For this edition of AmaZine Day (Saturday, May 18th), we’ve lined up a two-part reading featuring some rad creators that have tabled at AmaZine Day and are active members of the Portland zine community! Amazine Day is a quarterly zine fest organized by PZS and happens at the IPRC. This…
Catnap
I made a Packers mascot. Why not, they need one! Packer kind of sounds like an alien race right? So this is Greeny B, a Packer from outer space who has a taste for Lions, Vikings, and especially Bears 
Our first dogs
What is the Hot Dog Club? It is precisely what it sounds like: a club of people who like hot dogs, despite all of the slander the sausage has endured across the years. We get together once a month and enjoy a hot dog at one of various hot dog establishments in our fine city of Portland. One of our founding members, Zech, created our sweet logo, and once you have a logo, it’s official!
Our inaugural meeting of the Hot Dog Club of Portland was held on January 30, at Franks A Lot (2845 E Burnside St, Portland). It’s a small stand alone A-Frame next to Whole Foods. It boasts a Pirate Flag. It’s owned and operated by Margo, a woman who proudly claims the title “the Hot Dog Lady.”
We came hungry. We came for hot dogs. We were not disappointed.
Never quick enough with the camera, Paul and Brian have already polished off their hot dogs and coke. Brian claimed his German Beer Frank “transported me to another world.” Paul’s Spicy Andouille sausage “wasn’t very spicy, but it was enjoyable.”
Zech and Nate had a good chuckle reminiscing about their hot dog lunch. Zech had an All-Beef Grilled Dog, with his favorite condiments: ketchup and sweet relish. He gave it an “A.” Nate had the Oktoberfest. When asked about it he replied with paranoia, “I didn’t know I was being judged.” How was the hot dog, though? “It could be a little more plump. Leave it to me to bring the hot dogs down.”
Alex and Lillie are striking a stoic pose because they take hot dogs seriously. Alex, too, had the Spicy Andouille. “I don’t believe there is such a thing as too spicy,” said he. It is worth noting, also, that Alex received a card upon his arrival which was good for one free hot dog, and promptly used it to buy his meal. Who says there is no such thing as a free lunch? Lillie, our vegan representative, enjoyed a vegan dog which was wrapped in enough foil to fashion a space helmet, if she so desires (Lillie did not comment on the matter.)
Of course it is not a requirement to eat hot dogs at the Hot Dog Club. Some members such as Rebec, Megan, and her little pal, attended the meeting as observers, enjoying alternative options from neighboring Whole Foods. Rebec was kind enough to bring potato chips along to share with the group. “It’s nice having a lunchtime club,” said Rebec. “There is less social expectation.” It’s true.
Ted indulged in a Polish Frank, “grilled, not steamed.” When Breena, a Green Bay native, told him that she had gotten a Chicago Style Frank, Ted remarked, “Chicago? You’re betraying your team by ordering that!”
After lunch, things started to get a little crazy.
And then even crazier.
This is the Hot Dog Club, after all. If we weren’t crazy, we’d be doing something wrong.
zech:
Breena & I made you a to-do list for when you visit us.
Everyone seems to be sharing their American Elf tributes here on the tumblers, so here’s mine which I posted on December 31st, my last comic of 2012, along with this description:
American Elf is the comic that, for me, set things into motion. I was at an impasse, confused if I was a painter or cartoonist, a fine artist or entertainer. I thought that for a comic to have merit it had to be grand, in the vein of Maus or Blankets or Jimmy Corrigan. And then my friend Gwen introduced me to James Kochalka’s daily diary comic, and I began to understand. If you have comics in you, you have to get them out. Today James posted his last American Elf comic after drawing them for 14 years (if that doesn’t qualify it as “grand” I’m not sure what does). I can’t imagine how strange that must feel for him, but as one of many who has been inspired by him — Easel Ain’t Easy comics began as a direct result of my Elf exposure — I can only say how thankful we are for all of the time, energy, and emotion that he put into it. Let’s all do the Elf proud!
