Let’s call this the Toronto issue of Skull Geek because its got interviews with Ian Danzig of Exclaim, Yvette the TO rep for Vancouver hip indie label Mint Records, and finally, Dave Howard of TO’s Don’t Touch Me Comics. Of the three Dave Howard was the most interesting — Don’t Touch me is an ambitious project (not that exclaim isn’t) and, as the interview revealed, he puts a lot of energy, pride and indie scavenging into doing his zine. Besides the interviews, this issue of Skull Geek devotes an enormous amount of space to record reviews made credible by the Geek’s obvious knowledge of indie music and made enjoyable when the Geek himself is portrayed exhorting people to buy particular releases. What’s exciting about this zine are the oddball graphics, the too occasional appearance of Skull Geek the character (or is he actually a real creature sorta like that claymation freak thing in the movie Basket Case? Hey, how about a Skull Geek movie?) Anyway, Skull Geek is a bible only because Phil is tired of the word zine but if you want to use it as your mantra to life, go ahead, there is nothing in Skull Geek that suggests it is not the ultimate source-book to existence.
comic/zine / main creator: Phil Klygo / $1 plus postage / 658 Crawford St, Toronto, ON, M6G 3K2