OTP Distribution: 1.800.505.5523 Women’s Press: 1.808.463.1998 zine, #6, 24 pgs, Rusty Haight, $1, 5-2043 Stainsbury Ave. Vancouver, BC, V5N 2M9, [email protected]
The name itself oozes toughness. I clutch the zine in my trembling hand, terrified to even open it for fear some giant iron-knuckled fist will extend itself from the pages and pummel me senseless. I click open my switchblade and stiffen my hands into fists. Ready. Now for the shattering of illusions, not bones, because it turns out Barbed Wire is way less offensive then I had hoped. The opening feature is a transcript of a drunken conversation about paintings and stuff between Haight (the main creator) and his friend, the painter. Their swapped stories of drunken escapades are funny, but it’s mostly just banter. Eight whole pages of banter. Next, I read the short stories, the most disappointing being one about a fake market-research company who creates a group of drones to stir up violence at the G8 Summit. My question about this one is which side are they on? The reverse Stepford Wives story was all right, but the “Truth About Archie” exposé had no real insight or comedic value. So I escaped unharmed…unfortunately. (Heather Ball)