Month: February 2016

By the Skin of My Teeth Issue Three and Four
Sarah
http://thislunaticexpress.blogspot.com.au/
https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/MoosZineCorner

Check out my reviews of all previous issues of By the Skin of My Teeth in the Zine Review Index

I went back and forth on whether I should review two zines in one review. I want to state that I don’t mean any disrespect nor do I want to come off dismissive of either zine by putting them together. I made the decision because the zines were made in rapid succession, and even the zine maker calls issue 4 a part two of sorts.

By the Skin of My Teeth issues three and four follow Sarah’s journey through depression and mania within a private health care facility. I was curious on two fronts with these zines because I’d never used inpatient mental health facilities (I’ve always been too scared to), and I definitely haven’t done so in the private sector. I liked that she talked a bit about the differences between private and public.

I identified a lot with some of the depressive aspects Sarah went through but moreso the mania. The lack of being able to concentrate. I hate that, too! Three and four were like two sides of a coin with three being about moving past depression and four focusing more on managing the mania that followed.

While I did identify a lot with things, these are definitely zines that are more on the diary side of things. She does talk to you, the reader, but there are more rambling thoughts, repetitive mentions, and fewer breaks that can make for slightly jolting reading when the next paragraph happens hours later. That being said, it’s still a slower read than most zines. The fact that both of these are 64 page zines make these things stand out all the more.

If you like ‘stories from the ward’ then it might be right for you. Otherwise, you might find it lacking the variety that would otherwise keep you reading.

‘Bots is ‘Bots: Issue Four
Gregg
http://botsisbots.blogspot.com.au/

Check out my reviews of the other ‘Bots Is ‘Bots issues in the Zine Review Index.

I’m getting a little nervous about the prospect of repeating myself when I review these zines. I suppose that’s the risk when you review a series? Despite that risk, I figure it’s about time to say that I’m still loving the quality of the paper, the bright covers, and, of course, the content!

I feel like this issue is the first one to dig into deeper story (as deep as a sarcastically humorous zine about robots gets) and the characters. While there was nothing wrong with what he has been doing, I like the switch up. Gregg seems to be focused on keeping things fresh.

I was a little sad that the funny ‘sandwich’/beginning and end comic was nixed, but I can’t think of a better way to replace it: with the origin story! Woohoo! Now we find out how the bots all came into being. Not only that, it’s a part one without a conclusion within the zine. Unless I haven’t been paying attention, this is the first time Gregg has made something so clearly continued on in a future issue.

Mild Scribbling #5
Rebecca Sheedy
https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/rebeccasaurusrex

I had to get my hands on Rebecca’s X-Files zine, and while in her shop, I saw this zine, too and thought I’d take a peek.

Mild Scribbling #5 is a collection of small, colour art set on nice, slightly glossy paper featuring everyday art. Not that the art is ‘everyday’ but that the art isn’t abstract. There is a hotdog. And a sock. And other wonderful, cute little things. She draws things regarding her Easter 2014, Reasons Why Adam Buxton is Fantastic, and a Hot/Not list.

I don’t want to give away anything as such, but I did want to give a tiny little peek inside (apologies for the less than stellar photo):

Mild Scribbling #5 reminds me a little of The Third Biannual Mildly Informative Booklet Depicting Graphical Representations of General Occurrences and Observations and Every Morning in that it takes something people usually take for granted or don’t think about and turns it into something lovely.

In this case, adorable, colourful art.

It does involve some tiny, tiny writing (which adds to the adorableness of it) that might be a problem for some, but it’s not a good day unless I’m getting up close and personal with a zine at some point.

There’s something so fresh and simple to this zine that it easily earns its way into my permanent collection.

Galactic Regency Vampire Pirates
Leopoldina van Wowser-Ainwright
???

So this exists. Isn’t it fantastic? Tee hee hee!

If you write a ‘How to Write’ book, it would seem only natural that you then produce a book in which you use your own tactics. So, from the person who brought you How to Write a Mills & Boon-esque Bodice Ripper Novel, comes a bosom-heaving, bodice-ripping good time. I’m sad that it took me so long to read this after I had such a good laugh when I reviewed Leopoldina’s How To zine.

I hardly even know where to start with reviewing this zine. Is it with regency heroine wishing for some Easy-Off Bam? Is it how we go from strictly regency to sci-fi regency – though the story sometimes forgets itself? Or perhaps it’s the abundance of quotes that I had to choose from to share with you…

Just to give a little taste, check out this sentence:

Even the fact that this was now their second meeting did nothing to lessen the impact of his flawless pallor or the compelling darkness of his eyes, whirlpooling with a sultriness that stilled the beating of her treacherous heart and send unaccustomed thrills of wanton desire racing through the pristine clam of her chastity.

Chastity clam. *snort*

Obviously, this is a very tongue-in-cheek shot at romance novels that even I, as a romance novel reader, greatly enjoyed and laughed at. It’s so incredibly ridiculous that I think the only people who won’t like this already know they won’t like this simply by my (or other) reviews.

The finishing touch that I love oh, so much are the funny ‘also by Leopoldina’ synopses and excerpts in the back of the book. It rounds everything off nicely.