What is an APA?
APA is an acronym for Amateur Press Alliance, a collection of self-published magazines (usually referred to as “fan-zines” or just “zines”) that are dedicated to a common theme. The primary focus of our APA is on sharing our mutual love of comic books and comics-related entertainment, as well as other topics of interest to lesbian, gay, bisexual, & transgender people. Ultimately, it’s an opportunity to connect with like-minded readers in a friendly, supportive, and creative environment.
History of Pride APA
Pride APA represents the union of two long-running, LGBTQ-themed APAs focusing on comic books and pop culture. The first was Attitude n’ Sin (or ATDNSIN: The APA That Dares Now Speak Its Name), created in 1988 by Andy Mangels with the assistance of Roger Klorese. This was in response to the first ever “Gays in Comics” panel discussion at the San Diego Comic Convention that summer. ATDNSIN is the longest running gay comic book APA in existence. The Northstar APA (named it after Marvel’s first openly gay character) began in 1989 as a conception of Jericho Wilson and was first published in 1990. In the summer of 2003, the two groups decided to create a joint issue in the vein of the classic JLA/JSA cross-overs. Later that year they voted to permanently merge into one APA, but continued to publish using both names. In 2018, the remaining members voted to unite under a single name.
How Much Does It Cost ?
There is a per issue fee that covers shipping (via Media Mail) and any necessary printing costs (the covers, table of contents, future themes, etc.). This is split evenly among the members and is generally less than $2, depending on the number of color pages. You can choose another shipping method, at your cost, if you want faster delivery.
Every member also receives the APA magazine in digital format, so it’s possible to read the APA online or download to your device. You would still be responsible for printing enough copies of your individual zine if you want it to appear in the print edition. Traditionally, members have printed their own zines and mailed them to the Central Mailer (CM), but you can submit your files electronically and have the CM print the necessary number of copies for you. Currently, the CM charges 5¢ per page for b&w and 15¢ for color.
The CM can accept PayPal or Venmo. To join, just send an introductory message to the CM (see contact page) and he’ll get back to you with the mailing details. Most members choose to maintain an account with the CM, but this is not required.