Nerf Jihad
April 2nd 2007 10:33
Nerf Jihad #3
Nerf Jihad is a great original zine by a guy called Matt. He covers a little bit of music, but most of it deals with his hilarious joustings with various Australian celebrities and companies. Each issue of the zine features incredibly funny letters that he sends away to the famous and commercially-savvy, and at least half of these people seem to take his letters completely seriously - as evidenced by their replies. It's great stuff. Matt also writes various articles and short biographical pieces with great wit and comical flair. Anyway, I highly recommend these zines, you can get them here - Nerf Jihad.
The following are my reviews of the zine, as written back when I first read each issue...
Nerf Jihad #1
Review of Issue 1
This zine covers Marky Ramone’s recent spoken word thingo in Australia with the Spazzys, but the main thrust of the zine are the hilarious letters Matt sends to various Australian TV celebrities and their completely serious replies. My favourites would have to be the Andrew Daddo reply – he seems like a cool guy, and the dickhead from Deal or No Deal – he seems like a dickhead. There’s some rants and stuff too, but it’s all in good fun and makes for a great (if quick) read. Here’s hoping Matt gets these things pumping out regularly, everyone I’ve shown it to loves it.
Nerf Jihad #2
Review of Issues 2, 3 and 4
This is a great, great, great zine outta Gosford or thereabouts, written by a guy named Matt Ford and comprising mostly of bogus letters he writes to celebrities and food companies and their unwittingly hilarious replies. Apparently Matt has just started doing stand-up comedy and if these zines are anything to go by he is definitely worth checking out… he’s a very funny guy, definitely has his own style of comedy. Witness in issue #4 how ‘I told Alex Lloyd he was amazing’ and his repeated harassment of P & N Beverages via letters over their ‘mysterious blue drink’, of which he would like to know the exact flavour (and the company’s unwillingness to divulge such seemingly simple information!) The parade of idiotic celebrities he corresponds with in Issues 2 and 3 had me in stitches… Jeff Janz, Catriona Rowntree, Richard Wilkins – they’re all there, and they all seem to think he is a genuine fan of their ‘work’. Anyway, it’s really worth your time and a few gold coins to get copies of these zines.
Nerf Jihad #5
Finally, a new issue of Australia’s greatest current zine! Nerf Jihad #5 is a great return to form after rather more low-key issue 4. There are the usual crazy letters to the likes of David Koch, McDonalds and Ray Martin, but the real highlights for me were the longer articles which kind of take Nerf Jihad to a whole other lever… “The Neverending Story, Falkor: a Sexual Deviant”, “Jon Stevens: Controller of the Elements” (this was hilarious), “How I was Responsible for my entire School Thinking Scottie Pippen was there” and “A Study in Family Finance/Ice Blocks” all come to mind. My absolute favourite part would have to be the exclusive extract from Mark Latham’s autobiography… it has to be read to get the full gist of the genius of this zine that I’m trying to get across to you right now, but I’ll just say that it involves several high-profile Labor party members, peer pressure and dog food. And as if all this isn’t enough, this issue of the zine also comes with a CD compilation called ‘Kickin’ Rad’ and has a wide variety of Australian and American punk/folk/hardcore bands. Contact Matt now. Get yourself a copy. Do it motherfucker.
Nerf Jihad #6
Yah! Nerf Jihad is back. I’m never more excited than when I see this zine has arrived in the mail, it’s easily my favourite zine. Matt brings the laughs with pointed letters and ironic deconstruction of shitty media everywhere – Death Before Dishonour magazine, Christian Music Videos and Star FM all cop it with varying degrees of hilarity. The Sandlot Kids cover is indicative of the general feel of this issue, Matt has decided to focus on stories from his childhood days – demonstrating an ability to amuse, engage and entertain with his tales of classroom battles with Scottish teachers, weird kids, trampolines, and porno-magazine toting barbers. One of the best zines I’ve read this year
Nerf Jihad #7
The latest Nerf Jihad is another solid offering of comedy gold from Matt. It launches right into things with a 9-page crusade against Virgin mobile phones for their random allowance of pornographic materials to be advertised on their network. It’s a very in-depth and funny piece that takes things to yet again a whole other level, comprising of a series of letters to a Virgin employee named Emir, and ultimately culminating in a letter to Naomi Robson. In this issue of Nerf Jihad we also get more stories of childhood craziness, an interview with a self-proclaimed Goth, and hilarious letters to Allens Lollies, AAMI, the Spastic Centre, Gosford City Council, Peter Costello and Levi’s Jeans. Hope the next issue isn’t too far away!
You can mail Matt Ford at NJ Zine, PO Box 575, Gosford, NSW 2250, or email him at mattdicknose@yahoo.com.au.
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just in a good mood?
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Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
AAH HAH!!! \
Ask your pal Matt if he has read "The Henry Root Letters"? Published...maybe late 70's...early 80's?
Somehow I think he has! Because the entire premis of the Henry Root book was exactly what you state here, except the author was English and wrote to Thatcher et al.
Doesn't matter, as long as he isn't trying to con people that this is his original idea. The magazine looks fun, front page graffics are a larrfff...and I am glad someone out there is seriously taking the piss out of the establishment and its various parasitical faux socialite whores!
cheers... and man checking out your site...you sure give savage rant old top! When I spit the dummy, by comparison, you make me look like a complete amateur!!
fog