BLOG ZINE: Look In, or Look Out

by Kari Tervo

Hi. So. . .it's been a while. I was studying for a professional exam (I passed YEAH!), I got a new job, and my dog died. Transitions make me reflect, look within, and see myself in a different context, so here's a couple of zines on that theme: one looks out towards the world of circus performance, and the other stays within, examining life's personal details.

Here's the FAQ if you want a refresher.

Here's my rating system:

Here’s my Rating System:
Recommended: !
It’s Aiight: .
Maybe If You’re Into That Sort of Thing: ? - See more at: http://www.popculturebeast.com/2013/10/blog-zine-weekly-online-zine-reviews.html#sthash.cA4OZmLZ.dpuf

Recommended: !
It’s Aiight: .
Maybe If You’re Into That Sort of Thing: ? - See more at: http://www.popculturebeast.com/2013/10/blog-zine-weekly-online-zine-reviews.html#sthash.cA4OZmLZ.dpuf

Recommended: !

It's Aiight: .

Maybe If You're Into That Sort of Thing:  ?

CLICK RAWR TO BE AWESOME!

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BLOG ZINE! It's Los Angeles Zine Week!

by Kari Tervo

ZINEY BEASTERS! This is a very exciting week. It's LA ZINE WEEK!!! LA Zine Week is when many of the good people of the zine scene converge on Los Angeles for a week of zine events, like readings, music performances, and finally, LA ZINE FEST! That's on Sunday, February 16th, 2014. omg! You should go!

I'll be at LA Zine Fest this year, slinging my humor zine, Shards of Glass In Your Eye! and collecting donations for my volunteer project, Zines for Troops! Stop by my table and say hi!

And. . .omg, I can't believe this is happening, but I will be rapping (!) at Aurora Lady's launch party for her new zine, Don't Hide Behind Your Skirt! That's at Pop Hop in Highland Park on February 12th. I hope you can check out some fabulous Zine Week events!

As if you can't already tell I'm excited about Zine Week, I'm so freakin' excited that I'm reviewing three zines this week! Here's the FAQ, long-haired freaky people! You don't got to have a membership card to get inside.

Here's my rating system:

Here’s my Rating System:
Recommended: !
It’s Aiight: .
Maybe If You’re Into That Sort of Thing: ? - See more at: http://www.popculturebeast.com/2013/10/blog-zine-weekly-online-zine-reviews.html#sthash.cA4OZmLZ.dpuf

Recommended: !
It’s Aiight: .
Maybe If You’re Into That Sort of Thing: ? - See more at: http://www.popculturebeast.com/2013/10/blog-zine-weekly-online-zine-reviews.html#sthash.cA4OZmLZ.dpuf

Recommended: !

It's Aiight: .

Maybe If You're Into That Sort of Thing:  ?

CLICK RAWR FOR SOME GREAT READS FOR A STRONG WEEK!

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BLOG ZINE! Anecdotes and Dozey-Dotes and Little Lambs Eat Punk Bands

by Kari Tervo

Hey there, zine star. You're lookin' good tonight. Baby, you must be New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, because you stop traffic. Purrrr. . . Here's the FAQ. I'd read it to you, but when you're around, I can't see through all the stars in my eyes. Can I get you a drink? I promise I won't slip somethin' in it. No? Okay, baby. Then let me give you this zine review allll niiiiight loooong.

Here's my rating system:

Here’s my Rating System:
Recommended: !
It’s Aiight: .
Maybe If You’re Into That Sort of Thing: ? - See more at: http://www.popculturebeast.com/2013/10/blog-zine-weekly-online-zine-reviews.html#sthash.cA4OZmLZ.dpuf

Recommended: !
It’s Aiight: .
Maybe If You’re Into That Sort of Thing: ? - See more at: http://www.popculturebeast.com/2013/10/blog-zine-weekly-online-zine-reviews.html#sthash.cA4OZmLZ.dpuf

Recommended: !

It's Aiight: .

Maybe If You're Into That Sort of Thing:  ?

Freak Tension 15th Anniversary Issue
Rating: !!.
Price: not listed
MP Johnson
freaktension@yahoo.com
www.freaktension.com

CLICK RAWR TO FREAK OUT!

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BLOG ZINE: Showdown at the Superlodionplex

by Kari Tervo

Good evening. Welcome to Blog Zine. Can I take your coat? Party of one? Follow me, I'll seat you at one of our scenic window booths. Your server will be right by with some warm bread. In the meantime, can I get you a soda, iced tea, or cocktail? Excellent, that will be brought right out. Here's the FAQ, and today's specials are humor and storytelling. Enjoy your meal.

Here's my rating system:

Here’s my Rating System:
Recommended: !
It’s Aiight: .
Maybe If You’re Into That Sort of Thing: ? - See more at: http://www.popculturebeast.com/2013/10/blog-zine-weekly-online-zine-reviews.html#sthash.cA4OZmLZ.dpuf

Recommended: !
It’s Aiight: .
Maybe If You’re Into That Sort of Thing: ? - See more at: http://www.popculturebeast.com/2013/10/blog-zine-weekly-online-zine-reviews.html#sthash.cA4OZmLZ.dpuf

Recommended: !

It's Aiight: .

Maybe If You're Into That Sort of Thing:  ?

Wiseblood #59
Rating: !!!!
Price: not listed
Fishspit
Wiseblood 
c/o Fishspit
1304 175th Place NE
Bellevue, WA 98008

CLICK RAWR FOR YOUR DESSERT!

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BLOG ZINE! Life is Beautiful

by Kari Tervo

Hey! It's a new year! Welcome to 2014, and welcome back to Blog Zine, the weekly zine review column that does not always appear weekly! Sorry, it was the holidays. I was out in the desert, playing darts. I think that's a freaking cool excuse, if you have to have one.

What the heck are we doing here? Here's the FAQ. There will be a quiz.

CLICK RAWR TO HIT THE BULLS EYE ON A CHOICE ZINE!

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BLOG ZINE! The Most Interesting Man In The (Zine) World

by Kari Tervo

You want to talk zines, Gene? Then you should read the FAQ, Jack.

Oh, also? I haven't been getting a lot of my post office box mail since July. They thought I was dead.* So, if you sent me something for review, I just got it. And if you sent me a trade or something, I have things all sorted and will be tackling that stack regularly!

*I am not dead. Unless this is The Sixth Sense. In which case, you are also dead.** 

**Spoiler alert! Movies that came out in 1999 don't require spoiler alerts!

CLICK RAWR FOR THE MOST INTERESTING ZINE REVIEW IN THE WORLD!

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BLOG ZINE! The Grim Reaper In A Balloon Hat

by Kari Tervo

Zine reviews! What shall we talk about today? Hrm. Oh! Hey! It's the holiday season! How about two of America's favorite celebration topics: balloon animals and death!

Here's the FAQ, ya big dummy.

Here’s my Rating System:
Recommended: !
It’s Aiight: .
Maybe If You’re Into That Sort of Thing: ?

CLICK RAWR TO POP OUT OF THE CLOSET WITH A BALLOON ANIMAL AND ADORABLY SCARE THE ANGEL OF DEATH!

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BLOG ZINE! It's a Signal! Buy a Zine Grab Bag!

by Kari Tervo

Okay, you guys. For a brief moment, I want to address those among us who are curious about zines, but aren't really feeling them yet (or might appreciate the FAQ).

"Kari," you say. "I know that there's an independent spirit in zines, and that there are no limits except your imagination and the laws of physics, and that there are a lot of really creative people making great zines. But. . .what about the cost?"

I totally feel that. I'm budget-concious, too. I mean, I'm collecting grocery store stamps for the Rachael Ray place-setting promotion at Albertson's. I feel like a 1950s housewife, but I'm now the proud owner of some colorful salad plates, gratis!

I know everyone likes a bargain. So before this week's review, let me tell you about zine grab bags. Zine grab bags are pretty much what every grab-bag is: a mish-mash of this and that and whatnot. But the beauty of a zine grab bag is that its personality will vary based on who is sending it to you: A general zine distributor? Anything from politics to music to travel to gardening to. . .everything. A feminist zine distributor? Expect a lot of frank discussion about sexuality and womanhood, with some punk reviews and band stickers thrown in! An Etsy seller? You may get an amazing selection of the best in zines, but you might also get a mediocre distribution of things the seller wants to get rid of. This one time? My zine grab bag from an Etsy seller was full of zines that the seller had cut things out of and put into her own zine! But most of the time, you'll get a good to great sampling of independent creations.

"Okay, Kari," you sigh, quickly losing your patience. "I said, what about the cost?"

Oh yeah. I'm sorry. I tend to pre-amble. Let's get to the point:

CLICK RAWR TO SEPARATE THE 'SIGNAL' FROM MY NOISE!

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BLOG ZINE! Everyday Pleasures.

by Kari Tervo

Life moves pretty fast. 
If you don't stop and look around once in a while, 
you could miss it.

So spoketh our modern sage, Ferris Bueller. But I'm guessing Ferris took a page from Ken Bausert, the author of today's featured zine. Here's a freakin' zine review!

FAQ here.

Here’s my Rating System:
Recommended: !
It’s Aiight: .
Maybe If You’re Into That Sort of Thing: ?

The Ken Chronicles #29
Rating: !!!
Price: $3, fair trade, or letter of comment
Ken Bausert
2140 Erma Drive
East Meadow, NY 11554-1120
PassScribe@aol.com

Ken Bausert's the Ken Chronicles #29 is surprising. And that's because it's not that surprising at first glance: There's a story about his new bed. A photo of a duck in a parking lot. Price considerations on a trip to visit friends celebrating their 50th anniversary. On the surface, the Ken Chronicles captures the everyday existence of a retired guy on Long Island. And it does, right down to his excitement about a great deal on McMuffins. 

CLICK RAWR TO READ MORE ABOUT THIS ZINE! IT'S LIKE BRAIN YOGA!

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BLOG ZINE! More Boot(y) Than A Twerking Contest!

by Kari Tervo

It's Friday. The zinester stalks the internet, looking to feed on zine reviews. "Hey," says the zinester. "Didn't that Kari chick at Pop Culture Beast say she was going to post a new zine review every Friday?" The zinester clicks over to Pop Culture Beast. The zinester is searching, searching, searching, circling the posts, only to find that Kari has not posted new zine reviews yet. Yet, the zinester sniffs the air, sensing that a new review post is coming. . .

Okay, I did say I would post new reviews every Friday. How about. . .Fridayish? Okay.

Here's the FAQ on this late-delivered shebang.

Let's do this!

This week, we're covering The Boot and Booty! Cuz it seemed clever to review two zines with similar names! And both are comic-book zines! It's like, fate.

CLICK RAWR TO SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE, 

SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE, SHAKE YOUR BOOTY!

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BLOG ZINE! God vs. Cat Puke

Hi Ziney Beasters. Or Beasty Zinesters. Or zabba dabba dow dow (I'm sorry, that's fun).

Well, if this isn't the way my week is going. This week's review is a little different.

Here's the FAQ re: this.

FAQre. People who write FAQs work in a FAQre.

Here's my rating system:

Here’s my Rating System:
Recommended: !
It’s Aiight: .
Maybe If You’re Into That Sort of Thing: ? - See more at: http://www.popculturebeast.com/2013/10/blog-zine-weekly-online-zine-reviews.html#sthash.cA4OZmLZ.dpuf

Recommended: !
It’s Aiight: .
Maybe If You’re Into That Sort of Thing: ? - See more at: http://www.popculturebeast.com/2013/10/blog-zine-weekly-online-zine-reviews.html#sthash.cA4OZmLZ.dpuf

Recommended: !

It's Aiight: .

Maybe If You're Into That Sort of Thing:  ?

God 151
Rating: !!!
Price: Unknown
Author: Unknown
Contact: Unknown

CLICK RAWR TO FIND GOD (151) !

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BLOG ZINE! We Gotcher Queeah Heeyah!

by Kari Tervo

Hola Ziney Beasters! It's time for some zining!

If you want to know what this is all about, take a look at the FAQ!

Just one review this week: Queer & Trans Youth Visibility in Riverside, California.

Here's my rating system:

Here’s my Rating System:
Recommended: !
It’s Aiight: .
Maybe If You’re Into That Sort of Thing: ? - See more at: http://www.popculturebeast.com/2013/10/blog-zine-weekly-online-zine-reviews.html#sthash.cA4OZmLZ.dpuf

Recommended: !
It’s Aiight: .
Maybe If You’re Into That Sort of Thing: ? - See more at: http://www.popculturebeast.com/2013/10/blog-zine-weekly-online-zine-reviews.html#sthash.cA4OZmLZ.dpuf

Recommended: !

It's Aiight: .

Maybe If You're Into That Sort of Thing:  ?

Queer & Trans Youth Visibility in Riverside, California
Rating: !.
Price: Not listed
Inland Empire Queer and Trans Youth Visibility Project
facebook.com/IEQTYVP
IEQTYVP@gmail.com

CLICK RAWR FOR THE REVIEW!

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BLOG ZINE! Bang! Bing! And a Zing Zang Zow!

By Kari Tervo

Hey Pop Culture Beast zinesters! It's Friday! Let's get our zine on!

This is my first weekly zine review post. If you want to know what this is all about, take a look at the FAQ!

Today we're going to talk about three zines: Trinket #6, Gag Me With A. . .#9, and Breakfast at Twilight #5! We got some poetry! We got some essays! We got some tidbits and anecdotes! We got some bang and some bing and some zing zang zow!

Here's my rating system:

Here’s my Rating System:
Recommended: !
It’s Aiight: .
Maybe If You’re Into That Sort of Thing: ? - See more at: http://www.popculturebeast.com/2013/10/blog-zine-weekly-online-zine-reviews.html#sthash.cA4OZmLZ.dpuf

Recommended: !
It’s Aiight: .
Maybe If You’re Into That Sort of Thing: ? - See more at: http://www.popculturebeast.com/2013/10/blog-zine-weekly-online-zine-reviews.html#sthash.cA4OZmLZ.dpuf

Recommended: !

It's Aiight: .

Maybe If You're Into That Sort of Thing:  ?

CLICK RAWRTO GET INTO THE ZINE SCENE!

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BLOG ZINE: Weekly Online Zine Reviews for the Renegade Reader in You!

by Kari Tervo

Hello pop culture fans! Are you familiar with zines? If not, you’re gonna be! Blog Zine on Pop Culture Beast is gonna be your Friday fix, I’m tellin ya. Here is my special guest, Frequently Asked Questions Man, to interrogate me:

WHAT’S A ZINE?

Zines are independently-published magazines. They usually have a pretty small circulation (anywhere from one to 5,000 copies), and are often produced on photocopiers at home. Zine-makers (zinesters in the parlance) share their creations with friends and family, and trade them with other zinesters. Some sell them through the postal mail, at zine festivals, through distribution centers (distros), or online, like in Etsy shops. And we love reading reviews, about our own zines and other zines! The zine community loves to support other zinesters and pass around feedback. We are awesome!

The beauty of a zine is that the zine-maker is in charge. So that means there are zines about everything. Relationships, mental illness, parenting, humor, travel, food, disability, art, sexuality, politics! Anything you can think of, there’s probably a zine out there about it. Crows. German genealogy. Gory news stories. Short-wave radios. Rape. Racism. Zines go from fluff to ohf*ck. Yes, folks, we’re gonna run the gamut.

WHY ARE YOU REVIEWING ZINES?

Like with any form of anything, there’s a range of quality you’ll see in zines. Visually, some people are new and just finding their zine-making feet. Some zine-makers treat zine-making like a lost art, painstakingly using old-fashioned printing presses to set every letter just right. The content varies, too. You’ll see zines with handwritten thoughts thrown down like in a journal, and others that are edited with care. Some are great, and some are just okay.

The value of a zine is really in the eye of the zine-holder. I’m here to introduce you to the wide and wonderful world of zines. Or, if you're familiar with zines, I'll let you know which ones I'm into. I’ll help you navigate which ones might be worth it for you to pick up. Like every zine-maker, each zine reviewer has his or her own personality and preferences. I encourage you to explore other zine reviews, both in print and online, to help you zone in (zine in, heh) on which kinds of zines you might like to take a chance on.

CLICK RAWR FOR MORE ZINE, JELLY BEAN!

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