Double Duce is a reprinted, repackaged version of Cometbus #42, a novel from Aaron Cometbus. His characters ponder life's mundane questions with the seriousness of ancient philosophers: How to get by on no money, where to scam free photocopies, and the finer points of dumpster diving are the subjects of endless conversations. Also check out Despite Everything, also published by Last Gasp.

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So much magic awaits in the pages of this fat, rubber-banded, handwritten object of hand-size art that I don't know where or how to start. In Chicago, where Bill lived for a while, he makes burritos and hands them out to poor people. He finds adventure in witnessing such spectacles as the demolition of housing projects, "and it's sort of obscene to see them like this, all these private spaces, these bedrooms and bathrooms, laid open to every snoop riding his bike down Lake Street. Who'd have guessed that they'd rip open these scary old projects and this is what they'd find inside? Who'd have guessed that these buildings would bloom just before they fell?" With an eye for architecture and for nature's malevolent motives (a body of water is "homicidal," the wind is "wanted for murder"), he most of all bears an understanding of the ineffable, the borderline-eerie, that zone psychologists call the liminal or in-between. By this I don't mean exactly the realm of ghosts he went hoping to see in the abandoned state penitentiary in West Virginia ("ghost hunting, like bowling, is a group activity," but he saw none). I mean his understanding of what can pass invisibly between people, or between a person and a place, like a breath. The intricate sketches by our author of places he's been and people he has seen ("Train to London. This guy noticed me drawing him and moved") bespeak his careful understanding and big-hearted, inevitably sad regard for life. Just one more. Having packed up and left Chicago, "I get back to Texas and I can't sleep. I lie awake with my light on, listening to the house creak and the air conditioner switch on and off. Downstairs, my parents are getting old, and upstairs, I am too. The girl from Seattle sent a letter with her zine. She said she'd read one of my zines and that she'd recognized something in it, the same restlessness that makes her restless, too. So she wrote, just like I've done a million times before. What else can you do? You play P.O. Box numbers the way other people play lottery numbers "hoping for a payoff, but knowing all along the odds are against you." This is gold.

So much magic awaits in the pages of this fat, rubber-banded, handwritten object of hand-size art that I don't know where or how to start. In Chicago, where Bill lived for a while, he makes burritos and hands them out to poor people. He finds adventure in witnessing such spectacles as the demolition of housing projects, "and it's sort of obscene to see them like this, all these private spaces, these bedrooms and bathrooms, laid open to every snoop riding his bike down Lake Street. Who'd have guessed that they'd rip open these scary old projects and this is what they'd find inside? Who'd have guessed that these buildings would bloom just before they fell?" With an eye for architecture and for nature's malevolent motives (a body of water is "homicidal," the wind is "wanted for murder"), he most of all bears an understanding of the ineffable, the borderline-eerie, that zone psychologists call the liminal or in-between. By this I don't mean exactly the realm of ghosts he went hoping to see in the abandoned state penitentiary in West Virginia ("ghost hunting, like bowling, is a group activity," but he saw none). I mean his understanding of what can pass invisibly between people, or between a person and a place, like a breath. The intricate sketches by our author of places he's been and people he has seen ("Train to London. This guy noticed me drawing him and moved") bespeak his careful understanding and big-hearted, inevitably sad regard for life. Just one more. Having packed up and left Chicago, "I get back to Texas and I can't sleep. I lie awake with my light on, listening to the house creak and the air conditioner switch on and off. Downstairs, my parents are getting old, and upstairs, I am too. The girl from Seattle sent a letter with her zine. She said she'd read one of my zines and that she'd recognized something in it, the same restlessness that makes her restless, too. So she wrote, just like I've done a million times before. What else can you do? You play P.O. Box numbers the way other people play lottery numbers "hoping for a payoff, but knowing all along the odds are against you." This is gold.

Doubling the size of the previous issue and graduating from the days of rubber band binding, Bill Brown treats us with so much magic inside the cover of this handwritten object of pocket-sized art. Bill just completed work on the film "The Other Side" which documents the work of activist groups who comb the desert for Mexican immigrants into the US, providing them with safe rides, water, and food. Many of his experiences and observations are captured here similarly. A wandering philosopher, he tells us funny stories and anecdotes - St. Roch, the patron saint of lost causes, whose church is littered with discarded crutches and prosthetic limbs. "I begin to wonder if the body parts St Roch cured stayed strong and healthy, even as the rest of the person who was healed grew old and frail." We are also treated to the tale of Mother Goose, an older lady who wears a long skirt and floppy sunbonnet who storms into local restaurants and sings nursery rhymes until someone kicks her out. "In Austin it was impossible to go on a simple errand without falling in love. Every time I mailed a letter or went to buy a loaf of bread, I'd end up with a broken heart." and "Jerry makes me hold [an instrument] before he tells me it's an indian hunting club made from an Alaskan walrus penis bone." His way of explaining things is simultaneously laugh out loud funny as well as engrossing and captivating. This is gold. 100% Post-consumer paper and soy inks (because we care). ISBN 0-9770557-8-7

An excerpt about hitching a ride on a cargo ship across the Atlantic:

"My cabin has a bed and a couch and a coffee table that's bolted to the floor. Those bolts worry me. They mean there are days on this ship when the furniture needs bolting down. I slept on the couch last night. Maybe that's out of habit. Maybe because I'm more comfortable on couches...I consider sleeping on the couch every night, like I'm couch surfing across the Atlantic Ocean. That's a couch surfer's dream, all all, catching a ride on some couch that'll take you around the world, like some slacker Magellan, mooching a circumnavigation."

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David B. Greenberger's ongoing chronicle of the residents of East L.A's senior centers. Elderly residents share their stories with David in the form of interviews.

In this issue:

More about music, from Mexican bands, to what's on the radio. Also, seeing the mountains for the first time and how the moon looks in the desert. These zines are perfect for people who like to learn about other people's experiences and the differences between now and then.

David B. Greenberger's ongoing chronicle of the residents of East L.A's senior centers. Elderly residents share their stories with David in the form of interviews.

In this issue:

Dreams. David asks the residents about their dreams. Have they changed over time? Do the dream as much as they used to? How do their dreams reflect their shifting attitudes toward American society? Revealing and addictive as always.

David B. Greenberger's ongoing chronicle of the residents of East L.A's senior centers. Elderly residents share their stories with David in the form of interviews.

In this issue:

Did the Future Turn Out Like You Thought It Would?

Certainly a hard topic to think about, but the residents discuss the subject with candor. Some were dismayed by their undiscovered talents, while many feel lucky to have met their partners and settle down. Reading this zine will keep young people grounded.

Dwelling Portably has been crammed full of information about living without a permanent residence for nearly 30 years! Super helpful and informative tips for biking, tents, showering, cooking, and living. Written by many folks who have lived the lifestyle far outside of cities and bereft of technology. According to many readers, '80-89 was their best material and here it is reprinted again in entirety (sans things that have become obsolete).

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In order to get people talking about mental illness, Alex Vallejo presents his and others' compelling stories about mental illness. He writes briefly of his own bipolar disorder, how that has effected his life and those close to him. Then comes the story of Margaret Holloway, a delinquent, schizophrenic, street performer with a biography that leaves you loving her. This story is followed by an informative article on the professionalization of psychology throughout history and includes the author's own experience with suicide attempts and breakdowns. The article ends with a message of survival and outreach. An inspiring read!

Ayun writes a delightful quarterly zine mostly about being a New York City mother and the adventures she has with her two small children. Hand written essays are illustrated with lots of cute diagrams. Ayun's writing is clear, fun to read, and full of keen observations about her life. I really appreciated the sentiment here. There really is a lot of information presented and it's truly a great resource for parents in comparable situations.

In this issue! Ayun tries to get her kid into the proper middle school, a process so crazy that gets the reader a little stressed out, too. While I'm glad Inky ends up in the school of her dreams, probably the best thing to come of all the middle school-land grabbing-butt kissing is that we get a cute zine to read. And those cute signature cartoons in the corner of every page. And a respectful farewell to her neighbor, a notable film star.

Dara travelled to Cuba and left us this document of her trip and the history, radical analysis, perspective, and relations of the US that she learned about. She talks about the revolution still leaving her to be harrassed on the street and how the left is split on their view of Cuba, how US students travelling there would never have a true understanding or perspective of what is really going on, the lack of homelessness there, Cuba's history of being primarily a country of slaves, the US imposing a democracy for everyone but slaves, women, and people who don't own enough property, and thoughts on public space and art. This is truly an involved, in depth document and gave me much greater understanding of the controversy involved with the left over Cuba as well as what is going on there historically and presently.

Ami is an amazing writer and story teller who writes about a rock time in her life, "the ocean and the hills". Drawing blood for practice, moving to New York City, missing New Orleans, 24 hour bars, and going to war.

Ami's writing is personal and some of the strongest from our generation. It's empowering even when focused on dim subjects, as her explanations and thoughts are inspiring. A hard read to put down and highly literate. I believe she also has a book coming soon on Soft Skull Press.

The latest issue of the End of a Perfect Day finds Damian biking and hopping trains around Los Angeles and the Southern California area. In his typical literary style, he describes exploring a land of wild peacocks, crisscrossing freeways and asphalt, and the inevitable frustration of biking in a sprawling metropolitan area. Damian's search for community in Los Angeles eventually proves fruitful, and we are introduced to another layer of Southern California culture as seen by our transient narrator.

MariNaomi's comics are all about the boys she's dated, made out with, crushed on, and generally obsessed over, starting from the beginning. From somewhat creepy encounters with an early babysitter, to playing marriage in the back yard, it all feels so painfully familiar. You've met the cast of characters in your own life: the music nerd who is obsessed with dating Japanese girls, the mohawk punk that dumps you for a cheerleader, the chronic liar, the guy that doesn't bathe, the creepy hippie guy who's always moody or stoned, and many many more. Now you can relive your own formative years in an entertaining and voyeuristic way!

More of MariNaomi's comics about the boys she's dated! In this issue: an artist who wants to take a jello bath, the substantially order guy, the random guy at a party, the cute neighbor you stalked, the boyfriend that works at denny's, the boyfriend that goes to jail, the boyfriend that passes away, and the boyfriend that wants to taxidermy your pets. Issue #6 reminds you just how time-consuming dating can be.

Evasion is a non-fiction hobo travelogue in which the author manages to evade the authorities for trespassing, squatting, and dumpster diving. Evasion is a metaphorical tale depicting the rejection of the 40-hour workweek and hopeless boredom of modern living. The journey documents the authors' reclamation of his life through rejection of the "American Dream." the spaces surrounding them a life worth living and a world worth fighting for. The author of Evasion is a hitchhiker, train hopper, and urban scavenger. The roots of the novel stem from ten photocopies of the original manuscript scammed from Kinko's. Rapidly, the zine was mass duplicated and proliferated by thousands of its' fans. Innumerable copies have been sold to date without a single advertisement. I found a few things demeaning to people who live in a world of poverty without a choice but I think this offers a whole new horizen to bored middle class teenagers and twenty somethings.

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The F-Word #3 is the Outlaws Issue. It features interviews with Howard Zinn, Loretta Ross, Kate Bornstein, and Cristy Road. There's a short essay by Mos Def about Assata Shakur, and a brief introduction to Jane, the underground abortion service. Mattilda writes about queer identity. The regular feature Sexual Edna focuses on female masturbation. Also music reviews of Lily Allen, Pony Up, The Pipettes, and The Chalets. The movie Bandit Queen gets reviewed and dissected for it's depiction of violence. And there's a Fart Party cartoon about solitude. Issue #3 is packed with awesome lady action!

Traveling chef Joshua Ploeg (Plague) of Behead the Prophet, No Lord Shall Live/Mukilteo Fairies/Ravenna's Secret Cafe presents 80 new and delicious, gourmet vegan recipes. Joshua is the epitome of the post-punk ethic manifest into his passion; travelling the country on busses and trains he presents gourmet dinner parties for you and your friends presented out of his backpack, circumventing the corporate route of disseminating his food, recipes, and love.

This collection in particular is primarily spicy recipes and beverages (fire and ice, eh?) - blazing tofu, curried pineapple cream cheese, chicken yassa, garlic linguine, pineapple gazpacho with dates, blackeyed pea salsa, curried banana sandwhiches, spicy basil turnip and tofu, iced tea with mango syrup, numerous alcoholic drink recipes, and much much more! A fun little foray into the world of punk rock's gourmet chef!

I felt better as soon as I opened this first issue of Firewood. Reading about "building your own house, growing your own food, making your own music, art culture, life" I was ready to join the revolution before I even got past the intro. Firewood isn't just about talk though. Sine offers serious real-life help in here. There is a large article on how to build your own cabin. With information on how to physically do it, even all by yourself, there is also help on salvaging materials, obtaining cheap materials and building houses of wood, straw-bale, cob, Tipis and Gers. Also, you can read about growing your own Anarchist Victory Garden and get a little lesson on Land Ownership in Scotland. In general, a really inspiring and helpful zine. Can't wait for number two! (Krissy)

MC #76015: The Urban Hermitt is a hip hop artist who hangs out with nightmarish hippies, punks, queers, and blurs the lines separating them. Watch the Hermitt move to Seattle at the age of 18 and react to the big city through a simultaneous process of self discovery. Watch him come out as queer in the midst of LSD-induced-heterosexist-rainbow-gathering love. He writes about the counterculture, with soul. It's a book about queer studies. It's a book about underground perspectives and culture. It's a funny book. It's just a book about a kid growing up. ISBN 0-9726967-0-9

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This is Ali Haimson's personal zine where she spills the beans about the goings on in her life. This issue is quite a bit heavier than previous ones. It's about deliving pizza and getting the notion to open a radical bookstore (and then doing it), a bad breakup and running into her ex at the worst moments, being a good dog mommy, not being able to talk to her family, a new crush on a girl at the bar next to her work, visiting her sister, smoking, and riding the bus. This is wholly entertaining and honest and left me with a smile on my face, though al ittle worried for Ali.

Found five is more of the best of that which is lost and then found. There are lost love-letters, angry notes, and over-simplified escape plans scribbled onto napkins. Most of the found writing revolves this time around a central theme: crime. The editors state the theme is "prison," but it seems more broad. There are also notes about drunk driving, alternatives to drinking, and the major focus of the issue, the epic tale of Elmer L. Jacobson, told in a found collection of letters. The letters' section is also full of mail sent to Found by readers who are in prison. An equally sad and funny issue, and probably my favorite so far. My mom read it the other day and was cracking up across the room. What more endorsement do you need?

Not just another pro-choice zine; this is an introduction to the history of underground abortion and a call to learn our history and to take matters in our own hands. It includes some information on menstrual extraction and a list of resources to learn more. Reproductive choice is not a "right" to be granted or withdrawn. "To know our history is to begin to see how to take up struggle again." Exceptionally well written and researched. If you are looking for more information about these topics, this is it! Timely and relevant!

The sequel to the original Holiday Harvest Survival Guide! Features drinks, entrees, soups, desserts, and a jumbo section about celebrating Valentine's Day on the cheap! Write poems, make lip gloss, soaps and bubble baths, watch movies, bake cookies, and more, while avoiding commercialized holidays and doing it yourself.

A another gigantic cookbook for people without a lot to spend. Recipes for food, non-food, and even gift ideas! There's spring cleaning tips, cheap entertainment, making earrings and magnets, yard sales, dandelion wine, and raw foods. Tons and tons of money-saving notions that you can use every day!