Our Wounds: A Caring Zine About C Section Scars
APac
12 pages
https://www.etsy.com/shop/apacdrawings/
https://www.instagram.com/apacdrawings/

Our Wounds is a quarter-sized, black and white zine of art and quotes about birth-givers and caesarean scars.

“After the birth of my daughter, my cesarean scar became a source of anger…”

APac doesn’t shy away from the topic of C-section scars, and that shows both in her art and in the way she introduces this zine. Right on the inside cover, we read about how processing her anger about her scar led to a sketchbook of “birth-givers’ characters who had undergone cesareans” and combined with Reddit testimonies about these scars to create this zine. Each page features black and white art of a single character, each with their scar on display and in a different environment to the rest. Each portrait is accompanied by a quote with the writer’s name and date of the quote.

The scars we carry can hold depths of meaning for us that the people around us may never understand. A scar that comes from giving birth – a whole topic area with so much emotion and differing opinions surrounding it – has to be a whole level that I can’t fully comprehend as someone who does not have a C section scar. I appreciate this glimpse into a part of life I didn’t really know much about, and I doubly appreciate that APac included a variety of quotes that showed people expressing a range of emotions and experiences with their scars.

APac’s art style is a pleasure to look at with lines of various thickness creating shadows as well as delicate details. The characters are all quite distinct from each other in body shape, how scars are shaped and displayed, and even different ages as well. Each has there own accompanying surroundings, be them birds, bats, tentacles, or mushrooms. As if to say their scars are a part of them – but only one part of them.

I admire it when people are in touch with their feelings including the darker ones. Even moreso when they are able to take those negative feelings and turn them into powerful art. APac combines strong emotion, art, and quotes into a powerful zine that is definitely one to check out.

Nail Biting
Renee H
One page folded
https://www.instagram.com/utterzine/

Nail Biting is a colour, one page folded mini-zine about nail biting made as part of Alphabet Superset Challenge.

When I cheekily commented on Renee’s Instagram post of this zine that I needed this zine in my life, I had no idea that I would soon be able to enjoy a copy in my hands. And not only that, learn so very much about a bad habit I have had for nearly as long as I can remember.

We open with Renee’s story of nail biting over the years that culminated in being determined to break the habit. We then learn about the parts of the nail as well as how damaging nail biting can be. We then go back to Renee and some of the reasons behind the nail biting habit and its links to self-harm, wrapping up with thoughts about how the self-destructive behaviour didn’t actually eliminate the feelings Renee was trying to escape.

My gosh, as someone who has bitten their nails off and on over the years, I am impressed by how much information has been packed into this little zine. I’ve never looked into the parts of the nail nor how much my habit could damage myself – in some ways permanently. I’d also never made the connection to self-destructive behaviour, an insight I find incredibly valuable and one that I will be pondering.

Aesthetically, this mini is lovely. Printed on cream paper with big, clear type. Green as an accent colour and using small design elements as well as typography to add visual interest. This mini is beautifully put together and in a way that suits an informative, personal zine about a very personal and deeper-than-some-think subject.

I really love how Renee handled including not only their contact details but the Alphabet Superset Challenge details and the letter this zine focuses on. It’s long been a nitpick of mine when there are no socials or even a hint of where to find other zines made by the person who made the zine I’ve just enjoyed. To have it all there, clear print, easy to read, and utilising the often-overlooked blank interior of a one page folded mini is definitely a little chef’s kiss element for me.

Nail Biting is a great example of a mini-zine on so many levels. Absolutely pick this one up.