August 2004
Bitter Snake: Bitter-Man #3, half-size, 24p
Ah yes, another issue of Bitter-Man, the comic about a hero with the power
to evoke bitterness in any man’s heart. In this issue, Bitter-Man becomes
part of a covert operative. He battles his worst foe yet—his zombified
ex-girlfriend! As usual, Mickasso packs this with hilarious dialogue and his
cartoony super-hero comic style. This is a good read for any fan of mini-comics
or anyone who’s ever been dumped.
Bert “Brick Mickasso” Kimura
PO Box 51252
Seattle, WA 98115
USA
mickasso@hotmail.com
http://geocities.com/bittermancomix
--AR
Child That Mind #3, A4 size, 60p, $2
Child That Mind #3 is my first experience with Moira's work and it makes me
want to search for back issues. Though I read it in one sitting, this clearly
word-processed mini is thick and dives into such dramatic subjects as physical
internal breakdowns—mainly with polycycstic ovarian, an Australian’s
view of the war on terror, and so many small things written in a way that
makes them significant. CTM is like peeking into an almost poetic
diary that the writer knows you have. Looking forward to the next issue!
Moira
Box 7754
Wellesley St.
Auckland
New Zealand
moira@nutmeg.gen.nz
http://nutmeg.gen.nz/zines
--Jessica Bublitz
Food Geek #5, quarter-size, 40p, $1+postage
This is my first experience with a food zine, and I must admit I am extremely
pleased. This issue is loaded with new recipes to try out, as well as articles
about things like eating in China, cheap eats on the road, economic biodiversity,
and much more. This is a text heavy zine, but liberally interspersed with
comics and clip art to sooth the eye. This zine is so packed with stuff that
it begs to be read twice. If you like cooking and food, you will love this.
And vegetarians and vegans will love all th non-meat recipes. I’m completely
hooked on this one!
PO Box 49403
Los Angeles, CA 90049
--AR
Geek The Girl #10 (60p) and The
Color of My Eyes (40p), quarter legal, $3-$5
In this second print of issue ten the reader will be lead through life, death,
and all the ups and downs in between. If birth, postpartum depression, suicide,
or roommates are something that spark your interest you won’t want to
miss this. It’s sad, wonderful, and very informative. The clean word-processed
layout and many hard facts make this a great resource while still being interesting.
The Color of My Eyes can be bought alone or with issue ten and is
a mini on obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is personal and an even better
resource than issue ten. It personally gave me many revelations on my own
habits and was the most triggering zine I’ve read in a long time. If
you have an interest in OCD then this is the best zine to buy.
316 E Tremont Street
Waverly, IL 62692-1029
USA
janesays5@hotmail.com
--Jessica Bublitz
Girl Swirl #11, quarter-size, 47p, $2
Though I've come upon Girl Swirl a little late and have only read
one issue, I know that this is very popular and well deserved. Taryn writes
honestly without being condescending to the reader by trying too hard. She
uses everyday language that is refreshing to read. The layout is clean, word
processed, and easy to read. The contributing illustrators created artwork
that works together with the writing. Topics covered include her long-term
relationship, her brother's heart condition, and teenage rebellion. A handful
of zine recommendations round out this nostalgic read.
Taryn Hipp
PO box 312
Warrington, PA 18976
USA
tarynhipp@girlswirl.net
http://mymy.girlswirl.net
--Jessica Bublitz
JPO: A Perzine #1, quarter-size, 28p
In many ways, this is a typical high school per-zine full of self-confessional
ramblings about friends, family, personal struggles—basically an entire
life story. Starting with elementary school, James chooses a chronological
approach to write about his life, which offers a welcome change from the usual
randomness one expects out of many per-zines. Those well out of high school
may find little here to spark their interest, but those still in high school
may identify with some of his experiences. The simple yet creative cut-and-paste
design makes for smooth reading and a nice change compared to the splash-dash
approach of some young zinesters. Having covered so much in his first zine,
I’m curious to see where James goes next.
James Patrick
PO Box 417
Bellport, NY 11713
USA
--AR
The Midwest Compilation Project, half-size,
26p
Rae of Suburban Gothic and Jessica of Kubba Zine put together
this compilation of poetry, essays, and photographs as a response to stereotypes
about life in the Midwest. The work inside celebrates the variety of culture
in “flyover country.” Some contributors fly in the face of expectation
that the Midwest is all about country living, while others take pride in the
simple joys of farm life. The photographs reflect this as well, and fields
of flowers are juxtaposed against skyscrapers. Those who live in the Midwest
will instantly recognize their own experiences or perhaps discover a diversity
they never knew existed. Coastal dwellers may read this and learn that the
Midwest is more than haystacks and country music. The design of this zine
is clear and simple, the text being quite readable and laid out nicely. Some
of the photographs lose detail from small size, but the images are generally
recognizable. Overall, this is a recommended zine for those looking to learn
about and celebrate local culture.
Rae
PO Box 1381
Bellevue, NE 68005-1381
Or
Jessica
1823 25th St. East 1F
Seattle, WA 98122-3049
USA
suburbangoth@livejournal.com
--AR
Zine World #20, January 2004, full size, 64p,
$4
Somehow, in 6+ years of reading zines, I’ve never picked up an issue
of Zine World. Chalk it up to laziness or lack of money—I always
kept meaning to, but never did. Most zinesters recognize this as one of the
more well-known review zines. Beyond that purpose, they also include articles
related to politics and independent media, as well as resources for zinesters.
This issue covers misperceptions about the war in Iraq, a hodge-podge of political
news, and a comic about the Japanese internment during WWII. Over 200 reviews
make this rather indispensable stuff for any zinester looking for new reads.
The clear, simple design and clean offset printings make for breezy reading.
I’ve now been initiated, and I must concur—this is quality stuff.
PO Box 330156
Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37133-0156
USA
--AR