I don't know when I started reading the American version of Tattoo Magazine but I do know that reading the magazine is just as addictive as getting tattoos in the first place. For those that have never slid into the chair of a tattoo artist, most of this review will seem pointless "an entire magazine about tattoo art?", Well, there is a bit more to it than that. Artists, designers, conventions, question & answer sections, new talent and more can be found in this all color, highly impressive magazine dedicated to the art of inking. While it’s been a while since I pushed ink, this is still one of my favorite magazines to read. The photos are top notch, the articles are interesting and informative and you can always count on getting the low down on the new crop of artists. All of this and more – glossy pages, minimal number of advertisements [hence the price] and industry related information that consumers and retailers need to know.
Tattoo Magazine
When it comes to publications about tattoos as an art form, there are only a handful to choose from – Flash [mostly photos, also known as Tattoo Flash], International Tattoo Art, Tattoo Gallery and the independent zine Ink. Sure there are other magazines that have tattoo topics and photos, but most lack in depth information or clear photos. One of the best things about Tattoo is that is really showcases the absolute best designs and concepts that artists are dreaming up. There are some recycled photos from issue to issue but 90% of the stuff you’ll see will be new and fresh. Convention coverage is one of the highlights for me, since there are so many held around the world and across the United States the photos, stories and highlights they provide are the next best thing to being there. The coverage of conventions outside the United States is – in my opinion – hands down the best.
Each magazine is about a hundred pages in length [varies from issue to issue] with a minimal amount of ads – most of the advertisements are located towards the back of the magazine and are related to tattooing, body piercing, ink supplies, flash, tattoo guns and supplies and tattoo studios. With the hefty cover price of $5.99 / $6.99 most people who are into tattoos will opt for a yearly subscription that costs about $30.00 - $35.00 but there are always specials to be had. Check out the subscription cards or insides of the magazine to see if they are offering any perks [t-shirts, extra issues etc] when you subscribe. Is it worth the cover price? If you are a tattoo enthusiast yes, otherwise there’s no real reason for you to purchase this magazine, let alone subscribe to it.
One of the big concerns about tattoo magazines is the level of nudity or adult content. While you may see an occasional nipple or buttocks, you won’t see anything deemed graphic or more to the point pornographic. Now, that doesn’t mean that some of the tattoo art won’t be on the steamy side or show nude bodies – but that is a far cry from actual human nudity. In any event, this isn’t a magazine for kids to get their little mitts on since it’s all about tattoo art and artists. There’s no disclaimer on the cover and the sale of the magazine isn’t restricted [unless you local bookstore feels that it is an adult oriented magazine] to those over the age of 18 – but would you want your kid reading this? Somehow, I don’t think so. As a side note, some retailers sell this sealed in a plastic wrap [much like Playboys and Playgirl] while others stores – like Tower Records – opt to display it in a non packaged format. A lot of this has to do with the chains policy on questionable material, where the store is located and the average age of the consumers that visit the store. Chances are if you stroll into a bookstore at the mall, this is will near E Z Rider and the adult magazines with a huge sign above it saying you have to be a certain age to purchase it.
The Best of The Best
While other magazines that cover tattoos, piercings and body modifications tend to generalize their content to please the masses - Tattoo sticks with the meat and potatoes of the industry. They bring you stories about local haunts, old time artists and fresh faces on the scene. Some of the best photos of tattoo art have been on the pages of this magazine but the articles about safety, design concepts, flash and interviews with tattoo artists are well written and entertaining. From time to time you’ll come across a photo or two of body piercings or modifications, but most of the photos deal directly with tattoos. Some of the styles they cover in each issue include tribal, black fine line, standard flash, international, Celtic and Celtic knotting, Oriental and cover-ups. You’ll also see a great representation of individual designs done by both the artist as well as the customer.
The convention coverage is what makes this well worth the price. You get a review of the event, artists that attended, winners of the various competitions, awards that were issued and photos of the attendees. Most conventions usually run over the course of a weekend and some magazines only provide the highlights of the main events or last day, Tattoo gives you the full scoop on all the major conventions like Ink Slingers Ball and Meeting of The Marked. This is one of the best ways to keep up to date on the latest stars in the ink world, get the latest designs and information about styles and new equipment. Please keep in mind that the bulk of the stuff that Tattoo covers in regards to the conventions is about the art and artists – but there are always plenty of mentions and websites that are posted for more information.
Last but certainly not least, the women of Tattoo. Not, there’s no centerfold or sexy, almost naked vixen with a come hither look slapped in the middle of the mag – but you will find one inked vixen on the cover of almost every single issue. In fact, I can’t ever recall a man being on the cover. You’ll find both artists and customer submissions on the pages with credits going to the studio and individual responsible. Don’t get panic stricken, there are plenty of men to go around but if you’ve got a thing for women who sport the Bette Page look, love leather and don’t mind showing off their inked areas – then this is the mag for you.
The Bottom Line
Is Tattoo the best magazine out there? No. To be totally honest it isn’t. Is it the best tattoo magazine? Well, it’s certainly in the top three when you ask fans and look at their individual and subscription sales. The magazine might only appeal to a small section of people but those people really love what the publisher puts out each and every month. As a fan of tattoos and designs, I find this to be one of the best mags out there to give the latest industry news and information. When compared to other magazines, the photos are clearly the best and in my opinion it’s well worth the subscription price to get all glossy pages, latest industry news and ink chat.
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