Maria Forque. Photography Viktor Naumovski. Courtesy of PC Erotic and Ditto Press.
With the onslaught of a new year, it’s high time you started reaccessing your reading material. Out with the old and in with new, and the unashamedly sexy at that. What with the publication of PC Erotic — a new satirical zine merging sex with tech — late last year, it looks like independent sex-publishing is having a bit of a moment. We rounded up our favourite sex-positive/erotic zines that are leading the way in terms of revolutionising how sex is spoken and written about. Finally, some literature we can really get excited about…
PC Erotic
For the more forward-facing among us, we suggest you give the recently launched PC Erotic a peruse. Depicting the intersections of sex and tech with outlandish humour, it’s here to assure you that, no, you’re probably not going to be replaced by a sex robot, but if you are, you should be ready to see the funny side of things. As the tabloids fan the flames of moral panic, this cutting-edge porn zine is a long drink of water. The project, brainchild of British visual artist Iris Luz, deploys the sensationalist language of ‘00s print pornography to explore a whole spectrum of sex-tech content. Original work by digital artist Maria Forque sits alongside features on killer porn drones, making for truly exciting — and informative —reading. Welcome to a brave new world.
Cop yourself a copy here.
The Anonymous Sex Journal
As social media breaks the silence around so many facets of human experience — from mental health to how to make a really good mojito — it’s becoming increasingly obvious that one thing is not represented — sex! Yes, we’re all getting so much better about talking about how often (or not) we’re doing it, and with whom, but what about the nitty gritty? When do we ever get any detail of what’s actually going on dans le boudoir? That would be pretty much never…except, that is unless you chance upon a copy of The Anonymous Sex Journal. The submissions-based zine, which recently released its fourth edition, collates readers’ best sex stories alongside artwork. The latest issue, sees 21 stories written in response to the theme “coming of age,” alongside playful drawings by Oakland illustrator Jeffrey Cheung. Perfect if you’ve always wondered if people are secretly kinkier than you…
Buy the “Coming of Age” issue here
Pull Out
In a world of increasing anti-sex censorship (Tumblr, we’re looking at you), Pull Out zine aims to create a dialogue — equal parts inclusive, diverse, and necessary — around the erotic lives of younger generations. Whether it’s looking at “how porn has rewired how we f*ck” or exploring the day-to-day realities of camming, it’s a vital exploration of technology’s impact on how we articulate desire. As if you needed more reasons to love it, it comes from sex-educator Eileen Kelly, founder of KillerAndASweetThang, an online platform providing tips on all things erotic from an intersectional, sex-positive lens.
You can buy the first issue here
Lascivious
With brands like Victoria’s Secret coming under fire, consumers are calling time on the stick-thin, super model fantasy. The silence around the sex industry, however, means that the adult entertainment industry hasn’t been held to the same standards. It’s exceedingly rare to see plus-size performers, and when you do they’re viewed through a reductive or fetishistic lens. So, against this rather disheartening backdrop, Californian visual artist Lauren Crow brought Lascivious into the world. Shooting their subjects with a Nan Goldin-esque candour, Crow’s grainy, 1970s style photos practically simmer with sensuality. Everything we wish mainstream porn could be.
See images from the first edition via Crow’s site here.
Cave Homo
Ever since Avril Lavigne proclaimed that her love interest was, indeed, a “sk8ter boi,” skating culture has become pretty much synonymous with hetero-bro culture. But, guess what? Skaters can be girls, they can be gay and they can be a whole spectrum of gender identities and sexual orientations. As it turns out, there’s a rad community of queer skaters out there — so much so, that there’s even a pretty cracking zine about it. The name of said zine is Cave Homo, a platform for the somewhat unusual alliance between queer artists and their skateboarding counterparts. Now on its second edition, the first issue was dedicated in its entirety to pro skater Brian Anderson, depicting his sensual (and hella queer) side in leather S&M gear. Who knew skating could be so sexy?
This one doesn’t exactly fit the erotic content bill, but it’s too good to miss: order your issues 1 or 2 here.
Mouth Feel
We all know the saying that the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach. Whilst this might be anatomically incorrect, practically speaking we couldn’t agree more. For those in agreement, Mouth Feel is here to dish out a generous helping of food and gay culture with an amuse-bouche of hot guys. Launched in 2015 by gourmand Mac Malikowski, it’s DIY aesthetic marries the punk aesthetic of underground queer porn zines with the bombastic rhetoric of ‘70s hardcore. Covering everything from homophobia in kitchens to currywurst, Mouth Feel is perfect for anyone who wants a bit of food (fetish) for thought. Bon appetit.
Choose between issues 1 to 4 here