By Joe Evans III
Firebrands: Portraits From the Americas
Microcosm
A collection of features on notable revolutionaries, both in portrait and descriptive short essay form. The individuals contained within are an eclectic bunch, ranging from Muhammad Ali to Nina Simone. It’s an interesting and informative compilation, though sadly I’m self-hating enough that it doesn’t take long for the “Well, it’s good to know I’m doing nothing worthwhile with my life,” thoughts to kick in while searching through.
Scam: The First Four Issues
Microcosm
I’m pretty much always a fan of zine collections like this. Maybe its because I’ve been there myself, in my parents’ basement at three in the morning using their copier and my own stapler, all for a handful of copies of my own zine that I’ll inevitably just give away. It’s a lot of work, so I like to seeing things in a nice package like this.
Scam is a pretty long running zine in the vein of Cometbus. It’s primarily from the perspective of one person, Erik, then known as Iggy Scam as he lives in Southern Florida as cheaply as possible. There are travelogues, interviews with bands that he sees (or is just an enthusiastic fan of), and the staple being stories and how-to’s of the scams that affords him his cheap lifestyle, be it ways to eat for free, or just unorthodox entertainment.
Admittedly, I wasn’t reading the first time around so this was my first real exposure to it. While I was excited to finally read it, there were moments upon reading where I feel “man, I wouldn’t want to hang out with this guy.” Mostly it’s just little things where I think to myself “eh, I’m ok with spending fifty cents on a donut before taking a long shower,” but occasionally there’s a cringe worthy moment or two. Like a moment where he’s hitchhiking in the middle of the highway, and throws a rock at a car that doesn’t pick him up. I can’t help but feel a little annoyed by actions like that, but it’s nothing personal, we just have different lives. He’s a “never shower because that’s time I could be drinking coffee,” guy, I’m a “stick it out at a low level job while I do my own stuff on the side,” guy. Just apples and oranges. But, then he has the moment of “alright, that was a mistake,” which is a nice moment of redemption.
If I’d found out about Scam as a teenager, I definitely would’ve read it. The thought of being able to rip off soda machines is too tempting. It’s also a well rounded zine that’s equal parts personal and political that takes itself seriously enough to try, but not seriously enough to care. And even today, it’s an entertaining read, as a portrait of what was going on at the time. The fact that Screeching Weasel is interviewed in issue one is hilarious. “Do you go dumpster diving?” “No!”
Overall, it’s a great collection for those just getting into it, or if you’ve been following along the whole time. Think of it as a good coffee table book, whether you’re living in a squat, or a decent apartment paid for with a low rung temp job.
