There is something genuine about Microcosm Publishing founder Joe Biel’s request to “get in touch” and “to talk nerdy about zines.”  Describing the struggles involved with running a successful distro in Thirteen Years of Good Luck, the creator of You Can Work Any 100 Hours Per Week (in your underwear) and Bipedal, By Pedal is humble and overly optimistic despite troubled times.  Noting that “the underground is stronger than the mainstream and that book distribution ownership will cease to be a niche hobby investment for rich people and be forced back into the hands of the ingenuitive and passionate publishers and sellers,” Biel speaks of the dedication of co-workers and takes pride in all of Microcosm’s successes, specifically mailing orders on time.

Thirteen Years of Good Luck features excerpts of some of the finest zines put out by Cindy Crabb, Dave Roche, Cristy Road, Ken Dahl, Jesse Reklaw, and Nicole Georges.  Consisting of 88 pages of pure, unadulterated power, the compilation offers readers advice on composting, vegan cooking, consent, portable dwellings, choosing a bicycle, and more.  Each submission is as unique as the person who created it.  John Isaacson’s how-to primer on screen-printing is as informative as it is entertaining.  Using illustrated panels to guide the reader through the process of creating a design, choosing ink colors, exposing emulsion to light, and printing-on-demand, Isaacson’s contribution to Thirteen Years of Good Luck is a shining example of why doing it yourself is far more respectable than supporting an industry with no moral compass.

In fact, zines in general defy stereotypes and push boundaries.  Tackling topics that are often considered taboo or too colorful for mainstream media, the photocopied booklets are powerful sounding boards for a person with a lot on his/her mind. Take Cindy Crabb’s article on “Consent,” for example. Addressing questions that are often thought of but not communicated by sexual abuse survivors and their partners, the author relays the importance of being honest with one another and addressing boundaries in a real way.  Readers are asked the following questions:

• Do you think it’s okay to initiate something sexual with someone who is sleeping?
• Do you seek consent the same way when you are drunk as when you’re sober?
• Do you think it’s your responsibility or role to overcome another person’s hesitancy by pressuring them or making light of it?

Zines are also informative and offer their readers step-by-step instructions.  Thirteen Years of Good Luck can be considered a bit of a how-to primer.  Men and women learn how to whip up tasty vegan vittles with the help of Absjorn Intonsus’s “Please Don’t Feed the Bears.”  Offering meat-free alternatives in the form of creole tofu and rice and sweet potato burritos, the Xeroxed cooking zine provides plenty of inspiration for those individuals wanting to make a lifestyle change, eat more veggies, and stretch their grocery budget.  Ethan Clarke and Shelley Jackson’s “Chainbreaker” submission gives pointers on choosing the right bike.  Illustrations and detailed descriptions help readers select the mode of mechanized transportation that best fits their needs.

Thirteen Years of Good Luck is heartfelt and full of merit.  Combining some of the best information contained in zines, the compilation showcases the talent of a group of individuals that are committed to bringing truth to their writing and illustrating.  A form of expression that goes beyond the page, zines have the power to evoke raw emotion, to inspire, and to instill a sense of community in anyone brave enough to pick one up and read it.