Meanwhile, however, zine culture has branched out -- way out. Oddballs of all stripes have chimed in, with personal manifestoes, chronicles of obsessions, and travel stories abundant at places like Needles & Pens, the "Zine and DIY shop" on 14th Street, whose tiny space is packed with the ingenious, the funny, and the completely incomprehensible.
Zine Fest celebrates this almost-perfect freedom of the copy machine, featuring publications like Bedwetter, electricfemme, and Morbid Curiosity. The event's organizers say they started it last year to create a sense of community among scribblers and to foster diversity: "Zines create accessibility," says Jenn Star of zine distribution company Starfiend Distro via e-mail. "It's a medium through which writers can get their work out. ... It's a medium through which readers can be exposed to a much wider range of thoughts." Just imagine the thoughts, for example, contained in post apocalyptic funhouse, The Adventures of Blue Hoodie, or quagga. Maximum rock 'n' roll.
