Hi! As some of you may know, I don't post online here very often because so much of my time is instead involved offline with Alpha-Omega, the Christian Comic Arts Society's long-running Christian comics APA (which stands for Amateur Press Association.) I'm reprinting and expanding on an earlier post to provide a "Frequently Asked Questions" list about the APAzine, because some folks have been asking for more info about it and I thought it would be easier to have the info handy in one blog post I can just directly link to.
What is an "APA"?
For those who don't know what an APA is, there's a Wikipedia article on the history of the concept. It's basically a short-run, members-only fanzine that works sort of like a pre-internet equivalent of a private discussion forum/bulletin board/blog, printed out and shipped back and forth through regular postal mail. Each member of the APA produces their own mini-zine (called "contributions", or "tribs" for short), mails their 'trib to the group's "Central Mailer", who then collates and combines the individual 'tribs into complete photocopied/stapled issues of the APA-zine which is then mailed back out to all participating members, who then are generally expected to review/critique/comment on each other's work in the following issue.
Given the bi-monthly schedule of issues, this group a much slower-paced alternative to the instantaneous fellowship available through modern online forums and social media, but it also tends to provide an outlet for a different set of creative muscles and provides a different style of feedback and fellowship. Some creators find that having a regular deadline to create something tangible to share with a private group of friends is helpful in a way very different than the open-ended nature of just posting work to online forums for strangers to review. The APA format allows for longform nuanced discussions among a private circle of creators, rather than the rapid-fire clickbait commentary that tends to dominate online spaces. It's a unique way for amateurs to refine their skills, for creators to bounce ideas around and get feedback, and most importantly, a great way for Christians who love the comics medium to have fellowship with other fans who share their values.
Who's in charge?
The APA is run by two volunteer positions: the Central Mailer (who handles the physical assembly and mailing of each issue, and keeps track of the costs for each issue), and the Editor (who provides an opening editorial for each issue providing discussion prompts and creative challenges; he also acts as judge/referee if there are any disputes between members or questions about the rules governing content within the issue.)
What's required to participate?
Members are expected to maintain a “minimum activity requirement” for participation in the group. This means contributing at least 2 pages every other issue. Some members sometimes have to take a longer hiatus due to health problems, family emergencies or other unforeseen circumstances. We’re flexible. Just try to let us know if you think you may be missing several issues in a row; people get worried if a member just vanishes off the map like a ghost.
An easy way to stay involved if you’re not able to complete a full ‘trib on any given issue is to submit cover artwork. The front covers are generally Christian themed (Bible scene adaptation, an allegorical scene, or fanart of Christian comic characters) although sometimes it’s merely seasonal/topical (in the past, I’ve created covers using re-lettered public domain comic art, with “Christmas”, “Summer Vacation” or “Back to School Deadlines” themes.) The back covers don’t need a specific theme, and are often a showcase for fan-art of various genres.
Are there financial costs?
The Central Mailer pays out-of-pocket for the costs for mailing out each new issue of Alpha-Omega, and every member is expected to send funds to reimburse those costs. (Some members send in a small amount as needed on a per issue basis, others just send a larger amount of prepaid funds to cover several months worth of issues in advance.)
Each member is also expected to cover the cost of printing their own portion of the APAzine. Some members do this by photocopying their own ‘tribs and mailing them in to the Central Mailer; some members email their ‘tribs to the Central Mailer as a PDF and then send extra funds to cover the cost of printing their pages for them.
The current costs for an issue of AO include printing 15 collated sets of their ‘tribs. The Central Mailer is currently able to print a PDF ‘trib at cost for only 8 cents per page. The USPS postage costs typically range from $3.00 to $10 depending on the size of the issue and if you prefer First Class or Priority Mail.
Content: What to include?
For your first 'trib, it's always helpful to include a brief introduction: the basics who you are, how you came to Christ, and what are your interests in fandom. (We've got some folks who are avid readers of all kinds of comics, some whose interest is limited to certain genres, and some who are more interested in related areas like sci-fi, fantasy, anime, or gaming.)
It’s helpful to give your ‘trib a title (to help distinguish it from others when collated together) and to include your name so it’s easier to identify when sharing feedback. We’re a “members only” private publishing group, so some oldschool members feel comfortable including their full address and phone number among their contact info in their ‘tribs. Others (who may be more skittish about privacy) might only include an email address or online contact info. It’s up to you: our contact info is shared within the group primarily to allow other members to collaborate on other projects together outside of the APA if they’re interested.
The content you share is up to you. Each person's 'trib is treated like it's own mini-zine, so feel free to tailor it to your interests: some of are primarily sharing art, others are primarily sharing writing; other are sharing essays, articles or reviews about comic-related topics from a Christian perspective. Personal updates and prayer requests are OK too.
With an interactive creative group like Alpha-Omega, what you get out of it depends on how much you put in. This can include joining in on group projects or creative challenges, but the simplest step is probably the most important: just taking the time to offer comments for others. (This usually takes the form of a “Mailing Comments” section in each of our ‘tribs where we share our thoughts on the previous issue’s contents.) Comments and critiques are the most important thing that keeps this group as a fellowship, and not just solo creators talking past each other.
If you're looking for feedback and critique on your work, it always helps to be specific. If you just share some artwork, the majority of comments might just be "great art, thanks for sharing." But if you share your art with a request on how to get the perspective to look right, or suggestions on how to make the story pacing flow better, you'll get much more helpful feedback.
Content: What NOT to include?
We strive to keep Alpha-Omega appropriate for “all ages”: no profanity, no nudity, no extreme violence or gore, no glorifying of sinful behaviors, etc. We try not to be rigidly legalistic, and any rare occasions of questionable content will be evaluated on a case by case basis by the Central Mailer and Editor.
We also ask that all members please be respectful and polite when critiquing each other’s work, and to avoid stirring up overheated arguments in our comments. (This isn’t to say we’re forbidden from discussing our opinions on controversial topics. We just need to recognize that a bi-monthly fanzine “letters column” is not an ideal format for resolving debates over politics, theology, or rival fandoms.)
As for arguing over theology, the abridged doctrinal statement of Alpha-Omega is: “The Christian Comic Arts Society holds to the creeds and foundational beliefs that are shared among the classical traditions within Christianity (Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant). We do not take positions on doctrines that are of legitimate disagreement among Christian denominations. While discussion of theological topics is allowed, we discourage APA contributors from proselytizing for their particular denominational doctrines within the pages of Alpha-Omega. Please use private correspondence for this type of discussion.”
What's the deadline schedule?
Alpha-Omega is produced bi-monthly, for six issues total per year. The publishing schedule is usually near the first weekend of every other month. (ie -- An early January deadline for the January/February issue, an early March deadline for the March/April issue, etc.)
Are back issues available?
Because it is an extremely short-run publication intended for active members only, there is not generally back issues available for sale to the general public. However, there was a special edition printed collection recently published in honor of the APA's 200th issue, and that "best of" collection is available for sale via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or other retailers.
How do I join?
If you're interested in joining, please contact either myself (the current "Central Mailer") or Ralph Miley (the current "Editor" of our APA, who coordinates stuff between members) to find out more. PDF sample copies are available for prospective new members, as are a very limited number of printed back issues. You can reach me by email about this at alphaomega (at) crosshatchery (dot) com.
Thanks, and God bless!
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