The Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo - This Weekend

S.P.A.C.E. ! This weekend! http://www.backporchcomics.com/space.htm

History of Post-Apocalyptic Films, Entry #3: Soylent Green

New Feature: Free Haiku Classifieds!

OBSOLETE Magazine is happy to announce that we will be featuring FREE classified advertising in our first issue! You may submit as many as you like, but they MUST be in the form of a haiku poem.

Some examples might include:

lonely days, blank screen
un-employed graphic artist
will design for food
-Jenny- 685.555.6666


Nineteen Sixty Nine
Volkswagen for sale to a
hippie with wrenches
-bob@teledork.net

please email submissions to ricardo@feral-tech.com

The paper copy of OBSOLETE #1 will hit the street July 1st, but if you have a time-sensitive Haiku Classified Ad,  please indicate the date and I will post it on the blog and  Facebook fan page.

History of Post-Apocalyptic Films, Entry #2: Hardware

This morning, I met the devil at the crossroads.....

Out for my morning run, as I approached the point where I turn around to head home, I spotted a mysterious object in the middle of the road. As I got closer, I recognized what it was.... a box of donuts.

How did it get there? Did some bleary-eyed Lutheran leave it on the roof of the car as they hustled the kids into the backseat - in mortal fear of being late for church? Or was it SATAN?

History of Post-Apocalyptic Films Entry #1: Panic in Year Zero

Review of "Zones of Chaos" by Mick Farren

Mick Farren is one of the unsung heroes of the modern "underground" - writer, musician, journalist, anarchist, prankster and unrepentant sinner. A godfather of punk and heavy metal, his bands have shaped the music of two generations - He has worked with The Deviants, The Pink Fairies, Hawkwind, Motorhead and many more. As a writer, his dystopian visions helped lay the groundwork for much of what we now expect of science fiction, yet always with a smirk and sense of humor often missing from most recent books and films.

In "Zones of Chaos", Farren throws down with a collection of prose and poetry (and even cartoons) with titles like "Vinnie wants to sell me Hitler's Brain",  "The Aztec Calendar Just Ran Out" and "Just a Poor Dogpoet Who Finds Himself Locked Out Of The Cathouse".

"Zones" is an outwardly chaotic mixture of lyrical storytelling, but each piece in the book is a gem, strung together on a broken guitar string that changes quickly from a charming necklace to a garrote, and back again.  In" Jailhouse Rock" he tells the tale of spending the Northridge Earthquake locked in the Van Nuys jail. The story, in seven short pages, has it all- drama, humor and biting social commentary. The poem "Anthropomorphism", a eulogy to cartoonist Edward Barker, is full of sweetness and anger, and "Envy" tears apart rock'n'roll idolatry in a mere handful of words.

Farren is unafraid to show his roots and cultural references- reading his work is like watching a great poker player playing an open hand. No tricks, no secrets, no bluffs- just raw talent, well-honed skills and a lifetime of experience that tells him what to throw out, what to keep in, when to fold early, when to go all-in.

The great Michael Moorcock, in the introduction to "Zones" describes Farren's work best - "Mick Farren is an original. Read him and rage. Read him and laugh. Read him and weep. He still has more energy, more life and more creativity than most of those who have come after him. And He's still ahead of his own game. Doing what comes naturally. Cocking a snoot at convention. Telling it like it is. Living in a present made incandescent by his very existence. Showing just how good it is to be alive. "

Vintage Undergrounds from the Vault....

Check out these images from the incredible vintage undergrounds that my buddy Ed gave me yesterday! Thanks Man!!!!

Yipster Times, Overthrow, Rural America- All from the early 80's. Reading the articles,  it's amazing how much things HAVEN'T changed. The one thing that does seem to have changed is the ability of people to stand up to their government! Prozac anyone?  Busch Lite chaser, sir? Enjoy the ball game! SLEEP!

The revolution really won't be televised,  and you're gonna need something to read when the internet goes away!