Zines and Minicomics Collection, 1985- | Special Collections & University Archives

By Anna Culbertson and Adam Burkhart

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Collection Overview

Title: Zines and Minicomics Collection, 1985-

Predominant Dates:1995-

Extent: 42.25 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 00/00/2002. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: American poetry--20th century, Anarchism, Comic books, strips, etc., Feminism, Gender, Music, Politics, Popular culture, Riot grrrl movement, Riot grrrl movement--Periodicals, Self-care, Health, Transgender people, Women, Young women

Languages: English, Spanish;Castilian

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Zines and Minicomics Collection combines materials from two former collections known as the West Coast Zines Collection and the Comics Collection. The collection ranges from 1985 to the present and includes zines and minicomics on a variety of topics. Concentrations include identity politics (especially riot grrrl, people of color and LGBTQ topics), sexuality and reproductive rights, punk rock, anarchism, activism, alternative lifestyles, creative writing, and popular culture. Notable feminist titles in the collection that began as zines and went on to become major "glossies" include BUST, Bitch, Venus, and Hip Mama.

The collection is arranged alphabetically by publication title, and then chronologically within each title from earliest to latest. A brief description of each publication's content is provided, and links to web versions are available in some instances. Publications are tagged according to the Zine Thesaurus of Subject Terms developed by the Anchor Archive at the Roberts Street Social Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Use the following link to see this list: http://www.robertsstreet.org/thesaurus/out.htm

Also included are supplemental materials, including related correspondence, promotional ephemera, exhibit materials, and a small archive of materials generated by SDSU's Zine & DIY Culture Club, formed and officialy recognized as a student organization in 2016.

Subject/Index Terms

American poetry--20th century
Anarchism
Comic books, strips, etc.
Feminism
Gender
Music
Politics
Popular culture
Riot grrrl movement
Riot grrrl movement--Periodicals
Self-care, Health
Transgender people
Women
Young women

Administrative Information

Repository: Special Collections & University Archives

Accruals: 2002-present

Access Restrictions: This collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions: The copyright interests in these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections is such that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. Requests for permission to publish must be submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. When granted, permission is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained in order to publish. Materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials.

Acquisition Source: Multiple donors

Related Materials: For more information please see http://www.robertsstreet.org/thesaurus/out.htm.

Finding Aid Revision History: Revised 5/2014; collection rearranged to combine formerly-titled West Coast Zines Collection (MS-0278) and selected titles from the Comics Collection (MS-0091).

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

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[All]

Box F5

Item 1: Free Water Vs Bottled Water: Compares the health value, environmetal impact and economic costs of tap water and bottled water and makes the case for drinking tap water instead of bottled water.; Author / Publisher: The Small Science Collective (self-published); Category: environmental footprint; ethical consumption; waste; water; Date / Volume: (2010); Publication Place: unknown
Item 2: Freedom as a Dream: Advocates support for prisoner Ali Khalid Abdullah in the fight to regain his freedom. Compilation of essays and articles written by Ali Khalid Abdullah.; Author / Publisher: Ali Khalid Abdullah and other various artists (Anarchist Black Cross--ABC Puerto Rico); Category: activism; politics; prison; prison writing; prisoners; social control; terrorism; war; Date / Volume: (n.d.); Publication Place: Puerto Rico
Item 3: French Toast Comix: Single-page zine of travel sketches.; Author / Publisher: Becky Hawkins (self-publishes); Category: illustration; personal stories; travel; Date / Volume: (n.d.); Publication Place: unknown
Item 4: Fresh Ink: Local zine with articles focusing on San Diego.; Author / Publisher: Zeben Gorman and Stephanie Bates (Visual Arts and Technology Academy); Category: abortion; animal rights; anxiety; asian food; astrology; break-ups; caffeine; comics; diversity; fashion; food; health; interviews; music; music reviews; panic attacks; personal stories; restaurants; sports; Date / Volume: (June 2008); Publication Place: San Diego, CA
Item 5: Friction: General interest zine with an editorial position grounded in punk, straight edge and hardcore featuring articles from many contributors.; Author / Publisher: Melissa Hostetler (self-published); Category: animal rights; animal testing; book reviews; class analysis; consumerism; corporations; criticism; cultural criticism; drugs; feminism; media critique; military; music reviews; police; politics; punk; straight edge; television; violence; zine reviews; Date / Volume: #3 (n.d.); Publication Place: Hartville, OH
Item 6: Friends From Far Away: Autobiographical minicomic about traveling to New York and through Europe.; Author / Publisher: Max Karl Key and Katy Ellis O'Brien (self-published); Category: autobiographical comics; personal stories; travel; Date / Volume: (June 2014); Publication Place: Olympia, WA
Item 7: The Fringe: Personal zine featuring articles on punk music.; Author / Publisher: unknown (self-published); Category: bands; concert reviews; interviews; music; music reviews; personal stories; punk; social centers; teenagers; Date / Volume: #1 (n.d.), unnumbered issue (n.d.); Publication Place: San Diego, CA
Item 8: From Hell to Highwater: Zine with contributions from various artists and writers. Includes diverse topics and media, ranging from personal stories, poetry and music reviews to art, comics and photography.; Author / Publisher: Lisa Y. Méndez, ed. (self-published); Category: art; artists; comics; lists; personal stories; photographs; photography; music reviews; poetry; Date / Volume: Vol. 2 #7/8 (fall 2014-winter 2015); Publication Place: San Diego, CA
Item 9: From My Sketchbook: Collection of sketches of the author's friends and family.; Author / Publisher: Mark C. (self-published); Category: art; family; illustration; Date / Volume: (December 1997 - February 1998); Publication Place: unknown
Item 10: From the Heart: "Small collection of creative writings about the lives of slaves struggling in the Prison Industrial Complex"; Author / Publisher: Eddy Zheng, ed. (self-published); Category: prisoners; prison conditions; personal stories; poetry; Date / Volume: (2000); Publication Place: San Quentin, CA
Item 11: From the Kettle: Minicomic. Kazaam's new job at a bakery leads to a meditation on the shape of bagles, and the universe.; Acquisition Information: Gift of Donna Barr, 2015; Author / Publisher: Hannah Mizar (self-published); Category: comics; Date / Volume: #1 "Into the Bagel" (2014); Publication Place: Portland, OR
Item 12: From the Meadows of Beyond: A compilation of the authors' poems.; Author / Publisher: Delores Fisher (self-published); Category: photography; poetry; Date / Volume: (June 2005); Publication Place: San Diego, CA
Item 13: Front Porch: Zine mostly devoted to music, with reviews and interviews. Also covers zines, movies, screen stars and pin-up models, and beer. A generally irreverent tone is used throughout.; Author / Publisher: Greggy Siemas, Chrissy Handyside and Matty Handyside, Eds. (self-published); Category: bands; beer; conspiracies; humor; interviews; movie reviews; music; music reviews; satire; UFOS; Date / Volume: #3 (n.d.); Publication Place: Ypsilanti, MI
Item 14: Frontal Lobotomy: Personal zine with comics and music reviews. Issue #5 is a split with Teenage Freakshow #91 and is filed under Frontal Lobotomy.; Author / Publisher: Jimmy Callaway and Matt Swain (self-published); Category: art; comics; movie reviews; movies; music; music reviews; personal stories; Date / Volume: #1-6 (1994-1995); Publication Place: Alpine, CA
Item 15: Full Color: Minicomic. Boom has given herself on week to get her life in order, or else whe will end it.; Author / Publisher: Mark Haven Britt (self-published); Category: comics; Date / Volume: #1 (2003); Publication Place: Berkeley, CA
Item 16: Full Metal Apocalypse: Minicomic. Giant warrior monsters destroy earth's cities, then turn on each other.; Acquisition Information: Gift of Ben Collison.; Author / Publisher: Ben Collison (self-published); Category: comics; monsters; Date / Volume: (n.d.); Publication Place: [San Francisco, CA]
Item 17: Funwrecker: Autobiographical comic with droll observations on everyday life, such as discussing zombie movies with friends and ordering fast food.; Author / Publisher: Dennis Culver (self-published); Category: autobiographical comics; journal comics; Date / Volume: APE Special (1993?); Publication Place: unknown
Item 18: Fusion: A Zine by the Original Outcast: Presents the author's thoughts on feminism, the importance society places on self-image and growing up as a child of immigrant parents. The author writes under the moniker "The Original Outcast" and is also the author of "Translucid Distortion," also in the collection. Though the two zines' have different titles, they have sequential publication information, with "Translucid Distortion" being issue #2.; Author / Publisher: Meena Ramakrishnan (self-published); Category: assimilation; body image; cultural criticism; feminism; gender; gender equality; gender roles; high school; immigration; patriarchy; race; sexism; women; Date / Volume: #1 (Jan. 2005); Publication Place: unknown
Item 19: Future FANTASTeek!: "Bringing you solutions for modern living." Satire of consumerism and advertising.; Author / Publisher: Jackie Batey (Damp Flat Books); Category: consumerism; cultural criticism; culture jamming; humor; satire; Date / Volume: #1 (July 2006); Publication Place: unknown
Item 20: F-Word: Zine featuring articles on feminism and gender issues.; Author / Publisher: Kari Macauley (self-published); Category: abortion; activism; body image; body politics; comics; fat acceptance; feminism; gender; poetry; pro-choice movement; vegetarian cooking; women; Date / Volume: #1 (Oct. 2004); Publication Place: Pasadena, CA