Cinema Sewer #28
Comic, Robin Bougie, cinemasewer.storenvy.com, $5
Robin Bougie does it again with another enthralling and disgusting chapter in the Cinema Sewer series. This set of fascinating essays on cult films, genre films, vintage porn and their attendant subcultures is meticulously assembled as usual, with hand-written text and amazingly sultry illustrations largely written, drawn, laid out and published by Bougie himself. Cinema Sewer is so readable that it could potentially be quite easy to burn through, but thanks to Bougie’s wealth of dirty knowledge, there is plenty to *ahem* chew on, so you won’t destroy the issue too quickly. The zine covers everything from the life of pornographic photographer Johnny Castano (of which Bougie describes his work as “an artform”), to Lili Marlene, aka ‘The Forgotten Anal Princess’, with dozens and dozens of alt-cinema reviews to peruse through. As with its previous installments, Cinema Sewer is definitely an acquired taste, and many may be offended by Bougie’s tendency to be incredibly crass and fast and loose with colloquial genital terms that might unsettle some readers. But for those who are not weak of heart and possess a desire to learn, let this series be your quintessential guide to the underbelly of film. (Richelle Charkot)