Category: Zine Reviews

Ker-Bloom! 106 – January – February 2014
artnoose
https://www.etsy.com/shop/artnoose

“Ker-bloom! is a life history letterpress printed in installments.”

The zine world is huge and not mainstream, so it’s simply not possible to read all of the zines out there. Or even hear of all of the zines out there. So when I saw this in Sticky and realised that I’d heard of it somewhere before, I had to grab it.

The quality of the zine itself is undeniable. Textured cardstock cover, letterpress, words indented into the cover, a 300-zine print run (holy guacamole!) with the copy number, the lovely interior paper… It’s a ‘simple’ zine in its simplicity, but the materials and tools used to create it make it gorgeous.

The content inside is a snippet of live. Tales of owning real estate. I don’t know how I do it with picking zines, but I just so happen to have a tiny obsession with real estate. I don’t actually own any, but people have been known to save the real estate sections of the paper for me.

Hey. Love is love.

Anyway, that’s all there is to it. A snippet of life. A tale of heating systems. I liked it and was sad that it was over so soon.

In the end, though, Ker-Bloom is one of those zines that has the quality and reputation that leaves me feeling like I’m back in university wondering if there’s something that I’m missing that everyone understands. That could be my feelings of inadequacy, or I could really be missing something. Ker-Bloom 106 was a pleasant experience, no doubt, but it’s not going into my permanent collection. Am I missing something? Do I need to read more of them? Is it about the duration that this zine has survived?

While Ker-Bloom does have a post address on the back along with ‘artnoose’ as the name, there are no other details as to the creator of the zine or how to contact him or her. While I would usually rave on about this (I’m a lazy lurker), I get the feeling that the lack of URLs and such is actually on purpose. I could guess that it has something to do with keeping to the roots of the zine (it’s been running for a long time), or that it wants to keep with the otherwise ‘classic book’ feel of the zine. I really don’t know. So I won’t rave about it, I’ll merely mention it.

And wonder if I’m not quite understanding something.

Pieces #4 On Lucid Dreaming
Nichole
http://wemakezines.ning.com/profile/Nichole
https://www.etsy.com/shop/fictionandnot

Lucid dreaming! I love lucid dreaming. I’ve only done it a few times, but each time has been amazing. But, moving on, because this is not a review of my lucid dreams.

The beauty of having so many issues of a zine is that I get to see it grow and change. In Pieces #4, I feel like we’ve gone from life musings in a general sense to something ‘outside’ Nichole that she’s passionate about. This zine is packed full not only with her experiences but also with information on lucid dreaming – like techniques to use to help you achieve lucid dreaming.

I really enjoyed that. I feel like it’s a lucid dreaming handbook that I can refer back to when I feel the need. There’s even a list of resources for further reading, which I always appreciate.

About half of the zine is dedicated to her dream diary. Dreams are like sports to me, though: I’d rather be in the action than watching (or reading, in this case) it all happen. Even so, this zine is a keeper.

I need to learn to take better pictures…

The Third Biannual Mildly Informative Booklet Depicting Graphical Representations of General Occurrences and Observations
Sarah McNeil
A6
https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/SarahMcNeil

Phew! What a title! Not to be confused with Updated Report of Observations Which Somehow Seem to Reflect Abstractly on Life (Stat 2)

With pie charts like ‘Things I Put On My Various Tumbler Accounts’, a coffee flow chart, and ‘Books To Get For My Sister/Her Baby’, this is another zine that gives a glimpse into a life in a fun way. I do wonder if the zine creator has a real sense of the picture she paints of her life, if it’s simply ‘a bit of fun’, and if my picture is actually in any way accurate.

It doesn’t really matter, as most of the fun is really in not knowing. Not reading too deeply.

I love this zine as much as I love Sarah’s previous zine of graphs and charts. The addition of lists was a decision I adore (bring on the lists!). However, the thing that really got me for this zine is the first pie chart, regarding spelling occurrence wrong, which I have done today no less than five times. It’s always good to know one isn’t alone. 😉

This zine is what it is in that you’ll be able to tell fairly straight away whether you’ll like it or not. I appreciate that very much.

Pieces #3 On Writing, Drinking & Demons
Nichole
http://wemakezines.ning.com/profile/Nichole
https://www.etsy.com/shop/fictionandnot

I understand now what drives a lot of people to do this and, more importantly, the vague reasons why.

Pieces #3 is one of those zines where I want to quote everything because I identify with this, and with this, and with this…

You get the picture.

From the beginning, Nichole had me with this zine for a number of reasons. Perhaps because I’ve been so desperate to write – to actually finish something. Or perhaps because I’ve been exactly where she was when she made this zine: longing for the possibilities an altered state of mind might provide. I, too, used to look down my nose at people who did such things, but I also now understand why they do it…

As Nichole states on the first page, this zine was written over two days in a flow-of-consciousness style while she swims to the bottom of a bottle of Captain Morgan. It’s an interesting transition as the first strip of black is put on the page partway through the journey and ends with white text on a page of black – plus a photocopied, handwritten page almost as if to prove it had happened.

Even in the literally darkest part of the zine, she seems unsure to the point of needing ‘proof’. Or I could just be reading into it too much. Either way, I still feel the urge to take her out for an ice cream and tell her that I really like her zines.

The next morning in the zine dawns bright once again with black-bordered type on white pages. Attempts to write disappear completely in the wake of ice creams and conversations. While the whole thing left Nichole feeling like she wasn’t sure whether it was a success or not, I see it as the former. After all, I think producing words requires ‘getting out and living a bit’.

For the anxious and shy, sometimes that requires alcohol.

Drinking never seems to accomplish what I initially set out to do…

I hear you.

Somethin’ somethin’. Continue reading “Zine Review: Pieces #3 On Writing, Drinking & Demons”

Pieces #2 On Girls & Wondering
Nichole
http://wemakezines.ning.com/profile/Nichole
https://www.etsy.com/shop/fictionandnot

This zine is about the handful of girls in my life that really made an impact on me.

I think there is a true, deep value in being able to look at past relationships and feel the feelings without getting lost in them. In this zine, I think Nichole makes a beautiful tribute to women she has met. From her first kiss to realisations of unrequited love, we get to view the women that influenced her life as she views them.

Nichole shares her awkward moments in ways that are endearing and yet ‘are what they are’. She doesn’t indulge in fantasies of what could have been or should have been. When you’re reading, you get a real sense of how she appreciates them even though, in her own words:

…things didn’t work out the way I wanted with any of them…

What was especially gorgeous for me is that there are a couple of women who don’t have names. Why is this gorgeous? Because it reminds me that you never really know whose life you’re influencing. You might think that everybody thinks your [X], but it just so happens someone out there is too nervous to ask you out. Or even to say hello.

Love it.

Pieces #1 On Writing, Reading & Growing Up
Nichole
http://wemakezines.ning.com/profile/Nichole
https://www.etsy.com/shop/fictionandnot

This zine (and #2-#5) came through a trade I made a few years ago thanks to the We Make Zines site. Nichole prefers trades to outright sales, so my financially-challenged self was quite happy.

I had a good feeling that I would like this first one because I am an author (and was back when I made the trade, too) and love a lot of things that are writing-related. This zine did not disappoint.

Pieces takes a ‘snippets of life’ approach to her zine with, well, snippets of her life. Bits and pieces that surround reading, writing, authors and what it means to grow up as a creative person. She does skip around in time – jumping forward and back – but chronology doesn’t matter as much as the feelings of the scenes involved. While my glitchy self would have loved chronology, my free love hippie self was happy to go with the flow.

What was even better is how many experiences Nichole and I had in common. For instance, I also wrote for Young Authors when I was in school. I also started using British spellings in school only to be told a resounding no. (Yay for moving to Australia and putting extra letters in all sorts of words! Colour!) While she was not allowed to read at the table, I was not allowed to write. But we were both convinced (if only a little bit) that the characters would get up to something while we were away.

We’ve even both met Garth Nix.

I won’t give it away, but the zine ends on an exhilarating (especially if you’ve done it yourself) note that leaves you wanting to know what happened next.

Photocopy Press / Issue Two / Fall 2010
Elizabeth J.M.W.
US Half-fold (?)
http://www.etsy.com/au/shop/ElizabethJMW398

Usually I would want to space these out (delay this since I reviewed the first one yesterday) but I can’t find a third one! Wah. Not happy about that. Things happen, so I’m not wandering around with a dark cloud over my head, but I was really hoping to see more of these.

Mind you, I’m not sure it was the best idea to mention that at the beginning of the review. Moving on!

I do love to review a series (or a first and a sequel) because I love to see how things evolve and progress. From PCP 1 to PCP 2, you see the zine get bigger (yay!) and even more. The extra white space I talked about in the first zine? Gone in favour of squishing in more content. She kept the things I loved: easy to find contact details, zine reviews, zine excerpts, and expanded them in the best ways. The zine reviews now (when possible) have more ways to contact the zine makers. She’s added in book, DVD and web reviews but keeps them zine-related.

I was very impressed with her zinester interview section, in which she managed to get in contact with zine makers from around the world. The US, UK and Australia are obvious ones (to me), but she also connected with people from Japan, Singapore, Israel and more. Well done, Elizabeth.

This is definitely a good expansion on the first zine. While I know it’s a bit dated (how is 2010 so far away already?) it’s still relevant and fun. Plus, it’s interesting to see which people are still making zines, what websites are still up and so on. I do hope to track down a Photocopy Press 3 someday.

Photocopy Press / Issue One / Spring 2010
Elizabeth J.M.W.
US Half-fold (?)
http://www.etsy.com/au/shop/ElizabethJMW398

Photocopy Press is one of the first zines I bought from Etsy back when I was just diving into the zine world. At least, I’m nearly certain that’s how it came to be in my collection.

PP is one of the kinds of zines that I love to get my hands on *cough*hint*cough*. It’s a zine with variety, but, more than that, it’s a zine about zines! You might think that would be a touch redundant, but I love it. Zines about zines are a fantastic way to find out about zines that you might not otherwise find.

Right on page one, Elizabeth has an introduction, contact details (though her Etsy shop is currently empty), and plans for the next issue (next issue!) including pen pal ads to give people even more opportunity to connect. What’s not to love there? The fonts are clear but varied enough to add interest, the art is small but tasteful, and everything is neat. I’ve seen plenty of beautiful hot messes, but I do also appreciate the beauty that comes in neatly organised things.

There is quite a bit of white space that I wish would have been used up, BUT that is only because I want mooooore. More reviews, zine excerpts, pictures… All of the things. That being said, the white space isn’t a glaring thing. It’s more me wanting every ounce of goodness possible.

I know I have a habit of prattling on endlessly about these things, but I’ll wrap this one up (kind of) short. There’s not much more to say than it has reviews, excerpts and bigger plans for the next issue. If you don’t like this sort of zine, then there’s nothing here that is going to make you suddenly change your mind. If you do like this sort of zine, grab it up!

Anonymous said: A Zine By Cutthroat Cutie
US Half-Fold
Cutthroat Cutie
http://www.etsy.com/au/shop/CutthroatCutiexx

I love it when I set up a trade and get my end of the deal sent off… and then forget about it. Haha. Then I am completely surprised when something arrives in the mail. Not the way to conduct business, certainly, but it can make for a nice surprise. Moving on!

I received this zine earlier this week and couldn’t resist diving in. I’m a bit gobsmacked that I haven’t pursued more anonymous type zines considering I enjoy making Dear Anonymous so much. As you can imagine, when offered a trade for this zine, I jumped at the chance.

Everything about Anonymous Said is clear and bold. I really love how easy it is to read everything. The read is on the faster side, but the actual content does slow you down, so I think it works out as a good balance.

The basic idea is that Cutthroat Cutie sent a call out for anonymous confessions, rants and unpopular opinions. This zine is the result. Set on backgrounds of various patterns, these messages have been cut out and pasted in as is. Everything is put in together, but the first half is more confessions and the second half is more secret confessions (I hope you’ll understand the distinction I’m trying to make).

Like with Dear Anonymous, some of the letters made me sad while some made me smile. While there’s no way I could possibly know, I do feel like there is a certain age group in regards to who submitted work, but that worked for the zine. Some of the letters were heartbreaking in that they’re so reflective of current societal struggles with issues like sexuality and mental illness. It was interesting to see that all packaged up and delivered this way.

I like that there is a letter on the back from Cutthroat Cutie to everyone who contributed. It could just be me reading into things, but I really got this sense of awe from the letter like she didn’t expect the response to be as much as it was. Good stuff.

My one nitpick (besides one letter that got put in there twice) is that there isn’t an info page whatsoever. I can’t get too wrapped up in that detail because I know some people create their zines that way on purpose. Still, whenever I see a zine I like, my first question is always: “Is there a second one?” Info pages make that much easier to find out.

Summer Goals List
A6
Sarah McNeil
http://www.etsy.com/au/shop/SarahMcNeil

I’m not sure if I’m trying to be ironic or if I’m really missing summer in the midst of a dreary end of July (so sick of winter) by reading and reviewing this zine. Then again, how could I resist such lovely bright colours!

This is where I apologise for my absolutely shocking photography because I have done absolutely no justice to the striking colours of this zine. The first thing I notice about Summer Goals List is the fact that it’s a list zine (fangirl squee). But the second is definitely the vivid colours. Wowza.

See, I’m still not doing it justice. Get a copy so you can check it out.

With a zine like Summer Goals List, I think you have to appreciate the subtle things. At least, that’s how I looked at it. You would think a list is a list, but there were so many ways that people approached this. I love the variety. From simplicity to complexity, from things to get done to things to see… There is a variety that I didn’t expect.

I do have to mention that some of the lists were a touch hard to read. Nothing that got it kicked out of my forever collection, but enough to warrant a mention.

One extra little spesh thing is this:

I feel pretty cool when I know that I have one of only X number of copies or if I know I have a zine from the first print run.