Zines

The ‘AiM Hits Puberty’ zine anthology is in the works!
A zine  is a self-published book or magazine. Some are more or less printed blogs, others are just like magazines (or, like Adventures in Menstruating, periodicals, if you will) and still others are non-fiction publications. Several defy classification, which is allowed because zines are self-published. The word zine is pronounced the same as magazine without the ‘maga’ part.  (Some people in the UK call them fanzines, because they were pretty popular among people who were fans of bands and scifi genre stuff.) A great description and review of Chella’s first four issues

can be found here at Feminist Review.

Issue #7 is the back to school issue and focuses on menstruation education reform.
Vintage and modern ads, product testing of period tracker apps, cartoons and more. All of the zines are A5 with full colour covers and 24 black and white litho printed pages.

The first compilation special issue is the Comic/Poetry Split Special. It features a collection of old and new comics and poems from contributors old and new, plus TWO colour covers. As usual it’s A5, stapled, litho printed and black and white inside.

Issue #6 is ‘The Issue About Nothing’ and comments on the recent changes in ‘femcare’ industry advertising.

Vintage and modern ads, an interview with the creator of The Latrino Gals, cartoons and more. All of the zines are A5 with full colour covers and 24 black and white litho printed pages.

Adventures in Menstruating #5’s theme is ‘Here’s The Sciecne Bit’ and it features interviews and articles about The Society for Menstrual Cycle Research, an interview with cover model and burlesque performer Kitten von Mew, Alison Bechdel’s perimenopausal observation, the annual
vintage and modern ads smackdown, a hilarious comic from Sparky Taylor of Microcosm, brand new poems from Sarah Thomasin, a tampon-revenge-themed extract from Michelle Tea’s excellent new book, Rose of No Man’s Land, and advice on earning your red wings from Dr. Brooke Magnanti, aka Belle de Jour. 24 litho printed pages, full colour front and back litho printed covers. December 2009

Older issues:

Adventures in Menstruating #4, 2009 Now with skirts! This issue is the first since our year-long wedded-bliss hiatus! Each run has a full-colour printed cover. 24 A5 pages.Vintage ads More UK SDU woes Product Testing: The IUD A ‘behind the scenes’ look at our friends’ reactions to the zine. Exploration of the recent trend in formal-wear-inspired sanitary products.
Adventures in Menstruating #3, 2007 The third issue is a bit of a ‘wartime special’ spoof.  Each run has a full-colour printed cover. 24 A5 pages. Make do and mend – tampon crafts! Feature: Meopause the Musical Interview: taboos of the babyboomers Poems and songs about our favourite topic. Vintage ads – a shift in the language during the 1940s. Exposed: The Stealth Tampon Product testing: Sanitary Disposal Unit …and more!
Adventures in Menstruating #2, 2006 The Leakage Horror issue. Each run has a full-colour printed cover. 24 A5 pages.Tour diary Comic strip by Dan from Phlegm Comics Interview: Menstrual taboos in the 1920s Feature: Leakage Horror Comic poetry Vintage ads – How did leaking become something to fear? Product testing: Always Freshelle
Adventures in Menstruating #1, 2005 This is the first issue of the comedy periodical that followed swiftly on the heels of Chart Your Cycle. Each run has a full-colour printed cover. 24 A5 pages.Gendered language Comic poetry Personal essay Mini adventures Vintage ads – euphemisms make women feel dirty ‘less than fresh’ 50s ad collage Diary of a tampon virgin Product testing: Lil-lets Extra Comfort
Chart Your Cycle, 2005 This is the one-shot Chella wrote about menstruation. It was created for the 24 Hour Zine Thing on 3 June 2005. Each run has the same graphic on a different type of paper or cardstock cover. 32 fully-illustrated A5  photocopied pages. Interviews: the rhythm method, pcos and the pill, cloth pads, mooncups Comic poetry Facts about menstruation Anatomical centrefold Myths and folklore Resources Ten-year cycle chart