Zine Reviews: May 2023

Issue 1 of the Killgrid is a politically-minded art zine. Via fashionably dystopian collages of chromed bodies, cell phones, pixel-fragments from QR codes and military imagery — and thru the curated quoting of corporatese, professors, and so-called experts — KG drives a stake right thru the heart of the algorithm, skewering the idea that all technological process is positive and ripping apart claims that the Internet of things will bring about the "ancient promise" of an egalitarian utopia. The zine (and it's accompanying website) are attractive to look at, but they lean heavily on curation and they left me clamoring for something actionable, for more meat on the bone. I hope future issues delve deeper into the issues and tackle how we can fight against the "algorithmic apartheid state". I did appreciate the handful of shiny stickers the zine comes packaged with; they're perfect for committing your own acts of agitprop on light poles and trash cans throughout your city.

If you've ever needed a reminder about the joy that zines can bring, pick up a copy of "Confessions of an Ex-Zine Editor". Having not made a zine since 2011, the Ex-Zine Editor returns to the scene with an issue in 3 acts that is heartfelt, funny, honest, and full of zine-love. Act 1 explains why the author — previously of long-running UK music fanzine Bubblegum Slut — gave up writing, zines, and music altogether. She talks about sobriety, finding both solace and obsession in yoga, replacing zines, drugs, and music with "adult pleasant activities" (mostly bingo), and a banishing spell for bad jobs. Act 2 celebrates Editor's passions and the interests that motivated her to pick up the zine-pen again, and Act 3 spotlights what Bubblegum Slut's many contributors are up to now — "Sexy Dave" Ashworth's recap of all the gigs he had tickets to but didn't attend is a highlight: it made me laugh, and I found it terribly relatable. The stand-outs for me are Act 1's "Losing Friends and Alienating Myself", which used the patches on Editor's battle vest to talk about the loneliness in losing your identity, and Act 2's "Reasons I Love Zines" which absolutely made my heart swell and swoon and shout "THIS IS WHY I LOVE OUR ZINE COMMUNITY!" with big ol' heart-eyes. Honestly, if that page was turned into a poster, I'd hang it on my wall, a Zine Manifesto for us all.

I've gotta admit it: this zine surprised me. For one, it's massive: the size of a mainstream magazine, almost a foot tall. I just don't come across many A4-sized zines nowadays. And the cover art isn't really the sort of illustration style I'm usually drawn to. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from it. But hot damn the writing inside drew me in and made me a fan! And the way Editor incorporates photography in their spreads is just great — I especially love the back cover, which is an "I Spy"-esque pile of items and imagery that tie into the zine's content... and on the last page, there is a key to this photo index, explaining all the references. Genius!

This zine is personal and relatable, but still shot thru with fanzine energy (there's a great interview with Delilah Bon, and the obligatory album review section). In the introduction, Ex-Zine Editor states that they hope this zine would be about "mourning the loss of things that are no good for you, and about figuring out who the fuck you are when you jettison your whole identity overnight... And (that) it would be a big love letter to zines and their mystical healing properties." And I would say that's a pretty damn great summation of this zine.

Are all zines passion projects? Maybe, maybe not, but "Thank U Prince From Leo" by Leo Miles for sure is one. This zine oozes passion and I dig it. What started as a sketch-a-day drawing challenge turned into a months-long project that resulted in this zine: a tribute to the late, great (artist [sometimes] formerly known as) Prince. Thick hand-lettered Prince lyrics slink over and around Leo's animated illustrations, all rendered in crisp, glossy black, dot-shaded and stylish. This zine is beautifully curated: the songs and moments that Leo has chosen to quote showcase Prince as political poet and provocateur. I want to make a playlist of all the songs he's illustrated and give them an aural deep dive. And I especially love the way Leo depicts Prince: my favorite portrait is the wonderfully-geometric design on page 19, the coy face in the centerfold (also the zine's cover) is utterly iconic, and the gestural and rhythmic take on page 6 dances around the page like music. They are fitting tributes for an artist who so effortlessly embodied creativity.

I've gotta another round of "Meditation Funnies" by M. Elias Hiebert to share with you today! If you're new to this zine, these 24-page freebies feature the conversations between our main character - placidly meditating, eyes (usually) closed - and the devilish fiend trying to interrupt his inner peace with anxious thoughts, sarcasm, and tough truths. Topics include twitter feuds, watching, letting go, breathing, and death, as well as illustrated quotes from the Zen teachers Ken Tetsuzan Morgareidge and Shunryū Suzuki. Being a zinethusiast and all, my favorite of this batch is, of course, the comix comparing a Xerox ("zeerox") machine to a koan. And as a bonus, I've also got my hands on a Special Edition issue: "The Heart of Wisdom", M. Elias' adaptation of the Prajñāpāramitā-Hṛdayam sūtra, a core text of Mahayana Buddhism. All of these zines — both the usual "Meditation Funnies", as well as the special issue — are simply delightful reads, and a great ways to learn more about Buddhism and meditation.

Danny Noonan (of "ClockTower9" fame) avengers assembled 50 American zinesters to create "Lines on Paper", an "atlas with no pictures or maps". I was one of the 50, so perhaps it is best to begin with an apology: while I stand behind every word of this review, it is also a little bit biased.

So, what task did Danny ask of us contributors? To capture the zest of our home states in 50 words, no more no less. The resulting compilation is exactly what you would expect it to be: a cross-country road trip of a zine, fueled by nostalgia and the sort of coffee you only get at all-night diners, a zine that stretches out over deserts, mountains, cities, and rivers, profuse with prejudices and memories, love letters laced with jokes and myths. Some entries made me laugh, a few made me scoff, some made me nod in recognition, and while I feel my own Missouri quinquaginta has room for improvement, "Lines on Paper" is a really great zine and I'm really proud to be a part of it.