"Nothing ever happens to people like us,
except we miss the bus."

#1: Hurriedly drawn comics and uninspired shock humor, together at last. Reviewed by Emerson Dameron. [$3, 16 pp., standard] PO Box 9833, Fall River, MA 02720.

#1 & #2 ("Comics For Faggots!"): Cynicalman cartoonist Matt Feazell once published a meta-minicomic. It showed ambitious doodlers how to make their own minicomics, complete with continuous pages. Either Jeff T. Kane's never seen it or willfully ignores it here. His mini features sharks and cats and O.J. Simpson and makes no sense, even now that I've figured out which frame follows which. Reviewed by Emerson Dameron. [$?, 8 pp., mini] www.dimestoreproductions.com, hometown.aol.com/carilann2000/aidsneritro.html. No mailing address listed. Consider the Appalachians next time, dick.

#15: Some zines get namechecked a lot. Carrie McNinch boasts many fans among those who'll read this, and I doubt I can add much to your assumptions. By her introductory admission, she struggled to finish this as she quit drinking, and it takes a bit more patience than the AssWhine I knew. She's always been frighteningly sensitive, but this is the most Californian thing in her canon. She's living her life in small, philosophically weighty bits; she seems to be righting herself; and her 'tooning is, as always, sharp, text-heavy and unmistakable. Reviewed by Emerson Dameron. [$2, 34 pp., mini] Carrie McNinch, PO Box 49403, Los Angeles, CA 90049.

Volume 1, issue #2. Small lit-type zine with many contributors from Chicago. Contains writing that is overall worth reading, although I did not share the editor's enthusiasm for the short story by Karl Roloff, which is nothing but forced, incessant dialogue and two characters mutilating each other with cutlery. Also includes a piece by Emerson Dameron, surely a mark of distinction. Mary McKane, Brian Costello, and Joe Meno stand out as well. Reviewed by Ben Joseph. [$4 digest 40 pp.] A.B. Drea, PO Box 47658, Chicago, IL 60647-0658. www.thebananaking.org

(Issue Three; 2005.) Zine World meets The Zine Yearbook ... and the result is even more insanely great than either. I'm really impressed. It's all reviews, and all of zines that the reviewers loved (in 2004 -- it's an annual). Every page includes an excerpt from one of the objects reviewed (usually comics since they're more visually interesting). The whole thing looks great and the all-star cast of (13) reviewers really know how to communicate their enthusiasm. Editor "Greg Beans" of IPRC has done it again. Here's hoping BZE! will thrive for many years to come. Reviewed by Indy. [24 digest pages; free] Tugboat Press PO Box 12409 Portland OR 97212

#7: Dinner And A Nap, by Anders Nilsen. One day I had never heard of Nilsen, and the next I see his work everywhere. I bought "Big Questions" at Lucky's Comics in Vancouver, after a startlingly passionate recommendation by the clerk. This comic is so beautifully drawn; Nilsen's line-work is perfection and the way he lets the story flow by omitting dark, square panel lines and just lets the drawings lead into each other is a style not often seen. Those who like the nature drawings of John Porcellino will appreciate Nilsen's style, though he takes the details of trees, plants, and animals further in his own way. The story itself revolves around a man observing birds and then birds observing the man, that's all I'll give away. It's delightful. Reviewed by Kelly Froh. [$4.95 US/5.95 CAN, 32 pp. legal size] Drawn & Quarterly, PO Box 48056, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H2V 4S8. www.drawnandquarterly.com

#15. This is a graphic novel out of Geneva, Switzerland. Mostly in French, though with many stories without text at all (such as comic superstar JASON's story), I still enjoyed it despite not being able to read all the words. That is a testament to great sequential drawings. The first story begins with a unique, two-tone purple colour separation which is really intriguing. The rest of the book is in black and white. My favourite story was "Dentifrice" which is about a man who runs out of toothpaste and in the process of procuring some at the local drug store, gets caught up in a robbery. The artist's style is so light-handed yet precise, his lines almost look soft to the touch. There are about 15 contributors in all, so there are many styles represented.
 
For those who feel American-made graphic novels follow a formula, I suggest seeing what other styles are out there around the world. I was at times confused, but overall pleasantly surprised. Reviewed by Kelly Froh. [$?, 124 pp., professionally bound] Atrabile N.F., Bile Noire, Case Postale 30, 1211 Geneve 21, Switzerland. info@atrabile.org

The Epilogue. I'll keep this short since I so raved last time. Click on the ZineThug #7 link below if you need the back story. In this third issue of her zine, Emiko gets a kidney transplant. I had to read it immediately, only minutes after picking it up (and, incidentally, just after meeting the author -- I recognized the bird tattoo on her hand). Order this right now. It's exactly why you fell for zines, all those years ago. Reviewed by Marc. [$2 / 28 pp. / mini / copied] BROKEN HIPster, 2520 SE 43 Ave #B, Portland, OR 97206. broken_hipster@hotmail.com

(#47, copyright 2005.) Fortyseven issues is one heck of an impressive run and several reviewers I respect have raved ... so I hesitate to say it, but I've never been too impressed. A lot of essential detail is washed out of the many photos by the xerography; neighborhood and building histories are for flat-out genealogy-type buffs; namedropping lots of addresses is for when you get together with your old buddies; and people say stuff from the "Brooklyn Lexicon" all over these great united snakes. Fuggedaboudit. Reviewed by Indy. [$10 for 4 quarterly issues. 24 digest pages.] Fred Argoff, Penthouse L, 1170 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11230.

By Jack Saunders. The product of Jack Saunders hasn't changed, since I first read him in the late '90s, any more than he was bragging about being on his 130th book back then, while this review copy is somehow numbers 251 and 252. He still mentions this fact constantly, spouting the same biographical press release data every other page. Awful and deserving of some fair warning: do not drop fifteen bucks on this just because it has Bukowski in the title. Besides 2-1/2 pages of condensed background material, Buk is only mentioned thereafter when Saunders claims that this book is better than the former's Shakespeare Never Did This. I think that book is really just pictures of Bukowski on tour in Germany, with very little if any prose, but still I disagree. What Saunders creates is plain unreadable. Reviewed by Marc. [$12 postpaid to US & Canada / 288 pp. / softcover book] Pat Simonelli c/o LitVision Press, 7711 Greenback Lane #156, Citrus Heights, CA 95610. www.litvision.org

Yah! This zine is effing hilarious. Caitlin retells her stories from the 4 or 5 summers when she was a camp counselor, interacting with spoiled rich kids. At first, when I read her intro, I thought I was in for some serious melodrama -- you know, like maybe how she helped an amnesiac kid with no arms learn how to tie his shoe, or that she convinced a fat girl she was lovely on the inside. Brother, was I mistaken! This camp where she worked sounds completely wild and anarchic, screaming brats lost in their own Lord of the Flies, and for the most part Caitlin is the instigator. I can totally see her getting in hot water for such behavior somewhere else (there's another, more uptight counselor who's out to get her, as it is) but what's obvious is that the campers love her. Of the many, many anecdotes in this issue, I most enjoyed the one where she sneaks into a changing room when the kids are swimming, steals numerous pairs of their tiny underpants, then proceeds to stretch said underpants over their heads in front of everyone. Or maybe my favorite was the time Caitlin felt something in her hair, thought there was a food fight on, so she grabbed what turned out to be a bee and threw it at a camper. Ouch! She claims that she called the Indian campers "my little brownies" and that they found the term very endearing. Not sure if she meant kids from India or Native Americans, though. The artwork is also quite cute and complementary. Check it out! Reviewed by Alison Rudd. [$? / digest / 40 pp.] Caitlin, Spitshine_nickels@hotmail.com

(03/05.) Our author appears to believe that poetry should be written by opening a dictionary at random and picking a word to interrupt any line in which some intelligible meaning seems about to emerge ("black exit ramp trace of aphid twirl / dagger eight thousand and four bit jangle / stacks of xexoxial-ed on dollar bills / cheap wine's exquisite corpus ..."). Or maybe there's something going on here and I'm just too dim to pick up on it. ¶ The physical object is charming: it's one of those sky-blue college-composition books and the font very closely resembles typewriting. Hand-numbered (mine's #43 of 100). Reviewed by Indy. [18 bluebook pages. No price given.] justin.katko@gmail.com; http://www.justin-katko.tk.

#3. Information about how the PATRIOT act has made way for a secret court to spy on you without a warrant, and without ever having to make you aware of their presence. They can actually arrest someone for a crime that they see committed, in the course of watching you, and use this surveillance as evidence against this third person, without you ever finding out. Scary stuff, I guess. Why would anyone want to watch me, though? Reviewed by Alison Rudd. [$1.50 / mini / 32 pp.] Microcosm Publishing, PO Box 14332, Portland, OR 97293.

Mike's artistic style, as well as the format, remind me a little of Androo Robinson's, only a lot more grotesque. There is a story about seeing / playing in a band called Gaybot. If that doesn't make you laugh yourself silly. Is this worth two bucks? Sure, if you happen to have it in your pocket right now, go for it. There are quite a few pages of text-free, random, single-panel comics, and only a handful are altogether dull. Reviewed by Ben Joseph. [$2 mini 44 pp.] Mike Twohig, 72-1 Meadow Farm South, North Chili, NY 14514. angelfire.com/ill/miketwohig

#1. I picked up this comic at Confounded Books in Seattle. I love stories remembered from childhood and the first one in this comic rings very true. It concerns orphan goldfish and the choice between TV shows in the same timeslot. It opens the same way my comic about me and my younger brother does, with us watching TV together. The way an older sister talks to her brother, and how kids talk to each other is sometimes difficult to get right but Reklaw really nails it. Illustrated letters from his grandma was a good idea (though her sweetness is gut wrenching as she neglects to understand larger issues at hand), the story as a whole was quite moving. The dream story in the middle was the weakest and interrupts the flow of the book, but overall this is a fine little issue. The screen-printed cover is a nice touch. Reklaw's drawing style is similar to the look of woodcuts or scratchboard which adds a lot of intensity. Reviewed by Kelly Froh. [16 pp. 1/4 size mini, $1] Jesse Reklaw, Global Hobo, PO Box 11493, Berkeley, CA 94712.

#1. Crude, indeed. One man's views expressed through violence, excessive swearing, and sacrilege. This zine has it all! A lot of this zine offended me, but a lot of it was also pretty funny. "Ninja Showdown" for instance, is about two ninjas debating life, one ninja is against abortion/for the death penalty and the other thinks just the opposite. They battle it out – verbally – each expressing common heard views from fundamentalist Christians, other pro-lifers, pro-choicers, etc... until they both just sound ridiculous. The only way to end it is that they both have to die. Ok, so Angeles is not solving society's problems or anything, but he can show us how laughable we are to someone watching closely. I like that almost every story ends with someone's exploding bowels. His drawing style is pretty rough and sketchy, but it works with the derogatory subject matter. Reviewed by Kelly Froh. [Free, 20 pp. 1/4 size mini]
 
# 2. I didn't agree with this guy's worldview and was certainly put off by all the gore. He needs to get into therapy and beat up a pillow, and yell "I hate you, Dad!" till he gets it all out. Reviewed by Alison Rudd. [$3.50(!) / mini / 40 pp.]
 
#3: Messy art, messy violence and messy nihilism from a cut-rate Mike Diana clone who reeks of high school. Pot exists to keep my tax money from being siphoned off to buy these people ulcer medication. Get high and diagram that sentence. Reviewed by Emerson Dameron. [$3.50, 40 pp., digest] (No mailing address listed. Bring back the Fat Elvis stamp.)
 
(#4; 6/2/2005.) "Repugnant Hermeneutic Humor". Okay, it may not be hermeneutic, but it's sure as hell repugnant. We're talking cheese-grater-to-the-penis stuff here, with freshly-disemboweled entrails flying around every few pages or so; also nazis and pedophiles and what have you. Our proudly solo creator, Jose Gabriel Angeles, hates a lot of the right stuff (Marvel comics, religion, life itself), and I got a few grins from it ... of course your mileage may vary. My chief complaint: the lettering is too sloppy for captions or balloons of more than a couple sentences. Reviewed by Indy. [40 pages (sub-digest, super-mini); no price or addy.] Jose Gabriel Angeles, www.crudedude.100megs32.com

By Cindy Crabb. Expansive and deeply contemplative, and contrary to any concerns that Cindy mentions in her intro, the seventeen issues compiled here don't lose anything as a book. I'm astounded at the cohesiveness. Ten years of my zines certainly wouldn't be as uniform or aesthetically pleasant. It took me forever to discover what Cindy knew instinctively; everything's handwritten or typed up manually, with numerous doodles and comics to grab an eye. Stories of traveling to Russia, around the United States. Gardening, writing letters, staying up late, and being hassled by police. Abortions, and break ups, and things that can only happen while drunk. Building a house, spreading self awareness. You get the idea. Generic as it sounds, I was inspired. Reviewed by Marc. [$12 / 304 pp. / softcover book] Microcosm Publishing, PO Box 14332, Portland, OR 97217. www.microcosmpublishing.com

Pretty good if repetitive comic about why we should all abandon the QWERTY keyboard and learn a letter arrangement that is more ergonomic to use, and logically put together. Instructions on how to change your computer's keyboard right fucking now / this very second, a cut-out alphabet to stand up like a tent and peek at. Yeah, I didn't give a shit either. Reviewed by Ben Joseph. [$1 digest 32 pp.] DVzine@gmail.com, DVzine.org

#9: If you're prone to call anything the "quintessential" anything, you can go 'head and call Fish With Legs the "quintessential zine." It's certainly the stereotypical zine, with all the typos, rambling and personality that entails. In this issue, Eric takes the first nine letters of the alphabet and freestyles. He's got no grand statement to make, just a lot of clutter to clean out of his head, but he's funny enough to keep me on board. Your mileage may vary. Reviewed by Emerson Dameron. [$?, 36 pp., digest] Eric Lyden, 224 Moraine St., Brockton, MA 02301*3664, ericfishlegs@aol.com.

How's that for a straightforward title? This is a short story by R. Lee that might be fiction, might be memoir, enjoyably illustrated by Dug Bolan. Just your typical rowdy teenage boys in middle America. They steal bikes too small for them to ride to the next town, because of one 'em thinks he might get lucky. They drink a lot, resulting in a confrontation near the end. I dug this one. Reviewed by Alison Rudd. [$1 digest 16 pp.] R. Lee, PO Box 1421, Oshkosh, WI 54903. (Also makes Underworld Crawl.)

#8, The Sex, Drugs, & Rock 'n Roll Issue. A zine by twin sisters, which I found out before reading a word, at this year's Portland Zine Symposium. A gal approached my table and traded me this for an issue of my zine. We chatted a bit; so it goes. Hours later, the same gal seemingly walked up and asked if I'd trade for the very same zine. I stammered, tried to be polite, and then noticed that she wore a different outfit. How hot is that? Regarding their zine, I am equally impressed. Of course, I have a soft spot for grainy pictures of Slash wanking it. ("I've got a song in my heart . . . it's called Fuzzy Lunch Box.") In this issue, the gals relay stories of (drunkenly) finding a pair of Shitzu pups, of (drunkenly) vandalizing a co-worker's car when a wiffle ball game goes horribly askew, of (drunkenly) encountering C-list celebs. Laura writes about selling weed and mushrooms as a teenager, and how a little control went to her head. (To a customer: "You call me once. If I don't return your call, I'm not holding anything. If you blow up my pager again, I won't return your calls ever. Regardless." When was the last time you heard that word, "pager"?) Deborah reminisces about a vapid former fuck buddy, whom she (drunkenly, repeatedly) couldn't shake. (I wonder which twin it was that first approached me.) A panel of their friends are polled about the best cure for a hangover and for hiccups. (The consensus is a bong hit for the former, and that drinking-water-upside-down trick which no one has ever really tried.) There is also a submission (by someone called "Dystopian") that I didn't bother to read. Really, I don't care whether or not you order this zine; maybe substance abuse and uncomfortable sex don't stir it for you. But these sisters are going straight to my mailing list. Reviewed by Marc. [$2 / 40 pp. / digest / copied, colored cover] Fuzzy Lunch Box, 309 Cedar St. #34, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. LauraNadel@aol.com

Wow, this is actually the first comic by Yul that I've genuinely enjoyed. And he drew it with his left (non-dominant) hand. Usually the low resolution / weird line-shading artwork hurts my eyes to look at for too long. And this issue still has its share, mind you. But it's balanced by the main story, which features drawings so sloppy that the reader believes Yul, when he claims it took him just ten minutes to illustrate the twenty-four pages. (This zine is actually the result of Yul's endeavor, to complete a comic in under twenty-four hours.) Despite the handicap of using his non-dominant hand, Yul delivers sparse drawings that are interesting and expressive. The storyline is appropriately simple, and hardly a departure of Mr. Tolbert: what his life would be like if he had a girlfriend ("she and I would not hold back on public displays of affection"); and if his web site got hits; if other people were as interested as he in space travel to Mars, Esperanto, etc. Ends with an ad for something called Gen X Suicide Life, which makes me wonder if Yul's still working at McDonalds. Reviewed by Alison Rudd. [$2 / digest / 32 pp.] Yul Tolbert, PO Box 02222, Detroit, MI 48202. (Also makes Zine Solar System.)

#5: This choppy collage fiction has a disorienting, dreamlike quality that could be soothing or annoying, depending on what one wants or expects. I got little from the stories but enjoyed their cumulative effect. The totally welfare look (text is printed on white paper, which is then cut into uneven chunks, which are then pasted over lined paper and photocopied) suggests our author is new enough to this game that she might have yet to hit her vein. Put off buying Quark, but keep writing. Reviewed by Emerson Dameron. [$2, trade or cookies, 18 pp., DIY] Sarah Contrary, 3545 N. Borthwick, Portland, OR 97227, enormajean@hotmail.com.

#14. I admit I didn't make it all the way through. Though this zine looks pretty sharp, with legible text, really nice drawings, and lots of care with the layout and formatting, I just kept getting rubbed the wrong way by its tone. I wanted to read Road's life story, but I felt it was interrupted with public service announcements. She is very interested and involved in women's issues, queer issues, diversity and class, etc... and attempts to educate her readers in what she believes. The only problem is that this zine reads like a first year Women's Studies class course-pack and lacked the personal touch that I expected from this autobiographical zine. I just wanted some honesty, which is maybe there but it's so camouflaged in either overcooked prose or sounding like it's excerpted from "Our Bodies, Ourselves". Some readers will really respond to her writing style, and enjoy it, although I feel it is over-dramatic, i.e., "We talked about lost love across the atlantic, growing up, and the ways our outlook often dictates what motions our hands make when we create. We saw a shooting star- some saw it as awe, I saw it as deliverance." Imagine 64 pages, 11 point font – if you're up to the challenge, go for it! Reviewed by Kelly Froh. [$?, 64 pp. digest size] Christy C. Road, P.O. Box 42868, Philadelphia, PA 19101, or order through Microcosm Publishing.

Can't decide which New Age guru works for you? This booklet provides a convenient distillation of all the annoying traits they have in common. Its lovely pseudo-Biblical style makes it a lot easier to read than it is to mull. At first brush, it sounds almost too good to debate. It blasts positive vibes like a cartoon alkie blasts stink lines. Then, as sure as the hippies of today are the assholes of tomorrow, it goes from righteous battle cries ("The time has come to close down all businesses that thrive on exploitation") to presumptuous, unworkable prescriptions ("Businesses must be heavily regulated by the government in order to guarantee fair competition.") Jesse Smith may be an ineffectual big-gubmit liberal in sparkly Renaissance Faire clothing, but I'll give him that he's sincere; any writer this fervently didactic and effortlessly poetic could have a harem by now, if he didn't have a heart. Reviewed by Emerson Dameron. [$5, 60 pp., digest] Jesse Smith, PO Box 15193, Portland, OR 97293, basementia.com.

By Jay A. Hacker III. During the initial flip-through I thought this was an anthology but with closer inspection I see that the many different stories contained wherein were all conceived and drawn by the same dude. What's strange about that is that each of the stories looks completely different. They seem to mimic many other styles, like those of Frank Miller, Bill Plympton, Marvel style, Cartoon Network style, ... the only gripe I have is that the stories are all pretty weak. I failed to be amused when they were supposed to funny, or engaged when the story attempted to be involving. I just really didn't care for the writing at all, but the sheer amount of drawings, and different kinds of drawings were really amazing. This book is impressive more as an art piece than as a vehicle for narrative. Reviewed by Kelly Froh. [$12, 128 pp. professionally bound] Headstatic, P.O. Box 301, Athens, TN 37303. jjhacker@bellsouth.net or visit www.foolschildcomix.com

(issue number two!, "the end of 2004".) Brian Dubin can barely draw but isn't about to let that stop him. I approve. The characters are always looking right out at you so he won't have to draw profiles, but he gives 'em plenty of body-language so it's not at all just the same panel over and over again (which got stale real fast back in about the 70's but still inexplicably gets published all over the "alternative weekly" papers even unto this day). Anyhow, IRSIITT is diary-style: cute girls, music, too much to drink ... Reviewed by Indy. [28 digest pages.]
 
#3. Many larks to be found in this issue. Brian hangs out with a girl he has a crush on (one of many) into the wee hours of the morn, and enjoys their drunken conversation, sure, but really he wants to kiss her. He doesn't make a move, of course, maybe because he isn't drunk enough, maybe because he just lacks the cajones. However, he does give the girl a copy of his comic. Unfortunately, in the comic, he comments on her generous melons. One week later, he wonders why she won't return his calls. . . . At a new year's eve party, Brian drinks and smokes pot to excess, because "this was going to be my last night of doing bad things". Six pages later, he's stoned at a bar, with no mention of the resolution. I won't tell you how much I related. Highly recommended, but two things: (1) "A lot" is two words. (2) The term is "harelip", like a bunny. Think about how their little faces look, with the upper lip cleft. OK? Now imagine a human with the same condition and tell me, Brian, did that stripper who approached you for a lap dance have a hairy lip (as the drawing suggests), or was she honestly deformed? 'Cause if it was the latter . . . I can't imagine a better way to spend $20. Reviewed by Marc. [$2 / 36 pp. / digest / copied, cardstock cover] Brian Dubin, 3019 St. Paul St. #2F, Baltimore, MD 21218. abracadaverr@yahoo.com

Issue 24. "the zine about going places you're not supposed to go" This zine is really impressive, the layout, design, the photo quality, and especially the writing. This issue, subtitled "Stadia", regards the role of a stadium in a city, how some stadiums represent more to a community than others and why, and how some stadiums just fall short, sometimes for reasons unknown. The authors infiltrate stadiums (when closed for business, or closed down for good) and explore the vicinity. They take pictures and record their observations. It's fascinating reading. A zine with a clear focus on adventure through infiltration. This is one of the smartest zines I have ever seen. I wonder what their back issues are about? Reviewed by Kelly Froh. [$3, subscriptions available, 31 pp., digest size] Infiltration, PO Box 13, Station E, Toronto, ON, M6H 4E1, Canada. www.infiltration.org
 
[Note: Jeff Chapman AKA Ninjalicious, editor of Infiltration, passed away in August, 2005, at the age of 31. This news saddens all of us at this site profoundly, though we hope it won't dissuade you from ordering an excellent zine. The Infiltration web site is still operational, and back issues are available. Whether or not the zine will continue to be published we don't know. For more information, follow this thread from alt.zines.]

Volume 11, issue #3. Jeff Somers is one of those guys who, I've been exposed to his writing so much, three years might pass without me actually reading any of the zines that he constantly sends. Prolific and punctual, he's the type of writer that you hate, I know. But when one actually indulges in a new issue of The Inner Swine, and decides to find out, okay, what the fuck has been going on? Then one is treated to a moderately enjoyable personal zine. The way that he constantly refers to his drinking in mythological proportions grows tiresome, and Somers is prone to run a gag into the ground that wasn't funny the first time (this issue it's him forgetting to put on pants, because he's so out of it). Nonetheless, I found myself laughing in public as I got caught up with his world. This issue's theme is details, but that's irrelevant, really. The funniest part is when Jeff leaves his wife waiting in the rain for thirty minutes, because he "lost track of time" playing with the cat. As usual, I was mildly repulsed by the lazy, desktop-published presentation (a few paragraphs end mid-sentence, never to be picked up), as well as by the barcode, the ISSN, and poorly drawn Mr. Mute (who appears in this issue a lot). But what the hell, if you've never experienced Jeff's over-the-top documentation of his rather ordinary (however enviable) life, give his zine a look. I made sure to leave this copy on the bus. Reviewed by Ben Joseph. [$2 digest 60 pp.] Jeff Somers, PO Box 3024, Hoboken, NJ 07030. www.innerswine.com

(June 2004): I can't remember a time when I've been reading a book, reached a convenient stopping point, and exclaimed "Motherfucker! Where's a bookmark when you need one?" Any small, flat object usually serves. Jotz, a tiny little thing folded to create pockets, holds a few such objects. The booklet itself is a random cut-'n'-paste job. It defies review, as each copy is bound to be different. Mine has a piece of string taped to it. Reviewed by Emerson Dameron. [$?, ? pp., oneshot?, handmade] jotzine@yahoo.com No mailing address listed. Gargle it, Violet.

Number 6. How enjoyable it is to come across a perzine with writing this polished. Steve lays out lines of text that are laconic, yet eloquent -- straightforward reporting that is, simultaneously, steeped in pathos. I picture him banging out each word deliberately on his decrepit typewriter, avoiding the comma key whenever possible (and the parentheses altogether), always considering his reader. (Some people's writing is clearly aimed at as broad of an audience as possible. Steve approaches his one by one.) Add to this adorable illustrations by the mighty talented Nicole Georges, and you get something significant. Really, how many zines have you felt compelled to read all over again, immediately? In this issue, Steve includes a brutal and incisive letter from an ex-girlfriend, which he's been holding onto for ten years. Then he writes another to himself that is less forgiving still. While visiting New York City, he recalls the time that he lived there, and is struck by memories of deep unhappiness. But now it doesn't seem warranted, now that Portland is the town he's wrapped up in. Nostalgia ensues.... Don't get me wrong, the entire issue isn't so heavy. There's a story about touring with his band through California, an essay on the affordable and tasty products of Goya Foods. And how about this quote from the late Fred Rogers: "Love isn't a state of perfect caring. It is an active noun like struggle. To love someone is to strive to accept that person the way he or she is, right here and now." Reviewed by Alison Rudd. [$2 / mini / 96 pp.] Steve, PO Box 3444, Portland, OR 97208-3444. Also available through www.microcosmpublishing.com as Steve says he's "kind of a slow-poke."

#3: I always thought Dan Murphy (he of the self-consciously depressive zine Elephant Mess) needed a worthy cause. His latest concern is a quick primer on organic gardening and other crunchy affairs. This thing is so good-natured and unassuming that I find myself determined to implement at least a small slice of its gospel. My girlfriend's a vegetarian, which makes me a vegetarian by proxy, so I might try a recipe or two. That said, much of its advice might be too basic for those most likely to come by it. Thanks to a photocopying snafu, mine has some unintentionally psychedelic text on page four, which I no-shit enjoyed. Reviewed by Emerson Dameron. [stamp, 12 pp., DIY] Dan Murphy, PO Box 6352, Boise, ID 83707, messyelephant@hotmail.com, juniperbug.blogspot.com.

#1: I can say that Kankakee is a depressing place to hear your car break down, but that you can get decent home fries there. This zine shares little of whatever else goes on in Kankakee. It profiles the "Johnny Appleseed poet" Robert Dunleavy. It features a haunting one-act play and some automatic writing no one needed to see. It also prints experimental art and photography -- in high-quality color -- which does establish a cozy niche for it here in the zine-o-sphere. But there's nothing specific to Kankakee, and if I hadn't peeped the lines beneath the TOC and the 'graph-long manifesto, I'd've assumed the title inexplicably referred to mouth ulcers. Still, if it grows legs, Kankazine might amble someplace interesting, probably outside Kankakee. Reviewed by Emerson Dameron. [$?, 20 pp., colored]
 
(May, 2005.) "visulit: ... 1:visual art unified with literature ..."; in this case, sure, sometimes howlingly pretentious, but lovely to look at and, when it hits, not just artsy but artistic. Both poems (by Miranda Mead and V.S. Pruett) are worth rereading -- very unusual in or out of a zine. Most of the rest is evidently by editor C. Shoup: a good review of some good art, a lousy "concert review" focusing mainly on the appearance (and logo and image) of the band, a lovingly detailed chapbook review, and "Three Journal Entries". Very tasteful use of full color throughout. Reviewed by Indy. [No price given; 20 digest pages.] cashoup@juno.com Kankakee, Illinois

#63: Once, when I was a younger, more stubborn man, King-Cat disagreed with me. Now, it's one of my favorites. Still, I struggle to explain my reaction. John Porcellino sketches his memories (collected under topical headings such as "The Bottle and Me" or "Barbers I Have Known"), hauls his shit from Denver to San Francisco, and lays down heavy hosannas for all that brings him succour. When he gets a cold, he renders it a one-page comic and quotes Vimakakirti: "I'm sick because the world is sick." Maybe I like King-Cat because the world likes King-Cat. Reviewed by Emerson Dameron. [$2.50, 36 pp., digest] John Porcellino, PO Box 170535, San Francisco, CA 94117, king-cat.net.

v2#4: This satirical pub from Nevada damn near bursts its staples trying to get a laff. I never so much as coughed while poring over its forced jingoism, its fake agony column, its "Pre-Copulatory Agreement" (which smells like the internet), its predictable wacky high school buddy tales or its steady self-deprecation. I doubt you would, either. One of my favorite Jim Goad witticisms, paraphrased: There's nothing less erotic than pornography, and nothing less funny than a comedian. While there isn't much that hurts like watching a clown flop, at least there's something at stake here, which is rare enough in zinedom to be, on some sick level, heartrending. I could use a beer. Reviewed by Emerson Dameron. [$?, 20 pp., digest] AGB International, PO Box 60822, Reno, NV 89506, anarchygolfballs.com.

Another delightful little book by Lark Pien. Long Tail Kitty takes us on a journey to visit all of her favourite things, such as polaroids, chocolate donuts, and late night TV. Great drawings; sweet, well-chosen text. Screen-printed cover. Reviewed by Kelly Froh. [$3, 16 pp., 1/4 size mini] Ms. Lark Pien, 69 Glen Avenue No. 103, Oakland, CA 94611. lark@larkpien.com

A Collection of DIY Guides to Doing Just About Everything, by Kyle Bravo. A compendium of the How2 Zine. Frequently reprinted from other zines, but also featuring original articles by Kyle and countless others. (OK, not "countless", I suppose I could count, but let's just say there are many.) This book contains information that is at times indispensable, but other times impractical. Sorry, I don't see how I could ever shit in a bucket and compost in my tiny apartment and still expect my girlfriend to have sex with me. Also, I could do without the soapbox standing on. Teach me how to fix my harmonica or get into a padlocked dumpster, thanks. I didn't need to know why you pee in a Gatorade bottle. Reviewed by Marc. [$10 / 240 pp. / softcover book] Microcosm Publishing, PO Box 14332, Portland, OR 97293. www.microcosmpublishing.com

Invaluable, independent publisher and in general friendly presence around Portland. Just as I wrap up this update, I get in the mail from them more stuff to review. Since I noticeably kept all the best titles for myself this time, I'll get these out to different reviewers: On Subbing (second edition). Xtra Tuf #5 (the labor strike issue), Hot Damn & Hell Yeah (vegan cookbook), and a zine called Support that's edited by Cindy Ovenrack (see Doris). They even have a storefront open now. Send a buck for a catalog and drop by if you're in town. Reviewed by Marc. Microcosm Publishing, PO Box 14332, Portland, OR 97293, or I also have for them: 5307 N. Minnesota Ave., Portland, OR 97217-4551. But you know neither of those is the address for the store I mentioned. I think that's on Ivy. Address to come, perhaps.

(Issue 9; 2005.) This stunning annual is actually a full-blown magazine by nearly any standard (and in particular, bears the mark-of-the-beast barcode). 36 pieces is a lot of reading and I'm not all that into the whole neogothic "dark" vibe myself, so I skipped around quite a bit (though of course I read the 13 pages of reviews with avid interest) ... but I'm here to tell you, it was all well-written (and tightly-edited) stuff with something to say. Lotsa fine illustrations too. Heck, even the ads are interesting (not that there are many). A great deal at $6 for anybody who is on its wavelength. Reviewed by Indy. [166 fullsize pages (black & white).] Automatisim Press, PO Box 12308, San Francisco CA 94112 http://www.charnel.com/morbidcuriosity

Issue #3alance. Yow, the postmark on the back of this reads January 31, 2005. I noticed the date recently and thought, hey, I better get on it. Then, after reading a bit, I realized that I'd gone through it all before, maybe six months ago, but ultimately come up with nothing to say about this cookie-cutter zine. I think the only reason I haven't thrown this out is the cover model's exposed bra strap and armpit hair. That and the layout, I suppose, which is messy and just perfect. Otherwise, I didn't walk away from The Naughty Love with anything, and it is only because the editor (who is, coincidentally, named Cookie) made the effort to send it my way that I write this.
 
OK, first off. Do you see how I wrote the issue number above? Now, when you saw that, did you speak it in your head as "three a lance"? Or did you get that it was supposed to read as "balance", the more-or-less theme for this issue. Because it took me a minute, and dare I say that the numeral three I gave you looks a lot more like a "B" than the one on the front cover. So that's lesson number one: don't confuse your audience before they've even turned a page. And due to waning interest on my part, here come lessons two through seven, real quick. Never include any of these in your zine: list of What's Hot (activism) / What's Not (conformity), phony advice column, phony horoscopes, phony quiz, quote from Tom Robbins, mailing address for the White House. Reviewed by Marc. [$2 / 20 pp. / digest / copied] Senorita Cookie, 1030 Columbia Ave. #254, Claremont, CA 91711.

My-First-Cut-Up surrealism meets politics as obvious as road construction. It's a tough one-two to gulp from the same glass. Justin Katko has a wild imagination and a sense of humor to match. I wouldn't want to discourage him. But this is almost 100% pure self-indulgence. Five bucks says he'll regret its publication inside five years. Reviewed by Emerson Dameron. [$2, 26 pp., oneshot, digest] Justin Katko, 201 E. Chestnut #311, Oxford, OH 45056, katkojn@muohio.edu.

Number 1. You want to love this zine because she's trying to be so honest. Maybe it's the overwhelming denial that tries my patience. Katherine states throughout the zine that she's all for women accepting their bodies as they are, but at the time she's losing sixty to seventy pounds. She talks about how the fast food and dieting industries are both awful, but never reveals exactly how she lost her weight. She does claim it was "the healthy way", but it's right before describing behavior that seems a lot like anorexia. Info on celebrity diets, an open letter to Mary-Kate Olsen. The zine ends with her finding a boyfriend, having sex again on a regular basis. And despite the pages upon pages of books about dieting, nutrition, body acceptance, fitness, etc. (many of them that she admits she hasn't read), Katherine is prone to spout off something utterly baseless, often when the subject is mental health. The things that I disliked about this zine were many, but its perseverance won me over, almost. Reviewed by Alison Rudd. [$3.50 / digest / 72 pp.] Katherine Hodges, PO Box 64509, Chicago, IL 60601. hoydenish@aol.com (Also makes Thinking About Suicide.)

Fall 2005. All the more painful because I thought I would greatly enjoy it. The cover art is hilarious, even if I can't quite grasp what's happening. And the short story by Ken Cormier (illustrations by Robert Cook included) is bookishly spooky, if you can imagine. Otherwise, the premiere issue of Oddfellow sucks outright. Fake letters suck. A racist fake catalogue from the 1880s sucks. Aleister Crowley's "unpublished" i.e. fake New York diaries: no one wants to read that. "Things Cocaine Doesn't Do": the name holds such potential. . . . Toward the end is a fake zine-within-the-zine called You're Not Punk, which is really more offensive to me as a publisher than as someone moderately into punk music. You're not funny! Reviewed by Marc. [$3.50 / 48 pp. / standard / printed, color cover] Oddfellow Magazine, PO Box 2136, Radio City Station, New York, NY 10101.

No. 3. I've read all 3 issues of "Or Else" and found something special about each one. Each compiles mostly unrelated stories dealing with Midwestern small town life, rural myths, eccentric locals, and insomnia. "Or Else, No. 3" appears to be more auto-bio than the others, which is actually quite welcome. In this issue he deals with the moral consequences of marketing junk "power beads", he illustrates a passage from Kafka's diary, and tells the story of the old couple next door. Huizenga pairs a really clean, tight drawing style with halftones; it's a really nice look. I'm interested in seeing what he puts together next. Reviewed by Kelly Froh. [$3.50 US/5.25 CAN, 40 pp. 1/4 size mini, colour cover] Kevin Huizenga, P.O. Box 12299, St. Louis, MO, 63157. Also available from Drawn & Quarterly.

OK, I set a precedent when I reviewed the $100 and a T-shirt: zines in the NW documentary, and now I'm crying uncle. This is the last non-print thing I'm publicizing. Yeah, it's fun to laugh at the crazies, and this short motion picture has at least two. (One guy tries, unsuccessfully, to work the term "laissez faire" into his interview . . . twice.) But overall movies that feature zine people -- or worse still, zine events -- are monolithically awkward to behold. Besides one allusion to Reno 911! by producer / director Bob Sheairs ("sweat equity") and the aforementioned wingnuts, this is hardly worth the forty-seven minutes (plus commentary and leftover footage) of your life, never mind the ten dollars. Reviewed by Marc. [$10 / 47 min. / DVD] Bob Sheairs, 30 Locust Ave., Westmont, NJ 08108. www.njghost.com

Issue #5. At the last place I lived at in San Francisco, in the spring of 2001, my share (one-fourth) of the rent was $750 per month. And this was for a tiny room with no heat and one painted shut window, in the Western Addition, right across the street from a housing project. As the economy stumbled over itself and I fled back to the Midwest, I wondered about all those empty, just-renovated lofts in the Mission district, with their wide, immaculate windows and nifty T1 lines. Who would come to inhabit them? Well, here's my answer. This issue of Scam is all about squatting through the dot-com era. Reviewed by Ben Joseph. [$5 standard 72 pp.] Erick Lyle, PO Box 40272, San Francisco, CA 94140.

Through typed text in a "blue book", Katko has created visual poetry through his use of space between lines and placement of letters. He formed shapes, designs, and a technical language amusing to read. Some pages read as plans to blow up the planet, or am I wrong and these are details needed to save it? Judge for yourself. This is quite a unique zine. Reviewed by Kelly Froh. [$?, 16 pp. 1/2 size legal] Justin Katko, justin.katko@gmail.com

(effort no. 1, 2005) Cut-and-pastey. Misanthropic. Funnily-captioned clip art. Travel diary. Show review. Yep, it's a good old-fashioned zine. The best part, for me: lotsa stuff from his sketchbook. Reviewed by Indy. [32 mini pages. "50 cents" (so send a buck)]. www.drunkingham.com 5460 Entrance Dr. Soquel CA 95073.

##1 & 2, by Max Clotfelter. These two minis are collections of drawings from Max's sketchbooks and undeveloped first-beginnings of comic stories. I am so taken with Max's drawing style that I found every page engaging, even the ones containing mutant Playboy models. He packs every page full, from corner to corner, a circus of characters imagined and some likely real. My favourite page was the centerfold of #2 that contains 56 strange, scary, cute, and anthropomorphic faces identified by their given first name. Max is obviously pro-diversity; he creates a population of bird-people, robots, cowboys, mutants, and cyclops all mugging for their portrait. Reviewed by Kelly Froh. [$1, 24 pp., 1/4 size mini] Max Clotfelter, 291 Redwood Dr., Marietta, GA 30064. buschcan@hotmail.com

(issue #1; undated.) Words by Molly Hurford & photos by Heather Cousins -- two very talented young women. The main piece holding it all together is a short story about a Halloween party (but the poetry that makes up most of the rest of the "words" part is also perfectly readable). Good production values: the (very interesting) photos are reproduced clearly. And all with the nostalgia-for-this-very-moment vibe suggested by the title (from the end of Fitzgerald's Gatsby, of course ... "so we beat on ... ceaselessly into the past"). I hope they'll stick with this for a while. Reviewed by Indy. [$2 for 28 digest pages.] molly hurford po box 29 asbury nj 08802

By Marc Bell. This is a slick little book of Bell's strange and fascinating drawings. Stream-of-consciousness doodling taken to extreme proportions; colours, shapes and figures mutating into and around each other, sometimes forming recognizable things, like snakes, or airplanes or clouds. Often his "stacks" become strange no-neck people with arms so long they drag behind them, or people with their brains where their tongues should be. This book is light on text, yet it almost seems more fun to just stare into the weirdness and make up stories on your own. Reviewed by Kelly Froh. [$9.95 US, 80 pp.,1/4 size, professionally bound] Drawn & Quarterly, P.O Box 48056, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H2V 4S8, www.drawnandquarterly.com

By Katherine Hodges. Not nearly as fun as its title suggests. Somewhat of a chore to get through even to me, a fellow with gobs of personal experience relating to depression, wanting to die. I lost track of how many times a paragraph would start with "Thirdly" or "Fourthly", and I would have to flip a few pages back, having forgotten what she was listing. Katherine alternately denies feeling suicidal for real, and makes a case for why her pen pals shoulda realized how terrible she was feeling when they met. It's like she is suicidal just because she's so fascinated with the subject, because she checks out spots in tall buildings and mutilates / almost-cuts herself, because this is such a lengthy zine period . . . even though she feels like she's faking it. Contains photos of the author. Reviewed by Marc. [$2 / 64 pp. / digest / copied, colored cover] Katherine Hodges, PO Box 64509, Chicago, IL 60601. hoydenish@aol.com (Also makes noncompliant.)

(Issue #143; November/December 2004.) Politics calling itself "philosophy" ... yes, we're deep within the libertarian fringe here. This happens to be the "first ever theme issue": Visions of the Future of Humanity. Most entertaining: Irene Hamlen Stephenson's biorythm-based "Ideal Society", wherein she takes issue with Thought editor Ron Tobin's recent decision to get married (!). Ron replies at length -- an editor's prerogative. You can't make this stuff up. Best written: Sam J. Miller's "That Auschwitz Chic" (a love story at the intersection of some highly politicized subcultures). Some of the poetry is less drivelly than, say, the my-kid-can-improvise-better-than-this-while-blacked-out-drunk "Beat", by V. William Tilburg. Biggest waste of time: Jeff Lewis's "Rose, Recovered (Part II)", an unfocused author's message rant thinly disguised as a short-story. But make no mistake: the main purpose of th' Thought is to give Mr. Tobin a place to publicly contort himself into logical pretzels explaining to us all how we can -- and should -- have private property without a State. Reviewed by Indy. [$2 for 28 fullsize (cornerstapled) pages. (or $11 for 6 bimonthly issues).] P.O. Box 10760 Glendale AZ 85318 http://home.att.net/~guildmaster/wsb

What a neat idea. As the title suggests, this is a reading journal that A.j. kept through 2004, contemplating the books that she devoured each month. Her comments on each are fairly short -- two hundred words max, sometimes only a sentence -- but they were substantial enough to frequently pique my interest. I can't forget to bring this along on my next trip to the library. Also includes "Zines of Note" for the year. Reviewed by Alison Rudd. [$1 / mini / 24 pp.] A.j. Michel, PO Box 877, Lansdowne PA 19050. timeenoughatlast.blogspot.com

First a disclaimer: I have never read a Harry Potter novel, have never seen one of the movies, and am generally mystified as to the raging success of the series. No offense, wizards just ain't my thing. So maybe it's no surprise that I didn't get a whole lot from this zine. From what I gather, it's the story of "Emma Lane" (not the author's real name, as she makes a point to mention -- from the eighth grade report card that graces the front cover, her real name seems to be Lisa) going online to seek out other die hard Harry Potter fans, finding a role-playing web site, but then getting banned from the site for various reasons. I was pretty lost for much of this, but I think I got the point. While "Emma" might be a bit fanatical about Harry Potter (an excusable vice, given her age), there are other, much older people out there who obviously have nothing else to fill their sad lives. The e-mails reprinted here, from role-playing site administrators, as to why they're excluding "Emma" were a kick to read. But I could have used more background. For instance, what exactly is "powerplaying", or "godmodeling" in the role-playing game world? What's a "Mary Sue" character? This zine was kind of like listening to a girl talk about how she dumped a Dungeons & Dragons nerd, only to see her the following weekend, playing Magick the Gathering. (True story.) Reviewed by Alison Rudd. [$2 / digest / 27 pp.] "Emma Lane" Lucky1289@hotmail.com

#3. Solid writing, interesting and developed characters, emptiness and isolation. The hand to mouth, beer after beer secret pastimes of men who trade away all their day shifts to stay and work overnight. The futility of everything, it's all here. Reviewed by Marc. [$2 postpaid / 32 pp. / digest / copied, color cover] R. Lee, PO Box 1421, Oshkosh, WI 54903. (Also makes Fuck & Fight.)

#98: Get out da way, bitch, 'cause Michael Goetz is pissed. Some of this is the usual grandfatherly corn one expects from this unstoppable underground cartoonist, but a lot of it is bitter social commentary. And, if I'm not mistaken, this mini marks Goetz's first rape joke. Then again, I'm not entirely familiar with his immense back catalog. Reviewed by Emerson Dameron. [2 stamps or trade,16 pp., mini] Michael Goetz, 1340 Brandywine Dr, Rockford, IL 61108.

At only 16 pages, this zine was a fast read. It's filled with inconsequential short stories, reviews, comic strips and poetry, all by people too embarrassed to use their real names (actually, I think 3 people use their real names, but how can I tell, really?). It's printed nicely and the layout and text is all very professional, it's unfortunate that the content is so weak. The best part of the zine was the haiku section, this example being quite brilliant:

Cell phone blows up like
Techno strobe light dance party
Embarrassing funeral

I think the editor had "Mad Magazine" in mind, but this zine isn't funny enough to compare. Or maybe it's supposed to be serious, but it's not that either. I think this zine needs a clear direction, more content, and more emphasis on the writing and not making up stupid names for the authors. Reviewed by Kelly Froh. [$donations or stamps, 16 pp. digest size] www.wafermaneuver.com

#4. This is the first actual fanzine that I have been asked to review. Seriously, where have all the fanzines gone? I mean, it seems now people are only a fan of themselves. Szurek is a fan of horror movies (and other movies and music but let's stick to what he really, really knows). Since attending last year's Cinemuerte Festival here in Vancouver, where I watched B-grade horror films for 8 hours straight, I've become interested in the genre more than ever before. This zine lists and reviews 20 pages worth of horror movies to look for or to avoid. I've only heard of a handful of those he lists. What a resource!
 
"WBM" is pretty ramshackle, it's really just stapled 8 1/2 x 11 typing paper but what it lacks in style, it makes up for in content. I would like to warn Szurek about the reprinting of other articles, some seem to have given permission, but others obviously have not, just be careful man! And actually, I think the reprinted zine reviews and stuff from "The Book of Lists" is totally unnecessary. I understand wanting your zine to have it all but really I think the film content stands on its own. Of course, the few pages devoted to autobiography are interesting as well, because we like to know who you are.
 
I can't wait to see "Satan's Cheerleaders" and "Grip of the Spider"!! Reviewed by Kelly Froh. [$?, trades accepted, 44 pp. letter-size, unfolded, corner stapled] Dave Szurek, 505 North F Street #829, Aberdeen, WA (zip code??) dszurek@iopener.net

#1. Well . . . someone sure likes his pot. (Someone besides me, I mean.) I've always gotten a kick out of this Gangelhoff's zines, and this one's no different. The title comes from a line by Sarah Vowell: "Whiskey plus music equals what can only be called happiness." So plop down on the futon and pack a bowl -- it's time for a (purported) music zine! Highlights this time include Nate's attempt to familiarize himself with today's adult contemporary charts, and his resulting descent into perplexion ("Seriously, how do you come up with [the name] 'Hoobastank', and stick with it, even after sobering up?"); reviews of everyone else's karaoke selections one night at the bar (my drunken choice, by the way, is always "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"); and a running commentary on the music that an annoying co-worker subjects him to (particularly funny, as the guy only listens to one song before switching over to sports radio). Whiskey Plus is not at all like most every music zine out there (i.e., incomprehensible), due largely to the fact that it's barely about music. Well done. Reviewed by Marc. [$1 / 16 pp. / standard / printed] Nate Gangelhoff, PO Box 8995, Minneapolis, MN 55408. www.pickyourpoison.net

Issue 3, Volume 1. What happened? This one was over before I even noticed I was reading it, or started reading. Whichever. The top notch production values couldn't win me over after what is undoubtedly the cheeziest front cover photo ever. Interview with the guy from Bright Eyes? What? Reviewed by Ben Joseph. [$2 standard 12 pp. & comes with a free CD (big whoop)] Xenophobe Magazine, PO Box 30484, Winston-Salem, NC 27130. Xenophobemag@yahoo.com

(Version 2.5; (c) 2004; incorporating No-Pest Strips Issue #22.) Also various other documents by the very prolific Yul Tolbert. Yul's been on the scene for years: comics about space travel (& TV science-fiction shows), Esperanto, and, um, giant women with long toenails. Mix in his habitual "nobody gets me and I have no idea why" complaints and you've got one real underground character -- quirky even for a comics artist. He's very generous with trades; failing that, he'll shove a bunch of minis in an envelope for you if you send some postage. In other words, you should get on his mailing list for sure. He can draw pretty well but frequently damages the drawings by digitizing 'em. His lettering is pretty hard to read sometimes. Oh, and he's the house artist for the Underground Literary Alliance. Reviewed by Indy. [36 digest pages; $2.] PO Box 02222 Detroit MI 48202 yul_tolbert@yahoo.com; http://timeliketoons.tripod.com/zss.

Marc Parker foots the bill for this site, and on top of that pays his contributors -- with the exception of Ben Joseph and Alison Rudd. False personae work for free. Sending a buck to the address above will earn you a copy of his real zine -- his real personal zine -- which is fittingly called Lazybones AKA Crazybones AKA Kimosabe. No zine trades. Once upon a time, Marc also made a movie.
 
Kelly Froh is the creator of the self-published mini-comics Slither, Unlucky with Pets, I've Been Forced To Get To Know You, Beating Up Little Brother, Upstanding Folk, Puke Stories, and many others. She's been frequently reviewed in Xerography Debt, Zine World, and Comixville. She's finishing her last year of art school in Vancouver, BC and hopes that her drawing skills miraculously improve in the next 9 months before graduation, "otherwise it was all for naught, in 4 years all I learned was a bunch of shitty theory."
 
Indy Ana Jones reviewed zines for The Ten Page News
(and Indy Unleashed) back around the turn of the century. Indy's enormous zines index was probably the most extensive such project ever available on-line. Hasn't been updated since early last year, though. Want more? Ask Vlorbik.
 
Emerson Dameron lives in Chicago, IL, where he occasionally publishes the zine Wherewithal. He's about like most people. Because of the city's omnivorous gentrification, his address changes with the wind, but he can always be found near his website (http://loudwire.net/~emerson).