I first reviewed Andi Santagata’s work in 2016 – seven years ago, which feels impossible but that is how time works. Those early issues of Trans Man Walking were all autobio, although looking back now I see the tendrils of horror working their way in. It’s honestly not subtle – the first issue’s cover features…
Favorite Small Press Books of 2022
Okay so maybe the end of January/beginning of February is pushing it in terms of when to drop a ‘best of 2022’ list, BUT. Now is the time to crack into one of these recommendations — the holidays are over, Christmas is put away, and all you have to do is hibernate until spring. The…
ESSAY: The Role of Dōjinshi in Comic Fanzine Discourse
In December 2021, a conversation concerning the definition of the term “zine” unfolded on Twitter. This conversation arose from anxieties surrounding the rise of professionally printed and highly selective fanzines. Many comic artists lamented what they perceived as a betrayal of the DIY ethos of North American zine culture, while others expressed their frustrations regarding…
REVIEW: All the Zines I Bought at This Year’s ECCC
My hopes for Emerald City Comic Con weren’t high this year. I was fresh off of working San Diego Comic Con for the first time and feeling underwhelmed with the artist alley areas. As it turns out, I’ve been spoiled by ECCC—of all the conventions I’ve been to, they have the most robust artist alley….
FlameCon 2022 Con Diary: Dispatch from the Artist’s Alley
I am a lucky person in many ways. I can jump on a train and get directly to New York Penn Station in less than two hours. As I drag my giant, heavy suitcase onto the NJ Transit train at 8:09 that morning, I tell myself that at least I don’t have to pay for…
What’s a Zine? WWAC Roundtable on Zinecourse
In an era where self-publishing is easier than ever, what makes a zine a zine? Is a crowdfunded glossy fanzine full of big name fanart the same as a Xerox’d treatise on your favorite band? Is there room for more than one definition of zine? WWAC held a round table to find out!
Interview: The Beautiful Horror of Natalia Lopes and MystoPress
Natalia Lopes has always wanted to make comics for a living. As of 2019, she has finally begun to live her dream, starting with a successful Kickstarter that that brought the horror anthology Paroxysm to life under Lopes’ MystoPress: “From tales of modern vampires, to the horrifying implications of current events, to the feeling of…
A Fistful of Comics: Crowdfunding Roundup, February ’21
It’s 2021 and WWAC’s own comics crowdfunding roundup is back, after an admittedly lengthy nap. Lockdown has gone on long enough that my interests are taking a decided turn for the introspective (we all have our escapisms), and Kickstarter this month was happy to provide.
Miss Zine Festivals? Shop at These Distros!
I’m not a social person, but I love zine festivals. In a typical year, I would have scrounged up some energy, tamped down my social anxiety and dragged my nervous self to at least a couple events. Despite myself, I always have a good time, and I spend a ridiculous amount of money on zines….
Best Small Press, Indies, & Webcomics of 2020!
This 2020 was tough for me as an indie comics reader because, well, there were no cons for me to pick up wares! No zinefests or the pleasure of perusing the indie racks at my local comic shop. Luckily, there were virtual fests and cons for me to find some good books, and Webtoons are…
Cottagecore, Witchery, and Zine-Making: An Interview With Lucy Kagan
If there’s a time when the world needs cute and cozy art that prioritizes care, kindness, and magical empathy more than 2020, I can’t think of it. Enter Hazel, a witch’s lifestyle zine curated, edited, published, and designed by artist Lucy Kagan. This year’s issue, which has a theme of “Spirit,” is the series’ last…
Quaranzines Will Keep Us Connected: An Interview with Jenna Freedman
When I first started working on this project in those wild, precious, before-the-Pandemic times, I visited several zine libraries in person and online, and talked to the librarians, barefoot and degree-d alike, who run them. During this process, I quickly began hearing familiar names come up in conversation. Zine communities can often be niche and…