Jolie Ruin’s 69th issue of The Escapist Artist is one-part fanzine, one-part art zine, and total perzine. Black-n-white, cut-n-pasted and collaged-by-hand, it has that “classic” zine look that I just love. The first half recaps some of the shows that Jolie went to in 2022: the Koffin Kats, the Give Ups, The Casket Lottery, et al. and I loved living vicariously through her stories. (Sidenote: I am so, so jealous she got to see the Casket Lottery cover the Smashing Pumpkins!) Her recaps are funny and relatable, bringing those “letter from a friend” vibes that all the best perzines have. The second half of the zine showcases some of Jolie’s art: collages of stickers, lace, glitter, pony beads, pinups, song lyrics, and kinderwhore vibes. This might’ve been the first issue of The Escapist Artist that I’ve read, but it won’t be the last (and it looks like there are plenty of backissues for me to track down — Jolie is so prolific!)