Six Must-Read Zines Born in Brisbane

Zines have been the rage for decades now, and if you've long been on their bandwagon, kudos to you, and if not, you’re jumping on at the right time. It may not be an age-old craft, but it sure is a nifty one that’s found new light in this decade, with the art of zines allowing artists to give commercial publishers a hearty shoulder snub and go independent with as much flare, profit and exposure as they so desire. Cutting out the middleman has never produced such an array of affordable reading material, and Brisbane alone holds home to a Sizzler scale buffet of zine makers and their works.

1. Philip Dearest Zines

Philip Dearest's work flies sporadically between the delicious and disgusting. Sugar-dizzy combinations of illuminati symbols, sexual wickedness and swords piercing the skulls of crying hipsters, make for an arts zine that would have any media classification board pulling their hair out in tufts. From his publication Off My Meds: A collection of mentalist illustrations while off my anti-psychotic medication during the moth of August 2010 to Fallen Angles, where his drawings are attacked by maths, Philip Dearest in an artist and zine maker who might very well be Brisbane bravest and best. Check out his Etsy.

2. Bad Teeth Comics

If you bleed what you read, expect greasy hands and cholesterol-blocked arteries after any piece of Bad Teeth Comics' work. From cheeseburgers to thickshakes, Bad Teeth's characters and their personas have reached cult-comic level on an international circuit. Bad Teeth produces zines, clothing, toys and exhibits illustrations and paintings across the globe, with some of the world’s most hailed comic artists holding his work in their trophy rooms. You can browse his store here.

3. Slubberdegullion Zine aka Slubs

The term 'slubberdegullion' may refer to a worthless or slovenly person, but don’t be disenchanted — each issue of Slubs is priceless. Born on an old fire truck in Auchenflower in 2011, Slubs focuses on everything local in Brisbane, with features, rants and some excellent use of textas, making for a zine that twists art and word in nifty connubial. You can grab a copy at Atavist Books.

4. Occult

Occult hits the middleground between scrappy, street print and full-form quality. It very obviously isn’t printed on a family HP — it holds a hint of gloss, and a swoon-worthy GSM — but compensates with content that strays from the cliched. Its bi-montly publication makes it a regular insight into Brisbane’s flux of the unknown, with each page tapping into a secret scene, band or artist that even the most loyal of locals couldn’t catch. Back issues may even feature work from some of our CP writers. You can grab a copy from these places — and it’s free!

5. Tamara Lazaroff Zines

Zines aren’t all about street, drug(z) and rock and/or roll. They’re a means of expression, and Tamara Lazaroff’s creative writings provide snippets of her own literary beauty in the humblest of zine forms. Tamara’s collection of zines are constantly expanding and receiving rave reviews across the country. One of her most praised zines, Prison in Macedonia, explores the story of Alek and his time in prison — apparently, if you spend any time in a Macedonian jail, you should bring your own bowl, cup and spoon.

6. Swampland

New on the scene, but bold enough to make a mark, Swampland is a mini-publication dedicated to promoting creativity, embracing DIY culture and giving a step up to Australian independents. Their first — and hopefully not last — zine chases the Nambour art scene, proving it’s not as boring as Google maps might show.

There’s a bunch of other great zines out there who deserve a mention. If you see a copy of Lost Zine, Wasted Opportunities, Incredibly Hot Sex with Hideous People, a vintage copy of Bats, Two Faced or any print with two staples on the spine and a niko-enhanced cover, grab a copy and start your zine library pronto.