Book report time: Straight outta Michigan - there's a new zine in town

(Ed. note: In this column, named after a favorite God Bullies song, we review things we're reading. Zines, books, etc. Send us yours.)

Michael Jackman is one of those folks who effortlessly takes the crown for the coolest person in the room. And in my book, those titleholders are generally the ones who ain't trying.

An old punk, a prolific writer, a wicked wordsmith and a former managing editor of the Detroit Metro Times, the gentleman and Michigander (thanks, Abe Lincoln), Jackman was also one of my roommates in New York. We lived in a spacious warehouse that a group of us turned into a loft, complete with a raised kitchen floor, a jukebox, and landlords who regularly left mysterious instructions about which ever-changing waste management company would be servicing us — no questions asked. I'm glad we've stayed in touch. His combination of wit and wisdom is rare.

Now, he's got a new zine. It's called Detroit Will Break Your Heart and the first issue is titled "Haywire."

Life put some time in between its arrival and me sitting down to go cover to cover.

From the jump, the story of former Detroit boxer, lawyer and judge Robert E. Sage —who opened fire in his office on the first day of October 1940 — had me hooked. And nope, the aforementioned roomie business wasn't a part of what grabbed me.

I was transported in time more than once by the peripheral details, including the mention that sportswriters nicknamed Sage "The Battling Barrister." An old-timey broadcaster popped into my brain, giving, you know, that voice to the moniker. And that was just one lilt in a much heftier story. An intriguing story.

Gloriously unfrilled, the photocopied, folded, and stapled black-and-white pages are few, but packed and devoted to exploring Sage's history, including his careers both in law and in the boxing ring, his romantic life, and ultimately the move — led by civic pride and good intentions — that got him entangled with a couple of no-good dudes.

Some photos and illustrations break up the succinct paragraphs that piece together Sage's story. They give the whole thing some balance; some breathers between the story's chunks.

It's compelling and emotional because this true story — like many — is as much about battling an opponent in the ring as battling the one within. Through extensive research, Jackman pieces together Sage's career, relationships, victories, failures, and motivations, revealing how a lifetime of choices culminated in a pivotal decision.

It's all bound together by a writer who isn't just paying lip service to hometown love; he's perpetually examining his home turf. My post-read Google search on Sage proves how the info stuck in my craw.

Jackman closes the zine with a page titled "Apologies," explaining his approach and process while further revealing the sharp, earnest voice that carries the publication.

More than a history lesson, "Haywire" makes a convincing case for the zine itself — a compact, deeply reported piece of storytelling that leaves you wanting the next issue.

Pulling slices of the past from Detroit's pockets is a great way to know about the place, so I hope my old pal and long source of journalistic inspo keeps 'em coming.

If you want to obtain Detroit Will Break Your Heart, start a conversation with the publisher, or offer support, here's the information:

M M Jackman
Publisher
P.O. Box 2146
Detroit, Mich. 48202