IT'S A FANZINE #50 Editor-publisher Gene Kehoe has just released the latest issue of the long-running fanzine IAF in February 2009! It's a real bargain at 72 pages for $5.00 postpaid, jam-packed with the usual great articles and art (including a regular column by yours truly!). There's a section devoted to old fanzines in this issue, including a checklist of every fanzine that was started prior to 1972, from A to C. (Zines that started with the letters D to Z will be listed in subsequent issues. In fact, Gene says that IAF #51 will come out later this year!) If you like old comics, you'll love IAF! Order it from Gene Kehoe, 2265 Byron Ave., Waterloo, IA 50702 or email [email protected] for more info.

NOZ #2 Here's a sneak peak at what the cover of my small-press comic NOZ #2 will look like! I hope to have the issue out by May 1st, 2009! I still don't have much of an idea what will be in this issue -- most likely some re-workings of some of my old stuff. The previous issue, NOZ #1, which was released in Sept. 2007 (and only had around 25 copies printed), primarily consisted of stuff I'd done in the 1980s. However, I'd like for this new issue to be made up of more recent efforts, if possible.

DITKOMANIA #71 This is the cover of the new issue (#71) of Ditkomania, due out on March 2nd, 2009. The fabulously detailed cover is by artist Neil Vokes. This issue has a bit of a horror/fantasy theme, with articles by Nick Caputo on the Lee-Ditko fantasy 5-pagers (illustrated by Larry Johnson) and Larry Johnson on three 1970s Ditko-drawn Charlton ghost tales. Larry also drew the back cover, of Dr. Graves. Michael Aushenker provides a review of "Ditko Continued" and I offer my own review of Ditko's very latest comic, "Oh No! Not Again, Ditko!" Plus there's a letters-page that runs around 9 pages long! Whew! DM #72 will have an Atlas-Seaboard/Ditko-Wood theme to it, with articles by Ceylon Anderson, Bryan Stroud, Trevor Giberson, Jason Sacks, and Michael Aushenker. Check out the Ditkomania Yahoo Group to find out ordering info, etc.

TALES OF FANTASY #45 The latest issue of the long-running series by Larry Johnson. I sent Larry a long letter reacting to this issue (as well as #44, which came out in November) that he might be using for a future issue's letters-page (and ToF has one of the most engaging and entertaining letter-pages around!). Suffice to say, this was a highly enjoyable issue, as usual. I'm a newcomer to the work of Larry Johnson, but I liked this stuff right away. Larry kindly sent me a bunch of back issues and I'm in the process of getting 'em all read right now, so I'll likely have more to say about TOF later. Tales of Fantasy #45 is available for $3.00 postpaid from Larry Johnson, 9 St. Peter St. #4, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130-4907. Also, check out Larry�s brand-new website to learn more about his work.

COMIC EFFECT #47 Latest issue of the long-running fanzine by Jim Kingman. This issue's theme is the career of legendary DC editor Julius Schwartz, with many famous pros giving their opinions about what comics were the most important ones that he ever edited. The fanzine is 52 B&W digest-size pages and costs $3.50 postpaid from Jim Kingman, P. O. Box 2188, Pasadena, CA 91102-2188. You can email Jim Kingman for more info or visit his website.

COMET TALES #20 This is the latest issue of Jim Pack's long-running zine, and this issue stars a science-fiction character called Manjack whose responsibility is eliminating rebel worlds for the empire. This was a fun read and I was impressed by the artwork. There's also a fun lettercol at the back where various respondents answer the question about what small-press title had influenced them the most. No price is listed for this 32-page digest-size comic, but you can get it if you send Jim Pack a buck or two at the following address: Jim Pack, 787 Bay Harbor, Maineville, OH 45039. Or you can email Jim Pack at [email protected] for more info.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY #1 This mini-comic is available from Jim Main, and was released in early February (before the holiday, natch!). It will hopefully be an annual tradition, and features many fun pin-up pages and short strips by a variety of impressive contributors, among them Sam Gafford, Brien Wayne Powell, Jack Bertram (probably my favorite, a 2-pg strip), Terry Pavlet (great cartoony monsters, reminiscent of 1960s comedic horror art like Jack Davis), and Steve Skeates. $2.25 postpaid from Jim Main, 13 Valley View Rd., Brookfield, CT 06804. You can email Jim Main for more info, or order it directly on his website.

ANCIENT TALES FROM THE FUTURE #1 This B&W comic (with shiny color covers) was released in late 2008. The issue's lead story, written and penciled by James Rubino and inked and lettered by Larry Blake, is a sci-fi retelling of the story of Jonah (hence the meaning of the title). The back-up story was written by Rubino and drawn by Blake, and is a touching tale of Medieval days about a hunchback who... well, I don't want to give away the ending. I liked both tales, but liked the second one the best. I also wrote Rubino a long letter reviewing the comic (as well as an earlier one by him, Tales from the Seventh Galaxy #1) which might perhaps be used in the lettercol of a future issue. (I think it's a good idea to try and write a letter of feedback whenever receiving a small-press publication -- or, any publication that moves you in some way.) The comic is available for $4.00 postpaid from James Rubino, Box 760351, San Antonio, TX 78245 or visit www.jamesrubino.com for more info.

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