Broken Pencil magazine

 

Title: Broken Pencil

Editor:  Lindsay Gibb

Bibliographic Info:

Gibb, Lindsay. (2013). Broken pencil, 1 (58).

Descriptive Summary:

Broken Pencil’s primary focus is on zine culture, but it also covers independent arts, culture and music. This issue of Broken Pencil has a strong LGBTQ focus, but also includes the regular comics, guides, reviews of zines, books, comics, graphic novels and music, as well as short stories exclusive to Broken Pencil.

Evaluative comments with rating:
4/5 – Worth turning off your TV for.

There is no better document of zine culture in North America. Broken Pencil covers the margins and then some. The magazine is incredibly inclusive and no subculture should feel overlooked. This is a great accessible magazine that really attempts to great cross-country links between regional art and culture scenes. It attempts to showcase the best in underground culture while at the same time shining a spotlight on artists and projects that may as well exist in the fringes if it wasn't for Broken Pencil. It's a great guide for arts oriented teens who wondering what's happening in the rest of the country.

Suggested Audience (age range): 14+ Mildly offensive language and some mature themes

Readers’ advisory notes:

Appeal factors: Thoughtful, richly detailed, engaging, descriptive

Readalikes: Maximumrocknroll, Shameless, Bitch, Quill & Quire, Razorcake

Booktalking hook:

From page 33 Zine Philosophy: "What interests me about zines is that they carry an aura unlike anything else. it's impossible to grab a zine and not feel like you can make one too. They look easy. They look personal. And their significance is double: they deliver content and a quiet call to the reader to make their own."

Reason for inclusion:

Familiarity with the magazine and its publisher.

Category: Magazine/LGBTQ/Zines