What is the 'Zine Subscription Anyway? (Patreon)

A nice thing about self-publishing new 'zines and mini comics regularly is that you get the thrill of "unboxing" a freshly printed comic every couple months. Seeing how it all turned out, getting to turn the pages, this is probably like 40% of why writers write. Additionally, I very much enjoy getting to take a photo of a nice stack of envelopes, brand new 'zines, about to go out into the mail, on their way to their readers.

Copies for all Patreon supporters backing me at the 'Zine Subscription level have gone out this week. Please let me know if you don't receive yours in the next week or so.

What is the 'Zine Subscription anyway?

I've been offering print 'zines and mini comics through this Patreon for about eighteen months now, and the way I've been structuring things has evolved and changed a little bit over that time, so I'm thinking now is a good time to re-explain how this works.

In the beginning, I didn't have a defined format, I was just putting together print editions of some of my better online cartoon essays. Nothing wrong with that, I think all these comics are/were pretty strong, and it was nice to make little ashcan print versions of them. But, after printing a couple, I started to feel like maybe I could think a little bit more about these things as physical objects. So, I started the FUN TIME series.

These comics have essentially become the "flagship" title for this 'Zine Subscription. They're my "one-man anthology" series (my man-thology), and have evolved into a place for me to try different things, as well as to explore different topics and different themes.

The first FUN TIME is an assortment of work, collecting some gag comics and some longer cartoon essays. Two of my better pieces, I think, are included in this one: The Year of Magical Thinking and my cartoon reflecting on the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

Next came FUN TIME FALL 2022, The Generation X Issue, my most popular one by far. I've had trouble keeping this one in stock. I guess people love slackers!

And following that, earlier this year I published FUN TIME SPRING 2023, collecting three longer pieces with a loose thematic connection of being inspired in some way by novels I was either reading or writing. Here's a page from the cartoon essay, Orwell Was Right.

And now here I am with the fourth issue, HOT SPACE, an original cartoon essay I think, essentially, perfect for the 'zine format, because honestly, it's so extremely niche. It all started when I saw an ad on TV:

And it brought up all kinds of feelings in me

And goes on to explore both the history of Queen's album HOT SPACE (a critical and commercial flop) and my ongoing relationship to the band's music.

This essay takes up the whole issue, is all entirely brand-new, and is frankly, a direction I'd like to keep going in with this series. Experimenting, writing stuff that I'd have a hard time getting published elsewhere, trying out different stuff with each issue.

Your Support Helps a Lot

The 'Zine Club is $3 a month. For that, you will receive a new FUN TIME issue roughly every 3-4 months. I think I have done a pretty good job of sticking to that commitment, and I hope all supporters feel like they are getting their money's worth. In addition to print 'zines, I also post exclusive comics and sneak-peeks at new pieces in progress, as well as an ongoing "A Year of Making Comics" process series, giving some insight, I hope, into how I'm approaching cartooning and attempting to keep this thing viable.

New subscribers will receive an issue of FUN TIME as soon as they sign up. I will mail you the most recent issue, unless you'd prefer one of the previous ones instead. Just let me know.

FUN TIME FALL 2023 - The Black and White Issue

I'm in the early stages of putting it together, but my thinking is that the FALL 2023 issue of FUN TIME will absolutely jam-packed with short black and white gag comics and humor strips. Subscribers can expect to receive this sometime around September.

Thank-you for your continued support!!

Mike