MCR Zine Revenge Section by The MCR Zine

MCR

INTRODUCTION BY CAN RICHARDS

Hi there! I’m Can, the curator of this zine project! If you’re reading this, I just want to say thank you! I originally started working on this fanzine in July 2017, with a vague idea in mind of getting a bunch of talented content creators together to form a little zine project, which would be a tribute to the art, music, and aesthetics of MCR, and would help people discover new artists to enjoy, help artists find each other, and maybe, possibly, help people make some friends along the way! I was inspired by the fanzine culture of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s (informal magazine-like books dedicated to literally anything, most commonly to punk rock bands and sci-fi fandoms), and how it’s been adapted to the modern age – some still in that raw, beautiful physical format of Cool Stuff Just Stuck Together On Paper, some adapting to the internet age to be equally beautiful collaborative works of wonder, with content from people all around the world! The thing is, I never actually expected a lot of people would notice me making this project at all. But before I knew it, 150+ people were signing up for the opportunity to contribute fan content for this zine, a bunch of lovely, talented people were coming together in droves and discovering each other’s work, artists I admired and was personally too intimidated to even speak to were joining this humble project, and (most importantly, I think), so many creators from across the globe, including myself, actually came together and made wonderful friendships with people they otherwise might not have started talking to. Originally, this zine was just going to be a cutesy tribute to a band that wore really cool (really draw-able) costumes and helped kids who felt like outsiders to believe in themselves (cheesy but uhh,, yeah!!), and a little gift to the fandom, but dear heck, the contributors to this zine made it so much more than that. To everyone reading the zine, I hope you enjoy the wonderful art and writing put together by this zine’s dear contributors! From desert-running Killjoys, to feather boa wearing vampires, to aesthetic aliens in space, weird superheroes, and just straightup rock ‘n roll, this project had no shortage of subject matter for good content. This zine is a gift from us to you! Xoxo Can

DISCLAIMERS All content in this zine is fan-content made purely for the enjoyment of the readers. No participant in this zine claims copyright to the identities, personas, and characters created by the Way Brothers, Mr Iero, Mr Toro, etc., nor are we officially endorsed by them at all. However, all artwork, photography, writing, and other such content in this zine is copyright of the respective Content Creators, and in downloading this free zine PDF, you (The Reader) hereby acknowledge that you will not use, reproduce, repost, sell, or otherwise distribute any content in this zine without the Content Creator’s express permission. As this is a collaborative project of nearly 150 people, not all content in this zine is a reflection of the views, ideas, interests, tastes, etc. of The Curator, and each Content Creator is reflecting their own ideas and tastes in their work. All work included was screened by The Curator before publication, to deflect any defamatory content, including anything blatantly disrespecting any real person (living or dead), or any identity, gender, sexuality, race, mental or physical disability, etc., to the best of The Curator’s ability, including expressly banning content depicting harmful, defamatory, or distasteful concepts. Trigger warnings are applied where necessary, and it is up to the Reader’s own discretion to avoid content that may harm them. All art, prose writing, etc. in this zine should be taken as fiction, unless describing real confirmed events. Please do not, under any circumstances, use the contents of the zine to harass its Content Creators, nor to harass Messrs Way, Toro, Iero, or anyone else involved with the Original Content (musical or visual, including the music, videos, and comics). The Curator allowed a small amount of ship-based content involving real persons, regardless of the Curator’s views on the matter, and would like to remind Readers to not show anything in Section 7 of the zine (Ship Content) to the persons depicted, or to individuals or groups involved with the Original Content. TL;DR: The views of the Content Creators don’t necessarily reflect those of the zine administrator, the content of this zine is owned by its respective creators, this is all fun with art and fiction, and don’t be a bully. Thank you.

By Eve (@cemetery__art on Instagram)

By Can (@CanCan.jpg on Instagram, @CanCan_jpg on Twitter)

By Kay (@ArielleKay on Instagram)

By Angela (@angela_patera on Instagram)

By Kay (@ArielleKay on Instagram)

By Sovay (@SolarLiar on Twitter)

By Zero / K (@ratwolv on Instagram/twitter/tumblr)

By Kay (@ArielleKay on Instagram)

By Arroe (@spooky.arroe on Instagram, @spookyarroe on Twitter)

By Olivia Vester (@oliviarvester / @twentyonetoomanybands on Instagram)

By Serena Bovo (@kerobovo on Instagram)

By Angela (@angela_patera on Instagram)

By Rebecca (@rebeccas_stuff on Instagram)

By Kay (@ArielleKay on Instagram)

By Grace Emma (@_cancerous_p0ptarts on Instagram)

By Ari (@ariwilde on Instagram)

By Lillith (@lw_art369 on Instagram)

By Lis Trams (@lisfiles / @lolaminusg on Instagram)

By Ari (@ariwilde on Instagram)

By Anna (chaotic-floral-arrangement on Tumblr)

By Ari (@thisisthe4thalbum on Instagram)

By Angela (@angela_patera on Instagram)

By Arroe (@spooky.arroe on Instagram, @spookyarroe on Twitter)

By Giada Dapoz (@dapoz.giada on Instagram)

By Montse (@montse_s_doodles on Instagram)

By Hannah F (@motivated_by_caffeine on Instagram)

By Kyli (@_kyote_ on Instagram)

By M. Gray (@bvrbank on Instagram)

By Alana (@alana.sabol / @cemeteryz on Instagram)

The Truth Frank was running. He was running faster than his 5'6 body possibly could ever handle once he stopped. His surroundings were a vivid darkness, the kind that you could easily hallucinate into. You could have hallucinated dark shapes coming out of the shadows – walls were trapping you, which could have made the hallucinations worse. But Frank wasn't paying attention to that, he was more focused on trying to breathe, and trying to maintain a grip on his feet, to maybe at least dodge a few things on the floor (which ranged from broken beer bottles to things he could only imagine were illegal) instead of stepping on all of them in his rush to just get somewhere. Anywhere that wasn't there, at least. Anywhere that wasn't there was enough to suffice. He would have stopped in the pitch-black alleyway, with dimly-lit street lights barely making a scratch to the deep ebony of the ground, if he knew that the other man wouldn't find him. In his mind, Frank was being chased. He was being chased by the man, by the truth the gothic, theatrical, feminine man with dyed raven black hair that came down to just about his shoulders, the man with pale skin, made paler by the excessive makeup he used - the truth he would bring with him. Frank knew when that man found him: the truth, the truth he had tried to hide for so long, he knew it would be revealed. Gerard Way wouldn't stop asking Frank about it until the honest part of Frank – the part that told the truth, and only the truth – broke down and everything came rushing out. Gerard would look at him differently, and Frank would struggle under the light the man would put him under. So, Frank was running. He was running away from the tightly wrapped lies he had made; he was running away from those tightly wrapped lies being unraveled by a beautiful man named Gerard, with dark eye makeup and tiny teeth and a flair for the dramatic. He was running away from said man, with an incredible vocal power and a creative side that astounded everyone. Frank was running. But his lungs began to burn, and his stomach began to hurt, and his brain began to spin. He was never the most athletic person – Frank was energetic for sure, but his athletic skills were questionable to say the least. When a picture of him shirtless began to circulate, the first thing he noticed when people began to ask about it was his lack of muscles. His skinny stomach wasn't toned in the slightest, rather, it was lean and without any strength. His arms had some muscle from playing guitar, but it still wasn't to a muscular extent. His body type was clearly lean rather than athletic. He usually didn't hate that, but in this moment, when having strength was a godsend because it meant he would have enough energy to carry on, he hated it. He came to a hard stop, immediately hyperventilating to rescue some of the oxygen that had escaped from his body and had never entered again.

"For god's sake Frank; just carry on; you can do this. Don't let the truth come out - it can't come out. For god's sake Frank, move!" Frank began to yell into the echoing alleyway. He willed himself to move forward, to move away from the possible distance of Gerard. But as much as he shouted and screamed at himself - no matter how hard he tore off his crimson tie as he fell to the ground - he wasn't moving anywhere. Deep down, he knew that. His stomach pain proved as much. It began to patter with drizzly, agonizing rain, the kind no one enjoys, even those who love the watered-down weather. It fell on both the chased and the chaser. Frank began to curl up into the tightest ball imaginable next to the hallucination-provoking wall, tears splashed down his facade as he began to break inside. He never wanted this to happen. Never. He wanted to go back to the old times: when Gerard was no closer to the truth than we are to each other. But Gerard knew the truth, and he was about to unravel it. Frank laughed bitterly in the coldness and the spit the rain brought with it. How disgusted would Gerard be with Frank now that he knew? He didn't care anymore that he knew. He didn't move a single inch, rather, he was quite content with the truth catching up to him. And that is exactly what is happening. Gerard runs along the low-lit street, rain rinsing off his powdered eyes. He's dashing frantically, to try to tell the other man that it's okay; the truth's okay. Gerard would still value Frank the same way as he did before he started to find the truth out. Before he saw the talented guitarist disappear to bed. Before he crept into the New Jersey's man's room and saw the truth in front of his very own hazel tinted eyes. Before the truth was always going to be at the forefront of his mind. He passes multiple alleyways, checking each one for the energetic, but fairly introverted man. He has, unknowingly, only a few more alleys before he collides with Frank. Gerard's thoughts drift to what Frank could be doing right now. Gerard's mind curses him, and suddenly turns into a very dark and dangerous place. He begins to become terrified of what he could find if he did find Frank, but at the same time, he wishes that he could find Frank sooner to ensure that he isn't in any danger, and to protect him from it. The New York area could be sincerely unforgiving to the vulnerable at this time of night, which Gerard knew from going to art school here. Gerard hoped to God he would get to Frank before anyone else did. He skims past many more alleyways as the thoughts race across his mind. He suddenly hears a sharp calling of his name. "Gerard, I'm here!" Frank yells at the gothic man. "Yeah, I can see that. Frank, why did you run away?" Gerard asks as the petite man comes within a mere meter of him. Even from here, Gerard can smell the smoke of cigarettes woven throughout his ebony clothes. He can spot a ribbon of scarlet on the ground further down the alley, and estimates it to be Frank's tie.

"I didn't run away, Gerard," He spoke, rolling the r's in spite, "I merely went on a walk for a bit. That's all." He raises his eyebrows and shoves his hands through his dyed hair, and then into his trouser pockets. "Frank, you found out that I knew the truth at the end of a concert, and then you ran off the tour bus, freaking both Ray and Mikey out. Luckily for you, Bob was off getting stoned. When you get back, people will be asking questions. That doesn't sound like a mere 'walk', does it?" Gerard almost demands. He feels angry at Frank, because he acts like this isn't anything, when to Gerard: Frank running away from him is the stuff of nightmares. "No." Frank replies solemnly, with regret in his voice, looking down to the dirtied ground. "You don't need to be ashamed of the truth Frank. Not anymore. I won't let you be." Gerard's anger diminishes significantly, and is replaced by pure sympathy. "Thank you. Thank you so much." Frank replies gratuitously, and embraces the other man in a hug - a smile wraps around his face. "How about we get back to the bus without escaping this time?" Gerard whispers to Frank, heat shared between the both of them.

By Can (@CanCan.jpg on Instagram, @CanCan_jpg on Twitter)

Eve (@cemetery__art on Instagram) Can (@CanCan.jpg on Instagram, @CanCan_jpg on Twitter) Kay (@ArielleKay on Instagram) Angela (@angela_patera on Instagram) Sovay (@SolarLiar on Twitter) Zero/K (@ratwolv on Instagram and Twitter) Arroe (@spooky.arroe on Instagram, @spookyarroe on Twitter) Olivia Vester (@oliviarvester / @twentyonetoomanybands on Instagram) Serena Bovo (@kerobovo on Instagram) Rebecca (@rebeccas_stuff on Instagram) Grace Emma (@_cancerous_p0ptarts on Instagram) Ari (@ariwilde on Instagram) Lillith (@lw_art369 on Instagram) Lis Trams (@lisfiles / @lolaminusg on Instagram) Anna (chaotic-floral-arrangement on Tumblr) Ari (@thisisthe4thalbum on Instagram) Giada Dapoz (@dapoz.giada on Instagram) Montse (@montse_s_doodles on Instagram) Hannah F (@motivated_by_caffeine on Instagram) Kyli (@_kyote_ on Instagram) M. Gray (@bvrbank on Instagram) Alana (@alana.sabol / @cemeteryz on Instagram) Petra (Lstone27 on Wattpad)

And Acknowledgements Wowza! That’s the zine, folks! I’m honestly so glad to have been part of this project! Seeing people give their hearts to create art is truly inspirational, and through this project, so many people made friends with each other! I suppose what’s cool about this zine is that it’s not dedicated to one specific thing! There’s music! There’s comics! There’s a whole associated fiction (many fictions, in fact) with concepts and aesthetics to explore, and characters to make AU’s of! Not to be Fake Deep™ or anything, but it’s neat how everyone can draw inspiration from it differently, from different aspects, and play with art! I suppose at this point, I should be thanking people who made it possible! (I may single people out here, but that doesn’t mean anyone meant any less to the zine) Special thanks to the band in general, of course, as well as the people involved with it! Without Shaun Simon and Becky Cloonan, we wouldn’t have the Killjoys we know and love! Without Gabriel Bá and Nick Derington, we wouldn’t have the same Umbrella Academy and Doom Patrol! David Debiak, James Dewees, all the members of The Hormones, The Patience, and so on, all contributed to inspiring this zine! Thank you to Ink for encouraging me to go through with this zine when I came up with the idea in the first place! Thank you to Sovay for encouraging me and helping me to calm down whenever I got unreasonably stressed over zine work (calming pictures of sloths are truly a valuable resource). Thank you to Zero for inspiring many aspects of the zine layout with their own project, the Young Animal Zine! Thank you for the entire Contributor Discord for being sweet and caring, excitedly sharing Killjoy headcanons and hyping up the project! Thank you to every single person who contributed art or writing: without you, the zine wouldn’t be what it is! You each have your own special unique touch when it comes to your art, which nobody but you would be able to create! I truly wish every one of you will have success with all your future art endeavours, and I hope paging through the zine inspires people to support the contributing artists! Lastly, thank you to everyone who showed interest in the zine at all, when it was announced, whether or not you contributed: your interest means the world to me and every artist in here, and without everyone’s enthusiasm, I doubt the zine would even have been made. You’re all the real MVP’s, and I hope you enjoyed the final product of this zine! Thank you.

xo Can