The Exit Collection

by George Petros (Editor), Zeena Schreck (Contributor)

For a diabolical decade - 1984-1994 - there existed Exit magazine, an outlaw Sci-Fi Pop Art magazine in opposition to both the underground and the establishment. It was a forum for extreme ideologies and inclinations manifested as political pornography, psycho-sexual terrorism, scientific threats and infernal texts. It was graced by contributions from the best artists and writers in America - famous, infamous, and unknown - each driven by unusual passions to excel and influence and go all the way. Back issues of the magazine have been known to trade hands among collectors for $150.00 and more. Now, for the first time, the best of material from EXIT magazine has been collected together into one massive, dangerous tome. Also included is re-worked, updated and new material from the same era, as well as material intended for issue #6 of EXIT which was never printed.

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

American art designer, author, illustrator and editor.

Reviews

[Matthew W · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Exit Collection is a fine collection of art and articles ranging from such subversive subjects as "starting a race war", Charles Manson, eugenics, body mutilation, serial killers, Satanism, the marriage of Nazism/Zionism (Nazion) and tons more. Contributors range from Charles Manson himself to Robert N. Taylor (of the proto-neofolk group CHANGES).

Some of the articles reek of hyper-dilettantism and some of the art is nothing more than pure, putrid shit but this book is still a worthwhile collection of eclectic iconoclasm that deserves a special place on your bookshelf.

Despite its flaws, I give this book a 5 out of 5 rating due to how entertaining (yet informative) of a read it was.

Charles Manson said of this book, "EXIT reflects intelligence and a lot of brainwork...this book has become one of my best toys."

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book of selections from a graphic design based 'zine named "Exit" that lasted for about ten years, starting in the early '80s. While it's nice and interesting it's unfortunately out of print and so is pretty damn expensive when you find it. I was lucky to find a copy that some guy had sold on consignment, so got a good discount, but normally this would cost something like $75. Is it interesting and aesthetically innovative? Yes. Is it innovative enough to justify spending $75 on? Not really. If it was reprinted for something like $25 (because it's both oversized and graphic intensive, obviously) I would have no reservations about giving it a five star rating.

[Mark Sunshine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually had the pleasure of contributing a piece of art to this publication. I did not.get a copy until some years later -- I was quite pleased when I saw the finished book.