December 2004
Applicant, quarter-size, 44p, $2
There is little to explain about this fascinating one-shot other than the
concept: photos of PhD candidates coupled with quotes from their evaluations.
The results are sometimes depressing and sometimes unintentionally hilarious.
Half the fun is inventing biographies for these time-warped strangers trapped
inside the pages of a zine. Certainly a unique and entertaining read.
Jesse Reklaw
PO Box 11493
Berkeley, CA 94712-2493
USA
--AR
Dirtbag #6, half-size, 14p
This wonderfully rambling mini-comic by Dave Kierch lacks any kind of linear
narrative, reading more like a sketchbook of deceptively innocent drawings.
Naked girls frolic alongside giraffes and elephants in childlike forests and
cityscapes. Intertwined with the drawings are worries about girls, jobs, and
being a grown-up. The simplicity of the drawings, coupled with the subversive
twist make this a must-read.
Dave Kiersh
568 Grandview Ave. 2nd Flr
Ridgewood, NY 11385
USA
davekiersh@aol.com
--AR
Gretchen Ver. 7.0, half-size, 22p
In this zine about growth, Jennifer focuses on the period when it seemed like
her life went down the drain. Stuck in a disintegrating long-term relationship,
she finds escape through the internet and new friendships and learns that
she can’t seek happiness through others, rather through herself. The
honest, conversational tone of her writing makes this an engaging read, and
those with similar experiences will identify with Jennifer’s struggles.
The layout is text-heavy, but clean and scattered with plenty of clip-art
(not to mention the cover illustrations by yours truly).
Jennifer Darling
PO Box 10611
Danville, VA 24543
USA
gretchenisamonster@yahoo.com
--AR
living Proof #1: Crisis, quarter-size, 80p,
$3
Andrew writes concisely and honestly about his life, from roommates and heartbreak
to music and cultural obsessions. All topics are given the same attention
to detail and language as one might give a short story or novel. Meandering
through topics such as ex-girlfriends, high school nostalgia, and pop culture,
Andrew creates a window into his brain that is fascinating and relatable.
This zine is heavy on text, but the pages are laid out beautifully on offset
printed pages. This is undoubtedly my new favorite per-zine.
PO Box 14211
Chicago, IL 60614
USA
livingproof@atm4.net
--AR
The Shopping Queen’s Diary, quarter-size,
$4ppd
The Shopping Queen’s Diary is part comic, part travelogue, and part
listing of Elsie’s favorite deals. It’s cute, and by that I mean
the writing has curls on the ends and the clothes are from specialty shops
in New York. This may not be everyone’s style, though this is something
fairly unknown in zines and could connect people in their love of shopping.
Elsie encourages boys to be shopping kings, but this is mainly for the ladies.
She uses the “shopping addiction” analogy often and had a good
time writing and drawing her week of nearly non-stop shopping.
It’s tough to justify a short, quarter-sized zine for $4ppd, BUT upon
checking her website you’ll find lots of other projects with original
artwork and more. This addition is a sort of preview if you aren’t a
total shopping queen, but if you are a big fan and enjoy artistic details,
there is a more expensive artist edition that may be more worth your while.
If you do go with the standard version you’ll find hints of color drawn
on the cover and a purple sparkle rubber band binding the pages together.
This is a unique project with precise illustrations, perfect for reading along
the poolside on a warm summer day.
Elsie Sampson
PO Box 981
White Plains, NY 10602
USA
elsie_sampson@yahoo.com
--Jessica Bublitz
66 Thousand Miles Per Hour #1, A4 size, 36p
The adventures of Evie Pryce continue, and the plot thickens as a mysterious
spaceman threatens to destroy the town of Squareville, New Jersey. Predictably,
the town goes wild, but the content of this indie comic is anything but predictable.
While her artwork comes to life and a ghost bugs her about responsibility,
our heroin tries to unravel the mysteries surrounding her. With its beautiful
black and white art and odd mix of teen melodrama and science fiction, this
comic is worth a look.
66KMPH
PO Box 975
New Brunswick, NJ 08903
USA
66kmph_mail@earthlink.net
http://www.66thousandmilesperhour.com
--AR