BYTE MARKS
Zines still flourish in the age of the Internet

By Burt Lum

They were produced by independent writers, often for no other reason than to communicate through prose, poetry, illustrations and graphics.

In the early 1980s, a group of us wanted to share with the world our likes and dislikes in music and pop culture. We got together, wrote articles and published a zine called Novus. At the time, the personal computer was a godsend. Typewriting a zine was time-consuming.

Now, with the Internet, the printed fanzine is a dying breed.

Or is it?

Thanks to Otto of Otto Cake and the 86 List, www.the86list.com, the zine scene periodically gets a shot in the arm. Going on its eighth year, the ZineFest brings together independent zine publishers and a handful of local indie bands for a night of cerebral and aural stimulation.

One never really knows what to expect. Otto tells me that when he started this event there were 20 zine publishers. When I got there for the Jan. 17 event only one was physically present. But not to fret, Otto reassured me. The rest were all at Kinko's printing up their last pages.

Two hours into the event, nearly a dozen zines were getting passed around. Not bad, considering the time and energy required to self-publish.

Zines are pure labors of love, as Laura and Michelle tell me.

Both are Punahou seniors who publish just for the sake of getting their writing into the hands of readers.

There's the fiery, political, anti-multinational-corporation rantings of Dr. Lovepunk and his No-Na-Me zine. Another zine, 12 blocks, is devoted to life in Honolulu's Chinatown.

There's also Lisa's eight-page journal-styled zine chronicling her efforts to meet the deadline for the ZineFest, filling the space with quips and observations.

I had a lot of fun with the comix zines such as Blind Fart by Ken Dahl, Spaz Mini Comic by Kaz Strzepek and XX by Aaron.

Oh, and in all fairness, the music was great too. ;-)

Reach Burt Lum at www.brouhaha.net.