Simon Whitechapel

In this collection of articles written for the '90s zine Headpress, the most likely pseudonymous Simon Whitechapel explores a variety of esoteric topics ranging from Nazi-inspired underground music and film novelizations to deviant Roman emperors and... farts. Reminiscent of John Marr's seminal zine Murder Can Be Fun, Whitechapel's essays are researched to an almost academic level, yet remain grounded in a down-to-earth voice that reflects the passion and bemusement that undoubtedly inspires the majority of his work. Even topics he seemingly knows little about are pulled off with authority; when he starts his article on film novelizations by saying "I'm not particularly interested in moving pictures," you don't expect the amount of depth or preoccupation with the subject that is in store. But he pulls it off easily.

The articles in this collection focus primarily on historical deviants and apocalyptic visions, with the Marquis de Sade and Jack Chick earning equal time among visions of Hell and tales of the Luftwaffe, and approach their subjects with a playful darkness that may not appeal to everyone. But to those who revel in the dark corners of culture and religion, this is a collection you do not want to miss.… (meer)