Overglued- zines, indie comics, and small press publishing

Cometbus #54- Touring Asia with Green Day

Derek Neuland — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:18:17 +0000

Like many people, I was surprised and confused when I first saw the cover of the new issue of Cometbus. Aaron Cometbus on tour with Green Day now? Luckily, he too had reservations about joining his old friends on the road again after 20 years. He explores a lot of these internal dilemmas in the 96 page zine. He paints a beautiful picture of friends reuniting and having a blast despite going in different directions in life. Throughout the issue, there are also many flashbacks to the first couple tours Aaron did with Green Day, most of them including their old drummer Al. He talks about the tour in a great way that anyone can relate to, even if you’ve never been on tour with a band before. He notes how far the band has come, but does it in a non-judgmental way despite his personal beliefs and ideals.

I really like this zine for two reasons. One, I love the way Aaron Cometbus writes. The way he tells a story is incredible, which is why i’m very excited to see him speak/read at the Chicago Zine Fest. Anytime he releases a new issue, I run out to buy it as soon as I can

My second reason is that given how popular Green Day is, this issue will be read by many people who normally don’t read zines. A lot of Green Day fans are also young kids who are looking for something new and exciting to get into. I really like the thought of this zine introducing a lot of people into the zine community.

You can buy Cometbus #54 at Portland Button Works for $4.00: http://www.portlandbuttonworks.com/store/cometbus-54-in-china-with-green-day

Scranton Zine Fest 2011

Derek Neuland — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 14:40:29 +0000

Zine fest season is upon us! With Chicago Zine Fest this weekend, it marks the beginning of this year of zine fests/symposiums. One thing that is really awesome is more zine fests keep on starting every year. DC Zine Fest was announced a few months ago, and now another new event peeks it’s head up. On June 11, 2011 will be the Scranton Zine Fest in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Fans of the US version of The Office will recognize the town as the fictional setting for the television show. While Michael Scott might not make an appearance at the first Scranton Zine Fest, there have already been a couple confirmed tablers including Wooden Shoe Books.

To keep up to date on Scranton Zine Fest 2011, be sure to bookmark their website: http://scrantonzinefest.com/

Zine Podcast Released About Fanzines Book by Teal Triggs

Derek Neuland — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 05:38:31 +0000

Alex Wrekk and myself, Derek Neuland, are the hosts of Nobody Cares About Your Stupid Zine Podcast. We have just released a new episode, and it is all about the book Fanzines by Teal Triggs that was published last fall. Many people were not asked permission to include images of their zines in the book until the book was already going to press. Also, there are many factual errors in the book that the author or publisher has not publicly admitted to. This episode was really fun to record/edit because we formatted it like an episode of This American Life.

Nobody Cares About Your Stupid Zine Podcast #3: In this Episode of Nobody Cares About Your Stupid Zine Podcast, Derek Neuland and Alex Wrekk discuss the book Fanzines by Teal Triggs and several issues surrounding it including copyright and etiquette as they interview Ramsey Beyer (illustrator and List zine) Amber Forrester (http://www.hello-amber.com/) and Jerianne Thompson (librarian and editor of Zine World).
You can download it here: http://nobodycareszine.libsyn.com/nobody-cares-about-your-stupid-zine-podcast-3 or if you are an itunes user, you can download it in itunes here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/nobody-cares-aboout-your-stupid/id307205846

If you want to learn more about this, definitely check out http://fanzinesbytealtriggs.weebly.com/

Washington D.C. Zine Fest Date Announced

Derek Neuland — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 01:11:41 +0000

The date of the (possibly?) first Washington D.C. Zine Fest has been announced. It will take place on July 30th, 2011 at St. Stephens Church, 1525 Newton Street NW. To keep up on their future announcements, be sure to bookmark http://dczinefest.wordpress.com/ .

Last month, the organizers of the D.C. Zine Fest posted a list of the top 10 reasons there should be a zine fest in D.C. The list can be found here, or below for ease:

D.C. is geographically accessible! Philly? NYC? Richmond? Baltimore? Frederick? Silver Spring? You know you want to come visit.
D.C. is filled with intellectual types who want to come to a meeting and melding of minds. Yes, we want to meld your mind.
D.C. is a historic epicenter of punk and riot grrrl life. There used to even be an infoshop somewhere here… let’s rediscover that heritage, or at least all come out of the woodwork to hang out with each other.
D.C. (well, Bethesda) is the home of the Small Press Expo, which isn’t super friendly to super small press. So this would be like a small small press expo. Where we don’t charge you to come look at stuff. (What do all the people who go to SPX do when they’re not at SPX? Why is SPX in D.C. if we don’t have some secret underground society of awesome self-publishing artists, writers, and comic book nerds?)
The economy is screwed, we’re all un- or under- employed, might as well make some zines!
Some of us travel all over the place to zinefests, and we’re lazy and want y’all to come here for once.
D.C. doesn’t have statehood, and we’re taxed without representation. We don’t have a voice in the government, but we have a voice in zines!
This will give you an excuse to make that zine of excerpts from your 7th grade diary that you’ve been planning on making for the past 5 years (yes we want to hear about your crush on Jordan Knight, we also think he’s dreamy).
Has there ever been a zine fest in D.C.? No seriously, we don’t know and we’d like to.
Because every time we mention the possibility in public, people get excited.

Interview with Liz Prince

Derek Neuland — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:25:02 +0000

Liz Prince, how does one properly describe her? She lives in Massachusetts and draws adorable comics about her life. She has published two books of her work on Top Shelf, Delayed Replays and (my favorite) Will You Still Love Me If I Wet the Bed?

How does one become as awesome as you Liz?

Liz Prince: Lizes aren’t made: they’re born. This is a one time deal, right here.

But if one wanted to try to emulate my awes-nificence, they could probably get close by drinking a lot of coffee and damaging their brains with pop punk. Mix with a penchant for riding a bike even though it makes you smell really bad and you’re more than halfway there, I’d say.

What came first, your love for punk or comics?

Liz: Comics definitely came first: my first comic book was when I was 8 or 9, it was an Olympic themed issue of Uncle Scrooge that I got at the supermarket when I was visiting my Grandparents in Las Vegas, and I think I might have made us go back the next day just so that I could get more. I read a lot of Disney books when I was younger; when Disney Adventures magazine printed the first issue of Bone in a 3 parts, I started to branch out find Independent comics that were shelved with Bone at the comic book store. Things like Milk & Cheese and even some underground comics like Zap. I was probably too young to read those kinds of books, but my dad wrote me a note that said he didn’t care if I bought them, so the comic book store sold them to me.

Haha, that rules! What a cool dad. I love Milk & Cheese (the comic, not the food). I even had a Milk & Cheese shirt at one point. What about your love for punk, how did that come about?

Liz: At the time I think my favourite band was probably They Might Be Giants, which is kind of punk, but not really. I didn’t really get into punk music in a way that defined me until Green Day released Dookie. Although my Dad was a stereophile and a music reviewer, I didn’t really pay attention to music in a serious way, but after I saw the video for Basket Case at my friend’s house when her older brother was watching MTV.

Music fests vs. comic conventions: which do you prefer?

Liz: I definitely prefer comic conventions; meeting fans and other artists, and getting to see my friends who draw comics, it’s where I feel the most at home, even though most of the time the conventions are in a city I don’t live in. I’m actually not too fond of Music fests, I prefer single shows. I don’t know if I even really like going to shows that much anymore unless it’s a band I’m really interested in seeing: a show used to be a big social event for me, but that’s fallen out of favor, because I realized that I’d rather hang out with my friends in a venue where we can have conversations without having to shout over a band that’s playing. Yeah, that’s right, I guess I’m officially OLD.

So I will admit that it’s a little antithetical that I have traveled so much in the last year to see bands: I went to Chicago last January to see the Riverdales, in May I went to Chaos in Tejas, mostly to see Marked Men and hang out with some friends who live in Austin, I went back to Austin to see Descendents in November, and in December I went to Jersey to see one of the Ergs! reunion shows. Last month I traveled to Philly to see Good Luck, and ended up going to DC to see them again the next night. I haven’t been to a show in Boston since… November maybe? But tonight I’m going to see Night Birds and Government Warning. I’m not a total shut-in over here.

Have you ever been recognized on the street (when not at a comic convention) based on your comics?

Liz: Yes. All of the time, both in the Boston area (where I live) and in other cities. When I was in Austin last November to see Descendents at Fun Fun Fun Fest, I was at a bar, and a girl came up to me and asked if I was Liz Prince, and she told me that she had to look me up on Google Images to be sure. She ended up going home and getting my books so I could sign them for her, and in return she bought me 4 shots of whiskey, so it was a pretty good encounter. Around x-mas I was in a store and I used my credit card to buy something, and the girl at register had a little freak out session when she recognized my name: I was hoping she’d give me a discount, but it didn’t happen. I’ve been stopped on the street a lot, and when I draw in my favorite coffee shop I am recognized a good amount.

I’m usually surprised when I get recognized, because I don’t think my drawing of myself looks THAT much like me, and I myself am horrible at recognizing noteworthy people: a month ago I was in Brooklyn at a pizza place with some friends, and the actor Justin Theroux ended up being at the table next to ours. I wouldn’t have noticed, but my friend Zac pointed it out, and I was plotting, if he ever walked by me, that I would stop him and ask if he was Justin Theroux, and if he said “yes” I would just look back down at my food and give an unenthused “cool” and if he said “no” I do the same thing but say “too bad”. He never walked by, so I guess I’ll have to use that on some other celebrity, if I’m ever in the same room as one again.

What current band would you love to be asked to draw an album cover for?

Liz: This could be a retardedly long list, so I’ll just say ones that I think it could fit for:

Lemuria
the Copyrights
House Boat
the Creeps
Mean Jeans

If the Parasites put out a new record I would shit my pants if I got to do art for it.

Basically, if you’re in a band and you think you fit in with my musical tastes, I would most likely be totally stoked to do art for you.

How has the responses been to your comics on If You Make It so far? Will you be returning to Chaos in Tejas this year to illustrate your adventures again?

Liz: I was pretty surprised when I went to the Small Press Expo last year and I got a lot people being concerned that I hadn’t had a new If You Make It comic for a month or so: I didn’t realize that a lot of COMICS fans followed those, as opposed to just people who either found out about the strips through my website/twitter/facebook/what have you, or people who just check out IYMI regularly. Unfortunately, I’ve had to take a break from drawing an IYMI strip for the last month or so, because I had a lot of other anthology/freelance deadlines at the beginning of the year. And now that it’s almost March and the spring convention season is starting again, it might be another month or so before I return to IYMI.

I am considering going to Chaos again this year, even though I’m not such a music fest fan, and as far as music fests go, Chaos is mostly out of my area of interest, but Marked Men are playing again, and Dillinger Four will be there, F.Y.P. is playing a reunion show, and I just like having excuses to go to Austin. Two of my best friends live there, and the food is amazing, there are cool places to go swimming, and I heard a new pinball arcade opened up, so what’s not to love?

What does the future hold for you? Any new comics coming out this year?

Liz: The 3rd issue of I Swallowed the Key to My Heart should be out by May or June, and hopefully the 4th will be out in the Fall. I will have stories in a few anthologies, including the 12th issue of Not My Small Diary. I’m also going to put together an ALONE FOREVER collection, because so many people have demanded it, and I might do a reprint of my highschool comics collection I Was a Teenage Comic Nerd. I also made a set of 4 buttons that I will have a conventions and in my webstore.

Any last comments?

Liz: If you’re considering writing me an email based on my ALONE FOREVER series about how you think I should get into the dating game, please chop your hands off before you push send and make me really angry. Thanks.

*To keep on on the exploits of Liz Prince, all of her blog posts, comics, and links to various social networks can be found on her website Liz Prince Power.*

Zine World #30 Out Now!

Derek Neuland — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 23:03:01 +0000

Zine World is easily the best and most comprehensive zine about zines around right now. Each issue is packed with news, reviews, and very well written articles all about zines and small press publications. Here is the information for the latest issue, taken from the Zine World website:

Zine World #30 is now available! This 40-page, full-size issue features:

more than 200 reviews of zines, comics, magazines, books, and other self-published materials.
commentary by Joshua (of Ms Valerie Park distro) called “Where We Were and Where We Want to Be.”
commentary by Candace (of Sticky Institute) called “The Bubble — Zines and Constructive Criticism.”
commentary by Jerianne titled “Why I’m Mad About the New Fanzines Book.”
an article by Lizzy (of Marching Stars distro) called “Amusing, Odd and Infuriating Things That I’ve Learnt from Running a UK Distro.”
two articles about Microcosm Publishing(”Cindy Crabb Says No to Microcosm” and “Microcosm Says No to ZW, Other Zines”).
a list of reader recommended zine distros & stores that sell zines.
resource listings on zine libraries, review zines, and online resources, with articles on postage changes and the Revenge of Print.
an updated postal chart, plus a bonus postal chart with the rates scheduled for April 2011.
art and illustrations by Mike Goetz, Carl Alessi, and Lydia Velarde, with cover art by e. war.

Zine World costs $4 US, $5 to Canada, or $7 overseas. Subscriptions are also available. Order by sending cash, stamps, or money order (payable to Jerianne) to PO Box 330156, Murfreesboro TN 37133. Or visit Ordering Zine World to order via PayPal. Subscriber copies and pre-orders will be going into the mail this week!

Who Should Win the Long Arm Stapler Award?

Derek Neuland — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 03:48:26 +0000

For the 2nd year in a row, Quimby’s Bookstore will be presenting the Long Arm Stapler Award during the Chicago Zine Fest this March. Last year, Quimby’s created the Long Arm Stapler Award to highlight accomplishments in self-publishing. The first annual award was presented to QZAP, the Queer Zine Archive Project.

This year, Quimby’s is calling out to the zine community, seeking nominations for who should get this year’s Long Arm Stapler Award, as well as nominations for two members of the jury, which will select this year’s recipient.

Here is the rest of the info:

Quimby’s Long Arm Stapler Award is an annual honor bestowed upon a group or individual dedicated to self-publishing and the first amendment. Each year’s recipient must show the following qualities:

enthusiasm for and commitment to self -publishing, which includes active participation at some level of self-publishing.

cause for inspiration within other self-publishers.

a high level of quality in output.

The Long Arm Stapler Award should not be viewed as a competition, but as Quimby’s celebrating one of the forms of media that makes our store unique. The utilitarian nature of the award –an actual long arm stapler- is meant to focus this honor as a form of recognition and encouragement of the work the recipient has done for self-publishing, and as an attempt to bring self-publishers together to celebrate one of their own.

The award’s jury will be comprised of Quimby’s employees, any interested recipient of the Long Arm Stapler Award for the past five years, and up to two individuals nominated by the public.

To nominate a group or individual for either the award or the jury, email us at info[at]quimbys.com, with your nomination and a brief reason for the nomination.

Nominations for the jury are due by February 15, 2011

Nominations for the award are due by February 21, 2011

The award will be presented at the Chicago Zine Fest’s Karoke party at Quimby’s Bookstore on March 25, 2011

You can read the full article here.

Nicki Sabalu Demonstrates How To Make a Zine

Derek Neuland — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:22:57 +0000

This is a really great video by Nicki Sabalu on how to make a zine. It’s done really well and breaks down the steps it takes to make a zine in a way that’s really easy to understand. Nicki is the editor of the zine DIY or Don’t We?

2011 Portland Zine Symposium Art Call!

Derek Neuland — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 00:50:10 +0000

The Portland Zine Symposium is looking for art submissions for the 2011 poster. This year’s theme is “Postmarked 2011.” Your art submission should be your creative interpretation of that theme.

The guidelines are simple – We are looking for a 11″ wide x 17″ tall poster that will also be used in other formats (the web, post cards, buttons, stickers, etc), so your design needs to be visible and striking at multiple sizes and resolutions (or have smaller, breakaway pieces). The design will eventually be silk screened / screen printed onto t-shirts, so limit your colors to black, white and one other color. We encourage artists to use any medium or style. We strongly prefer that the choosen artist is able to assist us in the process of transferring (resizing / cropping / etc) the image multiple mediums.

Your design should include (or be able to include once all details are finalized) the following:

- the theme

- the dates (TBA)

- the place (TBA)

- the website (www.pdxzines.com)

- “11th Annual Portland Zine Symposium”

- “A conference and zine social exploring facets of independent publishing and DIY culture.”

Submission deadline is March 1st. Submissions can be emailed to pdxzines@gmail.com (most strongly preferred), mailed (to PO Box 5901 Portland, OR 97228-5901), or dropped off at the IPRC.

Cometbus #54 and “Add Toner” Book Coming Soon

Derek Neuland — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 09:17:59 +0000

While not an official press release, in a thread at We Make Zines, Jeri from Last Gasp recently posted some very good news for Cometbus fans. The long awaited next issue of the zine Cometbus will be released around February 4th, 2011.

In addition to this, it was announced that Last Gasp will be publishing a new book this summer by Aaron Cometbus titled Add Toner. The new book will be a collection of the classic, out of print issues of Cometbus magazine, the follow-up to Despite Everything, the best-of collection from the first two decades of Cometbus. Add Toner includes Lanky (a novella), Back to the Land (an oral history of the children of hippie homesteaders), plus sixty other interviews and short stories. The text is lovingly handwritten, interspersed with bold graphics and illustrations. Includes never- before- published material.

Last Gasp has published his previous books as well: Despite Everything, Double Duce, and I Wish There Was Something I Could Quit.