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Jeff Zenick Comix and Small Press Collection, 1984-2003

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Zenick, Jeff, 1956-
Title
Jeff Zenick Comix and Small Press Collection
Dates
1984-2003 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.75 linear feet of shelf space, (4 boxes)
Collection Number
SC 003.7 (collection)
Summary
This collection consists of small press literature and comic books donated by underground writer Jeff Zenick. The collection includes approximately 200 underground comix and homemade zines, spanning four decades, in the small press/underground genre. Some of the subject matter is controversial, and contains violent and/or sexual themes.
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open and available for research use.

Languages
English, German, Portuguese
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Biographical Note

Jeff Zenick was born in 1956 to American parents living in Paris. When he was two years old, he and his parents relocated to the Washington, D.C. suburbs in Maryland. In several interviews, Zenick credited his troubled childhood and teenage years with sparking his love of drawing. After graduating from high school in Maryland, he traveled extensively through the United States, drawing (mostly portraits, nature and urban scenery) and working odd jobs to support himself. As of 2015, Zenick resides in Tallahassee, Florida and is still very active in the small press community, appearing at conventions and selling his art in a variety of brick-and-mortar stores and online.

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Content Description

These underground comix and small press materials were collected by Jeff Zenick and were published circa 1984 to 2003. The collection includes 95 unique titles, with sequential issues of many comix, newsletters, and zines. Standard and digest size comix make up about fifty percent of the collection and most are underground and small press comix with amateur production values and small print runs. Minicomix are approximately ten percent of the collection. Approximately forty percent of the collection is non-comix related, consisting of advertising and promotional materials, catalogs, newsletters, and zines (a term derived from "magazine," and self-published via photocopier). Of these, zines are a small majority (about ten percent of the collection) and are notable for their representations of the American music underground, counterculture, horror and fantasy writing, and several works by Jeff Zenick.

Series 1: Advertising, Promotional Material, and Catalogs. This series contains materials related to the advertising and promoting of comix, zines, comic books, promotional comix-related events, and catalogs for comix, comic books, anime, art supplies, and other related materials.

Series 2: Books. This series contains published novels with sci-fi and fantasy themes.

Series 3: Comix. This series contains two subseries based on format: Subseries 3.1: Standard and digest comix, and Subseries 3.2: Minicomix.

Series 4: Magazines and Comix Related Materials. This series contains professional-quality published material in magazine format, and a variety of materials relating to comix and comix creators.

Series 5: Newsletters. This series consists of newsletters of small press and library groups and organizations.

Series 6: Zines. This series consists of small press zines written by one or multiple authors.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions apply.

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]

Jeff Zenick Comix and Small Press Collection, 1984-2003 (SC 003.7)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in six series. All material in each series is arranged alphabetically by title.

Location of Collection

(MASC Staff Use) 1:35

Acquisition Information

Jeff Zenick donated this collection to the Washington State University Libraries (MS.2009.20).

Processing Note

Robert Franklin processed this collection in 2015.

Related Materials

Steve Willis Underground Comics Collection, 1966-1997 (SC 003.1)

Lynn R. Hansen Underground Comics Collection, 1899-1994 (SC 003.2)

Paul Brians Comics Collection, 1950-2004 (SC 003.3)

Steve Willis Comix and Small Press Collection, 1968-2004 (SC 003.4)

Clark Dissmeyer Comix and Small Press Collection, 1977-2002 (SC 003.5)

Joseph M. Shea Comix and Small Press Collection, 1967-2010 (SC 003.6)

Comic Art and Culture Collection 1969-2019 (SC 003.8)

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Comic books, strips, etc.
  • Erotic comic books, strips, etc.
  • Graphic novels
  • New wave comics
  • Underground comic books, strips, etc.
  • Underground press publications
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