Category: Zine Reviews

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.

Wiseblood 62
Fishspit
fuzzybunnyflatbunny@gmail.com

Today’s review is brought to you by an early morning run to the dental hospital for Wanderer’s emergency, followed by a very long day.

How much do you love this cover? I wish I’d had time to take a better photo, because it’s excellent.

Before I get into the content of this zine, I want to mention how cool it is to see a zine that is on issue 62. Last week I reviewed issue 37, and that was impressive in and of itself. But 62? I only just finished Don’t Call Me Cupcake 2.

The Wiseblood website says “A Zine Since 1984”. It’s strange and wonderful to think about how this zine series has been going longer than I have been alive.

Wowza.

Many zines on, and Fishspit still has a stream of consciousness style of writing that picks you up and carries you along (if you’re willing to go along). He still hasn’t lost his knack for being potentially offensive. His first piece is about smoking, and his third piece does start with the sentence “I hate babies”.

His views, his sense of humour… It’s so different from the current youth generation. For better and worse, it’s a wake-up smack in the face sort of thing at times with a dash of seriousness when you don’t expect it.

It might not be quite so black and white as I see it, but I still reckon it’s a love it or hate it sort of zine.

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

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

When I got my hands on the ‘Bots is ‘Bots zines, I considered writing about the series as a whole in one review. But this one is the one that made me decide that they all need their own review.

Of all the ‘Bots is ‘Bots comics I’ve read so far (admittedly, only three), this is my favourite issue. It has so much wordplay in it, and I love wordplay. Seeing it in comic form makes it even more fun. Where the first two issues seemed to have pretty solid themes, this one looks like it’s taking the piss out of itself. Having some fun and a laugh at the expense of the strangeness of life and the English language.

In each issue there is a part one/part two comic that ‘sandwiches’ all the rest of the content. That strip? Just keeps getting funnier.

I’ve mentioned before that I like seeing how a zine series can grow and change over time. I didn’t think there was anything missing from this series, but I’m happy to see some variety injected into it in the form of a (robot) movie review.

I’m looking forward to seeing where things go.

Wiseblood #37 The Cat-Sitting Issue
Fishspit
fuzzybunnyflatbunny@gmail.com

Sometimes you read a zine, and all you can do is experience it. Not think too much because it’s better for you to go along for the ride.

This is definitely one of those zines.

I received Wiseblood #37 (along with another) in a trade with Fishspit himself. After such charming short messages, how could I not be curious about a zine with this cover?

The content doesn’t disappoint from the cover expectation. Inside you’ll find three stream-of-consciousness style stories with a silly sort of humour that I think most people can appreciate. They remind me a little of Billy Connolly long, winding story humour (obviously less long and winding given the format).

I must know his cat-whisperer secrets. Haha.

I was a bit shocked a little at some of the content and language. It’s been a while since I’ve read anything that’s so clearly for an adult audience.

Frankly, someone, somewhere along the line is going to be offended by something in this zine. To be sure, it’s a curious zine.

“Personals”
JMAH + Contributors
personals.zine@gmail.com

After reviewing Zine Crush 3 and Dear Crush, I have to admit that I went into this assuming that ‘personals’ was going to be about dating.

Sometimes it’s nice to be wrong.

Rather than searching for love out in the wide world, “Personals” is about finding the love of one’s body. From wrists and necks to armpits and power pooches, it’s about love and appreciation for those body parts that give us (and sometimes others) pleasure in one way or another. Each piece is accompanied by art, and each piece of art is like a tribute to the body part the person is writing to.

They are sort of personals in the sense that some end with phone numbers. But they tend to be a sort of throwaway note. ‘Oh, yeah. By the way…’ I wonder if the numbers and emails are real, but I’m not game enough to have a go.

I like the lines that turn not only the interior but the cover as well into a notebook of sorts. It seems like such a small thing on the surface, but it’s sort of a subconscious suggestion that this is a notebook, making the content within more personal. (No pun intended.)

I do have to admit that I sometimes had to hold the zine a bit close to my face to read some of the pieces, but so runs the risk of using handwriting. Given the kind of zine this turned out to be, typing wouldn’t have worked as well. So I’ll take holding it close to my face for the sake of the art.

I have to mention the last piece. It was sad and beautiful, and it reminded me entirely too much of my own life. It was Clair de Lune, haunting me. I’m glad it was left until last.

“Personals” is a slightly different take on body acceptance, but what it does, it does well.

Every Morning
Mel Stringer
https://www.instagram.com/melstringer/
https://www.facebook.com/melstringerart

Sometimes, it’s better to let the zine creator to describe the zine:

Every Morning, as a zine, is an intimate collection of portraits of real and rad women who were willing to have their portrait drawn whilst sharing the simple notion of what their everyday morning looks like.

Every now and then, I fall hard for a zine because it’s so nice in so many ways, and I can’t find a single thing that I don’t like about it. This is one of those zines.

As mentioned above, Every Morning features the self-described morning routines of fascinating women I’ve never met. I love reading about the small, ‘normal’ moments in a life, and I have never before seen someone take on ‘the morning routine’.

It’s one of those ‘why didn’t I think of that?’ moments for me, but I’m glad I didn’t because I couldn’t have done such a wonderful job. I love everything about ‘Every Morning’, from the subject matter to the layout to the paper. (The paper. OMG. The paper. I love ‘petting’ this zine. Is that weird?) It pleases every part of my personality (writer, zine maker, graphic communications student).

I am, however, beginning to wonder if I’m one of the few left in the universe who doesn’t wear makeup… Anyway.

Peeking into lives is one of my guilty pleasures (I’m not weird…), and Every Morning executes that guilty pleasure in superb fashion.

Quote to remember: ‘Plus it’s good to say ‘fuck you!’ to something at least once a day.’

Every Morning definitely one for the permanent collection.

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

I’ve read the first one, too! Check out my review of ‘Bots Is ‘Bots 1

Where issue one of ‘Bots Is ‘Bots was of a more of an introductory collection of strips, I feel like issue two is more about taking a poke at human nature. Fishing, optimism, pessimism, being overworked… It’s a quirky mix of robots discussing humans while also taking on human behaviour.

While it is having fun and poking fun, he does put in things about the darker sides of life. I appreciated the ‘keeping it real’ aspect to those strips.

I really like the humour in the comic strips, but Gregg proves himself a funny guy in a subtle way as well. You can read the strips and enjoy them, but if you make sure to note the strip titles, they can sometimes make the strip joke all that more funny. I love little touches, and the comic titles could be little somethings that are easy to miss.

All up, I’m looking forward to reading the next issues.