Ah, 1998. The smell of stale popcorn, the belligerence of customers, the celebrity sightings...such was life working at a movie theater. I wrote the occasional film review for my friend Jaye’s zine AteBall, but soon it dawned on me that if she could do a zine, so could I.

Together with some like-minded individuals, some of whom have gone on to bigger and brighter things, we managed four monthly issues before I ran out of people willing to submit artwork. After the fourth issue, we actually rented a booth at the 1999 Alternative Press Expo, making next-to-no sales but many trades.

Among our many contributors: me (writing as both myself and The Eternal Virgin), LYTrules co-webmaster Brian T. Gaughan, writer-actor J.F. Jacobson (of Neil LaBute’s Nurse Betty), writer Brandy D. Higgins, “Irreverent Reverend” Greg Crum, substitute special education teacher Dave Roche, artists Mike Stephan and Rudy Bust, poet/enigma Chris Hetzelt, Tiffany Reinbolt, and more.

KnifEdge saw me through two jobs and helped me land a third -- when New Times Los Angeles advertised for a film critic, I went down to their offices in Los Angeles and handed the zines to a lovely young lady named Marnye Oppenheim. A few months later, I was hired.

Things have progressed in leaps and bounds since then -- and Marnye is sadly no longer with us -- but I think there still may be enjoyment to be had with these scans of the original four issues.

ISSUE 1, November 1998 (cover by Mike Stephan) -- History of KnifEdge, 3 poems by Chris Hetzelt, J.F. Jacobson on the L.A. sky, LYT reviews of Adrian Lyne’s Lolita and Todd Solondz’ Happiness, comics by Mike & Tiffany, Richard Hade slams Oprah, Eternal Virgin on Bible belt girls and sex at Disneyland, a poem by Dan Collins, more.

ISSUE 2, December 1998 (cover by Greg Crum) -- Chris Hetzelt jumps on the bed, J.F. Jacobson and Richard Hade on Christmas, LYT reviews Jerry Springer’s Ringmaster and The Phantom Menace trailer, comics and a review of the restaurant Barney’s Beanery by Mike & Tiffany, hamburger and hot dog reviews by Dave Roche, Eternal Virgin on masturbation and tighty-whities, horror erotica by Brandy D. Higgins, more.

ISSUE 3, January 1999 (cover by LYT) -- Chris Hetzelt hits the freakshow highway, Eternal Virgin gives advice on how to keep your virginity, LYT reviews The Faculty and offers suggestions for real film award nominees, Special Ed! comic by LYT (predating Crank Yankers by a few years), Richard Hade on whipped guys, burrito reviews by Dave Roche, horror erotica by Brandy D. Higgins, Uncle Sam ad by Greg Crum, more.

ISSUE 4, February 1999 (cover by Rudy Bust and LYT) -- A Valentine’s Ode to No-One, LYT on why you should hate The Empire Strikes Back: Special Edition, some real award nominees, comics and musings by Greg Crum, Richard Hade’s nerdy past exposed, donut reviews by Dave Roche, Eternal Virgin on show-offs, “Calvin kline” ad conceived by LYT and drawn by Greg Crum, more.