Nine new members join our previously chosen zines and zinsters. (For a complete list send SASE or $1 to Musea
Here's what we look for in making our choices: 1) Publishing work over a long period of time (most for at least three years); 2) Publishing consistently high quality work (and in most cases, a LOT of work as well; 3. Zines mostly related to the arts. out of the 1,000's of zines out there (that mainstream media still refuses to review or write about, let alone admit they exist. Their boycott of this art form continues), these stand tall. There are certainly others as good, but few could dispute the talent of these zinesters.
ZINE WORLD (San Francisco). Editor Doug Holland (hall of famer for his personal zine Pathetic Life wanted a zine review that came out often and told the truth. He got it with Zine World; mostly zine reviews with news for and about zinesters themselves, from across the country, helping him review. With a variety of voices and opinions each issue is exciting and unpredictable. We salute the staff. (Note: although ZW is very new, the combined years of the staff is way beyond three years.)
FRAN MCMILLAN "Lilly on The Beach," "Jamie Foster," "Sweet Jesus," and others.." and other works. (Delaware). Fran writes extraordinary rich prose and poetry that's got the works: great characters, stories, poems, essays, even a sermon now and then. The mood is often dark with multi-overtones, making it all complex and fascinating reading.
APOPLECTIC CARDS by Bob Mannseichner (Ontario). Greeting cards "for the socially conscious and cynically astute seeking a brief respite from mindlessly festive pseudo- occasions." It's all great art with the message inside that you really wanted to send.
YUL TOLBERT (Timeliketoons) Cartoonist, (Detroit). "Cartoons made for the 21st century. Comics that are droll, multi-racial, thoughtful and all with a high technical skill. Usually comic books.
JOHN SWEETPoet, (New York) Poetry that's passionately morose with simple language that packs a powerful punch.
CRAP HOUND Editor/collector-of-images Sean Tejaratchi. "Picture book for Discussion & Activity" Sean turns clip art into high art. Crap Hound is scathing social commentary and certainly not a collection of images with which to trample the fragile rights of huge corporations."
GLOBAL MAIL We've given this already hall-of-famer a 2nd award for 2 reasons:
1 - The originator of GM, Ashley Parker Owens, has since written personal zines of outstanding quality that would qualify her by themselves: "Clean Restrooms This Exit," "California is a Funny Place," etc. (California) and
GREGORY K. H. BRYANT. essayist. short story writer, poet, artist. Falls Church, VA.
Bryant is best known for his impressionistic philosophical essays - profound thought told simply and directly. He covers a wide range of subjects and ideas all with a logical and questioning voice, never preachy or pushy. 70 plus essays so far and more coming.
SPARROW. poet, New York, New York. His paragraph stories/poems are always of people places and events slightly askew. They always tell of a land gone mad but quite acceptable to its inhabitants. No one sees the world in the unpredictable and wonderful way that Sparrow does.
TODD MOORE. poet, Albuquerque, NM. I'm going to let him speak for himself. (from
one of his letters. as told by R. Howington) "...For your information, gangsta poetry in this country isn't Bukowski's invention. it's mine, I've been making this kind of stuff since 1970 give or take. And, it has nothing to do with Bukowski's style or subject matter. Bukowski was the pornographer of pussy and a damned good one at that. I'm the pornographer of violence-" (And a damned good one at that).
ZEBULON NEBULA essayist, N. Merrick. NY. With an encyclopedic mind, `all cultures terrestrial & otherwise'. Zebulon recounts and reviews history in his essays. He seems to have the viewpoint of an unaligned alien, trying to make sense of us all (and having a hard time doing it). Sometimes he's lighthearted, sometimes piercingly serious. and controversial. but always fascinating comment.
JOHN MARR. writer/publisher. San Francisco, CA. When the mainstream press talks about zines they always mention John Marr and his zine MURDER CAN BE FUN. It's perhaps the most widely known of all zines and its writer/publisher is the master of PULP NON-FICTION. Inquiring minds want to know and Marr wants to tell them in graphic even
forensic detail: zoo deaths, Karen Carpenter's life and death, The Lindbergh kidnapping - It's all sensationalism but it's all written in great style and documented accuracy.
DOUG HOLLAND. writer/publisher - San Francisco, CA. His 1 man journal, PATHETIC LIFE, turns an ordinary life into an extraordinary reading event. Each 26 or so page
issue is another installment of a life that's honest, passionate, puzzled and filled with fascinating real life characters. I always end my reading with the same thought: what happens next?
ZINESTERS AND READERS - Now it's your turn- who have we missed? Who else should be
in our Zine Hall of Fame. Let us know. and CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL NEW MEMBERS!
2 - the new editor, Michael Dittman, receive one for continuing GM as well as for his own publications, Curriculum Vitae and Hopemonger (Pennsylvania)
ACE BACKWARDS . cartoonist . San Francisco- No cartoonist in zinedom has been
printed in more zines (over 200) than Ace Backwards, and for good reason. His cartoons are smart and laughable, yet always with an edge of satire supporting the little guy.