Minicomic co-ops

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For criticism see Criticism of Minicomic_co-ops

Minicomics Co-Ops are groups of zinesters, minicomic creators, and related artists who create, publish and distribute their work themselves as part of the DYI, or do it yourself movement..

The term co-op has often been confused with amateur press associations or apas. The difference is that an apa is helmed by a central mailer, to whom the members send copies of their publications. The central mailer then compiles all the books into one large volume, which is then mailed out to the membership in apazines. Some APAs are still active, and some are published as virtual "e-zines," distributed on the internet.

In a co-op, however, there is no central mailer; the members distribute their own works, and are linked by a group newsletter, a group symbol that appears on each member work, and a group checklist in every member zine.

Contents 1 U.F.O. and B.P.P. 2 S.P.S. 3 S.P.L. 4 Pizazz 5 S.P.A. 6 Other 7 External links

U.F.O. and B.P.P.

The United Fanzine Organization, or U.F.O., is a co-operative of minicomic creators that has existed since about 1968. The group was created by Carl Gafford as an entity for trading and promoting small press comics and fanzines. Gafford was the publisher of a comic called Minotaur. The original name of the group was Blue Plaque Publications, or the B.P.P. for short. Among its earliest members were Chuck Robinson II (publisher of Comique), Dwight Decker (True Fan Adventure Theatre), Ed Romero (Realm), and Gordon Matthews (Coffinworm).

The B.P.P. was the first small press minicomics co-op.

The original B.P.P. disbanded in early 1972, but was revived later that same year by Steve Keeter, who had been the last of the original members voted in before its collapse. During Keeter's tenure as chairman, the name was changed to the U.F.O., and a new constitution was adopted. Notable members during this second phase of U.F.O. history included Jim Main, Kurt Erichsen, Larry Johnson, and Rod Snyder.

When the UFO again disbanded during the early 1980s, it was revived yet again by Jim Main. The group has continued ever since, and many of the finest publishers in the comics small press have been, and continue to be members. Chairmen have included J. Kevin Carrier, Nik Dirga, Sam Gafford, John Yeo Jr., Bob Elinskas, and Jason DeGroot.

A new group, sporting the original B.P.P. name, that was begun by Jim Main and Steve Keeter in 1999. While each of these groups has its own distinctive character, they all follow the basic co-op format that was established by Carl Gafford decades ago.

There have been a number of other co-ops created over the years.

S.P.S.

The S.P.S., or Small Press Syndicate.

S.P.L.

The S.P.L. (Small Press League), founded in 1987 by Liam Brooks, Andrew Roller, Will Dockery, David Cushman and Rick Howe (comix artist).

The S.P.L. has recently been revived by David Cushman, after a dormant state of almost a decade.

Mike Gunderloy, publisher of the infinitely influential zine bible Factsheet Five, had this to say in an article in Whole Earth Review so many years ago: “With the arrogance born of ignorance, the people who self-publish comics refer to what they’re doing as ‘The Small Press,’ as if there was no other.” Seeking to break those self-imposed barriers, the Small Press League was born as an alternative to the various other small press comics co-ops of the day, a collective of artists, writers, critics, poets and rabble-rousers. Developed in the fall of 1987 during several telephone conversations between Andrew Roller, Liam Brooks and William Dockery, the group launched itself with its first official publication, dated April 1988. The organization went through several other leaders, sometimes elected, sometimes self-proclaimed: David Cushman (1989-1990); Rick Howe (1990-1992); back to Brooks and Dockery (1992-1993); Chris Terry, S.E. Mills, Michael Hegg (1993-1994); Theresa Fleming (1995); and once again back to Brooks and Dockery (with Truman Bentley) for a brief stint in 2000. Though perhaps not a truly formal revival, the current Small Press League is founded on the same principals of creativity, community and collaboration, and the name seems a fitting tribute to the history of the small press and the Small Press League. -David Cushman Small Press League history

Pizazz

S.P.A.

The Self Publisher Association (S.P.A.), founded by Ian Shires.

Other

• minicomic
• List of minicomics creators
• Fandom
• Fanzines
• amateur press association
• Zine

External links

• United Fanzine Organization
• Blue Plaque Publications
• Mini-Komix
• Small Press League revival site
• Small Press League old site
• Purrsia Press
• Zine-A-Polooza

Adapted from the Wikipedia article, "Minicomic co-ops" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minicomic_co-ops, used under the GNU Free Documentation License.
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