What are zines? Zines are self-published, handmade books often sold in local shops, such as book stores, record stores, or comic stores. Zines can be about any topic and can take any form, from text with illustrations to cut-outs to newsletters to comics and stories. To learn more about zines, why not check out LAZINEFEST.com. Don't live in LA? You can order any of these zines on ETSY.