Introducing Nordie Zines!

Personal, historical, visual. Reflecting on a polarised past – but looking towards a hopeful future.

A Zine is a small press publication, rarely to be found in a shop, but quite a thing to behold all the same. Each one has 16 pages or so, and is full of cartoons about growing up in Ulster. They are a think-and-wonder creation in the soul-scraping search for my own identity.

“These are perfect little gems. Bryan has managed to capture his highly individual style with universal appeal. I loved the sense of humour and irony that comes through them and yet the underlying messages of the books are quite profound.”

Available to buy in these fantastic shops:

Cartoons

Here’s a few of the cartoons featured in these Zines. They were created as part of a curious and cathartic process of exploring an Ulster heritage.

  • Missing…

    Missing…

    Something is missing. I’ve tripped over a few things in recent years that have pointed me in this direction. Yet I haven’t quite been able to put my finger on why it bear-hugs me the way it does. It is the learning of things completely new – but that somehow feel just a little familiar.…

  • Airports are turning Green

    Airports are turning Green

    When my auntie told me this story, sure I nearly keeled over it tickled me so much. It’s amazing what hurdles we are prepared to accommodate when we understand that it’s in our interest to do so. The game is presented to us with simple tribal rules. Them and us. It’s always been played this…

  • The Identity-ometer

    The Identity-ometer

    Pick a side. Well – as I already knew from playing football every lunch break at school, you rarely get to pick your side. It picks you. And to be honest, you should be grateful that you’re on any sort of side at all. And whatever team you’re tentatively part of (not that they pass…

  • Love your neighbour

    Love your neighbour

    As a child, what I saw and what I read didn’t seem to match up. Loving your neighbour, seemed pretty central to what was being taught – yet even as a kid I could see that the adults had moved on from that. It had become problematic. The thing that really confused me was that…

  • Aye, sure, for a bit a craic

    Aye, sure, for a bit a craic

    What’s the craic? – How are you doing? Ach the craic was ninety! – The fun and laughter amongst the people was at very high levels indeed! Aye, sure, for a bit of craic… – Let’s try that idea as we are curious beings in need of entertainment… When I look up a word I…

  • You’ve made Duo sad…

    You’ve made Duo sad…

    My first attempt at learning Irish with the Duolingo app doesn’t go well. I fall foul of it’s attempts to cajole me with stars and gems and special points. Duo’s next tactic is to send me emails deploying the weapon of shame. This is surprisingly effective – given that my greatest fear is the fear…

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