Category: Zine Reviews

Carly Rae Jepsen Fan Zine #1
Warglitter Zines
https://www.instagram.com/warglitter/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIhWqEQQ5lHcuG4cJOz3O9g

Carly Rae Jepsen Fan Zine #1 is a black and white zine a bit smaller than a 1/2 fold zine.

You had me at multiple choice quiz.

Ahem.

Carly Rae Jepsen Fan Zine #1 opens gloriously with a list of facts about CRJ on the front inside cover followed by a multiple choice quiz to find out what Carly song you are. Oh my goodness! Talk about being transported back to my teenage years with glossy magazines and the secret belief that a six-question quiz really could reveal if my crush liked me ‘that way’. Hehe.

After that, we have a lovely mix of facts and fun with a piece about Carly’s songwriting, mad libs (yes! mad libs!), Warglitter’s story about how she became a fan, and the answers to the aforementioned quiz.

Fanzines are weird and slightly intimidating creatures to me (but not on a bad way). There are maybe one or two things in my life that I love enough to make a fanzine for, and I still haven’t done it. As per usual, I find confidence from those who have gone before, and what a fabulous example of fanzines this zine is!

I like how Warglitter opened with the list of facts about Carly. Yes, I adore a personality quiz, but the facts list really got me into it and made me think that I’d like to listen to more of Carly’s music. (Score one for Warglitter.)

Along with the quiz and mad libs, the fun cut and paste look and feel to this zine makes it all the more nostalgic and enjoyable for me.

Carly Rae Jepsen Fan Zine #1 is a lot of fun and joyously shows Warglitter’s fan feels. Even if you’re not a fan, I think you should check out this zine. For the fun, for the feels, and/or simply for the mad libs.

PS. So which Carly song am I? Well…

One Day Sober.. (it’s not over)
AJ Smith
https://www.instagram.com/ajaysworld242/
https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/MyHeartIsNonBinary

One Day Sober is a super tiny A9 black and white zine about taking things one day at a time.

Sobriety is a difficult road to walk, and a walk that one must do every day. One Day Sober is both acknowledgement of this long journey as well as encouragement to those who are on the same journey.

One pickle about this zine is that there are no contact details, which is understandable because of the size. But I think the inside of the zine could be used in cases of itty bitty zines.

One Day Sober is a very sweet zine that is like a warm hug in your pocket. A little reminder to breathe, if you will. I’d love to see some sort of little carrier or other protection for this zine so you could carry it with you out and about. Definitely one to have a look at if you see it.

Zine Review: Goosebumps Issue Six: Guide to The Sea of Trees
https://goosebumpszine.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/goosebumpszine/

Zine Review: Goosebumps Issue Six: Guide to The Sea of Trees is an A5 black and white zine about Aokigahara – The Sea of Trees aka The Suicide Forest in Japan.

Goosebumps Six opens with an introduction to Aokigahara from the Wikipedia page as well as photos from inside the forest. I couldn’t help thinking even from the first glance inside that black and white printing suits this zine completely. I also like that the intro – even though it’s from the Wiki page – gives a subtle reminder that there is more nuance to this place than has been put forward in the recent past.

However, that in no way means that this zine avoids or in any way side steps the dark history and dark mythology of Aokigahara.

A collection of Photos and text snippets touch briefly on various topics associated with the forest. From it being used as the location of the horror movie ‘The Forest’ to the souls that are said to wander amongst the trees, I appreciated the inclusion of sources with most of the text clips so I can read the full articles.

There is one section of text that left me a little confused. It ends with ‘so have a look…’ at the story that follows, but no stories follow. I was looking forward to them. That being said, this zine still left me with more knowledge than I started with not to mention a sense of unease and sadness.

This isn’t a zine to be taken lightly, with some photos containing disturbing content. As someone who has been fascinated by the dark and the paranormal since childhood, I found this to be an interesting zine about Aokigahara.

Pocket Thoughts 3
Ryan
https://linktr.ee/_my_name_is_ryan_

Pocket Thoughts 3 is a quarter-sized black and white perzine about all sorts of things.

Usually after I’ve read one zine in a series, I know that to expect in the zines that follow. But after reviewing Pocket Thoughts 2, I only knew that this issue would be another adventure.

Pocket Thoughts 3opens with a brief introduction from Ryan, all his socials, and a few small clips. Like I wrote, you never know what you’re going to get with Pocket Thoughts, and the clips are a mix of short anecdotes, jokes, and brief thoughts. A word search puzzle where you don’t find words so much as specific strings of letters shows Ryan’s sarcastic sense of humour isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Ryan continues with his full-of-variety zine style that is still quite adult with swearing, a thought piece on how it’s likely that at some point in time someone has masturbated thinking about you, and a list of ‘People Who Can Fuck the Hell Off’ list.

Like the ‘why the world needs compassion more than love’ piece from Pocket Thoughts 2 did, ‘Why elections are like mall food carts’ stands out to me. The metaphor carries even better than I thought it would and gives a cynical, dark humour look at current political systems. While it does have a US-focus, I think it applies to plenty of other governments as well. It makes me think that a whole ‘Elections are a lot like…’ collab zine could be a very good read.

There is a piece called Slut that, to be honest, I don’t really understand. Not that the piece itself is hard to understand but because I’m not sure what the purpose of it is. It uses language that is uncomfortable to read – especially when you know that’s the way some people think and speak. Then again, maybe that’s the point. Perhaps we shouldn’t always read what is comfortable because it keeps us from confronting bigger issues.

Pocket Thoughts 3 is a strange but utterly fitting next edition in a series that leaves me all the more curious about what will be included in the next one.

Dear Diary, Today I Died 3
Avery Flinders
http://chickencollective.storenvy.com/

Dear Diary, Today I Died 3 is a full-colour A5 gaming zine about finding new games to play, hidden characters, and more.

“The key is to make friends who have the same taste in horrible games that I do.”

Hahahaha.

Avery opens this third issue of the Dear Diary series writing about how being spoiled for choice with so many new games out there can be a bit bewildering. As quoted above, Avery’s solution is to make friends with people who have similar tastes in games. This was a funny start to the zine for me because I have two friends I used to meet up with regularly to discuss the latest games we’d discovered.

After that, Avery gives a rundown of hidden characters from the game The Binding of Isaac – a game that clearly means a lot to them. Even though I don’t have the game (yet), it was nice to read such clear enthusiasm from Avery about the subject.

In the middle spread of this issue, we’re treated to what will stand as the first of an ‘once and issue piece on a game that has queerness baked into the very process of playing’. Not only do I think this is fun because, well, I love gaming, but I also think it’s important for younger queer readers who may be looking for ways to identify with popular media. In this issue, Avery writes about Diaries of a Spaceport Janitor, a game that sounds very strange and intriguing.

Avery writes a short but touching piece about keeping a digital vigil of sorts for friends who have passed away by using a phone game. In the phone game, Avery can still visit creations made by the friends who have passed. They touch on the topic of how now, in a digital age, our digital selves can remain behind even after our biological selves have passed away. I call this piece short because it leaves me wanting to read more about the topic of our digital selves from both Avery and others as well.

The cover of this zine features Webber, a character from Don’t Starve, which is the first thing that caught my attention for this whole series. I’ve absolutely loved Don’t Starve since it first got started on Steam (a game marketplace, etc). So you can imagine I loved reading Avery’s thoughts on the multiplayer version of the game: Don’t Starve Together. They write about how the multiplayer game can be a great way to catch up when distance and other factors keep you from catching up with friends in person.

If you hadn’t already guessed from my reviews of Dear Diary, Today I Died 1 and Dear Diary, Today I Died 2, I really like this zine and series. I like the mix of game commentary, recommendations, and links between gaming and real world topics. I hope to see the next zine in this series soon.

Sometimes People Don’t Suck 1, 2, 3
Hannah Williams
http://wemakezines.com/members/hrw7005/profile/
https://www.etsy.com/shop/HRWzines

Sometimes People Don’t Suck 1, 2, 3 are a set of black and white one-page mini-zines, each one featuring a brief and pleasant interaction with a stranger.

It’s easy to go on about how bad people are, so it’s nice to see reminders that people are good, too.

As someone who has social anxiety, these zines with both confronting and comforting. The moment Hannah was approached by a stranger, I felt myself tense up and get nervous despite well and truly knowing the title of the zines. I still had a bit of tension in me by the time I finished reading all three stories, but the logical part of me recognised how reassuring it is to read about people being nice when they had nothing to gain.

Save for ‘HRW’ on the back of each zine, there aren’t any contact details. A Google search brings up the Human Rights Watch, so it might be worth putting an email or social on them.

As much as they made me a little tense, I enjoyed the reminders that there are sweet, generous, nice people out there – including Hannah.

A Review of Festival of the Photocopier 2019
JEM Hast
https://www.jemhast.com/

A Review of Festival of the Photocopier 2019 is an A5 black and white zine about Festival of the Photocopier 2019 – JEM’s first FotP!

Review opens with a summary of JEM’s day one of Festival of the Photocopier. JEM started the day folding zines on the train while on the way to the festival and ended it with a backpack full of zines. (Score!) JEM writes about meeting various zinesters – including yours truly. I must admit that it was strange in a truly lovely way to read about our meeting in person from JEM’s perspective.

The rest of the zine is a fun collection of bits and bobs. At one point they show the signs from their table (they tabled on day two), and I smiled when I say the ‘trades welcome’ sign. I really love JEM and tablemate Cassie’s idea of bringing a notebook along that people could add to it for inclusion in the zine. I absolutely adore the idea. Sketches from various people fill other pages.

JEM’s zine haul list is on the back inside cover and is quite impressive. Haha.

This zine is event-specific and happens to be an event I went to, so I am a bit biased in that way. That being said, I think this zine is a fun, fairly quick read that will serve as a fun reminder of the event.

Video Games for Good
Editor: Claire Hubbard
https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/EmSeeItch
https://www.instagram.com/emseeitch/

Video Games for Good is a full colour A5 collaborative art projects celebrating the positive aspects of games and gaming.

I’ll just say it right up front – I love this zine to bits and pieces. Love it!

Video Games for Good brings together sixteen different artists to share their positive experiences around gaming. Mostly in comic form, there are many stories to enjoy, but there are also artworks as well to slow you down and let you ponder for a while.

Many funny and sweet topics are covered in this zine from age assumptions regarding gamers*, friendships that came about through games and stand the test of time through games, coping through rough times with gaming… There is so much to identify with here from simple de-stressing to building confidence in-game that helped with confidence in real life.

I took a special pleasure in the number of times Zelda games were mentioned, as they played a special part in my childhood as well. The zine isn’t overwhelmingly Zelda by any means, but it’s definitely one of those things in life that reminds me that I have at least one thing in common with a lot of people I don’t know.

My favourite comic of the lot, though, has to be Still Video Game by Steve Ingram. I won’t spoil it, but it takes a look at assumptions around who gamers are.

The aesthetic feel of Video Games for Good is fantastic. The to-the-edge bleed for the cover, full-colour, numbered pages on lovely matte paper (what can I say, I’m matte over gloss every time), and the layout is brilliant. Every element of the zine comes together with amazing little touches that add so much but never feel like too much. From the various game controller handles that ‘hang down’ from the tops of some pages to the to-the-edge bleed for some of the interior art as well. It’s all brilliant and very pleasing to look at.

Not only is this zine well made, its subject matter is important, too. All you need to do is throw a virtual rock and you’ll land on ten different articles about how bad games and gaming is. This zine goes to show just how much of a positive impact games of all kinds can have on our lives.

If you like gaming and/or have someone in your life who thinks gaming is a waste of time, then this zine is one for you. But also, check it out anyway.

*Side note: Does anyone else remember a news clip about a 104 year old woman who credited playing her DS every day for keeping mentally sharp?

Elevation
Niina Aoki
https://www.niinaaoki.com/

Elevation is an A6 black and white zine with full colour cover about a cat’s obsession with maximum altitude.

Sometimes you just need a super cute zine about a cat. This is one of those zines.

From a 4cm fan leg to landmarks around the world (and beyond?), Niina takes us on a fun journey of cat sits. Each page features an item with the cover cat sitting on it along with the elevation of the item itself. As you turn each page, each elevation gets higher and more fantastic. Paired with Niina’s super cute art style, this is absolutely adorable.

A fun additional bonus for Elevation is that it opens with Niina’s recommendation that you listen to a specific song while enjoying the zine. (No spoilers. Hehe.)

I have to mention my ‘no socials’ nitpick, but Niina’s name is clearly on the cover (and their website pops up first in a Google search) so it’s okay.

This supercute idea combined with a supercute art style makes a zine I really love. Cat enthusiasts know that cats like to chill out high up, so this zine is great. Definitely check it out.

Pocket Thoughts 2
Ryan Ewing
https://linktr.ee/_my_name_is_ryan_

Pocket Thoughts 2 is a quarter-sized black and white perzine about all sorts of topics.

When you first open Pocket Thoughts 2, you are immediately launched into a black and white world of cut and paste. There are different fonts, different sizes, some handwriting, some typing, and even a backwards message. There is a tiny picture of Ryan, a tiny picture of chunky soup, and a comic one page one.

Yes, all that I’ve mentioned is on the front inside cover with a comic on page one.

Ryan’s style is pretty clear from the start with his Amazon review – “This Is What Happens When Amazon Asks Me to Review the Soup I Buy Online” – of some chunky soup that has plenty of humour and a healthy dose of sarcasm.

Ryan’s language is adult – meaning he swears – and it seems no subject is out of bounds. There is a piece about humans’ strange behaviour around using the toilet, a ‘recipe’ for ‘Poor Man’s Pizza’, and a piece that is ripe for giving offense to the more sensitive believers in god/God. Yet Ryan also contemplates the obsession with youth, the evolution of television shapes, and even shampoo.

And in amongst it all is a compelling piece about how we should switch our focus from putting more love into the world to putting in more compassion. How love can actually feed into selfishness while compassion is an outwardly directed feeling with outwardly directed actions. Some might argue that it’s a matter of semantics, but Ryan makes very good points about the differences.

This is certainly a zine that takes you through a lot of feelings.

As I mentioned before, there’s a lot going on in this zine. A cut and paste paradise, if you will. That does mean it involves a bit of very small text and holding it a bit closer to my face than I care to admit, but I think it’s worth it. It’s a lot of fun and a wild ride where you have no idea what’s going to happen from page to page.

I feel like I’ve only captured a somewhat small look at the way Ryan’s brain works, but that’s a good thing. Now I want to go back to the first zine as well as dive right into the next.

PS. Ryan writes that a cab driver told him that he puts strawberries on his pizza. What… what?