor a plan for change. Without a link to some larger point, the day care information is irrelevant to most readers. A more interesting article could have focused on how anarchists can work to change government programs without voting or supporting the idea of the state, for instance. On the other hand, the writing style is very clear, and I did enjoy the interview they conducted with Ernesto Aguilar of APOC (Anarchist People of Color). The people behind The Female Species have a great zeal for their subject; perhaps in future issues they will manage to convey it in every article. Also, although The Female Species is clearly a textual rather than graphic endeavor, more art and punchier layouts would have added a great deal.
http://www.geocities.com/yoshomon
thefemalespecies@hotmail.com
--Kate Duffy

Klempner 214, 38p, half-size
This futuristic and somewhat erotic comic by Harold Penis is a lovely little piece. All words in German, one may have to struggle to understand what's happening, but the finely detailed drawings reveal the story well enough. It's rather difficult to explain, but it involves a transformation inside a strange underground city. In simple black and white, with fine pointillist marks for shadings, this comic is certainly one of the prettiest and strangest mini-comics I've ever read.
feebletude @hotmail.com
livejournal.com/users/harold_penis
--AR

Mimezine (mim-uh-zine) vol.1 #2, 50p, half-size
Mimezine looks totally old school. Well, that's kind of because it is. This issue was published in 1996, which seems like ages ago, but not so long as one might think. This particular issue is sub-titled the "Special Trendy VIOLENCE Issue," a name it lives up to as it dissects everyone's favorite American pastime. Robert Hubbard writes a painful and touching account a friend who committed suicide, tells us all about the Fuck-You Decade (The 90's), a mass murder and suicide in a highrise law office, placing all within the American experience he calls the "Big Ugly." This zine also features some music reviews, including Dieselhead, The Buckets, and The Billy Nayer Show. For those of us who can recall the days when cut-and-paste was expected, this zine is a welcome flashback.
For everyone else, it's a pretty good read.
641 SE 35th St.
Topeka, KS 66605
USA
rlhubbard@hotmail.com
--AR

Mimezine (mim-uh-zine) vol.1 #3, 76p, half-size
Another journey into the past (1997 in this case) via MIMEZINE. This issue claims to focus on relationships, but most of the content is a miscellany. Robert Hubbard writes an interestingly positive critique of the movie Crash, delineates his Doughnut Theory, and details the difficult breakup of a friend and her husband. One of the most fascinating pieces is an interview with an anonymous lesbian, who describes her history and relationships, giving us a real and poignant picture of her life. Perhaps of most interest to me personally is an article about Hubbard's experience at the Midwest Underground Media Symposium, once hosted here in Kansas City, but now sadly defunct. I loved reading up zines and zinesters I'd heard of but never read or met in person. It was like a picture into a certain chapter of the KC zine scene past. This zine as a whole is full of interesting and varied content. The style is very old school cut-and-paste, with heavily contrasted imagery and rough mix of hand-written and typed text. This is its particular charm and this zine is much recommended.
641 SE 35th St.
Topeka, KS 66605
USA
rlhubbard@hotmail.com
--AR

Nonsensical #4, 22p, half-size, $1 or trade.
Annie keeps with the theme of memory in this zine, describing strange
occurrences or the details of observances she's made. She describes a trip to China, watching and listening to people on the different buses she rides in San Francisco, and witnessing racism. She recognizes the pettiness of high school, describes how writing is her therapy, and also includes some poetry. Annie also abandons the standard fonts and goes for something more interesting and different with her layout.
ephemeral@punkish.org
--Sally Harles

RE//HASH. (NeuFutur#9.5//InterStitial#1.5), 22p, quarter-size, $0.50
James McQuiston is nothing if not prolific. Most people make compilation zines using other writers, but McQuiston is responsible for all of the essays and reviews collected here. Made up of his submissions to other zines, and gathered from these multiple sources, .RE//HASH. suffers from its heavy-handedness. McQ writes well enough, but he also writes as if his reader were clueless about issues that seem to get covered over and over in zines. Sex, gender assignment, music and religion all fall under his scrutinous eye. Unfortunately, McQuiston only seems able to string together didactic rants on any of these topics. It is when he relates these issues to his own life, thereby giving his reader something they can relate to, that much of his writing gains any character. Overly simplistic and aptly named, .RE//HASH., sadly offers nothing new.
308 S. Maple St.
Manchester, OH 43130
editor@neufutur.com
neufutur.com
--ajc

Resident Alien #1, 6p, mini
ajc muses on the issues of labeling and ethnic identity in this intelligent and articulate mini-zine. Writing about an encounter with the term "coconut," he delves into his history of similar accusations growing up. In the end, ajc comes to his own unique conclusions, finding an identity outside of simplistic definitions of ethnicity. This zine also opens up to a full page story detailing a sexual encounter with a racist skinhead. Interspersed with simple black line drawings, this mini-zine brings up a lot of thought-provoking issues in an interesting and intelligent manner.
ajc
1810 Sealy
Galveston, TX 77550
alienajc@yahoo.com
Available through MAD People, Zomblasta, Moon Rocket, and CS Tiendita.
--AR

 

Resident Alien #2, 22p, quarter size
In this 2nd issue, ajc addresses reactions to his ideas in #1 and offers up some drawings and quotations. He also writes a detailed narrative of a roadtrip, which causes him to think of his grandmother's death, her immigration to the US, and a dead infant uncle whose memory remains. Another piece is about an encounter with a teacher who has a fetish for Hispanic men. Jut as in #1, it is clear that ajc is a skilled and eloquent writer who describes his own experiences in a clear, intelligent manner. This is a very engaging, thoughtful zine.
ajc
1810 Sealy
Galveston, TX 77550
alienajc@yahoo.com
--AR

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