My first thought after flipping through this first issue of MULTIKID was "How can they distribute this thing for FREE?!" It's a post-futurist dream with an unusual structure and a visual impact that's like a bastard child of Dada and Lichtenstein. It's jam-packed with art and content.

And speaking of content -- this is some of the most unique I've seen so far. Greeting you on the first article page is a three-page, eleven-scenario way to commit petty theft as a way of discouraging corporate success. (Anything to dissolve the corporate machine!) From there, this 8 1/2 x 17 half-fold zine tackles the issues of race and media, women's rights, pregnancy scares, a very serious article on an Indian natural disaster from a personal perspective, and American politics as usual. Class and gender are definitely not sacred cows with this crowd.

I laughed for hours at the last article, titled "Let's Start a Band! (especially if you can't play)." It brought back memories of my post-high school midwest rock-chick days, where I dated every long-haired metal freak for miles around. I wish I still had current addresses for them -- I'd gladly spring for the postage to send them copies of this zine (with that article highlighted).

This zine is great fun. The content is good, the production is passable, and the layout divine. At its price tag of a whopping 60 cents for postage and a trade, it's one of the best deals out there. My only complaint is that it's only 26 pages plus cover. More I say! Give us more!

You can get MULTIKID by writing to P.O. Box 200232, New Haven, CT 06520. The zine is free with 60 cents postage and an equal trade.

[ by Elizabeth Badurina ]