In This Issue

Index of Content of Issue One. Content in the zine is grouped under art, photography or words.

KrugerAfterDark

 …offers a look at the legacy of the Instagram community journal ‘KrugerAfterDark’, and explores how the increasingly negative aspects of social media such as algorithm driven addictive behaviours, and AI-slop, has shaped the analog zine you are reading today. \\ Editor’s Letter \\

Jack Thrasher

 …as a non-binary Jack is ‘Hyper-masc’ed out’ . Read his hard-hitting op-ed opinion piece on unique non-binary challenges, including visibility and platforming, followed by a call to action. Minority voices deserve to be heard, especially platformed voices of opinion, speaking up for the voiceless. We’re very excited and grateful that Jack will be utilising his platform to contribute regular op-ed pieces to the AfterDark zine, often tackling difficult subject matter. \\ Opinion \\

Brew Hunter

…is one of the biggest stalwarts of the London nighttime community.. He shares his origin story in our expansive interview, reminisces over Backstreet, and discuss some of his newer ventures. Brew also gives his thoughts on mentorship, while we discuss how vital knowledge is of the ‘what came before’ \\ Interview \\

Dicky H

… successfully manages to lower the tone in the quite bizarre ‘Whor’rscopes’. No one is quite sure what this is, but with a juvenile reference to Uranus how could we not print it? \\ Humour \\

… Dicky H also submitted some spectacularly bad poetry exploring power dynamics and moral complexity centred around a golddigger’s survival instincts. Dutifully accompanied by an excoriating rejection letter from the editorial team here. \\ Humour \\ 

James Naylor

…pays a memorial tribute to the trans masc influencer Apollo Moon, in which he explores the realities of navigating a trans masc lived experience. The incredible poignant ‘Stepping Foot in a Brave New World’, also illustrated by James. \\ In Memoriam \\

DogBoiBailey

…shares an incredibly informative and factual exploration of social media tech companies censorial creep, explores the political angle and offers suggestions on how to confront regulation which threaten LGBTQ+ communities.. ‘Censored Rage’ \\ Article \\

Paul Taylor-Pitt

 …on that awkward luminous incident at a legendary London club night leading to a defiant and unapologetic ‘pink is the new black’ mantra. Hooking you in from the first paragraph to the last, this historical look at the gay symbol of the pink triangle, and the colour pink in general, raises solid and very interesting viewpoints. \\ Essay \\ 

Will Gemser

… advises having a tissue or two ready for ‘Box Room Billy’… and no, it’s not a tearjerker…Part one in a three-part short story series, beautifully illustrated by the artist Dany Dee, who introduces us to the thug, Billy. \\ Short Stories \\

Ben Youdan

… is just the first in a series of incredible artists in this issue. Ben gives artistic censorial overreach the ‘two fingers up’ with his front cover art ‘Pink Defiance’, a word play on ‘punk’. Ben was also commissioned for illustrative art of the ‘Behind the Issue’ (Editor’s Letter) feature, as we continue our them of LGBTQ+ protest and activism. \\

ButchDick 

    … an incredibly talented artist from SF, shares one of his trademark drawings. The incredibly talented and creative Butch will also be featured as guest artist in Issue Two! \\

quentinscabinet

…looking at the world through the lens of social media and Onlyfans, redefines male art imagery through deconstruction and re-assembly, before lovingly presenting it in ‘Berlin Blue’ \\

RobskiArt 

   …who is known as being one of the most prolific and talented queer artists in the UK, brings humour, sexiness and terror, to an already laden and quite bizarre Whorr’rscopes. \\

James Naylor

…shares an intimate look at his transmasc lived experiences, in a hauntingly beautiful and very powerful ‘KREATIV’ art gallery. James also shares a moving ‘in memorium’ for Apollo Moon with a beautiful illustration of Apollo in James’s trademark line drawing style \\

   

Logan

… presents part one of an exquisite six plate illustrated art series of the muscle men couple Hans and Eduardo. We experience Hans’s shock, surprise and disbelief when one day he unexpectedly walked in on Eduardo. An incredible set of drawings not to be missed. \\

Brother Gregorio Art

… presents an artistic vision unique and socially important: his incredible beautiful and subversive works of digital art, observed through a lens of kaleidoscopic protest and ironic social commentary. Art requiring viewing time to be fully understood and appreciated. \\

Dany Dee

… a wonderfully talented artist based in Spain, contributed two incredibly stunning and thought provoking illustrations for DogBoiBailey’s censorship article. \\

Dany also illustrated the hot thug Billy featured in part one of Will Gemser’s ‘Box Room Billy’ short story\\

Rafandway, ft Sir Blackwood and sub underwood

… the pinnacle of photography in AfterDark is the ‘FOTO\GRAAF’ legacy feature. Occupied in this issue by the supremely talented Rafandway – a dark and broody photo-editorial set over fourteen incredible pages, and featuring Rafandway’s extraordinary and exquisite photography as it explores imagery around power dynamics … though with an unexpected twist – as experienced through a mask, featuring powerful thoughts, feelings and words from sub underwood \\

Noctophoto

…explores the dark and light in a photoshoot featuring  Ig: @scally_boy_mad and @kink.jox \\

Mark Francis Fenning

…unique take on masculinity  in contemporary culture, through the vintage lens of a Polaroid \\

Anton Amore 

… explores blurred lines between masculinity and femininity, identity and self-expression \\

Glen Delaine 

…in a candid, stylish and natural shoot by Jose Luis Gil – it’s the elegant ‘Autumn in Madrid’ \\

BLKLTHRX

…explores the ‘DARK MATTERS’ occupying leather spaces, alongside  the forging of leather identities – as shot by Gareth Greenfield \\