Print Matters

Zines, Mini-Comix & Happy Holidays

Zines in the background by Raymond Pettibon showcased at The Brooklyn Museum

A short while ago I visited The Brooklyn Museum to see the “Copy Machine Manifestos: Artists Who Make Zines” show. I was quickly transported to my early zine making days xeroxing and stapling mini-comix in high school with my Paradox Productions pals, collaborating with Josh Neufeld on Keyhole, and other one-off projects often debuting at places like SPX (Small Press Expo), APE (Alternative Press Expo), and MoCCA Arts Fest. Nowadays, there’s a comix festival every other weekend!

When NYC’s best zine store, See Hear, finally shuttered in the early 2000s, I wondered where I would find homemade ephemera and magazines the likes of Factsheet 5 that published short reviews of privately produced printed matter.

Sure, there's still Quimby's (whose NYC satellite is right next door to Desert Island Comics). But most of the cool joints one could discover niche zine's and mini-comix (like Soho Zat — where I discovered Harvey Pekar’s American Splendor, and Chester Brown’s Yummy Fur) are long gone. In my recent efforts to help keep independent print alive, I've discovered other cool print comix via Etsy, Instagram, comix festivals, crowdfunding and places like Paper City.

If you like something you see, lemme know and I’ll put you in touch.

In 2023 I successfully Kickstarted two comix and drew a line in the sand. In 2024, I hope to start raising my sand castle.

However, because I only shipped to backer’s doorsteps, I've discovered some drawbacks to MY experience with crowdfunding:

1. You don't necessarily get reviews (with the exception of the occasional backer and/or true blue supporter) that can help boost your cause to a wider audience.

2. You don't necessarily get the possibility of being put on any "Best Of" lists (see: reviews).

3. You don't benefit from the crucial in-store impulse buy.

4. You don't get producers from other mediums wanting to option your intellectual property (←not necessary but could be fruitful).

As I enter 2024 with a plan to crowdfund a few more projects, I need to lean into two very important aspects of self-publishing:

1. Expand my store. I might need to work with retailers. Which means I need to figure out a discount and shipping system that benefits everyone. And make my evolving library of "Deep Cut" comix available for comic shop customers (see: impulse buy).

2. Foment FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). Word of mouth is important but it doesn't equate to mass marketing. I need to galvanize and incentivize a healthy fanbase while targeting new readers.

Gil Roth invited me and a bunch of other guests to list our favorite books of 2023 on his podcast, The Virtual Memories Show, episode 568. Listen HERE

Peter Rostovsky talks to David Levine about his debut graphic novel, Damnation Diaries, at BOMB. See/read HERE

Josh Neufeld produced a new webcomic called, "Empathy 101: How medical schools are using improv theater, virtual reality and comics to help physicians understand their patients." See/read HERE

Listen to my Dino Winter 2024 music mix on Spotify!

Thanks to all of you who have indulged my newsletter and supported my work. As rumored above, I have a lot to think about and consider, and I hope you’ll stay on board with me as I take a few more leaps of faith.

Happy Holidays!

love, Dean

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