Zine Review: German Compliment #8

You know how in the Watchmen Dr. Manhattan gets his ass to Mars to contemplate humanity and ends up giving on the world because he got dumped? That’s sort of how everything might feel at the moment, but it’s up to you to turn that frown upside down. Before you start changing the world, you need to change yourself and one of the best ways to improve your mood is with a bit of humor. This is where German Compliment comes in.

It’s been a while since the first issue came out all the way back in 2019, before the COVID era and you will find that this zine has matured like fine wine. As per the zine’s Arnie-centric covers, this issue features a rendition of Kuato from Total Recall—arguably the smartest Schwarzenegger film, which should clue you in on the epic adventure of a read that awaits.

From the first page you will quickly discover why this is one of the most entertaining zines out there, as it effortlessly combines a playful sense of humor with just the right amount of introspection. What distinguishes German Compliment is its very personal approach in the wide variety of interviews, articles, photos and assorted funny and/or thought-provoking bits that you will find within its 80 or so pages.

Whether you want to find out what you can do to stop a shitty band from coming back out of hiatus or get a sense of why rehearsal spaces are important (beyond the obvious), this will keep your funny bone and mind engaged. I also got a kick out of the personal takes on Star Trek (even though I am more of Star Wars fan), the tribute to Bruce Willis and the zine reviews at the end—always a great way of discovering new reads that might otherwise fly under your radar.

As for the interviews, this issue features a discussion with the people behind the Booze Cruise festival, with great insight into the considerations and realities of organizing a major event. There is also an excellent chat with the Hüsker Dü-inspired The Last Mile (with a bonus Mexican tour report) to get you excited about enjoying loud music out in public with friends and strangers.

Perhaps the most sobering and poignant section in this issue is a (translated) article on sexual abuse within the German Left. The authors give some historical and sociopolitical context before getting into the nitty gritty of sexual abuse and how to confront it. While it is focused on Germany, many of the issues and behaviors discussed are, unfortunately, found elsewhere, so this offers a helpful perspective on better understanding and dealing with this phenomenon.

On the more technical side of things, this issue is pretty much entirely in English, compared to past issues that had some German text. The layouts, while a bit simple, are perfectly serviceable and do a great job of making everything very easy to read and follow. The thick cover and glossy paper also mean that it can take a beating and your fingers won’t be covered in ink after flicking through.

If memory serves me correctly, a new issue should be coming out later in the year, so do yourself a favor and track down German Compliment in your favorite distro!

Guest review by Ioannis Pelegrinis. You can find out more about German Compliment on their website and follow Keep It A Secret on Instagram and Facebook.