May 2004
The Devil Has a Funny Laugh, half-size(ish),
64p, $2
This comic zine is about a guy living in the post-apocalypse who just wants
a date with a girl and who fights mind controlling radio transmissions by
wearing copper wire around his head. This brings about a dilemma because the
Herdsmen who keep people in order will not allow him to interact with women
who do accept transmissions, which is basically all women, except one. He
comes across all sorts of strange people including a baby who knows kung-fu
and can talk like a normal person, and a group of people who live in the sewers
because the mind-control waves do not reach there. It's an interesting comic
with an amusing ending, and it's very well drawn. It's not just plain black-and-white,
Ted Seko incorporates shadows like one would see in a glossy comic. However,
the text is pretty small, which may make it hard to read for some people.
I also do not understand why pretty much the only woman prominently featured
in this comic is drawn in an anime or manga style when none of the other characters
are. I do more or less understand why all the women have insanely large breasts
- hormones being injected into the air that has made everyone bigger–but
I imagine it may make some people uneasy.
Ted Seko (Picture Perfect Press)
P.O. Box 4266
Torrance, CA 90510 USA
--Sarah Maitland
Gretchen #1, half size, 38p, $2.00 cash, $2.50
Paypal, $4.00 to Canada, etc.
This new zine is primarily personal in format, but liberally mixed with comics
and poetry from other writers. Jennifer writes about identity, relationships,
love, and her emotional issues in a casual, conversational style. She also
offers 3 pieces of intriguing fiction. Rather text heavy, but highly readable
and interspersed with some great imagery, this zine also features great cover
art. This looks like promising stuff.
Jennifer Darling
PO Box 10611
Danville, VA 24543
USA
gretchenisamonster@yahoo.com
Paypal: jenniferisarobot@yahoo.com
--AR
Media Whore #2, half-size, 25p, $1 or trade
I want to call this zine a Baby Bitch Magazine, but that would be
weird considering one of the first pieces in this zine is about how one can
help save Bitch Magazine from it's financial troubles. But Media
Whore is a zine, much like Bitch, that is critical of pop culture from
a feminist perspective, just smaller and cheaper, which makes me happy because
I can't afford to spend $5 on magazines very often, even ones that only publish
4 times a year. Interspersed with short riffs on things such as Starbucks
sponsoring a small/independent press event at the Bumbershoot Festival and
how fucked up that may be, are articles are on how suicidegirls.com is basically
boring; how abortions are rarely discussed on TV shows; and the need for feminist
film collectives. I'm glad that there are more zines like Media Whore
coming out. I really don't have any complaints about this issue other than
I thought that some writers could have gone a little more in-depth with their
articles.
Randie Farmelant
27 Home Street
Malden, MA 02148
randie@mediawhorezine.com
http://www.mediawhorezine.com
--Sarah Maitland
Orange & Blue #14 (formerly Ingleside News),
half legal, 28p, $2/$4 overseas
This issue of IsaBelle’s retitled per-zine starts out with a wonderfully
detailed article about letter-writing that’s fun and informative. Other
articles touch on the differences between traveling by car and foot, complaints
about bicycles, and a delightful ode to tea. One of the longer articles covers
IsaBelle’s feelings of isolation within the “zine scene.”
As always, she writes in a compelling, honest, and detailed manner, with touches
or humor and wit.
IsaBelle Bourret
5591 St-Laurent
Levis, 2C G6V 3V6
Canada
orangeblue_zine@yahoo.com
http://www.geocities.com/orangeblue_zine/
--AR
Orange & Blue #0, half size, 36p, $2/$4
overseas
This zine covers the transition between Ingleside News and Orange
& Blue. IsaBelle covers a wide variety of topics: her neighborhood
in Levis (not far from Quebec), traveling by train and ferry, and being a
diarist. Of course she covers even more than that, and she scatters the text
with photos, clip arts, and her own drawings. Her voice is as clear as ever;
this is highly recommended to fans of IsaBelle’s long-running per-zine.
IsaBelle Bourret
5591 St-Laurent
Levis, 2C G6V 3V6
Canada
orangeblue_zine@yahoo.com
http://www.geocities.com/orangeblue_zine/
--AR
Orange & Blue #15, half size, 28p, $2/$4
overseas
In the most recent issue of Orange & Blue, IsaBelle writer about
cutting her hair short, succumbing to the seduction of coffee, and ferry seating.
A rather long and amusing article details her first photocopy scam, which
is portrayed more as an exciting adventure than a queasy transgression. As
always, she makes excellent use of cut-and-paste, and continues in much the
same tradition of past issues.
IsaBelle Bourret
5591 St-Laurent
Levis, 2C G6V 3V6
Canada
orangeblue_zine@yahoo.com
http://www.geocities.com/orangeblue_zine/
--AR
Regeneration #1, odd size (5.5X7), 44p, $1
Ashlee of Flying With Broken Wings returns with a retitled zine in
much the same tradition as previous issues. In a mostly diary format, she
discusses relationships, friendships, and her changing life with the usual
clear and honest voice. She also includes text from her one-shot about sexual
abuse, Still Not Perfect. Additionally, the simple cut-and-paste
layouts are clean and easy-to-read, placing her work well above other self-confessional
per-zines.
Ashlee
PO Box 576
St. Bonifacius, MN 55375
USA
flyingwbrokenwings@yahoo.com
--AR