The word zine has also become used in the world of independent comic books. These hand made comics, often photocopied, although a few are done by hand, are very similar to their original counterparts. With advances in technology however, many zines are able to be done in a higher quality then previous years offerings, with some having full color covers and interiors. The great thing about zines and their mini comic brothers is that they can be done by just about anybody, young and old alike with varying skill level, and still be accepted by the community as a whole. There are even stores devoted to selling zines and mini comics, such as Portland, Oregons Reading Frenzy, which has a huge supply of zines and mini comics to peruse.
For many years, zines were pretty much the only independent comic out there, but with the decrease of publishing costs and different avenues out there for creators, zines are just part of a landscape of the independent scene, but no less loved or needed.
