Zine Reviews Archive
Here you'll find archived zine reviews, originally on the Zines page. Reviews are arranged by month.
July 2008
What I Did on My Summer Vacation by Christoph Meyer, reviewed by Carlita
Mr Meyer decided to go on a train trip across the US and write a zine about it. The result is a compilation of mixed anecdotes; from talking about coffee addictions, analysing how humans behave when visiting a zoo, trying to figure out the mystery of tipping and being the witness of a horrendous hot dog accident. His zine not only amused me, but also made me rethink about various deep moral facts. This zine is a handmade petit book that reflects love and dedication on each of its pages and that is worth reading!
The Book Bindery by Sarah, reviewed by Kylie
This zine is full of stories about working in a book bindery; it dispels stereotypes and myths about making books but also shows the pleasure in your job can come from anywhere and anyone. Sarah takes a joy in shaking things up, playing bingo with the paging system, drinking terrible and awesome coffee and being fully involved in the little things that make a dead end job a glorious dead end. Favourite quote 'How's it going in the stamping area?' 'Oh you know, just trying to make in impression'.
Hoard : Stamps, issue one by Hurricane, reviewed by Carmel
This is a very cute collection of stamps from around the world, it leapt out at us for its full colour (unusual for zines!) and the very impressive curatorial skill- only the quaint and very interesting made the cut. What makes this zine extra special, however, is the fun story behind it. Lorene, one of our wonderful zine suppliers, explained to us that the zine was produced purely as a prop for a short film- the main character was supposed to be a very geeky hoarder who regularly compiled zines representing his collections of nerdy things (the next issue is about old library issue cards). The filmmaker decided to release the zine to see how the public viewed it, but unfortunately, we just think it is super cute and awesome, not geeky at all! Or if it is geeky, only in the cardigan wearing cute librarian way, not in the sci fi reading IT way. So enjoy.
Axis of Evil Banquet #1
What a great idea! Instead of bombing folks because we don't understand them (or because we think we can conquer them), let's EAT with them instead! This zine focuses on the many nations that Amerikkka has sought to dominate. For each country there is information about US interventions followed by traditional/popular recipes from said land. A good way to expand your cuisine, try new spices and bond with your community. Please note: not all recipes are vegetarian, but you can substitute your favourite fake meat for those that aren't. (review by Microcosm Publishing)
Sobstory? #8 by Andrew M. Scott
Kronos by Susumu Mukai, reviewed by Carmel
Sobstory? #8 is all ruminations about life in and amongst tales of travel. Andrew wanders around Europe and wonders if the internet is as scary to him, as television was to previous generations. This zine has just turned 10 years old, and it covers the topics you think it might. Thoughts on aging in the punk subculture and the endlessly liberating sensation of traveling. Features tons of sweet pictures of the streets, shops, and punk shows of Paris and London. (review by Microcosm Publishing)
This is quite a special highbrow zine, hey any zine that is published by someone other than the author is virtually a book, right? P.A.M, of course, is a fashion and art collective from Australia. Anyway, the lovely Greek deco coffin on the front cover, (black lines with some fluro orange fill) sets the tone: the book is mostly minimal quirky line drawings. There are plenty of skulls and skeletons- they seem to be quite trendy at the moment-, some surreal visions of cats in the power pylons and pages of fantasy animals (2 headed scorpions, man/slug with wings - that type of thing). By all means it is a lovely and dreamy adventure through the imagination of Susumu Mukai. Check it out!
The Frugal Vegan’s Harvest & Holiday Survival Guide II by Lisa, reviewed by Steph.This zine (along with its predecessor) is one of our most popular zines at the moment. It has awesome easy recipes, like stuffed green peppers, pineapple cake and avocado fudge! There’s also information on how to keep warm on a budget (which would be quite good right about now) and other general tips on how to save cash. Plus there’s a jumbo valentine’s section, and I know it’s not valentines day for a few months, but hey you can give cool and inexpensive gifts to your loved one anytime – they’ll love you for it!
Papercutter #4Papercutter #4 is the dramatic fourth issue of the acclaimed new anthology series by tugboat press dedicated to showcasing the best young, underexposed and emerging comic book artists. Sarah Oleksyk (Roadside, Ivy) tells the featured story about a pair of lovestruck misfits who meet at an all-night copy shop. Vanessa Davis (Spaniel Rage) displays a beautifully painted snapshot-style story of a few big weird parties. And John Porcellino (King-Cat) completes the issue with tales of a man's peaceful winter companionship with a cat and a snowstorm. (reviewed by Microcosm Publishing)
Pry on Murmurs by Evah Fan, reviewed by Carmel.This zine is so nicely produced that I wonder if we can even call it a zine. Aren’t zines meant to be scruffy quickly produced jobs? Well the gorgeous Pry on Murmurs, with its rounded edges, thick manila pages and neatly stitched spine does not match that description, but give it a moment of your time and it will charm you. Depicted with geometric paper collage, strange landscapes set the stage, while Fan’s whimsical line drawing tells us stories about the bizarre creatures that inhabit them - a whale flies over stripy mountains with an alien explorer on its back, a tiny mermaid reclines on a piano being serenaded by the player - and all in a pretty wee package."
Boys Boys Boys Boys Boys by Joanna McLeod, reviewed by CarlitaRight! This is very short, simple, homemade and low fi zine; nevertheless I could not stop laughing while reading it. If you are a girl you must read it to corroborate that you were not wrong when thinking that boys still need to learn a lot about the way we approach the whole girl-boy business. If you are a boy you ought to read it to understand and accept that girls not always get attached after hooking up with a boy, and that they are also capable of having a pretty relaxed and practical way of dealing with the love game. This hilarious zine is dedicated to all the lovers that Joanna had encountered over the years. Giving them some tips, writing them letters, illustrating the way she categorised them, keeping a statistical record of funny sexual events, etc. Give yourself a chance and read it.
Mixtape premiere issue edited by Nichola Prested & Justine, reviewed by CarlitaThis is another of the “do it yourself “ zines, but what makes this particular one unique is the fact that includes many interesting topics among the varied potpourri of crafty activities: eco living tips for all types of busy people, reviews on books, music recommendations, yoga for kids, yummy recipes and more, much more!
March 2008
Captain Howdy - Mystery Zine by Kerry-Ann Lee, reviewed by Carmel
"From the author of the excellent 'Help My Snowman's Burning' comes this awesome "zine about new weird stuff". Included is the helpful dream dictionary (where I learned that I will soon lose a friend or a relative, as I dreamed my teeth fell out), mask template for owners use, and a how to guide to making your own Mr Stabpullhead the Shrunken Applehead out of an apple and string. This girl's a genius!"
Craphound #6: Deaths, Telephones, and Scissors!
"In case you missed it the first time around, Crap Hound - A Picture Book for Discussion and Activity is, between a brief introduction and the end credits, pure imagery. Each page is filled with high-contrast line art, culled from vintage catalogs, advertising, obscure books, and found ephemera. Through sheer volume of artfully arranged iconography, issue No. 6 visually explores the popular meaning, cultural ideals and historic symbolism of Deaths, Telephones, and Scissors. Perfect for zine makers, graphic designers, tattoo artists, or just someone who needs a specific, perfect image." (Mircocosm Publishing)
Dvorak Zine
Fart Party #4 by Julia Wertz
"Have you ever wondered about the placement and composition of the keys on your keyboard? Is it random? Is there a pattern? Is there even logic to it? Alec and company did their homework and discovered that the placement of keys was not meant for speed or accuracy but rather determined when certain typewriter keys needed more space between them so the strikes would not get stuck on each other! When more advanced and ergonomic keyboard designs were created they were ignored and QWERTY continued to rule the school. This is a comic guide to the future of keyboarding - the DVORAK style! With keys placed for maximum speed and accuracy, this zine is a truly a kind of activism that everyone who uses a computer should get behind!" (Microcosm Publishing)
"Do you need a break from the world and all things serious? Welcome to FART PARTY. This issue features inappropriate fake mustaches, terrible good news, environmental law school, coveted burritos, tears, laffs, and "hot dickings." Simultaneously troubling and heartwarming. Oh, and there's a scene where Julia cries at the post office when they only have those crappy American flag stamps--I can SO relate (and so will you.)" (Mircocosm Publishing)
Found Magazine, reviewed by Carmel
"OK so this is more of a magazine than a zine but it is carried by the zine ethos so I'll review it anyway. Found is a magazine compiled of found items. Notes, lost cat signs, you-are-banned-from-the-library letters, it's great! It is very fun to sit back and read through Found (issue 4 is the one I'm looking at) and laugh at how lame some of the notes sound (mom, Fluffy is dead, can you leave me $10)."
Incredibly Hot Sex With Hideous People #27 by Bryce Galloway, reviewed by Kylie
I was a Teenage Mormon by Caitlin, reviewed by Kylie
"This is the latest zine from Wellington writer Bryce Galloway. He talks about his life with his defacto wife and two preschool children. As Bryce puts it 'I used to be an urban punk, but now I'm a suburban dad.' A very funny read and a must for the young inner-city parent."
"I really enjoyed this look at what it is like inside the Mormon religion. Caitlin talks honestly about growing up as a Mormon, she details her youth inside and outside of the Mormon church and about the questions and doubts she struggled with. The most interesting part for me was her final struggle to leave the church and the repercussions she had to deal with because of that choice."
Power Machine: a Lengthy Discourse on the Nature of Squatting by Hannah Potassium, reviewed by Kylie"I loved this zine! It talks about a life I will never lead (so of course I love reading about it), squatting. Hannah talks about squatting and what it means to her, she chronicles the squat that she set up called power machine and the people who subsequently lived there and eventually led to the squat's downfall. There are also some very interesting thoughts about the uses and misuses of the word 'community' and some discussion around woman only spaces".
Put Your Ear to the Floorboards by Nick Wortham, reviewed by Carmel"This is a full colour (very unusual for a zine!) collection of photographs taken by Nick Wortham, who seems to have an eye for unusual compositions, making the fairly banal quite beautiful and interesting. Included are graffiti shots, a girl's orange stockinged legs and feather skirt, and a close up of what looks like a pile of 70s couch cushions. The colours are rich, the angles are often humorous, and all in all this is a lovely collection of contemporary film photography."
Rad Dad #6 edited by Tom Moniz"Rad Dad is a zine by and for rad(ical) dad(ical)s! This issue is mostly essays but also contains excerpts from radical parenting message boards, and some neat contacts and resources. Several of the stories focus on anger and how it's often transfered through generations, with particular attention paid to the tumultuous transition into adolescence. There's also a discussion on toddler aggression, and parenting with political consciousness. Okay, enough with the vocabulary words, basically, this zine is great! And it says in the back they're accepting submissions for #7, so rad dads, get in touch!" (Microcosm Publishing)
Urban Forager: A guide to dumpster liberation and the freegan lifestyle"Surprisingly, we don't have another zine that focuses on this subject. Lots of people will go dumpster dive (and train hop) without appropriate information. Mostly you are lucky, but if you aren't smart you could get sick or arrested! This zine tells you how to go about getting food, what kind of food to look for, what to do with it (recipes! canning! trade!) and the typical shelf life of specific items. A sweet, easily navigatable zine, perfect for the fledgling punk rocker or anarchist!" (Mircocosm Publishing)
Tenacious #11: Writings from Women in Prison"A very touching account of various mothers' struggles from inside Prison. All are intensely emotional and touching. There is a devastating article about a woman who is told that she is HIV positive while in prison and the way that she is treated by her peers, an article about beginning the preparation for release from prison, sanitation problems in prison, and an incident of losing privileges because a guard was stuck with a needle during a search, a woman dying of blood loss in a Texas prison, and many more." (Microcosm Publishing)
Zineworld #25, reviewed by Kylie"Although this is primarily a zine review zine there are also letters to the editor which kept me entertained for an hour, reading about people who weren't happy with the review they received and replies from the reviewer. There is also a news page which is mostly about injustices in America and the postal system. It has a really interesting interview with the co-founders of microcosm publishing who were married and then divorced. A lot of zinesters are interested in this split and all the answers are here. As for the zine reviews, they are great to read and some of the reviews make you want to send off for the zine there and then. They also supply prices and addresses so you can buy strait from the zine maker. A must read!"
