Koogmo #4

Koogmo #4
8 1/2" x 11", 12 pages, $1/trade
Koogmo (formerly Whuddafug) is a text heavy zine with a particularly simple and uninteresting layout. Its saving grace is that the writing is good and the content is typically engrossing. Most issues have a wide variety of content, however this issue happens to be an exception. It starts out with some journal entries where you get a real feel for Anthony's view of the world. His view is either unique or he just writes about it well - possibly both. Either way, Anthony's telling of his day to day life and his perspectives on things are the most interesting parts of this zine. After the journal entries there are letters to the editor and a few zine reviews. The bulk of the zine is then taken up with a recounting of a trip to Cabo San Lucas. If you have never read Koogmo or Whuddafug, this issue may not be your best introduction, however I do recommend contacting Anthony and getting your hands on an issue or two.
Anthony Abelaye
PO Box 861294
Plano TX 75086
USA
anthony@koogmo.com
http://koogmo.com

   

La Poubelle: La lutte eternel

La Poubelle by Derek Baxter and Brian Canini is a comic in French. I took French in high school and remember some, so I was able to read about...50% of the words? Or maybe more. But there were a lot of gaps. I could understand, "Now I am going to kill the ninjas," toward the end, and, "I want to be rich and have sex with a whore," which someone told a lamp genie. There are a few scenes and I don't understand the relationships between them, for the most part, but there are no divisions that make me think they're not supposed to be related. So I don't know if that's my failure to fully understand the French or if the connections really are very loose.

Overall it's light and sometimes funny, like when the bull-person says, "I'm going to eat this rose," and does. Or when they're suddenly at a disco at the end. I like the beginning, which is about the way the word for poison and the word for fish are very similar in French. But the part with the dead prostitute is disturbing, and I'm clearly missing some of the jokes. "L'amour, c'est comme une etoil de mer...dur et pointu." I knew that says, "Love, it's like a star something...something and something," then looked up three words and learned it says, "Love, it's like a starfish, hard and pointy."

Overall, I think I'm not the audience for this comic. I am a big fan of graphic memoir and some non-superhero independent comics, and this one's non-superhero, but my sense of humor mostly doesn't work with the sense of humor of the creators. I'm sure lots of comics lovers would really enjoy this, though.

And I feel like I can't give a fair review since I'm not fluent in French. But lots of people aren't fluent in French, so maybe people who don't know French or who took French in school are supposed to be able to enjoy it too? Maybe the makers who sent it to me assumed I was French from my name, which I'm not. And I know I assumed that non-French speakers would be able to get something out of it since they were sending it to me without asking if I speak French. Maybe it was a misunderstanding.

The drawing is very good in a cartoon way, and I like the cover with its blues. Maybe I should have known from the name of the comics publisher, Drunken Cat Comics, that it would not match my sense of humor. I don't drink. I feel like a prude for not enjoying this more. But I want to be cool with who I am too.

Again, I think a lot of people would enjoy this, and I encourage you to get a copy of this zine if you're into this type of comic. As for me, I will pass it along to my comics-loving neighbors who work at a comic book store and probably have much broader comics tastes than my narrow ones.

http://www.drunkencatcomics.com

The Juniper #16

Hello friends and foes! The 16th issue of The Juniper is out now! It's about time, right? In this issue, I write about embracing change, being human, raised bed gardening, the proper way to add organic matter to your garden, purposeful gardening, and pruning rosemary plants. This zine is free, but if you have a dollar or stamps to donate to the cause, that would be greatly appreciated as printing and mailing costs add up. I am also, for the first time, offering a pdf version of the zine. If you would like a free pdf copy, just send me a request by email. Otherwise, send your dollar or stamp(s) to the following address:

Dan Murphy
PO Box 9862
Boise ID 83707
USA

dnlmrphy@gmail.com

Zine News Round-Up: 24.02.13

image by Angry Violist - thanks!

The Ken Chronicles #26

The Ken Chronicles #26
digest, 36 pages, $2
Ken is a big traveler now that he is retired, and so this issue of his zine (like many others) largely consists of the details of a recent trip. This time around his travels took him to Europe in celebration of a friend's 60th birthday. My favorite part is a single page entitled "Random Thoughts on the EuroTrip" in which he distills his trip down to a few interesting observations. He also includes a story about a giant pin oak falling onto his garage during Hurricane Sandy. As a plant geek, I especially enjoyed learning about the different trees in Ken's yard and their unusual placement. The last three pages of this issue are taken up with Ken's regular column, "What I've Been (Listening/Watching/Reading) Lately." This is a regularly published and consistently entertaining zine.
Ken Bausert
2140 Erma Drive
East Meadow NY 11554
USA

PassScribe@aol.com
http://thekenbausertchronicles.blogspot.com
http://kenbausertsnostalgicmuseum.blogspot.com

Something for Nothing #65

Something for Nothing #65
digest, 36 pages, free (send stamps)
This is the Tape Issue of Something for Nothing. Idy has dug out his cassette tape collection and written reviews of all the cassette only releases that he has. There are a bunch of them, so the bulk of this issue is taken up by that. But he also squeezes in some beverage reviews, “Kinko’s I’ve Been To” (for the old school zine folks), and a piece about how he spent a recent birthday. Whether it’s this issue or another one, it's always worth your time to get your hands on a copy of SfN.
Something for Nothing
516 Third Street NE
Massillon, OH 44646
USA

Something for Nothing #64

Something for Nothing #64
digest, 40 pages, free (send stamps)
Just as you’ve come to expect from Something for Nothing, this issue is packed with interesting and informative reading. Idy reviews the records of three very lesser known punk bands: Group of Individuals, AOS3, and Schwartzeneggar. He also reviews 11 Christian themed books, offering his thoughts and views (from a faithful perspective) along the way. His familiar “______ I’ve Been To” section is about record stores this time around, plus Beverage Reviews are back this issue. Always text heavy and always worth picking up.
Something for Nothing
516 Third Street NE
Massillon, OH 44646
USA

Adventures in the Land of Greasecars and Fireflies

Zine Review: Adventures in the Land of Greasecars and Fireflies

Psionic Plastic Joy #17

Zine Review: Psionic Plastic Joy #17