Punk Planet #12 (Hoboken NJ / Chicago IL)

Still straddling the two world of Hoboken, New Jersey and Chicago, Illinois (with a reviews editor in Leeds, Alabama of all places), Punk Planet #12 continues to grow into the punkzine that we knew and loved during the 1990s.

This issue, from 1996, offers plenty of the personal columns that helped attract readers to zines like Maximum Rock 'N' Roll, but I always thought that those in Punk Planet were a little more thoughtful (although, to be honest, some PP columnists came over from MR&R if I remember correctly). Editor Dan Sinker's stuff is here, as are columns by Will Dandy, Bob Conrad (who I always enjoyed), Leah Ryan, David Hake, and Larry Livermore, among others.

Interviews in issue #12 included Squirtgun (who I always thought were underrated) and
"cuddlecore" band Cub. There's a though-provoking article on the role of punkzines in revitalizing the small press, and another on the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (which helped usher in an era of corporate media monopolies and more right-wing talking head assholes). There is some fiction, an overview of the Sundance Film Festival that asks the question "is film punk?" (sure 'tis, just go ask Michael Dean), and another article on the media's role in covering up UFO information. Naturally, there's a crapload of record and zine reviews and lots of cool ads.

(Click on the cover thumbnail to see larger picture)

VITAL STATISTICS:
• Issue #12
• March/April 1996
• B&W, 104-pages w/covers, newsprint
• Style: punkzine

ARTICLES/INTERVIEWS
Squirtgun interview
Cub interview
Telecommunications Act article
The Media & UFOs article
--> also reader mail, music & zine reviews, etc