In this digital age, as the attention of the literate masses shifts from the printed page to the bite-sized dispatches of Twitter or the endless and aimless blogosphere, you might think the world of traditional self-publishing was in danger.

But don’t underestimate the power of print. Zines, those self-produced and oft-Xeroxed manifestoes documenting everything from underground punk music to urban bicycle culture, are alive and well in America.

Jessica Max Stein, veteran producer of zines and English professor at Brooklyn College, has turned her attention to a rare subject for her latest project, which she will present in a visit to Sugar City at 8 p. m. Tuesday.

Her latest project is “The Rainbow Connection: Richard Hunt, Gay Muppeteer,” an 84-page chapbook that explores the life of Hunt, one of the key performers in Jim Henson’s “Muppet” empire. The zine seeks to highlight Hunt’s talent in serving as the puppeteer for beloved characters like Miss Piggy, Scooter, Beaker, Elmo and many others as well as to draw attention to the tragedy of a brilliant life cut short by the scourge of HIV/AIDS.

The zine project, Stein has written, is also a kind of unorthodox re-evaluation of certain Muppets characters (roommates Bert and Ernie, bickering critics Statler and Waldorf, Miss Piggy) from a queer perspective. Many shows and television specials featuring the furry felt creatures have been the subject of speculation from fans who detect gay connotations in the work or characters.

The book is described in a release as “part meticulously researched biography, part celebration and analysis of Hunt’s work, and part queer reading of the Muppets.”

Hunt, one of the major puppeteers who worked for Henson’s company, has not received the recognition some of his small base of devotees — Stein among them — feel he deserves.

“Sadly, very few tributes (or even acknowledgments) have been given to honor Richard Hunt and his family. His unfortunate death, due to complications of the AIDS virus, has been largely overshadowed and overlooked,” wrote Muppet historian Phillip Chapman, who runs the Web site www.muppetcentral.com.

During her visit, Stein will present stories from the zine and screen an hour or so of video clips featuring Hunt’s performances. She has held successful and much bloggedabout events to promote the zine in Portland, San Francisco, Madison, Wis., Minneapolis and New York City.

PREVIEW

WHAT: “The Rainbow Connection: Gay Muppeteer Richard Hunt”

WHEN: 8 p. m. Tuesday

WHERE: Sugar City, 19 Wadsworth St.

TICKETS: $3 donation

INFO: www.buffalosugarcity.org