I finally did it. After years of collecting, hunting, swapping, and watching listings like a hawk, I now have a complete run of Piercing Fans International Quarterly—PFIQ in my possession. It’s something I’ve dreamed of as a professional piercer and someone deeply invested in the culture, community, and history of our craft.

If you’re not familiar, PFIQ is the original body piercing magazine. First published in 1977 by Doug Malloy and Jim Ward of Gauntlet fame, it’s the cornerstone of modern piercing history. PFIQ wasn’t just a magazine—it was a cultural time capsule, a community lifeline, and in many ways, the first real platform to discuss and document the world of body piercing in a professional and artistic way.

This publication predates the days of Instagram and Facebook, even before mainstream tattoo magazines gave any attention to body piercing. It connected like-minded individuals across the globe, helped shape our vocabulary and visual language, and gave early piercers the ability to share their techniques, jewelry designs, and philosophies.

Why This Means So Much

For those who really live this industry, PFIQ is more than just ink on paper—it’s a spiritual artifact. Each issue reflects the DIY ethos, the experimentation, and the evolution of piercing from an underground practice into a respected profession. Getting my hands on each and every issue, complete and original, is like owning a museum-worthy archive of our industry’s roots.

I’ve slowly built this collection one issue at a time—buying, trading, discovering hidden gems at conventions, and connecting with other passionate collectors. But a full run? That’s not something you just stumble across. So when the rare opportunity came up online to grab the entire set, I knew I had to make it happen. I scrambled to move money, coordinated the purchase, and held my breath until it arrived. Worth every second.

Preserving History

My plan is to keep these in pristine condition, possibly even digitize and catalog my copies (for private archival purposes, of course), and continue studying the history preserved within these pages. Every advertisement, every reader submission, every editorial by Jim Ward is a window into the past—and as someone who believes in honoring those who came before us, I take this responsibility seriously.

For the Next Generation

Whether you’re a seasoned piercer, an apprentice, or a client who just loves the art, I encourage you to look into the history of this industry. PFIQ laid the groundwork for everything we do today. From jewelry standards to placement techniques, to community ethics—it all started with passionate pioneers like Jim Ward, Elayne Angel, Fakir Musafar, and so many others who shared their knowledge through publications like PFIQ.

It’s taken years, patience, and a whole lot of luck—but now that I have the full run, I feel even more connected to the roots of the work I love. Because honoring the past is how we build a better future.

So here’s to PFIQ—and to finally completing a dream project that connects me even more deeply to the heart of this industry.

Thank you to everyone who’s helped me along the way.
— Paul