Forget claims that print design (opens in new tab) is dead. In reality, talent illustrators (opens in new tab) are helping print survive with more independently released zines than you can ask for. There are thousands of bold, funny and beautifully designed zines out there.
Here we've chosen a select few of our many, many favourites. However, the very nature of indie zines means that they're often small, local and largely unknown - so if there's a title you feel we've overlooked, please let us know in the comments!
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01. Jeff Job Hunter (opens in new tab)
Coming from a town where more than 250 people applied for a single job at downmarket retailer Poundland, Jack Teagle chose to become an illustrator instead and so created Jeff Job Hunter, a funny and beautifully-depicted tale of Ulyssean proportions.
02. Ouroboros (opens in new tab)
Dominated by bold colour and shapes, illustrator Ben Newman’s graphic novel Ouroboros is a tale of action and adventure. Based on the ancient symbol depicting a serpent eating its own tail, the story grapples with the theme of life and rebirth.
03. Love and Hats (opens in new tab)
Andy Rementer’s zine Love and Hats is a beautifully illustrated story of a young couple. Delicate ink drawings (opens in new tab) depict an entangled web of love, doubt and regret across this 24-page tale.
04. Macro Shrub (opens in new tab)
Written by Jack Burston and illustrated by Murray Somerville, Macro Shrub is a six-part zine series that features stories, articles, illustrations, comics and screen printed covers, and flits everywhere from the theme of death to an essay on Game of Thrones.
05. The New Ghost (opens in new tab)
Comic illustrator Robert Hunter’s first zine for Nobrow Press was a phenomenal success, selling out on the day of the first release. The New Ghost tells the story of a new recruit to the spirit world and his struggles getting to grips with the job, which proves to be more difficult than he anticipates.
06. Seven Days in Berlin (opens in new tab)
Following his earlier travelogue in Barcelona, comic illustrator Neil Slorance’s latest self-published zine describes his adventures in Berlin. Not just a travel diary, Seven Days in Berlin is also a bittersweet love story depicted with some heart-wrenching imagery.
07. Scenes From An Alley (opens in new tab)
Jeffry Kriksciun’s latest zine, available in either purple or peach, can either be read as a narrative or each of the 12 pages can be appreciated as a standalone illustration.
08. Nothing Special (opens in new tab)
Well-known Sao Paulo artist Pacolli’s latest zine Nothing Special is a collection of drawings and doodles from different times. She describes it as being about "obsessions, notes to myself, teenage dreams, Alain de Botton and the Ramones".
09. OffLife (opens in new tab)
Indie comic zine OffLife provides a platform to showcase today's best comic talent to new audiences. Now preparing for its fifth edition, the publication is on the hunt for new and exciting illustrators to take part (opens in new tab).
10. Obsolete (opens in new tab)
Danish comic book artist Mikkel Sommer tells a gritty tale of how two soldiers struggle to deal with the nightmares of their war experiences through alcohol, drugs and nihilistic hedonism. Beautifully illustrated, the 24-page zine is a story of hopeful re-awakening.
Words: Natalie Brandweiner (opens in new tab)
Natalie Brandweiner is an online journalist for MyCustomer.com (opens in new tab), covering social media and marketing, and has a keen interest in design.
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What zines should we add to our list? Let us know in the comments box below!
