Shock Media is a monthly zine that "explores the antithesis of information and exposes some 'shocking' truths about our societies." What does this mean? Patents on genetically-altered plants, killer asteroid clouds, Web funerals, gun nuts, Russian cloning experiments, and other bottom-feeder catastrophic news. Shock Media is often politically incorrect, but that's OK, say the Webmasters, because it "is a search for the truth, and nothing but the truth. Some people hate that." In any case, the site's still worth a cheap thrill. - David Pescovitz
A literary zine devoted to "dark" fiction (described as horror, horrific science fiction, and dark fantasy), Creatio ex Nihilo specializes in short stories and poetry that explore the conjunction of sex and fear, sex and psychosis, sex and supernatural terror ... you get the picture. The zine also publishes essays on related subjects, as well as reviews of books and occasional journals. If this genre appeals to you, then the easily navigated electronic pages of Creatio ex Nihilo are worth a flip-through. There's some skillful and disturbing writing here--definitely not for the sensitive, squeamish, or violence-averse. - Sandra Stewart
As you might guess by its slogans--"The Magazine That Thinks It's Funny But It's Snot" and "The Magazine That Makes A Little Love, That Does A Little Dance, That Gets Down Tonight"--Yellow Dog offers mostly sophomoric wit, and even on that level, it's no laugh riot. The zine does deserve some credit, however, for attempting to provide social and political commentary with a sense of humor. The spirit behind a recent issue's "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow: The Legacy of Frank Zappa" and "Will We Ever Get Rid of Gingrich?" is admirable, and Yellow Dog occasionally scores a hit. A visit is basically a waste of time, but the site has potential. - Sandra Stewart
Let's give this one the most-improved award. You, another glam-seeking, fashion-loving online zine, learned at least one thing in the transition from its first to its second issue: 400K images just don't work. Issue One presents an ode to being nude that will titillate your beauty button, a set of gorgeous portraits of homeless teens, and a lot of other excellent photomontage work that would look great in a print magazine but that takes forever to load on your computer. In Issue Two, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of Amok Books, the zine scales down the graphics a bit and beefs up the content, providing a less glamorous but more realistic approach to online presentation. Look for (an even better?) Issue Three this summer. - Jeff Titterton
The attitude of this online version of Bust, the self-proclaimed "voice of the new girl order," puzzles me. An editorial from the Sex Issue, for example, condemns such roles as good girl/bad girl, because they were created by men; but then Bust does a Bad Girl issue of its own that contains the much-ballyhooed stream-of-consciousness rant by former-skank-turned-Hollywood-glamour-queen Courtney Love. Just where do you stand, ladies? Overall, however, Bust makes for a slick, fun read. More importantly, it provides another voice for women in a medium that too often silences or ignores them. Go ahead, become a "Bust Girl." - Dorrit Tulane Walsh
This aptly titled zine devotes its efforts to spreading "alternative information," which in this case means popular conspiracy theories and such improbable catastrophes as spontaneous human combustion. The well-written articles cover topics ranging from the Illuminati's version of history to Norton I, the little-known Emperor of the U.S. in the 1800s. One slight obstacle to fully appreciating these articles is that the site mistakenly assumes readers are already well acquainted with the jargon. But Impropaganda is entertaining and informative--sort of like reading an encyclopedia while you ride through a fun house. - Dorrit Tulane Walsh
In this case someone has a right to be smug, specifically publisher Leslie Harpold. She's created a NYC-based zine that's both beautifully designed and immensely readable--a combo that eludes many others in the genre. This pastiche of modern urban essays changes monthly, and general topics include queer issues, sex, music, religion, Hollywood, advice on your "love rap," and the indescribable Biswick Files. The writers are all captivating, witty, and just plain funny (ha ha funny, not weird funny). Registering will get you a password (via e-mail) so you can engage in smug chat--isn't that the best kind? - Dorrit Tulane Walsh
Minneapolis-based Cake is a print mag that calls itself the "non-music music zine." What does that mean? Well, it doesn't mean record reviews (just movies and books), boring Q&A's (these are entertaining ones!), or power chord tabs (this isn't Kerrang). For a taste of Cake, check out the Special Toys Issue, which features Louis Perez of Los Lobos on playing secret agent; Kevin Andrews of Failure on Hot Wheels and Legos; and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones on Micronauts, Air Hockey, and other youthful delights. Sound good? Well, you're better off subscribing to the paper version of Cake, because the designers of this site don't seem to realize that a line space every now and then is conducive to legibility. - David Pescovitz
"Journal X is the ultimate in cutting-edge webzines. It captures the spirit and energy of the twentysomething generation and serves it up on an electronic platter.... Or it's just a bunch of crazy, lazy kids drinking and writing for your amusement." To be honest, neither one sounds very interesting. Journal X shouldn't sell itself with such cheesy tag lines, because the content here is actually quite decent. Check out a very pop deconstruction of the War on Drugs called "On Bongs and Boomers" (great title!), read about the flavor of wheat beers, or find out why "Queens is not New York." Journal X needs to steer clear of Gen-X labels, and anti-"Gen-X as a label" propaganda--otherwise, eyes will commence rolling before the page is even finished loading. - David Pescovitz
Site of the month!!
Remember the barbaric fledging years of the online world? When being a woman and expressing a strong opinion about misogyny on the Net got you called a whiner or a bitch? When the antiquated concepts of gender proffered by Cyberpunk too often insinuated themselves into mainstream techno-thinking? Well, guess what? Those days are still here! Fortunately, there's a zine that kicks the big boys where they live, while still managing to keep a wicked sense of humor. The first thing you'll notice at Brillo is the sleek--but not overly slick--design, full of wonderful white space and clever graphics that are always a perfect fit for the theme. Big deal, you say? We all know looks alone don't cut it, you say? Well, Brillo has more than enough inside to match its pretty shell. The zine focuses on the concerns of women, but it also does a good job of extrapolating these concerns to include "the other, any group on the boundaries of society outside the normative power structure." And Brillo doesn't just give lip service to lofty theories; it shows "practical examples of people, just people, out there doing it," including some inspiring how-to interviews with a variety of activists. The zine also discusses such complex social issues as the difference between hating patriarchy and hating men; "Erase-ism," the lack of coverage of race, age, and sexual orientation online; and the possible harmful effects of live video-teleconferencing porn on future human interaction. And throughout it all, Brillo keeps it simple and doesn't resort to tongue-twisting academic language. There's one big downer: the lag time between issues. In the last nine months, only three issues have gone live, making this a disappointingly infrequent publication. And while you can write to the zine (brillo@virago-net.com) to beg for more, you won't know who you're writing to, because the main mind behind it is never clearly identified. (Of course, after reading the horror stories here about unwanted and unsolicited "wanna date" e-mail sent by men, you'll understand why.) Brillo shares more with that ubiquitous little scrubbing pad than its name--it cleanses too. But it doesn't just clean up the Web; it cleanses your mind, and, more importantly, your soul. Brillo is brilliant. - Dorrit Tulane Walsh