This paperback book compiles the first nine issues of Al Burian's (Milemarker, Hellbender, HeartattaCK, and Punk Planet columnist) zine of the same name. The writing is more literary and introspective than is prevalent in most zines today. Timeless stories and reflections on suburban boredom, cross-country travel, living without luxury, existential dread, and Black Sabbath, among other salient topics. Now in it's fifth printing with a new publisher!
Al explains his interpretation of life in Chicago. He talks about different economic neighborhoods, trying to break up with his girlfriend, his mom coming to visit from Germany and telling him he should break up with his girlfriend, working at a bookstore, hanging out in bars, and trains. This zine has much more a literary feeling to it than most employing foreshadowing, characters, irony, and metaphor; making for an excellent read.
After a 2 or 3 year hiatus, we are once again treated to the dark, jaded musings of Al Burian. This time Al espouses his tale by comparing himself to Kilgore Trout, main character in Kurt Vonegut's "Breakfast of Champions", a man who in his mid-50s is still failed in his profession and using inventive ways of getting through life as an unsuccessful writer. The ironies are definitely present as Al is one of the most respected zine writers around today, yet the comparison still seems relevant and comedic as Al's ex-girlfriend marries someone else and he focuses on their simliarities and differences and what he was holding on to. He goes to a family reunion in Germany as the family's perpetual loser where his mother laments how terrible all of his bands' albums are and his family wonders why he has so little income. This zine has a much more literary feeling to it than most employing foreshadowing, characters, irony, recurring themes, and metaphor; making for an excellent read. If you aren't already familiar with Burn Collector, close your curtains, unplug your phone, bake some cookies, and recline with the new issue.
After another 2 year hiatus, we are welcomed back to the dark, jaded musings of Al Burian. This time Al collects Burn Collector #10, 11, 12, 13 as well as Natural Disasters #1 and 2 and a teeny bit from Punk Planet. The highlight is Al comparing himself to Kilgore Trout, from Kurt Vonegut's "Breakfast of Champions", a man in his mid-50s; still failed in his profession, using inventive ways of getting through life as an unsuccessful writer. The ironies are definitely present as Al is one of the most respected rock musicians and zine writers around today, yet the comparison makes sense as Al's ex-girlfriend marries someone else (reception at his house, nonetheless). He tries to breakup with a different girlfriend for an entire issue while even his mother is insisting that he should. He travels around Europe and goes to a family reunion in Germany as the family's perpetual loser, where his mother laments how terrible all of his bands' albums are and his family wonders why he has so little income. This book features some of the most solid writing you'll encounter in zines; employing foreshadowing, characters, irony, recurring themes, and metaphor; making for an excellent read. If you aren't already familiar with Burn Collector or just never picked up some of these issues - close your curtains, unplug your phone, bake some cookies, and recline with this book!
A travel zine from Al Burian. It discusses a few incidents such as a seemingly meaningless strike by Italian railroad workers, when Illona Staller offered to provide Saddam Hussein the sex of his life to avert the first gulf war, and seemingly endless, unquestined kindness to strangers in Slovenia.
A new zine from Al Burian. It discusses a few incidents such as a seemingly meaningless strike by Italian railroad workers, when Illona Staller offered to provide Saddam Hussein the sex of his life to avert the first gulf war, and seemingly endless, unquestined kindness to strangers in Slovenia.
Al Burian's (Burn Collector, Milemarker) collection of comics, drawings and handwritten text, compiling the various titles that he published under Migraine Comics in the mid to late nineties. The book is cohesive and doesn't resemble a comic anthology as much as a handwritten account of Al's thoughts at the time. Covers Al's usual musings over life's little intricacies and meanings as well as the mental processes of growing up from his days in Portland, moving to Providence, and a walking tour of his hometown. The entire book is handwritten and illustrated by Al. ISBN 0-9726967-3-3
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We have about 250 returned copies of the first edition of Al Burian's "Things Are Meaning Less" that are a little dinged and have stickers on them. We are selling them nice and cheap.