Brood XIX
Jessica Gilbert
One page folded
https://www.catobear.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO6UzZarI8Zi_LEIlWTLcvQ
Brood XIX is a full colour, one-page-folded mini-zine about the 2024 cicada co-emergence that will be a once-in-a-lifetime event.
I am both a touch envious of parts of the US experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime event while also glad I don’t have to deal with all that noise.
Brood XIX opens with ‘things you might confuse with the 2024 cicada event’, which gave me a giggle, and explanations of those things. I think one could be forgiven for confusing ‘circadian rhythm’ for cicada event.
We then jump into what the 2024 cicada event is: the co-emergence of the thirteen-year cicada brood and the seventeen-year cicada brood this year. Something that hasn’t happened since 1803. Jessica writes a brief intro to that before transitioning to cicada facts – including how many animal species out there who will be having an all-you-can-eat buffet during this event.
The zine wraps up with a “Cicada To-Do List” before cicada’s scientific name and Jessica’s socials (noted with drawn cicada heads haha) on the back.
I had no idea this event was happening until I saw this zine, so it just goes to show that you never know who you might reach or teach with your zines. Jessica’s handwriting is easy to read, the drawings are cute, and the zine is a great introduction to what the event is all about. Definitely a keeper for me.