Tiffany vs Debbie Gibson in ROGUE #1

STARE at these lovely Playboy pix of the 1980s pop stars, then order a copy of my new zine, Rogue, to read about their epic catfight in 2011 schlockbuster Mega Python vs. Gatoroid!

Merry Christmas all!

TWO of my favourite things have come together in the best way possible: a comics podcast and Fresh Ink host Blair Butler. The beautiful, talented lady is interviewed at War Rocket Ajax. Check it out at http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/09/26/war-rocket-ajax-15-blair-butler-talks-heart-and-reviewing-c/

ZINE REVIEW: PEE #47

Pee #47: Defeater…The Carrier…I Exist…Stolen Youth…Warbrain…One Vital Word. If you recognise any of these punk bands, then you’ll want to read this beautifully produced, informative zine. If you think they’re just random words thrown together by an intelligent ape bent on conquering Earth, then look elsewhere for your reading pleasure. Comes with a free CD and a fistful of stickers. Pete Pee, PO Box 238, Marden, SA, 5070, AUSTRALIA, zine@peerecords.com, www.peerecords.com [AUD$6.50/email for overseas prices, 60M, :10+ depending on your interest in punk] – Dann Lennard

Will you just STOP with the zine reviews?!!

Zombre #2: Subtitled “The Magic Forest”, this is the latest comic misadventures of our semi-intelligent zombie as he wanders round a national park, scaring the tourists and generally causing mayhem. This appears to be a continuing story, so I’m intrigued where Ansis goes from here. Lovely colour cover, too. Ansis Purins, 14 Saxon Rd, Newton, MA, 02461, USA, siransalot@gmail.com, www.ansis.tv [email for prices, 52S, :20] – Dann Lennard

Biblio-Curiosa #1: The subtitle to this fantastic read by veteran zinester Chris Mikul is “Unusual writers/Strange books”. And there’s certainly plenty of that. You’ll be amazed by the bizarre story of the sociopathic Gibbons twins, one of whom wrote the extraordinary The Pepsi-Cola Addict (1982). And your brain will melt when you read the plot to the startling The Fangs Of Suet Pudding (1944). And there are two more incredible essays after that. This is seriously one helluva great zine. Chris Mikul, PO Box K546, Haymarket, NSW, 1240, AUSTRALIA, cathob@zip.com.au [AUD$5/email for overseas prices, 48S, :60] – Dann Lennard

Biblio-Curiosa #2: Editor Chris must have the best library in the world – hell, he certainly has the weirdest. This time he tackles the crazy life and even stranger death of eccentric F. Gwynplaine MacIntyre. And then blows our collective minds with reviews on two of the oddest books ever published, The Yellow Yasmak and Zalma. Chri’s writing style is funny, entertaining and enlightening. Can’t ask for more than that. Chris Mikul, PO Box K546, Haymarket, NSW, 1240, AUSTRALIA, cathob@zip.com.au [AUD$5/email for overseas prices, 48S, :60] – Dann Lennard

Recreational Drug Use: Beautifully photographed zine of porn stars at play, posing for the camera or caught unawares by snapper Dennis McGrath. I loved this wordless zine, but it’s not cheap and the content isn’t for everyone, obviously. sales@hamburgereyeland.com, http://www.hamburgereyes.com [email for prices, Must be over 18, 40S, :05] – Dann Lennard

It’s A Fanzine #51: After the positive feedback he got on #50, editor Gene Kehoe produced a “sequel”. This time, the lead article is a minister’s take on a highly religious sci-fi tale written and drawn by Steve Ditko in 1959 (which is also reprinted). There’s also a ton of fun news snippets and heavily illustrated articles that would greatly appeal to fans of old-school comic zines of the 60s and 70s. Newer fans won’t care for it though, I expect. Gene Kehoe, 2265 Byron Ave, Waterloo, IA, 50-702, USA, iaf1952@yahoo.com, fangene@aol.com [US$3, email for overseas prices, 44S, :45] – Dann Lennard

Ninja Sushi #2: Nasty-beautiful art by Kapreles plus some surreal, nonsensical fiction. I liked it, but it’s not for everyone. Yves Albrechts, Postbus 100, 2000 Antwerpen 1, BELGIUM, kapreles@gmail.com [email for prices, Must be over 18, 24S, :10] – Dann Lennard

25 Albums That Changed My Life And Other Dumb And Pointless Lists: Very personal zine for those who like likes lists on music and books. The highlight is “Stars On 78”, where the editor reviews old 78 records he grabs from a pile in his garage and plays on his old stereo.  Kami, PO Box 278, Edwardstown, SA, 5039, AUSTRALIA, cammy@arcom.com.au [Trade/your lists/etc, 20S, :15] – Dann Lennard

Fried Cat Comix #1: I just love indy zine comix, especially from Australia – they’re dark, funny, drug-fuelled, scatological, random. This comic is the same…but different. It’s a mix of comic strips, reviews, bizarre snippets and an interview with Robin Bougie of Cinema Sewer fame The lead strip, “Deep Fried Drifters”, is an ongoing saga about a potato cake and an onion ring striving to survive in a hostile world. Love this mag. friedcatcomix@gmail.com [AUD$$/email for overseas prices, 28S, :30] – Dann Lennard

Kamuke #2: If you love ukuleles, then you’ll love this slick, full-colour, very professionally put together mag from Australia. Fans will be chuffed to read an exclusive interview with multi-Grammy Award-winning artist Daniel Ho. But as a non-uke fan, my fave piece was the bio piece on forgotten hero Cliff “Ukulele Ike” Edwards. Quirkily brilliant. kamuke80@gmail.com, www.kamuke.com [email for prices, 32S, :30] – Dann Lennard

BOOKS

Subterranean Redneck Blues: Kami writes poetry. He’s also a dear friend. That said, he writes good poetry so I’ll cut him some slack. Kami writes are about growing up in rural Australia, getting drunk, trying to get laid, making mistakes, learning from them, making more mistakes and slowly realising your limitations. They are beautiful and they speak from the heart and they’re not bullshit. So I’ll grudgingly give this booklet a thumbs up. But I still hate poetry. Seaview Press, PO Box 7339, West Lakes, SA, 5021, AUSTRALIA, seaview@seaviewpress.com.au, www.seaviewpress.com.au [AUD$15/email for overseas prices, 84S, :30] – Dann Lennard

Guess what? More zine reviews!

No More Coffee #3: This guy’s got some talent – five pieces of short fiction in a range of genres. “O, Bury Me Not…” is a slice of urban life with a strange twist and a moving ending. “Stagger Lee” starts taking you down a path about a teenager given the opportunity to have his revenge against high school bullies, but then goes in an unexpected direction that I dug. Like I said the guy’s got talent. Ben Spies, NMC Zine, 1847 W. Byron St, Chicago, IL, 60613, USA, nomorecoffeezine@gmail.com [US$2, FTP, 32S, :40] – Dann Lennard 

Beauty In Confusion And Harmony: Southeast Asia From American Perspective In Year Of The White Tiger: Stupidly long heading and occasionally pretentious, patronising writing aside, Mark Billings’ zine is a fascinating, heavily illustrated diary of an outsider’s experience trying to live, explore and work in Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia. When he stops projecting mystical import on every fucking thing locals do (seriously, dude, they’re just people selling you stuff), then it’s a fun lil’ travelogue. Stop getting all spiritual and get a grip, guy. Other than that, a well-interesting read. gaiting@yahoo.com,  www.gaitpublishing.com [email for prices, 64S, 0:60] – Dann Lennard

Last Slice: A cool collection of cartoons about life, childhood memories and growing up – all with a Latino flavour. Some toons are funny, some are bittersweet, but they’re all good.  Jaime Crespo, PO Box 112, San Anselmo, CA, 94979, USA, crespocomix@yahoo.com, www.jaimecrespo.com [US$4 USA & Mexico/US$5 Canada/trades, 44S, :25] – Dann Lennard 

Too Blue Comix #1, #4, #5: Sexy (at times pornographic) minicomix in the mould of Brad Foster’s classic Goodies. Oh, wait…there’s Brad’s art on the front cover of #1, so no surprises there. If you like nudity, explicit sex and toilet humour, then you’ll wanna check these out. If not, stay clear. Jerry Goebert, 156 Howard Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235, USA [US$1 USA/US$2 overseas, 8XS, 0:05] – Dann Lennard 

Mishap Collection: Weird underground-style art and story about a guy called Major Mishap visiting Dallas in November 1963 and crossing paths with Lee Harvey Oswald. Seriously strange yet compelling – and it’s all told in just eight panels. Jerry Goebert, 156 Howard Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235, USA [US$1 USA/US$2 overseas, 8XS, 0:05] – Dann Lennard

Comparratives: Two cartoonists record a panel-by-panel concurrent history of their lives, starting in 1986 (when Joanna was born and Don was 11) to now when the pair are a couple. It’s their first collaboration, and what a great way to start. Cool concept and well executed. Don Picton & Joanna Goss, 461 S. 4thh St, Aurora, IL, 60505, USA, friendprices@gmail.com [US$2 USA/US$2.50 elsewhere/trade, 28XS, :15] – Dann Lennard 

Best Dream Ever…: I dream about thrift stores, too. This wacky lil’ strip is like looking inside my own head. Don Picton, 461 S. 4thh St, Aurora, IL, 60505, friendprices@gmail.com [US$0.75 USA/US$1 elsewhere/trade, 12XS, :05] – Dann Lennard 

Showman? The Bret Braddock Adventures, Vol. 1: Crisis Ignored: This is the possibly true story of a hideous man, Bret Braddock, and the horrible workplace he runs. Bret thinks he’s going to produce a children’s TV show and get rich. Nothing goes the way he’s planned and it’s pretty much due to the fact he’s a dumb, arrogant dickhead. This collection of strips by the immensely talented David Blumenstein is funny, infuriating and upsetting, all at the same time. I think most of us have worked for or with a Bret Braddock at some time in our lives. Nakedfella Productions, PO Box 361, Flinders Lane, Vic, 8009, AUSTRALIA, office@docklandsentertainment.com, www.nakedfella.com [email for prices, 52S, :45] – Dann Lennard

Wow! Even more zine reviews

Yuck! #2: Gross-out horror comix – you pays your money, you know what to expect. Actually, some of the artwork is quite nice, especially Jacek Zabawa’s pussy-licious cover. Talented Aussie artist Ben Hutchings also makes a worthy appearance. Milk Shadow Books, PO Box 651,  Northcote, Vic, 3070, AUSTRALIA, www.milkshadowbooks.com [AUD$4.50 + contact the site for overseas p&h, 40S, 0:20] – Dann Lennard 

Chicks With Horses #1: What…no bestiality? Sadly, this zine is exactly what it says on the cover, page after page of photos of girls with horses. Most of them appear to be tearsheets of chicks at the races. The overall effect is still unsettling. You’re left with a strong sense of “Why?” David Puckeridge, PO Box 872, Katoomba, NSW, 2780, AUSTRALIA, [AUD$1/probably $3 overseas, 32S, :05] – Dann Lennard

Geneva 13 #15: Possibly the most narrowly themed zine I’ve ever read. Unless you live in Geneva, NY this publication will mean little to you. Having said, this pizza-themed issue was interesting in parts. No-one makes pizza like New Yorkers, that’s for sure. Still, I can’t really see why anyone outside Geneva would want to read this zine as a rule. Geneva 13, PO Box 13, Geneva, NY, 14456, mail@geneva13.com [$2/free if you live in Geneva, 60S, 0:45] – Dann Lennard 

Operations Manual Vol. IX: Bizarreness on a grand scale. Eclectic subject matter includes the mystical power of the number nine, trepanation, how to use your hand as a thermometer, a detailed study on the phrase “a friend in need is a friend indeed”, healthy flea remedies…hell, this doesn’t even scratch the surface. One of the best zines I’ve read this year. GodBlessGenerica@gmail.com [email for prices, 40S, 0:30] – Dann Lennard

nnnnnnnnnnYES! #1.1: This zine makes me mad – mad with rage that someone (probably via a government grant) wasted a lot of coin producing a high-quality zine full of pretentious shit. Bad poetry, bad fiction, bad collage “art”. Just bad. Given the financial resources the people behind this publication had, I could’ve produced a zine 100 times more interesting than this overpriced crap. I’m pissed off now. nnnnPatrick, RM301, 984-5, Yeogtong 2 Dong, Suwon, Gyeong-Gi, 443-813, SOUTH KOREA, nnnnnnnnnnyes@gmail.com [US$11 to everywhere except Mexico…where it’s US$13/trade, FTP, age statement required, 0:10] – Dann Lennard