Anything zines

Zines were originally born of the demand from fans of niche culture markets for an outlet through which to muse about their passions, but perhaps the most liberating aspect of zines is that they can literally be about anything.

Amid the bona fide poetry compilations and cookbooks in the zines section at Boxcar Books are a select few eye-catching titles that take that liberation and run with it — far, far past the borderlines of socially acceptable thought.

The following gems can actually be found in the zines racks there.

“OCD: An Activity Book for Grown-Ups” — $3

A handy guidebook from Microcosm Publishing featuring a variety of habits in which to indulge in place of old compulsions, including folding and tearing its own pages and listing where you think all of your exes are now.

“Murder Can Be Fun” — $6

Not a persuasive thesis about enjoyment that can be derived from homicide, but rather a 26-year-old series that recounts history’s most bizarre deaths between 20 categorized issues. 18th issue “Sports Thrills” tells of the strangest deaths to ever occur at public sporting events.

“Fuzzy Lunch Box” — $2

A collection of the inane, often illegal tales and reflections of two nobodies from Santa Cruz, Calif. “The Drink and Drown Issue,” its 15th issue, teases pieces about “how to drink in front of children” and “how to get your ass kicked” on its cover.

“The Best Shit Ever” — $1

The product of four guys on punk rock label Raise Your Fist Records who went on a coast-to-coast tour for a month and wrote reviews of nationwide public restrooms along the way — each one completed while the restroom was ... in use.

“Guide to Picking Locks” — $6

Another educational goldmine from Microcosm Publishing — a self-explanatory and surprisingly comprehensive manual, available in two different editions, on the discreet art complete with an indiscreet neon cover.