In the 1930’s, the world was enthralled by the burgeoning world of science fiction – a genre that slowly shaped up throughout the 19th century. Sci-fi up to that point had been a loose category; often bundled with the more distinct fantasy classification. But as the 20th century rolled, the genre grew in popularity for a number of reasons. One is due to the widespread appreciation of the technological breakthroughs accomplished at the time, particularly in places like the United States. And another, the rise of a platform that allowed the genre to further proliferate: the pulp magazine.

It was there that The Comet—said to be the first-ever known zine–was created.

Published by the Science Correspondence Club, The Comet was a fan-made zine that prominently featured correspondences from sci-fi fans, often talking about relevant issues in the genre and science itself. While there were existing professional magazines dedicated to such topics already, these fanzines held a more intimate nature to them, becoming a platform that went beyond just mere sharing of ideas. It connected the community in ways typical publications could not. This is further enhanced by their low prices and DIY nature of production.

88 years later, the story of how The Comet started still mirrors how the zines of today began. In the local zine scene, it’s essentially these same characteristics that form the backbone of the medium. However, if the sci-fi fandom was what helped push zines into existence, it was the punk community that played a crucial role in its emergence here in the Philippines.

HERALD-X—considered the zine that started it all—was released in 1987 as a way to make themselves known, correct any misconceptions surrounding them, and “articulate their collective frustrations,” as Bernie Bagaman notes in his review of the publication.

But while HERALD-X might have prompted the release of more zines throughout the years, the scene was mostly insular, with micro-communities and sub-groups also having publications that reflected ideas and aesthetics specific to their own sub-cultures. During the time, one might find themselves having to be associated with a particular community–or at least, participating in certain events—to obtain copies of these zines.