Category: Zine Reviews

In My Shoes
Leah De La Crux
http://leahdelacrux.com
https://www.instagram.com/leahdelacrux/

In My Shoes is a full colour mini-photo zine about moving forward.

This is a short and sweet review of a short and sweet mini-zine.

In My Shoes features an Instax picture per page of Leah’s shoes in different locations. Each photo is accompanied by a single word, and a sentence running along all the pages. The pictures are in the fun, somewhat overexposed pictures that fit the Instax ‘Polaroid’ vibe so well.

Something about this mini tickles me. Part of it is because I thought I was the only person who liked taking pictures of feet in different locations. Another part is the little inspiring push this zine gives which is well and truly needed in increasingly difficult times.

It’s a ‘just keep swimming’ or ‘keep calm and carry on’ sort of mini that is a quick and easy read. Plus, Leah includes one of my favourite mini-zine elements: the secret inside fun element to be discovered when you unfold the zine.

In My Shoes is a little pick-me-up I’m happy to have in my collection.

mEN DO bleed too – my story as a man with endometriosis
Aubrey Dillion Sinclair
???

mEN DO bleed too is a black and blue A7 mini-zine about being a man with endometriosis.

Content warning (from the cover): blood, sex, some gendered terms, graphic content

mEN DO bleed too opens with Aubrey talking about their period experiences growing up and what they had to deal with medically to both find out they have endometriosis as well as dealing with ongoing treatment of it as a trans man.

As someone who deals with an incurable reproductive condition, Aubrey really had me from the start with this one. These conditions are so often dismissed and ignored, and to add on the difficulties of approaching ongoing treatment as a trans man on top of that had me wishing so many things were different about the system. However, there are silver linings to Aubrey’s story, though I will leave you to find out what they are.

I like the feel of this zine. It’s handwritten, hand drawn, and everything about it says it’s the zine of someone who made this to share a story they are passionate about sharing. The drawings – down to the little arrows guiding you from one page to another – add to the story in a pull at your heart strings sort of way. Some of the text is cut off, but most of it is easily sorted and read with a bit of unfolding.

mEN DO bleed too is a mini-zine reminder to not take anything for granted – especially not discussions of health topics that are so often gendered and can leave people feeling alone. One to check out.

Quarter Life – A Few Weekends
TJ Corless
terry-corless@hotmail.co.uk
https://www.paperandinkzine.co.uk/

Quarter Life – A Few Weekends is a black and white A5 zine with a few chapters from his novel Quarter Life about a man entering adulthood but told through a series of weekends. CW: Drug and alcohol use

Quarter Life opens with a foreword explaining what this zine is about, where it’s from, and how various chapters have been published in magazines, zines, and other spaces. From there we launch into the excerpts, each given its own title – Third Weekend, Fifth Weekend – as well as where the excerpt was first published.

The excerpts are told in the first person present style, which I thought would throw me off because it’s not my favourite perspective or tense. (And it’s often not done so well, but I’ll try to rein in my editor side.) That said, TJ’s writing voice is personal but not intrusive. The ‘told in weekends’ format is an interesting one that adds a slightly different flavour to a story of a life.

The story itself is set in England, so you may not know what Coronation Street is or what a ‘proper little chavvy’ is, but I thin kthose sorts of details make it more fun.

I like the aesthetic of this zine with the recycled paper and riso cover. It’s easy to read, the pages are numbered… It’s an easy-to-tuck-in-your-bag-and-go sort of zine that asks to be well read.

I wasn’t quite sure how pieces of a novel would go in a zine, but this works quite well. The writing is fun, I enjoyed the excerpts in and of themselves, and the story is intriguing enough that I’m now quite curious about the novel. I hope to check out more of TJ’s writing in the future.

The Triumph of Our Tired Eyes #1
Amber Dearest
https://www.instagram.com/___pencilskirt/
https://totalbetty.bandcamp.com/

The Triumph of Our Tired Eyes #1 is an A6 black and white perzine about mental health, revisiting the past through zines, sobriety, and more.

Sometimes the zineverse gives you the zine you need to read when you need to read it.

The Triumph of Our Tired Eyes opens with a simple “Reasons to Live” on the inside front cover, which Amber provides with a ‘that’ll do’ in both words and tone. While this is a bit of an intense way to open a zine, I think it speaks to Amber’s writing style as well as being the right kind of tone to resonate with me with where I am in life and mental state right now.

From there Amber writes about a hot July night and how closing a door can mean much more than a closed door. They go on to write about lethargy, melancholy, and loneliness, feelings of being a burden on wonderful friends, and learning to accept things in life.

I identified with so much in this zine and love the way Amber wrote about it. Amber presents the situation and their thoughts without getting stuck in all the teeny tiny details. It’s sharing observations about not being okay without being preachy.

At one point, Amber writes: “I’m never sure if I should answer the question “How’s it goin’?” with perfect honesty.” I found myself nodding along (as someone who has taken to jokingly responding to that question with ‘honest answer or polite one’).

Aesthetically, this zine is very easy to read with primarily typed text. The handwritten elements are clear, and the cut and paste elements are used sparingly to emphasise. It fits the tone of the writing and content. If the reader of the zine is in that space as well, it’s a ‘calm’ zine visually speaking.

One addition I really liked is on the last page Amber added a note beginning with “If you’re a friend and you’re wondering how to support me”… There’s something really beautiful to me about that.

I think a lot of what I like about this zine is how much I identify with it from where I’m standing now. Admittedly, that isn’t the best place. In some things, I feel like Amber (albeit past Amber writing this zine) is a few steps further from where I am now. That in and of itself is rather intriguing, and maybe it’ll be the case for someone else, too.

I think even with current life elements influencing my perspective, this is a zine to check out for Amber’s distinct writing style and writing on subjects I think a lot of people can identify with.

Dirty Machine: short and slutty poems
Nana
https://twitter.com/NaNawrote
https://www.instagram.com/nanawrote/

Dirty Machine: short and slutty poems is an A5 zine of short, dirty poems inspired by submissions of three random words from people on Twitter.

Is it bad that I’m laughing at delight at the mere concept of this zine?

Dirty Machine opens with a fun preface from Nana in which they right about the surprise about how excited people got about exchanging three random words for a dirty poem. (I don’t find this at all surprising. Hehe.) Nana also includes plenty of socials, details about the zine itself, and – as special bonus content – a SoundCloud link to enjoy!

From the preface, we launch into a collection of short poems that range from cheeky to nicely seductive. A few of the poems are in a different language, but most are in English. Like the mark on the cover says, this zine is for mature readers only.

Poetry is still poetry – mostly a mystery, and I know what I like when I read it. That being said, I quite enjoyed these poems. I like the variety in tone and structure, and I do like a bit of mature content. I like Nana’s use of sensory words as well as phrases that gave me clear imagery.

Or sometimes a giggle, like in the case of “Darling,/ what’s your safeword?”

The look and feel of this zine is quite nice. It has a nice glossy cover with smooth pages inside. Every poem has its own page with the random three words each in their own speech bubble floating above it. Even the page numbers are fun, noted by black cats sporting the white numbers.

Dirty Machine feels fun and fresh full of an energy as well as a sense of challenging the unknown. I don’t envy Nana the task of writing poems to these sets of three. One in particular – lemang, cheese, crispy – would have left my mind completely blank!

If you’re a mature reader who thinks short and slutty poems would be fun, then I can tell you this zine is one for you to check out.

Colour Swatch Confessions Vol 1 & 2
Latibule Art
https://linktr.ee/latibule_art

Colour Swatch Confessions Vol 1 & 2 are A6 full-colour zines full of anonymous secrets, thoughts, and confessions on colour swatches.

As two small collections of loves, fears, and even a quote, Colour Swatch Confessions Vol 1 & 2 please my anonymous-confessions-loving heart. Straight into it, these zines open up to reveal the various handwritten confessions collected and put together by Latibule.

I love that the thoughts and confessions are written on colour swatches (paint sample cards). Not only does it make for a colourful zine, you can get into deeper thinking about such thoughts being written on things that are so briefly used and then put away.

Some of the darker colours are harder to read in low light, but it didn’t stop my enjoyment.

I think these zines (and zines like them) are more important than they might first appear. Not only are they a safe place to express yourself, they are a good way to remind yourself that so many of us are thinking about (loving, disliking, worrying about) similar – if not the same – things.

This is another one of those reviews where I think you’ll know if the zines are something you’ll enjoy. I recommend checking them out.

Dr. Pigeon: Psychological Psychiatrist
Habitual Novelties
https://habitualnovelties.com/
https://jasonrandell.com/

Dr. Pigeon: Psychological Psychiatrist is a black and white A5 zine that takes a fun, creative comic approach to philosophical ideas.

I must say that I was intrigued by this zine from the start. A pigeon psychiatrist? I need to have a look at that. A pigeon psychiatrist that, through comics and interesting characters, explores concepts like the universe? Yes, please!

We open up with an introduction to Dr. Pigeon as well as the zine we’re about to dive into. This zine is introduced as a day in the life of the doctor with a glimpse into a few sessions.

In these sessions we meet three patients: The Universe, Death, and Yourself. Each patient is given its own part with a comics spread and then one page of musing on the ‘patient’. I quite liked the musings which were all fairly short with no answers nor any attempts at pushing any particular views. They read like the sort of deep conversation starters you’d have with friends at midnight while looking up at the stars. The meaning is yours to make or not make.

Aesthetically, this zine is great. The font choice is nice and clear, the art style goes well with the subject matter and tone. The little details are a lot of fun, too, like a discount coupon for your first session with Dr. Pigeon and a tour of the doctor’s office (illustrated, of course). I would have been quite happy with the ‘patients’’ sessions, and these elements really added icing to the cake (so to say). Plus there is such a fun little something special to the page numbers – but I will leave that for you to discover.

Jason’s approach to adding in the contact and other relevant details makes me grin. On the inside front cover, you find everything you could want to know about the zine – from the inks and printers used to what print run and copy the individual zine is. On the back inside cover you find all the external links your heart could desire. Everything absolutely covered, and I think it’s fantastic.

All said and done, this zine left me feeling happy. I enjoyed the fun space that didn’t take itself too seriously while still inviting some deep thinking. I hope there is another one of these out there or to come in the future.

(Untitled)
???

Untitled is an A6 black and white zine exploring concepts of love and sex through question and anonymous answer.

I’ve been in two minds about reviewing this zine, but I hope it’ll be clear in the review why I decided to go ahead.

Untitled is a zine launches right into the subjects of love in sex two different sets of questions (one for each topic – each with four questions). Anonymous people respond to questions like ‘who was your first love’ and ‘what did sex mean to you when you were 16’. Some answers are handwritten, others typed, and many include little drawings as well, adding a fun extra touch of personality to the responders.

I absolutely love the concept of this zine. The questions are easy to understand and leave room for both long and short answers. I like that they explored both love and sex at the same time but in a way that makes it clear that they are two different subjects.

The variety of answers covered a variety of emotions. Sadness, humour, happiness, and even being unsure. Some people have lost their first loves or become entirely disenchanted, while others have lives with their first loves. On the sex side of things, there is a part to draw your favourite sexual position, which led to an assortment of sweet and some funny drawings. (One had a bit of a diagram! Love it.)

The aesthetics suit this zine quite nicely in that it’s about the questions and the answers, and it doesn’t feel lacking. However, this does lead into a couple of nitpicks. The pages are landscape but not all in the same direction. I’m a little embarrassed to say that I was turning things around and actually went in the wrong reading direction at one point. It’s a small thing but very noticeable to me.

My other nitpick is the old one in that there aren’t any contact details or even a name to go on, so I can’t credit the maker or makers of this zine. (If you know, please let me know.) No title makes my detective efforts a bit more difficult.

That being said, I really enjoyed this zine – and I’d love to see more like it. The variety of answers, the different perspectives, and, of course, the subject matter. If you see a copy and enjoy the topics, then pick it up.

Do It Yourself Care #2: Self-Care During Heat Waves
Nina Echozina
https://echopublishing.wordpress.com/
https://www.instagram.com/echozines/

Do It Yourself Care #2: Self-Care During Heat Waves is a full-colour A6 mini-zine full of tips for taking care of yourself during heatwaves.

Given that there is currently a heatwave happening where I live (47C/116F forecast tomorrow), I think this is a great zine to dig into today.

Do It Yourself Care #2 opens with an introduction that I greatly appreciated. Nina writes about how addressing the problems of pollution and the like at the core is the ideal, but not everyone is able to join these fights and how we need to be able to survive to be able to be activists. I felt like it was a friendly nod to the fact that it’s okay to take care of yourself first.

From there Nina lists some tips for helping you to stay cool during a heatwave. I like that they are all fairly simple and easy steps to take that can make a big difference. I expected a mini-zine full of tips. However, I didn’t expect what came next: a playlist! Haha. It’s so fun and perfect, and it was a lovely surprise. I greatly enjoy trying new things, and a heatwave playlist is a lot of fun when you don’t want to move much.

In true fun Nina Echozina style, this mini unfolds to reveal a middle spread full of even more awesome tips for self-care during a heat wave. There’s a good variety of tips as well, from things that require a bit more energy to things that require less. I like this because it’s not all pre-heatwave prep nor is it ‘during heatwave measures’ to take.

And, of course, Nina’s neat, easy-to-read handwriting and awesome collage style is a pleasure.

This is definitely a zine to pick up. I don’t think it hurts to have tips on hand. Especially if you live in heat-prone areas.

Heavenly Match: The Number 1 Dating App in Disneyland
Melissa J Steward
http://melissajstewart.wordpress.com
https://www.instagram.com/melissaj_stewart/

‘Heavenly Match: The Number 1 Dating App in Disneyland’ is an A5 black and white zine featuring couples from across the Disney franchise as reimagined by the Disney dating app.

“The Magical Algorithm is a unique combination of four elements designed to generate a heavenly match the Princes and Princesses most desire.”

Have you ever thought matches made in Disney movies aren’t quite right? That a character from one movie might be better suited to another? Then this is the zine for you!

Heavenly Match is a zine featuring match profiles for Disney characters from across the franchise. From Aladdin to Snow White, neither time nor distance will keep these characters from being matched.

I really like the level of detail Melissa put into this. Names, pictures, locations, distance from each other – and plenty more! Even mutual friends, when they have them. It’s fantastic It’d have been easy to make some cheeky fun couples, but the extra thought put into things makes it all the more enjoyable.

Not to mention the slightly cheeky comments Fairy Godmother slips in with the “Fairy Godmother Says” section with each pair.

The centre spread consists of the algorithm quote above, a definition of fan shipping, Disney movie star signs, and more. I would have been perfectly content with a zine full of matches, but I enjoyed these additions to the fun.

I started writing this review thinking that I wouldn’t spoil any of the couples within it… but I cannot resist saying how adorable I think Snow White and Rapunzel would be together. Plus on character staying fiercely single is awesome, too.

I want to touch again on the little details with this zine. The type is big and easy to read, Melissa gives acknowledgments *and* references *and* clear social details, and there’s even a complementary Spotify playlist to check out as well!

I grew up with Disney movies but never became a big fan. That being said, I still thoroughly enjoyed this zine. Check it out.