FALSE START independent books & zines

by Artnoose

This letter pressed gem is subtitled “Why I Love the Bay Area…” and is more about the community artnoose found there than the relaxed pace and beautiful scenery. As always, her writing is introspective and quiet. Artnoose writes about her chosen anarchist family, their dynamics and flaws and the things that drew her to them. In the end artnoose has to leave even though she doesn’t want to, making this issue a bittersweet love letter to the Bay Area.

8 pages, cardstock cover, letterpress printed, edition of 483
$3

by Artnoose

Subtitled “Marathon Tour”, artnoose writes about the excitement of doing a zine tour with a hardcore band, riding in a van running on veggie oil and the bond that forms when touring with friends. She also touches upon the importance of touring and the connections that are made when visiting new places in order to share your art. Another sweet, simple and beautiful zine by artnoose.

8 pages, cardstock cover, letterpress printed, edition of 287
$3

by Artnoose

Ker-bloom! is absolutely beautiful. Artnoose hand prints each issue of Ker-bloom! using letterpress, an old-fashioned technique that uses movable type to imprint each page with ink. Because of this technique, this zine is a tactile pleasure. Ker-bloom! isn’t just about aesthetics, however. It may only be eight pages long, but the sweet simplicity of Artnoose’s writing will leave you satisfied. Subtitled “The Bad Daughters”, after her all-lady rock band, this zine covers her ‘Rock Out Summer’ with her housemates and is dedicated to “the ladies rockin’ out and the girls comin’ up”.

$3
8 pages, letterpress printed, edition of 300, quarter letter

by Artnoose

This issue of the beautifully printed Ker-bloom! is subtitled “Sweet Right Hook”. Artnoose recounts two tales of when circumstances called for a knuckle sandwich! Clearly, punching someone in the face isn’t always the best option, but Artnoose reminds the reader of the importance of standing up for yourself and others. Once again, Ker-bloom! is an aesthetic treat with it’s letterpressed pages and cardstock covers.

$3
8 pages, letterpress printed, edition of 294, quarter letter

by Artnoose

This zine is about artnoose dealing with a horrible event that made for a terrible year. Although she never explicitly states what made her year so painful, she uses her unique style of prose to get across the loss and pain she experienced. She writes about her Inner Nietzsche, being a victim and dreams of a better year. Ending this zine full of hope, artnoose writes of the punk house she wishes to live in “where relationships begin like hot maple syrup & where they end like broken windows, where people die surrounded by loved ones, where stray cats show up, where we confront our fears of heights & failure, where we feed our friends.”

8 pages, cardstock cover, letterpress printed, edition of 302
$3

by Meredith Wallace

Written in response to the book Dictee by Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, Meredith uses words to weave a story of a time when spoken language failed her. Through short vignettes she explores the relationships between language, translation, truth, lies, family histories and childhood memories in this literary zine. It’s a quick read, but a complex one.

24 pages, quarter legal.
$1

by Fancy D

The Loops is just that, loops of lines from popular songs from artists like Smokey Robinson, Beyonce and everyone’s favorite, The Baha Men. It seems like hearing a clip that goes, “Still ballin’ money stacked tall as Shaq now” for 3 minutes and 36 seconds would be difficult to enjoy, but strangely, that’s not the case. Maybe it’s a statement about the mindless contagiousness of the pop music formula, or perhaps just a musical experiment. Either way, The Loops provides you with 9 tracks of catchy musical goodness, and there’s no way you’ll forget the lyrics to any of these songs.

9 track compact disc, lyric sheet.
$4

by Amanda Verwey

Diary comics seem to be all the rage right now, and with good reason. She prefaces the comic with the note “Hi. My name is Amanda. People call me Manderz even though I’ve never asked them to. I’m a dyke.” Amanda “Manderz” Verwey uses this format to record snippets of her daily life, such as taking bong loads, winter break ragin’ with the fam in Wisconsin, uncontrollably moaning like Pat Sweeney from SNL while on drugs, and more! Amanda’s style of drawing can only be described as gritty and slightly grotesque, highlighting all the physical “flaws” of her and her friends which makes the comic all the more universal and easy to identify with. Although most of us have mustaches and zits, and spend our Sunday afternoons doing laundry, very few of us can make a hilarious, quirky and all around awesome comic out of it.

$5
40 pages, color cardstock cover, hand bound, quarter legal

by Amanda Verwey

In this issue of Amanda Verwey’s diary comic she spares no details about her relationship and friendship troubles, but it doesn’t turn into a pity party. Of all the diary comics out there, Manderz Totally Top Private Diary probably takes the cake for being the most diary-like. Amanda includes the names of her friends, the vintage shop she works at and the gay clubs she attends, really letting the reader into her world and adding a level of detail that is especially voyeuristic for people who know San Francisco. Amanda experiences drama with her girlfriend Chip, slam poetry style readings of the ingredients in Cheetos, drama with her best friend Jess, dance parties at Aunt Charlie’s and more! And if Amanda’s effortless sense of humor doesn’t entertain you (and there’s probably something wrong with you if it doesn’t), her amazingly quirky drawings will! All in all, another amazing comic by Amanda.

$5
38 pages, color cardstock cover, hand bound, quarter legal

by Amanda Verwey

Another fantastic and funny diary comic from Amanda Verwey! Like previous issues, Amanda illustrates snippets of her day-to-day life in San Francisco with friends and her girlfriend, Chip. Amanda has an amazing way of choosing the most interesting and mundane snippets of her life and combining them with a dry sense of humor and bizarre style of drawing. In this issue she moves in with Chip, plays a game of corn hole, visits her hometown in Wisconsin, has drama with her BFF, spills coffee on a dogs head and more! She also includes her “Summer Reading Book Synopses”, which sum up entire books like The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas in one small frame. This is easily one of the best comics being put out right now, don’t miss out!

$5
42 pages, color cardstock cover, half legal

by Mario Zoots

Limited to 50 copies, this laser-printed art zine by Mario Zoots, part of Drippy Bone Books, was made by compiling interesting images found by typing in ‘1969′ to a Google Image Search. Zoots added text to the images, transforming the mundane into the mystical.

12 pages, laser-printed, edition of 50.
$4

by Mark Todd

This zine is part of Mark’s “Friends I Knew From Vegas Series”, in which he writes and illustrates a zine about someone he grew up with in Vegas. Mark is about, you guessed it, Mark Todd himself. This self-portrait in zine form covers stories from his childhood such as scrounging for tokens in the ball pits at Chuck E. Cheese, tape recording farts and falling for his very first crush, Anne Murray.

16 pages, two color cover, quarter letter.
$2

by Michael Jonathan

This comic is a diary that Michael Jonathan began as he was setting off on his Birthright trip. Birthright is a program that gives Jewish young adults a free 10-day trip to Israel. Michael’s style of drawing and sense of humor is reminiscent to that of Clutch McB, quirky, slightly self-deprecating and always funny. This comic is a bit heavier on the text than most, which is fitting, as Michael lets the reader in on his struggle with faith and understanding what it means to be Jewish. Issue number one details the days before he leaves for Israel, including a visit hoe to his family on the east coast and wondering how this trip to Israel will affect him. Michael has a knack for pairing his drawings with an air of sarcasm to make the reader laugh, while still keeping the earnest, confessional style of a diary. This is an excellent diary comic so snatch it up now and keep your eyes peeled for issue #2!

38 pages, color cardstock cover, half letter
$7

by John Henry Kelly & Keenan Marshall Keller

Not only is this zine a treat for your eyeballs but your ears as well, if you get inspired to start listening to the bands that are interviewed! John interviews punk, garage and experimental artists such Farflung, The Spits, Box Elders, The King Kahn & BBQ Show, Quintron, and more. Aside from learning the usual info about the band, their sound and how they get inspired, you’ll learn about garage band fist fights, where to get bacon cookies in LA, and retinal abuse. Keenan’s illustrations that adorn the heading of each interview are as bizarrely seductive as ever. Mutant Waves rules!

40 pages, cardstock cover, limited to 105 copies, half letter.
$4

by Sonia Edworthy & Sara Evans

This zine is not a traditional split zine, but, like the subtitle says, it is “a conversation piece”. Sara & Sonia recorded a conversation about origins of what became the Anchor Archive, home to a zine library and artist’s/zinester residency in Halifax. They write about fixing up an abandoned house, the excitement of setting up a zine library and how the Anchor Archive was always a home to come back to, despite their constant nomadism. You’ll get caught up in Sara & Sonia’s excitement about their ambitious projects while you’re reading this little zine, and hopefully be inspired to start some of your own!

36 pages, quarter letter.
$2

by Sonia Edworthy & Sara Evans

The second split zine done by Sara & Sonia goes into detail about the Anchor Archive in Halifax and how it got started. They explain their motives behind the Archive and the importance zines hold in the DIY and radical communities, as well as their projects such as the Shed Residency. Sara & Sonia also explain the complexities of becoming a non-profit organization when you don’t want to follow the rules laid out by the government. This is an informative read for anyone who is interested in starting their own art space, zine library or organization and going about it the DIY way. This inspiring zine ends with a conversation on gentrification and the role the Anchor Archive has in both aiding and combating gentrification of the North End in Halifax.

12 pages, half letter.
$2

by Matt Runkle

Matt Runkle is a friend of Amanda Verwey of Manderz Totally Top Private Diary and once you start reading his comic it’s easy to see why. This comic is like an illustrated old school perzine full of Matt’s opinions and quirky articles that will make you laugh out loud. It’s impossible to read Runx Tales without smiling. The first section of Runx Tales is called “If It Ain’t Gay, It’ Ain’t Marriage” where Matt comments on the unabashed campiness inherent in straight weddings, complete with hilarious illustrations. Matt includes his illustrated resume (complete with quips from the raunchy senior citizens he’s instructed), tales of growing up gay in Couer d’Alene, Idaho, life as a crust puff (not to be mistaken for crust punk!), and the varied types of men he fancies, ranging from the Freddie Mercury-esque Pretty Boy to the Librarian that came to work as a bumblebee on Halloween. Matt’s childlike drawing style, earnest way of telling stories and hilarious sense of humor makes it hard not to become a die-hard fan of Runx Tales.

24 pages, full size
$3

by Matt Runkle

Matt steps it up this issue with a full-color glossy cover for his comic! Inside you’ll find short comic tales of high school homoeroticism, such as “Wrestling with the Truth: I Went to Farm School”, and a very in-depth and funny history on ranch dressing (including a dramatic re-imagining of Hidden Valley Ranch to include sexy ranch hands taking a dip on their breaks in hot tubs of ranch dressing). Matt also introduces the reader to “Nora Tales”, where Matt recounts and illustrates a story of train hopping, a crying transvestite, and a creepy, but ridiculous, goth dude named Crow. Matt leaves the reader with a tribute to his friend, Samantha, who passed last summer. It’s hard not to fall in love with Matt (and Nora, and Samantha, but maybe not Crow…), because of his endearing and quirky style of drawing and ability to make the reader laugh out loud. Runx Tales is not to be missed!

28 pages, glossy color cover, full size
$3

by Osa

Osa writes on the first page of Shotgun Seamstress that the zine is “by and for Black punks, queers, misfits, feminists, artists & musicians, weirdos and the people who support us”. The zine is subtitled “Everybody Say Love” in honor of the amazing RuPaul, who said, “Cause you can’t love yourself — how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else?”. This zine is definitely about love for black punks. Osa starts off by giving an overview of some of the awesome punk bands with people of color in them that have been through Portland. She revisits her teenage years spent in D.C. to give us a brief personal history of “go-go”, a type of music, popular among Black youth, that never really became popular outside of D.C. These young go-go artists used trash cans and toy instruments to make their music and would play alongside punk and hardcore bands at shows. Chris Sutton, of Hornet Leg and the Gossip traces how black musicians have created and influenced rock n’ roll and punk. There is a wealth of information in this zine and even more awesome articles about women of color in punk rock and RuPaul. Don’t miss out on this revolutionary and handsomely designed zine!

40 pages, half letter.
$2

by Osa

Osa writes Shotgun Seamstress for “Black punks, queers, feminists, artists & musicians”, but even if you don’t fall into any of these categories, you’ll love this zine. Issue three is dedicated to a discussion of money and it’s place in both the Black and punk/radical communities. There is a small piece by two queer Black ladies about hopping trains and travelling for free and a piece by Brontez (of Gravy Train!!!!) about a battle over royalties. One of the most interesting pieces is a discussion of class and anti-affluence activism that questions the punk fetishization of living poverty. Not all of this zine is about money, however. There is a fascinating interview of Kali Boyle of Nastyfacts and an article about Alvin Baltrop, a Black photographer who chose to photograph Manhattan’s West Side Piers, known for its’ queer, homeless subculture. This zine combines beautiful design with discussions of music, art and politics all from a Black perspective.

40 pages, half legal
$3

by Osa

Osa takes a cue from Audre Lorde in titling this issue of Shotgun Seamstress, explaining that Lorde’s book of essays “refers to the experience of being part of a community, but also separate, on the margins. Outsider art is the creative work of self-taught artists that exists largely outside of the mainstream art world.” Subtitled “Sister Outsider Art”, this issue focuses on Black people in the visual arts and features interviews, articles, poetry and odes to influential figures such as Vaginal Creme Davis. Osa interviews James Spooner, the filmmaker who created the documentary Afropunk, and Jacob Gardens, a video performance artist. There are articles about folk punk artist Adee Robinson (who wrote a piece about train hopping in issue #3), and the campy, playful genderqueer art of Kalup Linzy. Shotgun Seamstress is easily one of the most exciting zines being made right now, so don’t miss out!

22 pages, half legal
$3

edited by Ben Holtzman

This perfect-bound book is a compilation of 19 stories of sickness from the perspective of people involved in the punk and radical communities. This zine came out of Ben’s desire for a book that speaks to him and his community after his cancer diagnosis. Ranging from personal accounts of connection between two lovers both dealing with their own scars and illnesses, to a letter by a woman’s father who battled Hepatitis C and her own reflections on the experience of having a parent with a chronic illness, all of the writings printed with in the pages of Sick are powerful, important, and all too often overlooked. Acknowledging and talking about physical sickness has become a societal taboo in America, and in many other countries as well. It may be easy for those who don’t have to deal with illness on a daily basis to ignore the fragility of the human body, but that’s not the reality for everyone. The beautifully written and designed Sick amplifies the voices of those who’ve had to deal with physical illness and articles such as “Illness and Support” by Ben Holtzman should be required reading for caregivers, family and friends. As fragile and mortal as we all may be, the courage of the authors who helped create Sick remind us that no matter what physical challenges get thrown our way, the human body and mild are unbelievably resilient too.

88 pages, perfect bound book, half letter
$5

published by Alex Wrekk

Stolen Sharpie Revolution is the ultimate guide to everything zine-related. This small, perfect bound book, belongs in every zinester’s collection. Contents include practical layout and zine-making tips, information on promotion, trading and mailing your zine to prisoners, helpful hints on how to make zine-making affordable, and a section on distros. Even if you aren’t interested in making a zine, easy to understand instructions on paper making, book binding, mail art and even how to put out a record make this a valuable DIY resource. The back pages are devoted to a list of distros, zine libraries, online zine resources, and zine fests & events. Stolen Sharpie Revolution is a must for everyone interested in zines. Whether you’re totally new to it or have been making your own zine for years, SSR will have something for everyone.

162 pages, perfect bound book, quarter letter.
$6

by Art for a Democratic Society

Art for a Democratic Society is a small organization dedicated to the public discussion of art and it’s role in society. Their Local Manifesto Series (check out the Earnest Art Manifesto) is a collection of manifesto zines written by local artists. On the back of each manifesto, A4DS implores the reader to write their own manifesto if they didn’t like what the read. So You Wanna Write a Manifesto? shows you just how to do that! This little zine is both a guide and a workbook to writing your own manifesto with questions for you to think about and spaces to fill in your own answers. The zine starts off with a brief run down of the importance and purpose of manifestos and what A4DS has done in the community. A4DS gives examples of the different types of manifestos out there and questions that can serve as jumping off points to get you going. The last few pages are dedicated to transcripts of manifestos written during A4DS’s Manifesto Workshop. This is a great little inspirational and informative zine, perfect for anyone interested in writing any kind of manifesto, not just ones about art.

16 pages, quarter letter
$1