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BETTY PAGINATED #27
by Dann Lennard and Helen Vnuk

($5.00 US / $5.00 AUS / £5.00 UK from Dann Lennard / PO Box A1412 / Sydney South, NSW 1235 / AUSTRALIA. Web: http://www.bettypaginated.blogspot.com/)

Reviewed by Eric Lyden

I could sum this zine up in about three sentences — if you like porn you'd probably wanna check it out. If you like pro wrestling you'd probably wanna check it out. If you like porn and wrestling you probably already subscribe. Me, I'm a wrestling fan so I enjoyed the wrestling content (including an encyclopedia of wrestling comic books, an interview with Mr. Zero, some live show and tape reviews (and I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought Waylon Mercy was a cool gimmick) and a tribute to Road Warrior Hawk. As for the porn stuff... well, i must confess I didn't read every word, but I sure did enjoy looking at the pictures (of which there are plenty) An enjoyable zine. And I agree, this Gretchen Mol chick doesn't have hat it takes to play Betty Page.

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POSSUM AT LARGE #1
by Chad Lambert and Joe Gravel

($5.00 ppd from possumatlarge.com)

Reviewed by Matt Dembicki

There are so many anthropomorphic comics around that I approach them with caution. Most, in my humble opinion, are rather unoriginal. That's why I was skeptical when I picked up Possum at Large, even though it was a 2003 Day Prize nominee. It's a nice self-contained time-travel story that's ably illustrated by Joe Gravel. But it left me wondering about a few things: Why a possum? For that matter, why an animal? I didn't really see a reason for it. (Maybe it symbolizes something? Or is it to pay homage to Cerebus, which seems to be an influence on this book?) And I'm not clear why the villains — dubbed the overlords who rule the world in the future — go back in time to change events (supposedly to make it more challenging for them to conquer the world? Huh?). I also have problems with traveling to the past to change the future. These types of stories always seem to selectively choose what they can change. If you go back in time to prevent a murder, won't the present or future be different than as you left it? (It's more of a philosophical quip than anything else.) Aside from my personal issues with the theme, Possum did provide an enjoyable if not very inspiring read. If you like Possum, check out the new installments in Ape Entertainment's Omnibus (that’s a review for another time!).

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TEXARKANA
by Patrick Neighly and Donny Hadiwidjaja

($12.95, Mad Yak Press)

Reviewed by Evan Keeling

I like post apocalyptic future stories. When done well you get a nice juxtaposition between futuristic and antiquated, a nice mix of old and new and future technology all mixed together. Texarkana is no exception; it has over-the-top futuristic weaponry and gadgets and such, but they are still going to opium dens and riding in rickshaws. Patrick Neighly and company do a good job of combining the futuristic with Asian and cowboy influences.

Now the idea of a police state with criminal justice doled out on the streets isn't new (Judge Dredd) but Texarkana puts an interesting new spin on it. While it is generally played more for laughs, I like how it is a team that judges a criminal. You have a judge and an executioner but you also have defense and prosecuting attorneys. I think this element allows for some nice group dynamics; while they are all a team working together, there is a point on every assignment where they have to work against one another.

Donny Hadiwidjaja's art is good and it has a nice extended cartoony quality, with extreme perspective and long bodies, but it is still grounded in reality and is consistent in its approach. I like Anne Marie Horne's coloring — it's solid and has good light and dark ratios, but I do wish that it retained more of the feel from the beautiful water color portraits of the characters.

The story is good; it's a little hard to follow sometimes but it is the first in a series so there is still some development to go. I would have liked to see more action take place in Texas to establish the setting of where they are coming from, but I believe that is coming up in later books.

Overall I have to say that I enjoyed Texarkana and I look forward to reading more adventures in this world.

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< zines >



WORKING STIFF REVIEW #1
by Terry Everton

($5.00 US / $6.00 CAN from Terry Everton / 608 E. 3rd Ave. / Castle Rock, CO / 80108 USA)

Reviewed by Eric Lyden

Well, I'm exactly the kind of overworked, underpaid, "you're not an employee, you're an associate. And oh yeah, we don't have to pay you jack shit because a title such as associate is so much more important than money" working stiff this zine is aimed at so I might be biased when I say this zine should be read by everyone who either works in these conditions or wants to understand what it's like to work in these conditions. This issue focusses mainly on restaurant workers which... food service work is the worst of the worst because at least the poor schmuck working retail can depend on a steady, if not sizable, paycheck without having to depend on the kindness of tips. This issue features articles on how Wal-Mart lowers standards for all of us, why tipping sucks for both the tipper and the tippee and how to look stupid in a restaurant. Some of it's funny, some of it's thought provoking, all of it's good.

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WESTERN TALES OF TERROR #1-3
by various

($3.50 each, Hoarse & Buggy Productions)

Reviewed by Matt Dembicki

I love good ol’ fashion horror comics. For me, the gold standard for horror anthologies remains the EC Comics line — Tales from the Crypt, Vault of Horror, Haunt of Fear. So when I get a horror anthology in my hands, I automatically compare it to those golden oldies. These days, rarely anything comes close — but once in a while something rears its ugly little head that gets my attention. Western Tales of Terror stays true to the EC form, capturing the feel, quality and fun of the previously mentioned titles, and also adds a new twist with a Wild West motif. (I especially get a kick out of the Cryptkeeper-like deceased gunslinger named Pete who wryly introduces each tale.) The folks at Hoarse & Buggy were able to rope some well-known talent (like Steve Niles) as well as folks who you just know will make a name for themselves soon enough. Most of the stories are short vignettes, but there is a longer story (by H&B editor-in-chief Joshua Hale Fialkov) that is split over the first three issues; that longer piece really pulls the series together. (There’s a prequel to Fialkov’s story available at the H&B Web site.) The covers for all three issues are masterfully rendered and draw you into the book. I especially liked Tony Moore’s Corben-like illustration for #1, which depicts an Indian zombie emerging from the shadows, preparing to snatch an unsuspecting two-bit whore. And once these stories get their hooks in you, pardner, there’s no escape!

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COMIC EFFECT #40
edited by Jim Kingman

($3.50 from Jim Kingman / PO Box 2188 / Pasadena, CA / 91102-2188 USA. Web: www.comiceffect.com)

Reviewed by Eric Lyden

A zine that, as they put it, is "emphasizing the fun in reading comics" which is a noble enough goal all things considered. This zine features reviews of comics – mostly mainstream stuff, some of it pretty obscure and all of it enjoyable to read about if you're a fan of the medium. There's also an article called "Happy Endings are Retro" which focusses on the negativity and nastiness of comics today and while I don't agree that everything needs to be sunshine and light I do respect the author's opinions. If you're into mainstream comics you'll dig this zine. RIP Blue Beetle.

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MUSICOMICS #5
by Matt Levin

($1.00 or 4 for $3.00 from Matt Levin / Walking Man Comics / 123 Elm St. / Hatfield, MA / 01038 USA. E-mail)

Review by Heath Row

Published in September 2004, this 12-page, short-run (a total of 86 copies) mini by Matt Levin represents what DIY sheet music might look like if it showed songs using rubber stamp art. It's an interesting idea. This edition features the song "Fix It, or Forget It," also written by Levin. Equal parts Max Traffic and Arn Saba, Musicomics does well to use the stamps to tell a comic story, and Levin even includes a page and a half of staff notation so you can actually sing along. And the best part? He reveals his stamp sources – he even secured the makers' permission to use their stamps this way – so you can make your own stamp comics. Then he offers an MP3 of another issue of the comic and a page of comic reviews. A fascinating concept - and well presented. Someone should publish an anthology collecting all of these - and issue a CD.

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WALKING MAN COMICS PRESENTS SPECIAL #54
MUSICOMICS #6
by Matt Levin

($1.00 each or 4 for $3.00 from Walking Man Comics / 123 Elm St. / Hatfield, MA / 01038 USA. E-mail)

Reviewed by Henry Chamberlain

Matt Levin enjoys creating good-natured mini-comics using various rubber stamps. Falling under different titles, Walking Man Comics and Musicomics, Matt seems to be an unstoppable stamper. Two good examples of his work, Special #54 and Musicomics #6, provide some easy amusement. In one, some bears sing and, in the other, a girl and clown are featured. The lyrics are pretty slight but that's part of the fun. Nothing especially difficult here.

In Musicomics #6, however, there is one thing unexpected and curious. A two page spread has a boy and girl singing atop a rock wall. They are African American, it seems, and their dress seems to recall the Old South – at least that's the impression I'm getting. They sing about playing in the pines and promising each other gold mines. Intended or not, there's something haunting in that scene and indicates how much deeper Matt can go with his work.

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