click below to see more
the end results of bad translations or poor design, a cheekily amusing account
all work copyright its respecitve owners
foto friday – Cui Shirts
go look – Desmond Reed
kicking it – 14th April 2021
header art from Sonagi
Subscriptions
A part of UK comics for decades, Kev has settled into a groove of doing modern takes on Shakespeare whilst continuing his normal strips and kid classes. He’s a force for sure! He’s got his shop set up on there as well and the Prince of Denmark Street comes with my personal recommendation.
Coin Operated Press feel like they’ve really hit a stride during Covid, which is impressive when you think about it. Their Quaranzine and Vacczine publications have bottled that lightening on a fair few feeds that I follow.
New this week
Pinpricks – written by Jason Pell (@Dexxell)
(fully funded) finishes Friday, May 7 2021 3:00 AM BST
there’s a really interesting mix a styles, but all the examples have strong cartooning chops, so I’m intrigued
Someday Soon by Shawn Kuruneru
(fully funded) finishes Friday, May 7 2021 11:34 PM BST
That art! You can see the influence of Jose Munoz, but it’s sort of like Paul Grist meets Munoz and I never knew how well that would work out until I saw this. The story seems intriguingly OTT as well.
Tokai: Blasted by Andrew Lytle (@LytletheLemur)
(still funding) finishes Sunday, May 9 2021 4:13 PM BST
another one where I just like the look of the art, very cool, bouncy cartooning
I’m still loving these Kickstarter
Less than a week to go
Typhoon Days organised by Francesca Carità
(fully funded) finishes Wednesday, April 14 2021 5:00 PM BST
interesting subject matter and solid artwork
Eros + Venus: An Artbook by Rosielah by Rosie Alexander (@HeyRosielah)
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 15 2021 6:00 PM BST
The artwork is just so amazing on this, or more specifically, the colour work really makes this something different.
Sonagi: A Korean Fable organised by Dr. Hall
(still funding) finishes Friday, April 16 2021 9:00 PM BST
I like the concept for the story and the backstory of how this came about
‘I am an English teacher in South Korea. I teach a class called the English Graphic Novel Project. The students in our wonderful class spent 16 weeks writing and drawing a complete graphic novel. The finished book was their FINAL EXAM.’
God Summoner – Chapter 1 by Dionysis Zogaris & Manos Lagouvardos
(fully funded) finishes Friday, April 16 2021 10:00 PM BST
I just love that art.
Dwellings No. 2 by Jay Stephens (@kingpopgun) published by Black Eye Books (@blackeyebooks)
(fully funded) finishes Saturday, April 17 2021 1:00 PM BST
Comics from a comics veteran; an amazing cartoonist
Our Stories Carried Us Here: A Graphic Novel Anthology organised by Green Card Voices (@GreenCardVoices)
(still funding) finishes Sunday, April 18 2021 6:00 AM BST
10 stories of immigrating to the US. I particularly like that the organisation have paired illustrators from the same linguistic, cultural and regional backgrounds. There are some strong artists here as well.
Incoming! edited by Gary Adams published by Incoming Magazine (@incomingmag)
(still funding) finishes Monday, April 19 2021 10:36 AM BST
Three very different art styles each of which is interesting @JustinMRyan87 @rayointhebottle @originalkrista and @Sebasti38998519
Alberto Rayo and Sebastian Carrillo 
Justin Ryan 
Krista Ray
Still got a while yet
Black Stories Matter edited by Ramon Gil (@ramonsgil)
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 22 2021 4:59 AM BST
The art alone looks varied and interesting and I know the work of both Mauricio Cordero and Trevor Von Eeden.
Gardener by Matt Emmons (@secondatbest_)
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 22 2021 3:01 PM BST
It seems like an interesting take on a sci-fi story and world building
We Reap What We Sow by Joel Davies
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 22 2021 5:57 PM BST
I like both the subject and the photos here.
Keeping Metres by Jimmy Brimmacombe
(still funding) finishes Friday, April 23 2021 11:19 AM BST
Strong set of images.
Off Limits: Berlin – Europe, 1992-1996 by Rab GP Lewin from Resipole Studios (@resipolestudios)
(still funding) finishes Saturday, April 24 2021 3:55 PM BST
The tagline says exactly why it’s interesting – ‘A photographic book documenting the European techno-traveller free party scene from 1992-1996.’ – interesting photos looking at a scene that was quite mythical in my youth – something i really wanted to be a part of secretly (despite hating the music)
Unburying My Father by Zander Masser
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 29 2021 12:05 PM BST
An interesting photographer, but also an interesting look at an under discussed part of the AIDS epidemic, those with haemophilia that received infected blood products.
The Homeless Activist Book by Sage Lewis
(still funding) finishes Thursday, April 29 2021 2:16 PM BST
Written by someone that set up a homeless tent village on his own property, this is his insight into homelessness in America.
Kimber Rose Journal by Kimber Rose & Sarah Ann Jump (@sarahannjump)
(still funding) finishes Fri, April 30 2021 10:37 PM BST
I like reading people personal stories about something much bigger that is happening in society, so a journal of a trans woman’s transition is definitely of interest and this has some strong photography to go with it
John Wilcock: New York Years (The Complete Series) by Ethan Persoff (@EthanPersoff) & Scott Marshall
(fully funded) finishes Friday, April 30 2021 11:00 PM BST
I think this explains why I’m interested
‘Beyond work establishing the Village Voice, John also co-founded The East Village Other. And during the peak of the 1960s, he spent a summer editing The Los Angeles Free Press. He then produced his masterpiece, Other Scenes, “The International Paper”, which Wilcock published from any city or part of the world he was presently visiting (and as a travel reporter for the NY Times, this was many places, often)’
Smut Comics 2 (@tsontokomik) organised by Korinna Mei Veropoulou (@KorinnaMei)
(fully funded) finishes Saturday, May 1 2021 10:58 AM BST
An erotic comics anthology by 13 female and non-binary artists who are part of the Greek indie comics scene, that sounds like a great opportunity to find new work and different voices
Small World by JD Morvan and Toru Terada (@ToruTerada67) published by Magnetic Press (@MagneticPress)
(fully funded) finishes Saturday, May 1 2021 12:00 AM BST
TORU TERADA!!! That art will be awesome (no offence to the writer, but it could be the worst plot and I’d still buy it for the pictures!!)
Mutual Aid: Three Visionary Classic Anarchist Works published by PM Press (@PMPressOrg) with new illustrations by N.O. Bonzo (@NoBonzo)
(fully funded) finishes Saturday, May 1 2021 1:00 AM BST
Classic works given fresh life to celebrate 100 years since their publication
Tales to Enlighten by Matt King & James Edward Clark
(fully funded) finishes Monday, May 3 2021 4:59 AM BST
Just seems like a great and daft story, with lots of parody of things I would enjoy, also some lovely art!!
Urban Tails – an Israeli lesbian family dominated by cats by Ilana Zeffren published by Soaring Penguin Press (@spenguin)
(still funding) finishes Tuesday, May 4 2021 2:45 AM BST
I really love the look of the art in this
Sentinel issue seven: Hell on Harry Howson (@uk_comic) by Alan Holloway and Ed Doyle (@EDDREDD)
(fully funded) finishes Tuesday, May 4 2021 11:59 AM BST
This is based on Ray Harryhausen films!! It’s got the Skeletons from Sinbad and it looks great.
all content copyright its respective owners
go listen – Coin Operated Press
(click on images to follow links)
they can also be found here: website twitter instagram facebook
latest – just a nice little catch up and introduction to Coin Operated Press and what they’re doing
Always interesting to have a little behind the scenes peak
all content copyright its respective owners
go look – Milky Breath
(click on images to follow links)
Poems and comic strips are both hard hitting and worth it
a couple of ones that hit home the most
This one particularly matches home for my own experiences. I’ve never attempted suicide but when I was a kid my then best friend did and I found them and it was horrible, for exactly this reason.
all content copyright its respective owners
Reviewer Revue – Ryan Carey (Four Color Apocalypse and Solrad)
Find Ryan here Four Color Apocalypse Solrad twitter facebook
ZL – Hi, thanx for agreeing to talk to us!
RC -My pleasure, thank you for the invite!
ZL – Let’s start with a bit of an introduction, can you tell us your name, where you live and what site(s) we can find you on and how long you have been reviewing?
RC – My name’s Ryan Carey, I’m from Minneapolis, and I’ve been cranking out reviews for about a decade now, first doing primarily grindhouse and low-budget movies, and gradually transitioning into reviewing more and more comics and art ‘zines as time went on. These days I’m more or less done with the film review game, although a lot of my stuff is still up at my old blog, Trash Film Guru, but my current ongoing concern, so to speak, is Four Color Apocalypse where I try to post two or three new reviews of things I find interesting every week, and I’m also one of the co-founders of comic arts non-profit Fieldmouse Press, where I both serve on the board and function as the “lead” critic of our website, Solrad, so you can find a new column from me on there every Friday, as well.
ZL – When and where did you publish your first review?
RC – I deleted my first review ages ago, and can no longer stand to look at my early stuff. I was a rank amateur and probably feel the same way about it that a cartoonist does about their early work. I was having fun putting my thoughts out into the world because I’m an opinionated bastard by nature, but at the time that’s ALL I really was. Today I flatter myself that I actually know what I’m talking about and am a better writer as a result, but hey — I’m sure there are plenty who would disagree with that assessment!
ZL – What kind of work do you review and what would you say are your two or three biggest comfort spots for work when reviewing?
RC – My favorite things to review are avant-garde and experimental comics, mainly of the self-published variety, that literally no one else reviews and that very few people are even aware of. I like to think that I’m helping good artists expand their reach and maybe even sell a few more books. I don’t know that I have any “comfort spots” — I prefer to read and review things that either make me actively UNcomfortable, or that at least force me to consider the ideas they are presenting, and the methodology they are using to present it WITH, in new and unconventional ways.
ZL – Describe your approach to a review.
RC – I don’t really have an approach, I just start typing. Really. One thing I HATE both as a reader and as a writer are belabored plot recaps, I think they’re a total drag and don’t prove that you UNDERSTOOD anything, only that you read it, so I tend to focus more on what the IDEAS behind a work are and an artist’s methodology. Anyone can write a story synopsis, but it takes something approaching actual skill to let someone know why that story is worth their time and money. I also like to review a lot of non-narrative work, so the idea of a story recap in that context is a complete non-starter. So yeah, I guess I’m more about “pulling things apart” and examining whether or not an artist has achieved what I feel they set out to do.
ZL – What would you say are the key things a creator should do or think about when asking for reviews of their work?
RC – Look at the work of the critic you are reaching out to first and decide if they’re the person you really want to be writing about your stuff. I get that there are so many homemade works out there these days that many creators are hungry for any kind of attention they can muster up for theirs, but seriously — I get inundated with stuff in the mail that just isn’t in my wheelhouse at all, and while much of it is probably quite good for what it is, I’m just not the guy to be sending your super-hero or magical girl comics to. Just as there are comics for every taste these days, there are critics for every type of comic, so focus your outreach on critics that you KNOW love to read, and subsequently write about, the kind of stuff that you make. This is advice that applies to my situation specifically AND to everybody out there in general, creators and critics alike.
ZL – Can you tell us about the review you’re most proud of and why that is?
RC – I’m exceptionally proud of my review of Alex Graham’s Dog Biscuits because it’s a comic that tons of people read but that a lot of people also imposed their own agendas onto as it was serialized rather than allowing the work to speak for itself. I like to think I cut through the extraneous bullshit and noise and really analyzed what Graham was communicating with the story. But hey, judge for yourself.
ZL – Lastly, can you tell us where to find your reviews please!
RC – As mentioned earlier, my own blog is Four Color Apocalypse, and you can find a bunch of my stuff at Solrad. I also maintain a Patreon, which I update three times per week and you can join for as little as a buck a month, so help a guy out with a little beer money if you feel so inclined by going over there.
ZL – Thanx so much for your time!
RC – Thank you, this was fun!
go look – Paul Ashley Brown
lazy sunday read – leaf analog
(click on images to follow links)
not a full read, but some snippets from their photobooks. The images are mostly double page spreads and simple seeming, but evocative of a sense of alienation or the prosaic.
Here’s a selection of a couple of my favourites.
all contents copyright its respective owners
SHOP! Street Noise Books
foto friday – Maoro Benedetti
go look – Simon Russell
kicking it – 7th April 2021
header art by Toru Terada ( @ToruTerada67 )
Subscriptions
Ryan Carey – patreon – review site
A hugely busy and effective reviewer
Poopsheet Foundation – patreon – review site
a great resource holding lots of info on mini-comics and small press titles you’d never know about otherwise
New this week
Gardener by Matt Emmons (@secondatbest_)
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 22 2021 3:01 PM BST
It seems like an interesting take on a sci-fi story and world building
Kimber Rose Journal by Kimber Rose & Sarah Ann Jump (@sarahannjump)
(still funding) finishes Fri, April 30 2021 10:37 PM BST
I like reading people personal stories about something much bigger that is happening in society, so a journal of a trans woman’s transition is definitely of interest and this has some strong photography to go with it
John Wilcock: New York Years (The Complete Series) by Ethan Persoff (@EthanPersoff) & Scott Marshall
(fully funded) finishes Friday, April 30 2021 11:00 PM BST
I think this explains why I’m interested
‘Beyond work establishing the Village Voice, John also co-founded The East Village Other. And during the peak of the 1960s, he spent a summer editing The Los Angeles Free Press. He then produced his masterpiece, Other Scenes, “The International Paper”, which Wilcock published from any city or part of the world he was presently visiting (and as a travel reporter for the NY Times, this was many places, often)’
Smut Comics 2 (@tsontokomik) organised by Korinna Mei Veropoulou (@KorinnaMei)
(fully funded) finishes Saturday, May 1 2021 10:58 AM BST
An erotic comics anthology by 13 female and non-binary artists who are part of the Greek indie comics scene, that sounds like a great opportunity to find new work and different voices
Small World by JD Morvan and Toru Terada (@ToruTerada67) published by Magnetic Press (@MagneticPress)
(fully funded) finishes Saturday, May 1 2021 12:00 AM BST
TORU TERADA!!! That art will be awesome (no offence to the writer, but it could be the worst plot and I’d still buy it for the pictures!!)
Mutual Aid: Three Visionary Classic Anarchist Works published by PM Press (@PMPressOrg) with new illustrations by N.O. Bonzo (@NoBonzo)
(fully funded) finishes Saturday, May 1 2021 1:00 AM BST
Classic works given fresh life to celebrate 100 years since their publication
Tales to Enlighten by Matt King & James Edward Clark
(fully funded) finishes Monday, May 3 2021 4:59 AM BST
Just seems like a great and daft story, with lots of parody of things I would enjoy, also some lovely art!!
Urban Tails – an Israeli lesbian family dominated by cats by Ilana Zeffren published by Soaring Penguin Press (@spenguin)
(still finding) finishes Tuesday, May 4 2021 2:45 AM BST
I really love the look of the art in this
Sentinel issue seven: Hell on Harry Howson (@uk_comic) by Alan Holloway and Ed Doyle (@EDDREDD)
(fully funded) finishes Tuesday, May 4 2021 11:59 AM BST
This is based on Ray Harryhausen films!! It’s got the Skeletons from Sinbad and it looks great.
I’m still loving these Kickstarter
Less than a week to go
2020: A Drawing A Day by Tim King (@TimKing88)
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 8 2021 10:55 AM BST
Good art and an interesting approach – sketching on daily object relevant to covid, like hand-gel bottles and gloves.
The Magpie: Volume 3 by Bones McKay (@BonesMFleming) & Ursula Gray (@ursulaoctopus)
(fully funded) finishes Friday, April 9 2021 1:30 AM BST
There’s not much to go on for the story, but I really like the look of the art for this
Bird Brained Zine Anthology edited by @karrtunes
(fully funded) finishes Friday, April 9 2021 9:54 PM BST
always want more zine collections in the world and the samples look cool
The Penned Guin – Burnout by Alan Henderson (@Shadow1972)
(fully funded) finishes Saturday, April 10 2021 12:00 PM BST
It’s just a lot of bad puns and jokes and who doesn’t like that?
Cry Punch Comics organised by Al Gofa (@gofa_al)
(fully funded) finishes Sunday, April 11 2021 1:06 AM BST
interesting creators and anything made over the funding target gets split evenly between the creators, always a fair bonus, I like the look of this one, it made me smile
Colour Works the 1980s and 90s by Homer Sykes (@HomerSykes)
(fully funded) finishes Sunday, April 11 2021 12:59 PM BST
an interesting time period (to me) and some great shots
Blanco Volume One: The Truth Shall Set You Free by Marco Lopez (@atomicrexent)
(fully funded) finishes Tuesday, April 13 2021 4:24 PM BST
another one where a page won me over – just check out the storytelling ease on this.
Still got a while yet
SKULLS An artbook by GEIST (@GeistArtUk)
(fully funded) finishes Wednesday, April 14 2021 1:00 AM BST
I love Geist’s art, and the variety of ways he can make images of skulls is incredible, this is going to be a beautiful looking book
Typhoon Days organised by Francesca Carità
(still funding) finishes Wednesday, April 14 2021 5:00 PM BST
interesting subject matter and solid artwork
Eros + Venus: An Artbook by Rosielah by Rosie Alexander (@HeyRosielah)
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 15 2021 6:00 PM BST
The artwork is just so amazing on this, or more specifically, the colour work really makes this something different.
Sonagi: A Korean Fable organised by Dr. Hall
(still funding) finishes Friday, April 16 2021 9:00 PM BST
I like the concept for the story and the backstory of how this came about
‘I am an English teacher in South Korea. I teach a class called the English Graphic Novel Project. The students in our wonderful class spent 16 weeks writing and drawing a complete graphic novel. The finished book was their FINAL EXAM.’
God Summoner – Chapter 1 by Dionysis Zogaris & Manos Lagouvardos
(still funding) finishes Friday, April 16 2021 10:00 PM BST
I just love that art.
Dwellings No. 2 by Jay Stephens (@kingpopgun) published by Black Eye Books (@blackeyebooks)
(fully funded) finishes Saturday, April 17 2021 1:00 PM BST
Comics from a comics veteran; an amazing cartoonist
Our Stories Carried Us Here: A Graphic Novel Anthology organised by Green Card Voices (@GreenCardVoices)
(still funding) finishes Sunday, April 18 2021 6:00 AM BST
10 stories of immigrating to the US. I particularly like that the organisation have paired illustrators from the same linguistic, cultural and regional backgrounds. There are some strong artists here as well.
Incoming! edited by Gary Adams published by Incoming Magazine (@incomingmag)
(still funding) finishes Monday, April 19 2021 10:36 AM BST
Three very different art styles each of which is interesting @JustinMRyan87 @rayointhebottle @originalkrista and @Sebasti38998519
Alberto Rayo and Sebastian Carrillo Justin Ryan Krista Ray
Black Stories Matter edited by Ramon Gil (@ramonsgil)
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 22 2021 4:59 AM BST
The art alone looks varied and interesting and I know the work of both Mauricio Cordero and Trevor Von Eeden.
We Reap What We Sow by Joel Davies
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 22 2021 5:57 PM BST
I like both the subject and the photos here.
Keeping Metres by Jimmy Brimmacombe
(still funding) finishes Friday, April 23 2021 11:19 AM BST
Strong set of images.
Off Limits: Berlin – Europe, 1992-1996 by Rab GP Lewin from Resipole Studios (@resipolestudios)
(still funding) finishes Saturday, April 24 2021 3:55 PM BST
The tagline says exactly why it’s interesting – ‘A photographic book documenting the European techno-traveller free party scene from 1992-1996.’ – interesting photos looking at a scene that was quite mythical in my youth – something i really wanted to be a part of secretly (despite hating the music)
Unburying My Father by Zander Masser
(still funding) finishes Thursday, April 29 2021 12:05 PM BST
An interesting photographer, but also an interesting look at an under discussed part of the AIDS epidemic, those with haemophilia that received infected blood products.
The Homeless Activist Book by Sage Lewis
(still funding) finishes Thursday, April 29 2021 2:16 PM BST
Written by someone that set up a homeless tent village on his own property, this is his insight into homelessness in America.
all content copyright its respective owners
zine library! Glasgow Zine Library
(click on the images to follow the links)
They’re currently running Glasgow Zine Fest, 1st – 30th April
all content copyright its respective owners
go look – Martin Hand
Reviewer Revue – Nyx (Sea Green Zines)
Find Nyx here – website webstore ko-fi youtube twitter instagram facebook
Header art by Wolfram-Jaymes von Keesing (twitter instagram facebook)
ZL – Hi, thanx for agreeing to talk to us!
Nyx – Hello! Thanks so much for inviting me to chat.
ZL – Let’s start with a bit of an introduction, can you tell us your name, where you live and what site(s) and how long you have been reviewing?
Nyx – I’m Nyx or Silver Nyx. I’m a zine reviewer living in regional Australia and have been reviewing for something like eight years now.
ZL – When and where did you publish your first review?
Nyx – I started and have always published my reviews on SeaGreenZines.com – though I don’t think I even had the domain when I first got started. I actually looked back and found my very, very first reviews – which are a far cry from the structure I have now (haha). Zines! Glorious Zine (Reviews)! – Sea Green Zines I still remember being so happy and excited about the world of zines and absolutely loving that blogging provided a way to share those passions.
ZL – What kind of work do you review and what would you say are your two or three biggest comfort spots for work when reviewing?
Nyx – I pretty much review anything except perhaps heavy political or religious things… but I haven’t had anything like that come in yet. I try to approach everything with an open mind. My comfort zones are definitely perzines, mental health/illness zines, and gaming zines. Of course there is variety in each genre, but I feel like I resonate the most with those.
ZL – Describe your approach to a review.
Nyx – I think I started to touch on this with the previous answer in that I try to approach every zine I read with an open mind. There’s always something to learn, a perspective to understand (even if I don’t agree with it), a life experience I will have never otherwise known.
Structurally, I try to give an impression of the physical and artistic qualities of a work and the ways it resonated with me. Obviously my tastes aren’t always going to match with other people, so I try to give not only my perspective of why it worked for me but also why it might work for others.
I’m by no means any kind of professional or expert when it comes to zines or reviewing them. Sometimes I have one thousand words to share about a zine, and sometimes I only have ten. But if I’m excited about a zine, I’ll share those ten words just as passionately as I will share the one thousand.
ZL – What would you say are the key things a creator should do or think about when asking for reviews of their work?
Nyx – I have thought about writing a blog post on this particular subject a few times, but I always feel a little strange about writing how I’d like to receive something. That said, contacting me in advance isn’t a requirement by any means but is definitely appreciated. It gives me the chance to talk about things like my lacking knowledge regarding poetry or how long it might take for me to get to review a zine.
Whether I’ve been contacted in advance or not, I greatly, greatly appreciate a note. If you look at my reviews, you can see that I like to have a title, creator name, and one or two links (be they social, websites, shop URLs, etc). When someone saves me time finding this information by either having it in their zine already or including it on a note, it’s so nice. I received one zine that came with a note that had all that information along with price, a synopsis, and other details. That blew me away. But I just as often receive zines with no note, no contacts in the zine, and no mention of having contacted me previously. I like a mystery as much as the next person, but…
In general, I think it’s another case of putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. If you received something for review, how would you like it? Would you like any additional information not included in the zine? Those sorts of things.
ZL – Can you tell us about the review you’re most proud of and why that is?
Nyx – Oh, that is a tough one! I’ve reviewed quite a few zines at this point. There have been so much that has made me laugh, made me cry… There are times I’ve told myself I really needed to calm down or I’d end up writing a zine-length review of a zine.
I think, however, I will go with Pieces #13 on being a romantic asexual. Even though I’m not a romantic asexual, that particular zine opened up so much understanding of myself and my experiences thanks to Nichole sharing her experiences. I think that’s the review for me that felt the most raw… the most like I was sharing a part of myself and not simply reviewing a zine.
Zine Review: Pieces #13 on being a romantic asexual
ZL – Lastly, can you tell us where to find your reviews please!
Nyx – www.seagreenzines.com is the hub for pretty much everything I do – especially posting my zine reviews. If you’d like to check out the zines I have reviewed in the past, I have the handy dandy zine review index here: Zine Review Index – Sea Green Zines
ZL – Thanx so much for your time!
Nyx – Thank you for inviting me to chat. ❤
all content copyright its respective owners
go look – J Edward Scott
lazy sunday read – narco mag
(click on images to follow links)
header image is by
Digital and physical magazine featuring artists from Veracruz in Mexico
It is in Spanish, but google offers an English translation.
Here are three articles I particularly liked
Veracruzanas creators: Victoria
Community Murals by Octavio Sánchez Oropeza
all contents copyright its respective owners
SHOP! Zine Gang Distro
foto friday – Guendaline Bratislavijas
(Click images to follow links)
just a beautiful way of composing images with shapes and colours
all work copyright its respecitve owners
go look – Vincent Bijleveld
kicking it – 31st March 2021
Subscriptions
Amanda DeLong – ko-fi
I don’t do cross stitch, but if I did, I would COMPLETELY do this one! There are also zines to download, but really, surely that cross stitch is enough to chuck a few quid over?
I do like her art!
New this week
Our Stories Carried Us Here: A Graphic Novel Anthology organised by Green Card Voices (@GreenCardVoices)
(still funding) finishes Sunday, April 18 2021 6:00 AM BST
10 stories of immigrating to the US. I particularly like that the organisation have paired illustrators from the same linguistic, cultural and regional backgrounds. There are some strong artists here as well.
We Reap What We Sow by Joel Davies
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 22 2021 5:57 PM BST
I like both the subject and the photos here.
Keeping Metres by Jimmy Brimmacombe
(still funding) finishes Friday, April 23 2021 11:19 AM BST
Strong set of images.
Unburying My Father by Zander Masser
(still funding) finishes Thursday, April 29 2021 12:05 PM BST
An interesting photographer, but also an interesting look at an under discussed part of the AIDS epidemic, those with haemophilia that received infected blood products.
The Homeless Activist Book by Sage Lewis
Written by someone that set up a homeless tent village on his own property, this is his insight into homelessness in America.
I’m still loving these Kickstarter
Less than a week to go
Blueboy Brown by David Greg Taylor (@davidgregtaylor)
(fully funded) finishes Wednesday, March 31 2021 9:30 PM BST
A fictionalised historical tale grounded in researched facts. Created by an old time underground cartoonist making his way back into (long form) comics. The artwork is outstanding and the story pages on show are full of interesting humanity and fascinating details
Honk: A comics story about bullying by a 7-year-old creator by Owen Claytor, organised by Ryan Claytor (@elephanteater)
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 12:00 AM BST
I love kid’s art anyway, but this such a good little zine
Never Ending Books Collective (@NEBcollective)
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 4:59 AM BST
sounds like it could end up being a nice space for lo-fi culture, or just fail, but I think it’s worth a shot at keeping out the usual corporate high- street filler
Into the Wilderness by Gabe Cheng (@gabechengcomics) and Elisa Meneghel
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 5:00 AM BST
Firstly, I like the loose art style, it’s good cartooning. Secondly, tis looks like a solid all ages read, as i get older I’m appreciating all ages reads much more, less grim dark and more story, which I enjoy.
Moving Through by Anna Magdalena
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 12:57 PM BST
great design showcasing some very beautiful images
A Wounded Landscape – bearing witness to the Holocaust by Marc Wilson (@MarcwilsonPhoto)
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 3:00 PM BST
a project and book of immense scope – said best in the campaign ‘Since May 2015, I have sat for hours listening to Rita, Harry, Lillian and others share their stories with me. I have listened to stories of their parents and grandparents, their brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. I have listened to stories in English, French, Hebrew, Polish, Dutch and Russian. I have travelled to over 120 locations in 20 countries making ‘A wounded landscape – bearing witness to the Holocaust’.
The photos are incredible and the whole package seems to be of incredible quality.
Quindrie Press: the 2021 comic collection (@QuindriePress) – editors Eve Greenwood (@evegwood) Alex Assan (@alexassanart)
creators @verface, @toadlett, @jmiltondraws and @ThomasHeitler
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 5:00 PM BST
All four of these titles look like great comics, by which I mean beautiful art centred on storytelling and character driven storylines. All are individual, whilst all being recognisably contemporary in their styles
Jabberwoke Pocket Occult Collection published by jabberwokebooks
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 7:49 PM BST
they’re republishing The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen a very under appreciated writer of weird fiction. It’s a lovely cover as well.
ComicScene History of Comics Books 5 to 8 by @ComicSceneNews
(still funding) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 9:00 PM BST
I have an eternal soft spot for histories and books/magazines about comics, what can I say!!
The Plague and Doctor Caim by @gegallas from @castironbooks
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 11:00 PM BST
Both comic and disturbing. I’ve liked the look of this for a while and was glad when Cast Iron Books took this over from Unbound
Out of this World by Steve Ditko and Robin Snyder
(fully funded) finishes Friday, April 2 2021 1:22 PM BST
Steve Ditko really is, for me, the best of america’s comic creators. His use of line and space and comics capabilities is just a thing of beauty to me.
HITxHIT Art Magazine | Latin American Art Issue 01: Agustina Nuñez published by HitxHit
(fully funded) finishes Fri, April 2 2021 4:38 PM BST
strikes me as an interesting idea
Night Leaves by Josephine Kreischer
(fully funded) finishes Friday, April 2 2021 6:00 PM BST
This one, not to be rude, is all about the art, for me. I have a real soft spot for misty, mysterious forestscapes with fairy tale like animal characters.
Being a girl by David Metcalfe-Carr (@MetcalfeCarr) and others
(fully funded) finishes Friday, April 2 2021 6:30 PM BST
A subject set in an interesting time, dealing with cross-dressing and coming to terms with it in the 90’s.
Fiend Friends: Soul Arcade by Vic Hollins
(fully funded) finishes Saturday, April 3 2021 1:59 PM BST
really, it was this page and remembering that exact same feeling that won me over
Still got a while yet
2020: A Drawing A Day by Tim King (@TimKing88)
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 8 2021 10:55 AM BST
Good art and an interesting approach – sketching on daily object relevant to covid, like hand-gel bottles and gloves.
The Magpie: Volume 3 by Bones McKay (@BonesMFleming) & Ursula Gray (@ursulaoctopus)
(fully funded) finishes Friday, April 9 2021 1:30 AM BST
There’s not much to go on for the story, but I really like the look of the art for this
Bird Brained Zine Anthology edited by @karrtunes
(still funding) finishes Friday, April 9 2021 9:54 PM BST
always want more zine collections in the world and the samples look cool
The Penned Guin – Burnout by Alan Henderson (@Shadow1972)
(fully funded) finishes Saturday, April 10 2021 12:00 PM BST
It’s just a lot of bad puns and jokes and who doesn’t like that?
Cry Punch Comics organised by Al Gofa (@gofa_al)
(fully funded) finishes Sunday, April 11 2021 1:06 AM BST
interesting creators and anything made over the funding target gets split evenly between the creators, always a fair bonus, I like the look of this one, it made me smile
Colour Works the 1980s and 90s by Homer Sykes (@HomerSykes)
(still funding) finishes Sunday, April 11 2021 12:59 PM BST
an interesting time period (to me) and some great shots
Blanco Volume One: The Truth Shall Set You Free by Marco Lopez (@atomicrexent)
(still funding) finishes Tuesday, April 13 2021 4:24 PM BST
another one where a page won me over – just check out the storytelling ease on this.
SKULLS An artbook by GEIST (@GeistArtUk)
(fully funded) finishes Wednesday, April 14 2021 1:00 AM BST
I love Geist’s art, and the variety of ways he can make images of skulls is incredible, this is going to be a beautiful looking book
Typhoon Days organised by Francesca Carità
(still funding) finishes Wednesday, April 14 2021 5:00 PM BST
interesting subject matter and solid artwork
Eros + Venus: An Artbook by Rosielah by Rosie Alexander (@HeyRosielah)
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 15 2021 6:00 PM BST
The artwork is just so amazing on this, or more specifically, the colour work really makes this something different.
Sonagi: A Korean Fable organised by Dr. Hall
(still funding) finishes Friday, April 16 2021 9:00 PM BST
I like the concept for the story and the backstory of how this came about
‘I am an English teacher in South Korea. I teach a class called the English Graphic Novel Project. The students in our wonderful class spent 16 weeks writing and drawing a complete graphic novel. The finished book was their FINAL EXAM.’
God Summoner – Chapter 1 by Dionysis Zogaris & Manos Lagouvardos
(still funding) finishes Friday, April 16 2021 10:00 PM BST
I just love that art.
Dwellings No. 2 by Jay Stephens (@kingpopgun) published by Black Eye Books (@blackeyebooks)
(fully funded) finishes Saturday, April 17 2021 1:00 PM BST
Comics from a comics veteran; an amazing cartoonist
Incoming! edited by Gary Adams published by Incoming Magazine (@incomingmag)
(still funding) finishes Monday, April 19 2021 10:36 AM BST
Three very different art styles each of which is interesting @JustinMRyan87 @rayointhebottle @originalkrista and @Sebasti38998519
Alberto Rayo and Sebastian Carrillo Justin Ryan Krista Ray
Black Stories Matter edited by Ramon Gil (@ramonsgil)
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 22 2021 4:59 AM BST
The art alone looks varied and interesting and I know the work of both Mauricio Cordero and Trevor Von Eeden.
Off Limits: Berlin – Europe, 1992-1996 by Rab GP Lewin from Resipole Studios (@resipolestudios)
(still funding) finishes Saturday, April 24 2021 3:55 PM BST
The tagline says exactly why it’s interesting – ‘A photographic book documenting the European techno-traveller free party scene from 1992-1996.’ – interesting photos looking at a scene that was quite mythical in my youth – something i really wanted to be a part of secretly (despite hating the music)
all content copyright its respective owners
go look – Kirsten Slade
go look – Sarah Horrocks
(click on images to follow links)
So happy to see that we can still order some work in the UK!
tumblr – mostly reposts of things Sarah likes
lazy sunday read – bildersturm
(click on images to follow links)
(header image by Katherine Longly)
regular posts all about photobooks – it sinks very closely to my tastes in photography, so it might yours as well
here are some articles about some of the books featured that I like
all contents copyright its respective owners
SHOP! Stay Kind! distro
(click on the images to follow the links)
(twitter – @staykinddistro)
Stay Kind! publish their own zines including perzines and various themed anothologies
As a distro -here are their own words
Stay Kind! is especially interested in publications related to racial justice, gender and sexuality, youth voice, animal rights, violence intervention and prevention, mental health, and personal narratives, as well as educational and informational publications.
Here are three titles that took my fancy
I love a perzine and this includes something about Bravenet which, in reality is just a boring web service provider, but with that and the cover made me think of how you could use it as a great name for people confronting their own self-limiting learnt behaviours and I was off on a thought.
the blurb totally caught my interest
It’s an elaborate fantasy about trapping Brett Kavanaugh in an elevator and forcing him to listen to me. It’s about being sad and weird and victimized in high school and growing up to be even sadder and even weirder and more victimized and being really, really fucking angry about that. By julia eff.
Living Southerners December 2017
again – the blurb sold me, and the bit of interview you can see on the page below (from the zine)
and the intro that you can also see because it’s so specific and I love that in a zine
you can also check out their instagram and facebook
all content copyright its respective owners
foto friday – Leah Delacrux
(click on images to follow links)
I don’t what she does with light, but there’s something so appealing about how she handles it and what it does to the colours in her photos.
I also admire how she manages texture and visual saturation within her photos, there’s always shapes and an instant appeal to appreciate, but there’s always more to dive deep into in the image.
all content copyright its respective owners
go look – vibrant.complexity.art
(click on images to follow links)
this was actually a recommendation from a friend I got this week and it’s a beautiful looking account, with the recent post particularly catching my eye
and this image really pleasing me
all contents copyright its respective owners
kicking it – 24th March 2021
Header from Bird Brained Zine
Subscriptions
David’s art alone is worth it, but the comic that he’s currently writing, Blueboy Brown, is shaping up to be a fascinating generational saga, currently set in post Civil War America.
Just a lovely style of art
New this week
Honk: A comics story about bullying by a 7-year-old creator by Owen Claytor, organised by Ryan Claytor (@elephanteater)
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 12:00 AM BST
I love kid’s art anyway, but this such a good little zine
Into the Wilderness by Gabe Cheng (@gabechengcomics) and Elisa Meneghel
(still funding) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 5:00 AM BST
Firstly, I like the loose art style, it’s good cartooning. Secondly, tis looks like a solid all ages read, as i get older I’m appreciating all ages reads much more, less grim dark and more story, which I enjoy.
The Magpie: Volume 3 by Bones McKay (@BonesMFleming) & Ursula Gray (@ursulaoctopus)
(fully funded) finishes Friday, April 9 2021 1:30 AM BST
There’s not much to go on for the story, but I really like the look of the art for this
The Penned Guin – Burnout by Alan Henderson (@Shadow1972)
(fully funded) finishes Saturday, April 10 2021 12:00 PM BST
It’s just a lot of bad puns and jokes and who doesn’t like that?
Eros + Venus: An Artbook by Rosielah by Rosie Alexander (@HeyRosielah)
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 15 2021 6:00 PM BST
The artwork is just so amazing on this, or more specifically, the colour work really makes this something different.
Sonagi: A Korean Fable organised by Dr. Hall
(still funding) finishes Friday, April 16 2021 9:00 PM BST
I like the concept for the story and the backstory of how this came about
‘I am an English teacher in South Korea. I teach a class called the English Graphic Novel Project. The students in our wonderful class spent 16 weeks writing and drawing a complete graphic novel. The finished book was their FINAL EXAM.’
God Summoner – Chapter 1 by Dionysis Zogaris & Manos Lagouvardos
(still funding) finishes Friday, April 16 2021 10:00 PM BST
I just love that art.
Dwellings No. 2 by Jay Stephens (@kingpopgun) published by Black Eye Books (@blackeyebooks)
(fully funded) finishes Saturday, April 17 2021 1:00 PM BST
Comics from a comics veteran; an amazing cartoonist
Incoming! edited by Gary Adams published by Incoming Magazine (@incomingmag)
(still funding) finishes Monday, April 19 2021 10:36 AM BST
Three very different art styles each of which is interesting @JustinMRyan87 @rayointhebottle @originalkrista and @Sebasti38998519
Alberto Rayo and Sebastian Carrillo Justin Ryan Krista Ray
Black Stories Matter edited by Ramon Gil (@ramonsgil)
(still funding) finishes Thursday, April 22 2021 4:59 AM BST
The art alone looks varied and interesting and I know the work of both Mauricio Cordero and Trevor Von Eeden.
I’m still loving these Kickstarter
Less than a week to go
Blackford Manor by J. W. Grey (@BlackfordManor)
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, March 25 2021 10:00 PM GMT
Can’t say anything about the writing as there are no samples, but the illustrations look fun, the plot idea sounds interesting and I just like the whole tone of how the campaign has been written to be honest
The Day the Klan Came to Town by Bill Campbell (@RosariumBill) and Bizhan Khodabandeh (@MendedArrow) published by PM Press (@PMPressOrg)
(fully funded) finishes Friday, March 26 2021 10:59 PM GMT
A fascinating subject from a very reliable and trustworthy publisher and still very resonant today (sadly)
Planet Comics issue 2 by @JeffMcClelland and others
(still funding) finishes Monday, March 29 2021 5:00 AM BST
this just has some fun looking cartooning and seems to be a fun read fro mthe pages on show
The Tay Bridge Disaster from David Robertson (@FredEggComics)
(fully funded) finishes Monday, March 29 2021 4:58 PM BST
Another fascinating historical comic, this one a long boiling project for a UK small press stalwart in his signature low key style. (I picked this images, the latter because it made me laugh, and both as they give a good insight into the tone you’re likely to find throughout)
Birdcage Bottom Books 2021 publishing slate!! (@BirdcageBottom)
(fully funded) finishes Monday, March 29 2021 9:06 PM BST
Not to play favourites, but this is an absolutely great publisher and I would (if I could) buy everything of theirs without question.
Still got a while yet
Blueboy Brown by David Greg Taylor (@davidgregtaylor)
(still funding) finishes Wednesday, March 31 2021 9:30 PM BST
Another fictionalised historical tale grounded in researched facts. This time from an old time underground cartoonist making his way back into (long form) comics. The artwork is outstanding and the story pages on show are full of interesting humanity and fascinating details
Never Ending Books Collective (@NEBcollective)
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 4:59 AM BST
sounds like it could end up being a nice space for lo-fi culture, or just fail, but I think it’s worth a shot at keeping out the usual corporate high- street filler
Moving Through by Anna Magdalena
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 12:57 PM BST
great design showcasing some very beautiful images
A Wounded Landscape – bearing witness to the Holocaust by Marc Wilson (@MarcwilsonPhoto)
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 3:00 PM BST
a project and book of immense scope – said best in the campaign ‘Since May 2015, I have sat for hours listening to Rita, Harry, Lillian and others share their stories with me. I have listened to stories of their parents and grandparents, their brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. I have listened to stories in English, French, Hebrew, Polish, Dutch and Russian. I have travelled to over 120 locations in 20 countries making ‘A wounded landscape – bearing witness to the Holocaust’.
The photos are incredible and the whole package seems to be of incredible quality.
Quindrie Press: the 2021 comic collection (@QuindriePress) – editors Eve Greenwood (@evegwood) Alex Assan (@alexassanart)
creators @verface, @toadlett, @jmiltondraws and @ThomasHeitler
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 5:00 PM BST
All four of these titles look like great comics, by which I mean beautiful art centred on storytelling and character driven storylines. All are individual, whilst all being recognisably contemporary in their styles
Jabberwoke Pocket Occult Collection published by jabberwokebooks
(still funding) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 7:49 PM BST
they’re republishing The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen a very under appreciated writer of weird fiction. It’s a lovely cover as well.
ComicScene History of Comics Books 5 to 8 by @ComicSceneNews
(still funding) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 9:00 PM BST
I have an eternal soft spot for histories and books/magazines about comics, what can I say!!
The Plague and Doctor Caim by @gegallas from @castironbooks
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 11:00 PM BST
Both comic and disturbing. I’ve liked the look of this for a while and was glad when Cast Iron Books took this over from Unbound
Out of this World by Steve Ditko and Robin Snyder
(fully funded) finishes Friday, April 2 2021 1:22 PM BST
Steve Ditko really is, for me, the best of america’s comic creators. His use of line and space and comics capabilities is just a thing of beauty to me.
HITxHIT Art Magazine | Latin American Art Issue 01: Agustina Nuñez published by HitxHit
(fully funded) finishes Fri, April 2 2021 4:38 PM BST
strikes me as an interesting idea
Night Leaves by Josephine Kreischer
(fully funded) finishes Friday, April 2 2021 6:00 PM BST
This one, not to be rude, is all about the art, for me. I have a real soft spot for misty, mysterious forestscapes with fairy tale like animal characters.
Being a girl by David Metcalfe-Carr (@MetcalfeCarr) and others
(fully funded) finishes Friday, April 2 2021 6:30 PM BST
A subject set in an interesting time, dealing with cross-dressing and coming to terms with it in the 90’s.
Fiend Friends: Soul Arcade by Vic Hollins
(fully funded) finishes Saturday, April 3 2021 1:59 PM BST
really, it was this page and remembering that exact same feeling that won me over
2020: A Drawing A Day by Tim King (@TimKing88)
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 8 2021 10:55 AM BST
Good art and an interesting approach – sketching on daily object relevant to covid, like hand-gel bottles and gloves.
Bird Brained Zine Anthology edited by @karrtunes
(still funding) finishes Friday, April 9 2021 9:54 PM BST
always want more zine collections in the world and the samples look cool
Cry Punch Comics organised by Al Gofa (@gofa_al)
(still funding) finishes Sunday, April 11 2021 1:06 AM BST
interesting creators and anything made over the funding target gets split evenly between the creators, always a fair bonus, I like the look of this one, it made me smile
Colour Works the 1980s and 90s by Homer Sykes (@HomerSykes)
(still funding) finishes Sunday, April 11 2021 12:59 PM BST
an interesting time period (to me) and some great shots
Blanco Volume One: The Truth Shall Set You Free by Marco Lopez (@atomicrexent)
(still funding) finishes Tuesday, April 13 2021 4:24 PM BST
another one where a page won me over – just check out the storytelling ease on this.
SKULLS An artbook by GEIST (@GeistArtUk)
(fully funded) finishes Wednesday, April 14 2021 1:00 AM BST
I love Geist’s art, and the variety of ways he can make images of skulls is incredible, this is going to be a beautiful looking book
Typhoon Days organised by Francesca Carità
(still funding) finishes Wednesday, April 14 2021 5:00 PM BST
interesting subject matter and solid artwork
Off Limits: Berlin – Europe, 1992-1996 by Rab GP Lewin from Resipole Studios (@resipolestudios)
(still funding) finishes Saturday, April 24 2021 3:55 PM BST
The tagline says exactly why it’s interesting – ‘A photographic book documenting the European techno-traveller free party scene from 1992-1996.’ – interesting photos looking at a scene that was quite mythical in my youth – something i really wanted to be a part of secretly (despite hating the music)
all content copyright its respective owners
zine library! Scarborough Zine Library
go look – Ian Miller
I know he’s not really small press, self publishing etc, but he’s been published by me in a small press anthology and his work is awesome, so I’m going to bend my own rules just like that!
prints from Alison Eldred
Reviewer Revue – Ryan (Pocket Thoughts)
ZL – Hi Ryan, thanx for agreeing to talk to us!
Let’s start with a bit of an introduction, can you tell us your name, where you live and what site(s) and how long you have been reviewing?
RE – Hi, my name is Ryan, and I live in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. I publish Pocket Thoughts zines and co-host the Zinespiration Chat with Craig [Atkinson] from Five O’Clock Zines. It’s like I’m Regis and Craig is Kathie-Lee. Don’t let him tell you otherwise.
ZL – When and where did you publish your first review?
RE – I think the first real Zinespiration chat was with Richard Larios from Feral Publication. It was really rad, because after a year or so of reading his work and engaging in text messages via Instagram etc, it was just so cool to have a face-to-face video chat in real time. And really, it’s felt similar with all the zinesters I’ve interviewed since. Like, how cool is that?
ZL – What kind of work do you review and what would you say are your two or three biggest comfort spots for work when reviewing?
RE – I make a point of checking out any and all zines. I personally find different kinds of inspiration from them, even if the content isn’t something I’d normally be interested in reading. I love other individuals’ viewpoints, but also from a design standpoint, it’s neat to see someone else’s creative process and how they may approach an idea or topic differently than I would, or another zinester friend of mine would.
ZL – Describe your approach to a review.
RE – The whole point of the Zinespiration Chat show is to show off and promote zinesters’ work to those who may not ordinarily discover them. Most important during the chat process is that the guest feels comfortable being there – ensuring ahead of time that we’re pronouncing names correctly, using their requested pronouns, and also pre-discussing any off limits topics to not bring up. Otherwise, the goal is that we all have some fun and some laughs and let the zinesters’ personalities shine thru.
ZL – What would you say are the key things a creator should do or think about when asking for reviews of their work
RE – A little research goes a long way. Recently I had a band ask me to do a review of them in one of my zines, which is not something I do in my own zines, even tho there are lots of zines that specialize in rock-show and punk reviews as the meat and potatoes of the pages. I wish them all the luck in the world, but also, like, why are they asking me to review their band? I’m the dude who dressed up hot dog weenies in Halloween costumes, y’know?
ZL – Can you tell us about the review you’re most proud of and why that is?
RE – I dig ‘em all. I just feel very fortunate to have gotten to know so many expressive and creative zinesters over the last few years.
ZL – Lastly, as Weirdo Brigade was an influence on how I’ve set this site up I thought I’d post this below!
ZL – Thanx so much for your time!
all content copyright its respective owner
go look – Tristan Wright
lazy sunday read – Ryan C.’s Four Color Apocalypse
(click on images to follow links)
header art by Liesbeth De Stercke
Ryan does an amazing job of covering the small press, he’s like a machine with the amount he gets reviewed!
great interview about an interesting anthology
also LOTS of reviews about zines, mini comics, and self-published and small press comics
all contents copyright its respective owners
SHOP! Colossive Press
(click on the images to follow the links)
NOTE – I have been published and distributed by Colossive Press – I won’t be highlighting those publications
I have loved Colossive Press’ zines since I first saw Croydon Spaceport (a hugely enjoyable and funny zine about the UK’s first failed spaceport) and High Precision Ghosts – one of the most interesting formats for a zine I’ve ever seen.
With the Cartographies series they’ve really found a fascinating format to show case creators.
all content copyright its respective owners
foto friday – Cris Romagosa
go look – Lucy Sullivan
kicking it – 17th March 2021
Subscriptions
check out the below, it says it all pretty well!
New this week
Cry Punch Comics organised by Al Gofa (@gofa_al)
(still funding) finishes Sunday, April 11 2021 1:06 AM BST
interesting creators and anything made over the funding target gets split evenly between the creators, always a fair bonus, I like the look of this one, it made me smile
SKULLS An artbook by GEIST (@GeistArtUk)
(fully funded) finishes Wednesday, April 14 2021 1:00 AM BST
I love Geist’s art, and the variety of ways he can make images of skulls is incredible, this is going to be a beautiful looking book
Typhoon Days organised by Francesca Carità
(still funding) finishes Wednesday, April 14 2021 5:00 PM BST
interesting subject matter and solid artwork
Colour Works the 1980s and 90s by Homer Sykes (@HomerSykes)
(still funding) finishes Sunday, April 11 2021 12:59 PM BST
an interesting time period (to me) and some great shots
I’m still loving these Kickstarter
Less than a week to go
Gods of Aazurn by Gary Scott Beatty (@garyscottbeatty)
(fully funded) finishes Friday, March 19 2021 1:00 AM GMT
If I’m honest, I can’t label why I like this, it’s partly the ideas and how they just lean in to pulp’s lurid distortions of other cultures, partly it’s the sturm und drang approach to the art and it’s heavy lean into EC influenced underground comics and it’s also just got a sense that this is a person getting on and having fun with their own influences and obsessions.
Paragon issue 27 by Dave Candlish (@DAVEYCANDLISH)
(fully funded) finishes Saturday, March 20 2021 12:43 PM GMT
a good old fashioned strip zine, with some classic uk strip zine strips!!
Weird Work #1 by @Jordan_J_Thomas (writer) and @shaky_kane (artist)
(fully funded) finishes Monday, March 22 2021 6:00 PM GMT
it’s Shaky Kane drawing!!
Still got a while yet
Blackford Manor by J. W. Grey (@BlackfordManor)
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, March 25 2021 10:00 PM GMT
Can’t say anything about the writing as there are no samples, but the illustrations look fun, the plot idea sounds interesting and I just like the whole tone of how the campaign has been written to be honest
The Day the Klan Came to Town by Bill Campbell (@RosariumBill) and Bizhan Khodabandeh (@MendedArrow) published by PM Press (@PMPressOrg)
(fully funded) finishes Friday, March 26 2021 10:59 PM GMT
A fascinating subject from a very reliable and trustworthy publisher and still very resonant today (sadly)
Planet Comics issue 2 by @JeffMcClelland and others
(still funding) finishes Monday, March 29 2021 5:00 AM BST
this just has some fun looking cartooning and seems to be a fun read fro mthe pages on show
The Tay Bridge Disaster from David Robertson (@FredEggComics)
(fully funded) finishes Monday, March 29 2021 4:58 PM BST
Another fascinating historical comic, this one a long boiling project for a UK small press stalwart in his signature low key style. (I picked this images, the latter because it made me laugh, and both as they give a good insight into the tone you’re likely to find throughout)
Birdcage Bottom Books 2021 publishing slate!! (@BirdcageBottom)
(still funding) finishes Monday, March 29 2021 9:06 PM BST
Not to play favourites, but this is an absolutely great publisher and I would (if I could) buy everything of theirs without question.
Blueboy Brown by David Greg Taylor (@davidgregtaylor)
(still funding) finishes Wednesday, March 31 2021 9:30 PM BST
Another fictionalised historical tale grounded in researched facts. This time from an old time underground cartoonist making his way back into (long form) comics. The artwork is outstanding and the story pages on show are full of interesting humanity and fascinating details
Never Ending Books Collective (@NEBcollective)
(still funding) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 4:59 AM BST
sounds like it could end up being a nice space for lo-fi culture, or just fail, but I think it’s worth a shot at keeping out the usual corporate high- street filler
Moving Through by Anna Magdalena
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 12:57 PM BST
great design showcasing some very beautiful images
A Wounded Landscape – bearing witness to the Holocaust by Marc Wilson (@MarcwilsonPhoto)
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 3:00 PM BST
a project and book of immense scope – said best in the campaign ‘Since May 2015, I have sat for hours listening to Rita, Harry, Lillian and others share their stories with me. I have listened to stories of their parents and grandparents, their brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. I have listened to stories in English, French, Hebrew, Polish, Dutch and Russian. I have travelled to over 120 locations in 20 countries making ‘A wounded landscape – bearing witness to the Holocaust’.
The photos are incredible and the whole package seems to be of incredible quality.
Quindrie Press: the 2021 comic collection (@QuindriePress) – editors Eve Greenwood (@evegwood) Alex Assan (@alexassanart)
creators @verface, @toadlett, @jmiltondraws and @ThomasHeitler
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 5:00 PM BST
All four of these titles look like great comics, by which I mean beautiful art centred on storytelling and character driven storylines. All are individual, whilst all being recognisably contemporary in their styles
Jabberwoke Pocket Occult Collection published by jabberwokebooks
(still funding) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 7:49 PM BST
they’re republishing The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen a very under appreciated writer of weird fiction. It’s a lovely cover as well.
ComicScene History of Comics Books 5 to 8 by @ComicSceneNews
(still funding) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 9:00 PM BST
I have an eternal soft spot for histories and books/magazines about comics, what can I say!!
The Plague and Doctor Caim by @gegallas from @castironbooks
(still funding) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 11:00 PM BST
Both comic and disturbing. I’ve liked the look of this for a while and was glad when Cast Iron Books took this over from Unbound
Out of this World by Steve Ditko and Robin Snyder
(fully funded) finishes Friday, April 2 2021 1:22 PM BST
Steve Ditko really is, for me, the best of america’s comic creators. His use of line and space and comics capabilities is just a thing of beauty to me.
HITxHIT Art Magazine | Latin American Art Issue 01: Agustina Nuñez published by HitxHit
(fully funded) finishes Fri, April 2 2021 4:38 PM BST
strikes me as an interesting idea
Night Leaves by Josephine Kreischer
(fully funded) finishes Friday, April 2 2021 6:00 PM BST
This one, not to be rude, is all about the art, for me. I have a real soft spot for misty, mysterious forestscapes with fairy tale like animal characters.
Being a girl by David Metcalfe-Carr (@MetcalfeCarr) and others
(fully funded) finishes Friday, April 2 2021 6:30 PM BST
A subject set in an interesting time, dealing with cross-dressing and coming to terms with it in the 90’s.
Fiend Friends: Soul Arcade by Vic Hollins
(fully funded) finishes Saturday, April 3 2021 1:59 PM BST
really, it was this page and remembering that exact same feeling that won me over
2020: A Drawing A Day by Tim King (@TimKing88)
(still funding) finishes Thursday, April 8 2021 10:55 AM BST
Good art and an interesting approach – sketching on daily object relevant to covid, like hand-gel bottles and gloves.
Bird Brained Zine Anthology edited by @karrtunes
(still funding) finishes Friday, April 9 2021 9:54 PM BST
always want more zine collections in the world and the samples look cool
Blanco Volume One: The Truth Shall Set You Free by Marco Lopez (@atomicrexent)
(still funding) finishes Tuesday, April 13 2021 4:24 PM BST
another one where a page won me over – just check out the storytelling ease on this.
Off Limits: Berlin – Europe, 1992-1996 by Rab GP Lewin from Resipole Studios (@resipolestudios)
(still funding) finishes Saturday, April 24 2021 3:55 PM BST
The tagline says exactly why it’s interesting – ‘A photographic book documenting the European techno-traveller free party scene from 1992-1996.’ – interesting photos looking at a scene that was quite mythical in my youth – something i really wanted to be a part of secretly (despite hating the music)
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go listen – Breakfast in the Ruins
(click on images to follow links)
ok – so this might not be for everyone, it’s quite specifically centred around Michael Moorcock, but it’s all done in a very engaging tone and branches out into some general territory, like Sven Hassel and growing up in the 80’s.
also – I love Michael Moorcock, so it’s all good for me!
start here which it the whole run in chronological order
this is a great episode with Kek-W and touches on many 2000AD matters as well
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go look – Rafael Sica
go look – Stefan Alexander
Reviewer Revue – Warren E Elliott
ZL – Hi, thanks for agreeing to talk to us!
Let’s start with a bit of an introduction, can you tell us your name, where you live and what site(s) and how long you have been reviewing?
WEE – Hi! I’m Warren E. Elliott and I currently live in southeast Arizona near the Mexican border. I post my reviews to my Blog and to The Poopsheet Foundation. I’ve been reviewing zines and comics (and for a while music and movies) since late 1999.
ZL – When and where did you publish your first review?
WEE – Ah, the first review. In the winter of 1999 I was serving on active duty in the U.S. Army and deployed to Kosovo. While experiencing my first Balkan winter I responded to an online request for a reviewer for a zine called Muuna Takeena published out of Finland. I was bored during my downtime and just wanted something interesting to read. I agreed to review whatever was sent my way and the zine’s editor/publisher agreed to send me packages of zines and comics. It was a great relationship that continued for about a year. After I moved back to the states I continued to send reviews to Muuna Takeena and, with the editor’s blessing, I began posting reviews online too.
Seeing my reviews published in Muuna Takeena was exciting and it allowed me to engage with readers. As I recall readers would write letters/emails to the editor commenting on each issue and several were regarding my reviews. It was nice to interact with people like that and encouraged me to keep reviewing things.
ZL – What kind of work do you review and what would you say are your two or three biggest comfort spots for work when reviewing?
WEE – I started out reviewing anything indie creators wanted to send my way, but for the past few years I’ve focused mostly on comics and comics related zines. I’m a comics creator and cartoonist myself, so pretty much anything related to comics or art will resonate with me. I really enjoy studying how others create. The page compositions, linework, design, it all grabs my attention. I sometimes take way too long to write a review because I’m so busy studying every line on every page. I can easily get lost in the details.
ZL – Describe your approach to a review.
WEE – I read the comic/zine cover-to-cover. Then I go back and make notes on things like pacing, story telling, and art. I try to give an overall, brief description of what I’m reviewing. I’ll call out the things that impress me, but I won’t bring attention to things I don’t like. That’s not what I’m about. I want to promote what others are doing, not harp on their weaknesses.
ZL – What would you say are the key things a creator should do or think about when asking for reviews of their work?
WEE – For me, always provide ordering/contact information! I hate to receive something and not know how to tell others how to get it. Other than that I would say be patient. Most reviewers have other commitments in their lives so it may take a long time to get to your publication. If you really need a review fast, tell the reviewer.
ZL – Can you tell us about the review you’re most proud of and why that is?
WEE – Ha! I’ve been doing this for so long it’s hard to narrow favorites down. I’ve received feedback from creators thanking me for my reviews and telling me I’ve given them the encouragement they needed to keep going. That’s always a rewarding feeling and motivates me to keep reviewing. But the one review I’m most proud of is one from several years ago and it has nothing to do with what I wrote, but rather what I posted on my own website. It was a queer zine that had a drawing of a nude man’s torso revealing his penis. When I posted the cover image along with the review it seemed innocent enough to me. I mean males of just about every species have some sort of a penis, but at least one other person thought otherwise.
This guy, who is still active in the small press comics scene, took to numerous message boards to spread lies about me and claim that I had set the small press back a decade by daring to post a zine cover with a penis on it! Although at the time I was pissed about the lies, now I can say I’m proud to have evoked such a reaction.
ZL – Lastly, can you tell us where to find your reviews please!
You can find my reviews at:
ZL – Thanks so much for your time!
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lazy sunday read – Classic UK Comics Zines
(click on images to follow links)
organised by David Hathawy-Price
From his own Fanscene
To classic fanzines (this one’s Arkensword)
to strip zines (Litratrip – cover Tony Schofield)
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SHOP! Shelflife (Cardiff)
foto friday – South of the River by Luke Banks
(click images to see more)
an ongoing project documenting the neighbourhoods of South London
there’s a stark look to them that I really enjoy
photos are by Luke Banks
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kicking it – 11th March 2021
all the kickstarters that are catching my eye at the mo (and sometimes other things to back as well)
another bumper week of new kickstarters to add here.
Also, it’s odd when you start looking at these, because there are some projects you look at and think must be doing huge numbers just because they are clearly such high quality and then you see that there are only a few backers and they have some modest amount that they’re aiming for. I don’t want to diminish what they a re achieving, but it seems amazing to me that there aren’t larger numbers on some of these, so occasionally I’m going to pull one out to highlight at the top here.
This time it’s going to be Blueboy Brown by David Greg Taylor (@davidgregtaylor)
Just look at some of this art for a start, it’s beautiful. I’ve only got the story pages I’ve seen online to go by, but they feature interesting characters and a high level of story telling from what I’ve seen.
This comic looks amazing and should, to my mind, have hundreds of backers.
Subscriptions
however you’ve encountered them, they’re an excellent group doing great things to promote comics so well worth your support. they’re publishing great comics and reviewing and interviewing interesting creators, what more could you ask for!
comic by Ellen O’Grady
Russell Mark Olson – patreon
this one is specifically for Gateway City, which is a great read a the art is stunningly cool, so you can just enjoy that!
New this week
Sign up for notification to SKULLS An artbook by GEIST (@GeistArtUk)
A Wounded Landscape – bearing witness to the Holocaust by Marc Wilson (@MarcwilsonPhoto)
(still funding) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 3:00 PM BST
a project and book of immense scope – said best in the campaign ‘Since May 2015, I have sat for hours listening to Rita, Harry, Lillian and others share their stories with me. I have listened to stories of their parents and grandparents, their brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. I have listened to stories in English, French, Hebrew, Polish, Dutch and Russian. I have travelled to over 120 locations in 20 countries making ‘A wounded landscape – bearing witness to the Holocaust’.
The photos are incredible and the whole package seems to be of incredible quality.
Quindrie Press: the 2021 comic collection (@QuindriePress) – editors Eve Greenwood (@evegwood) Alex Assan (@alexassanart)
creators @verface, @toadlett, @jmiltondraws and @ThomasHeitler
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 5:00 PM BST
All four of these titles look like great comics, by which I mean beautiful art centred on storytelling and character driven storylines. All are individual, whilst all being recognisably contemporary in their styles
Out of this World by Steve Ditko and Robin Snyder
(fully funded) finishes Friday, April 2 2021 1:22 PM BST
Steve Ditko really is, for me, the best of america’s comic creators. His use of line and space and comics capabilities is just a thing of beauty to me.
The Plague and Doctor Caim by @gegallas from @castironbooks
(still funding) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 11:00 PM BST
Both comic and disturbing. I’ve liked the look of this for a while and was glad when Cast Iron Books took this over from Unbound
Jabberwoke Pocket Occult Collection published by jabberwokebooks
(still funding) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 7:49 PM BST
they’re republishing The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen a very under appreciated writer of weird fiction. It’s a lovely cover as well.
HITxHIT Art Magazine | Latin American Art Issue 01: Agustina Nuñez published by HitxHit
(fully funded) finishes Fri, April 2 2021 4:38 PM BST
strikes me as an interesting idea
Night Leaves by Josephine Kreischer
(fully funded) finishes Friday, April 2 2021 6:00 PM BST
This one, not to be rude, is all about the art, for me. I have a real soft spot for misty, mysterious forestscapes with fairy tale like animal characters.
Being a girl by David Metcalfe-Carr (@MetcalfeCarr) and others
(fully funded) finishes Friday, April 2 2021 6:30 PM BST
A subject set in an interesting time, dealing with cross-dressing and coming to terms with it in the 90’s.
Fiend Friends: Soul Arcade by Vic Hollins
(fully funded) finishes Saturday, April 3 2021 1:59 PM BST
really, it was this page and remembering that exact same feeling that won me over
2020: A Drawing A Day by Tim King (@TimKing88)
(still funding) finishes Thursday, April 8 2021 10:55 AM BST
Good art and an interesting approach – sketching on daily object relevant to covid, like hand-gel bottles and gloves.
Blanco Volume One: The Truth Shall Set You Free by Marco Lopez (@atomicrexent)
(still funding) finishes Tuesday, April 13 2021 4:24 PM BST
another one where a page won me over – just check out the storytelling ease on this.
I’m still loving these Kickstarter
Less than a week to go
Love Her Madly and Other Stories by Rob Wells (@RobertDWells)
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, March 11 2021 8:01 PM GMT
he’s very funny and quite dark, what more do you need
The Saddest Angriest Black Girl in Town by Robyn Smith (@RoBroSmo) from Black Josei Press (@BlackJoseiPress)
(fully funded) finishes Wednesday, March 17 2021 3:59 AM GMT
an interesting and very insightful look at being a black person in a mainly white area, treated with honesty and humour in the pages they show. it also has a clever and beautiful cover
Still got a while yet
Gods of Aazurn by Gary Scott Beatty (@garyscottbeatty)
(fully funded) finishes Friday, March 19 2021 1:00 AM GMT
If I’m honest, I can’t label why I like this, it’s partly the ideas and how they just lean in to pulp’s lurid distortions of other cultures, partly it’s the sturm und drang approach to the art and it’s heavy lean into EC influenced underground comics and it’s also just got a sense that this is a person getting on and having fun with their own influences and obsessions.
Paragon issue 27 by Dave Candlish (@DAVEYCANDLISH)
(fully funded) finishes Saturday, March 20 2021 12:43 PM GMT
a good old fashioned strip zine, with some classic uk strip zine strips!!
Weird Work #1 by @Jordan_J_Thomas (writer) and @shaky_kane (artist)
(fully funded) finishes Monday, March 22 2021 6:00 PM GMT
it’s Shaky Kane drawing!!
Blackford Manor by J. W. Grey (@BlackfordManor)
(fully funded) finishes Thursday, March 25 2021 10:00 PM GMT
Can’t say anything about the writing as there are no samples, but the illustrations look fun, the plot idea sounds interesting and I just like the whole tone of how the campaign has been written to be honest
The Day the Klan Came to Town by Bill Campbell (@RosariumBill) and Bizhan Khodabandeh (@MendedArrow) published by PM Press (@PMPressOrg)
(fully funded) finishes Friday, March 26 2021 10:59 PM GMT
A fascinating subject from a very reliable and trustworthy publisher and still very resonant today (sadly)
Planet Comics issue 2 by @JeffMcClelland and others
(still funding) finishes Monday, March 29 2021 5:00 AM BST
this just has some fun looking cartooning and seems to be a fun read fro mthe pages on show
The Tay Bridge Disaster from David Robertson (@FredEggComics)
(fully funded) finishes Monday, March 29 2021 4:58 PM BST
Another fascinating historical comic, this one a long boiling project for a UK small press stalwart in his signature low key style. (I picked this images, the latter because it made me laugh, and both as they give a good insight into the tone you’re likely to find throughout)
Birdcage Bottom Books 2021 publishing slate!! (@BirdcageBottom)
(still funding) finishes Monday, March 29 2021 9:06 PM BST
Not to play favourites, but this is an absolutely great publisher and I would (if I could) buy everything of theirs without question.
Blueboy Brown by David Greg Taylor (@davidgregtaylor)
(still funding) finishes Wednesday, March 31 2021 9:30 PM BST
Another fictionalised historical tale grounded in researched facts. This time from an old time underground cartoonist making his way back into (long form) comics. The artwork is outstanding and the story pages on show are full of interesting humanity and fascinating details
Moving Through by Anna Magdalena
(still funding) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 12:57 PM BST
great design showcasing some very beautiful images
Never Ending Books Collective (@NEBcollective)
(still funding) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 4:59 AM BST
sounds like it could end up being a nice space for lo-fi culture, or just fail, but I think it’s worth a shot at keeping out the usual corporate high- street filler
ComicScene History of Comics Books 5 to 8 by @ComicSceneNews
(still funding) finishes Thursday, April 1 2021 9:00 PM BST (no joke!!)
I have an eternal soft spot for histories and books/magazines about comics, what can I say!!
Bird Brained Zine Anthology edited by @karrtunes
(still funding) finishes Friday, April 9 2021 9:54 PM BST
always want more zine collections in the world and the samples look cool
Off Limits: Berlin – Europe, 1992-1996 by Rab GP Lewin from Resipole Studios (@resipolestudios)
(still funding) finishes Saturday, April 24 2021 3:55 PM BST
The tagline says exactly why it’s interesting – ‘A photographic book documenting the European techno-traveller free party scene from 1992-1996.’ – interesting photos looking at a scene that was quite mythical in my youth – something i really wanted to be a part of secretly (despite hating the music)
all content copyright its respective owners