Whatcha Mean, What's a Zine?

 

Title: Whatcha Mean, What’s a Zine?

Authors: Mark Todd & Esther Pearl Watson.

Bibliographic Info:

Todd, Mark & Watson, Esther Pearl. (2006). Whatcha mean, what’s a zine? Boston: Graphia.

Descriptive Summary:

An all-star line-up of zine creators and comic artists present a great and thorough guide to making and distributing our own zine. Illustrated and printed on high quality paper, Whatcha Mean is a tome that is built to last and re-read over and over again. Features work by Jordan Crane, Ron Rege Jr., Allison Cole, PaperRad and many more. This is like having a whole collection of experts at your fingertips.

Evaluative comments with rating:
5/5 TVs - This one hits it right out of the park and into your tv screen. Read it!

As a work of art, Whatcha Mean is stupendous. It looks beautiful and it looks like a book you'd want to revisit over and over again. At first glance Whatcha Mean looks like it's more style than substance and it occasionally treads into "this is a little too busy for the eyes" territory. However upon closer inspection, Whatcha Mean provides crucial step-by-step guides in a fun and never tedious manner. It's jam packed with info and tons of different perspectives with no two sections ever looking the same. This is a book that zine makers —regardless of experience and age— will revisit time and time again.

Suggested Audience (age range): All ages

Readers’ advisory notes:

Appeal factors: Funny, Offbeat, Descriptive, Jargon-filled, Lush, Engaging

Readalikes: D.I.Y.: The Rise of Lo-Fi Culture - Amy Spencer, Indie Publishing - How to Design and Produce Your Own Book - Ellen Lupton,  Zine Scene - Francesca Lia Block & Hillary Carlip,

Booktalking hook:

Page 20 Great Moments in Zine History traces zines from Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Edison to Cold War Russia. Great comedy!

Reason for inclusion: Beautiful cover, Personal interest in zine and comics culture.

Category: Nonfiction – Recreational/Zines

Stolen Sharpie Revolution

Editor: Joe Biel

Bibliographic Info:

Biel, Joe. (2003). Stolen sharpie revolution: a diy zine resource. Portland, OR: Microcosm Publishing.

Descriptive Summary:

Stolen Sharpie Revolution is a jam-packed guide to zine and mail art culture that also serves as a practical how-to guide on making and designing zines. Stolen Sharpie Revolution showcases the ins and outs of producing zines, selling and distributing zines, and reaching out to other zine writers. It also doesn’t shy away from some of the realities of zine culture, including predators who sometimes prey on potential victims through zines. Tons of resource lists and zines suggestions round out Stolen Sharpie Revolution.

Evaluative comments with rating:

4/5 TVs - Go outside and take this book with you

Stolen Sharpie Revolution is an invaluable resource for seasoned zinesters and neophytes just learning about zines. The writing is clear and never condescends, the step-by-step guides are straightforward and useful, and a number of different perspectives on zines and zine related culture are presented. Stolen Sharpie Revolution only falls short in that it may be a little inaccessible for those unfamiliar with underground and punk culture, it might prove a little overwhelming at first. However, once a reader delves into Stolen Sharpie Revolution and zine culture, this will serve as a lifesaver over and over again.

Suggested Audience (age range): 13+

Readers’ advisory notes:

Appeal factors: Inspirational, offbeat, reflective, candid, richly-detailed

Readalikes: Evasion, Cometbus, Maximumrocknroll, Broken Pencil, Zine-O-File, Ghost Pine - Jeff Miller

Booktalking hook:

From the intro:

Somehow Sharpies exchange hands over and over and I'd like to think that's a good thing. I think ideas are meant to be like that, shared and passed on so that everyone can appreciate them. That is what this zine is about, creative exchange. Not to show you how things must be done but to give you a jumping off point and a few hints to do things your own way.

Reason for inclusion:
Familiarity with the publishing company and their prior works.

Category: Magazine/Zine/Zines