Category: zines

Alrighty zine fiends, it is about to get gloomy as heck, especially for us in Chicago and the Midwest. Maybe it would help to plan a trip? Could be just a little getaway—maybe even in your imagination. So, I’ve gathered together a collection of zines to help you prepare to escape the dreary months to come. Introducing…

Tessa’s Guide to Zines That Aren’t Necessarily Travel Guides but Make Me Think About Escaping! 

Elephant Buildings by Dave Hankins

The obvious place to start is Elephant Buildings by Dave Hankins. Now, you’ll have to time travel to visit some of the fascinating elephant-shaped buildings in this zine, but you’ll find plenty of interesting details in Dave’s thoroughly researched zine to accurately set your time travel devices or to travel in your imagination. Before picking this little booklet up, I never thought to wonder about elephant buildings, but after reading it I feel like such a fool. I will now be forever curious about the history of any roadside attraction I encounter.

Controlled Burn: an Oak Opening Story by Lee Fearnside

Try out imaginary ecotourism by visiting an interesting local ecosystem in Controlled Burn: an Oak Opening Story by Lee Fearnside. In this little zine, you’ll meet the plants and animals of Oak Openings, a region crossing Ohio and Michigan and learn about the impact of human intervention on this unique habitat and the importance of controlled burns in ecosystems. I love learning about the environments I visit. If you do too, try out Controlled Burn!

Indianapolis: a Visitor’s Guide by Jone Greaves

Maybe you’re staying nearby – a little road trip to MidBest mecca, Indianapolis! 😉 Make sure to pick up Jone Greaves’ very helpful, Indianapolis: a Visitor’s Guide before you hit the road! Inside you’ll find secrets, tips and mysterious warnings about the city, like the resting place of the “harbinger of the growing goblin scourge of the Midwest,” a warning about cursed regions, seasonal rituals, and a reminder not to mention The Catacombs (oops!).

Cavern Zines #4 by Ari Ganahl

Maybe you’re staying even nearer-by—Try out Ari Ganahl’s Cavern Zine #4 for an adventure right from your favorite armchair. Everything you need for a spelunking adventure is in this little book. Join the included (great value!) cave guide on a unique journey through paper landscape. Best of all, you can visit this destination again and again with no additional cost!

Pocket Road Atlas by Mel Watkin and Maps by Chris Auman

For more armchair adventures, check out Mel Watkin’s Pocket Road Atlas to plan out an imaginary road trip through beautiful imagined regions illustrated right over real road maps. I also recommend Chris Auman’s Maps, which will provide you with plenty of imaginary landscapes, cityscapes, mostly-waterscapes, and other scapes, to escape into. 

Anxious Planet by Jone Greaves

Finally, if you happen to be reading this blog from your spaceship, contemplating a visit to Earth, make Quimby’s your first stop planet-side to pick up Jone Greaves’ Anxious Planet for a general overview of what’s going on here with this weird rock we’re living on.

Happy trails, Zine Travellers! I hope to see you in-store to wish you well on your zine journeys!

See ya soon!

-Tessa <3

If you’ve ever been to Quimby’s shopping for an underage zine enthusiast, you may have noticed that our kids section is kinda small.  But that’s not because we don’t have zines for all ages; it’s just that we include that creativity in all sections throughout the store.  So we’ve been adding green signs around the bookstore lately to denote All Ages content, and I’m here to highlight a few of my favorites that all just happen to have a cat theme.  

Marceline’s Alley Stories by Cecilia Jane

In this adorable comic, Marceline (a house cat) tells us three tales of her alley starring the creatures she sees and encounters via her window view.  These tales hit on some serious feelings of jealousy, hardship, friendship, mortality, and love without being heavy or hard to understand.  Aside from a brief mention or two or hardships, this comic keeps things positive and hopeful.  Marceline reminds readers to find peace in being yourself, to comfort friends in times of need, and to appreciate a connection without being possessive.  All appropriate lessons for everyone of all ages.  

Cats Words Feelings by Heather Anacker

This perfectly titled zine displays beautiful cat portraits each accompanied by a sentence or two intended to inspire.  While presenting some big ideas (like “When conditions are right things manifest.”), this zine stays simple, digestible, and sweet.  These are ideas worth considering for readers of all ages.  

Cat Butts by Dana Amundsen

I can’t get enough of this micro zine from DnA artists, despite the plethora of cat butt that is presented to me every moment that I am at home.  There are no words past the title page, because the drawings do it all.  The simple line sketches perfectly capture grooming cats; my favorites are the lifted leg poses when the cat pauses, fully exposed, to stare at its onlooker.  These cuties can be readily enjoyed by all ages. 

Purr-haps you also know some of the great all ages content on our shelves.  If so, please drop us a comment or point them out to me the next time you see me at the shop.  Despite my penchant for smut, I’m still a kid (just ask my ma!), and I’ll never grow up, not me.  

Toujours, elizabeth

@GetBackToPrint