As summer draws to a close, Independent Comic Spotlight makes its triumphant return! Over the hot months, I did some traveling, went to some conferences, and even stopped by Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con. So imagine my surprise when I returned from my travels to stacks of comics and books. It was fun taking the deep dive and looking at these great new products from the various creators kind enough to send them my way. Make sure you grab all of these awesome titles and continue spreading the good word about good comics from good creators. Enjoy!
Independent Comics Sent My Way:
- Urban Legendz by Nick Bruno, Paul Downs, and Michael Yates from BiG (a great new YA graphic novel about urban legends and unlikely friendships)
- Daughter of the Underworld by Luke Matinez and Dri Gomez (comic book preview of an upcoming ongoing series)
- The Invisible Empire: Madge Oberholtzer and the Unmasking of the Ku Klux Klan by Micky Neilson, Todd Wagner, and Marc Borstel (original historical fiction graphic novel out this September from Insight Comics)
- Prime Suspects: The Anatomy of Integers and Permutations by Andrew Granville, Jennifer Granville, and Robert J. Lewis (original mathematically-accurate mystery graphic novel from Princeton University Press)
- Once Upon a Time in France by Fabien Nury and Sylvain Valee (original historical fiction graphic novel out this September from Dead Reckoning)
- Kodoja: Volume 2 by Keith Foster and Rory Smith (good old fashioned monster mayhem continues in this graphic novel collection from 215 Ink)
- Before Houdini by Jeremy Holt, John Lucas, and Adi Crossa (Holt continues his Houdini series of graphic novels from Insight Comics)
- Smedley by Jeff McComsey (upcoming epic graphic novel coming in October from Dead Reckoning)
Independent Books Sent My Way:
- How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems by Randall Munroe (out this September from Riverhead Books)
- The Ultimate Droodles Compendium by Roger Price (fun book pre-dating Mad Libs and published posthumously by Tallfellow Press)
Independent Novels Sent My Way:
- Beneath the Flames by Gregory Lee Renz (a true hero novel written by a close personal friend of mine)
- The Flash: Crossover Crisis: Green Arrow’s Perfect Shot written by Barry Lyga (the CW DC Arrowverse novels are just as much fun as the shows)
- Mischief and Mayhem by S. D. Nicholson (book one of a great new fantasy series)
- Hazel & Holly by Sara C. Snider (great new fantasy book that is part magic fairytale and part paranormal fiction)
- Amelia Earheart by Andrew Prentice and Mike Smith and Harry Houdini by Kjartan Poskitt and Geraint Ford (young adult novels with illustrations from the First Names series published by Abrams Books for Young Readers)
- Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Rise of Kyoshi by F. C. Yee and Michael Dimartino (the beloved cartoon continues in this novel co-written by its creator)
So there you have it. Another great installment of Independent Comic Spotlight. Have a comic you want reviewed? How about a graphic novel? Or maybe even a book? I’d love to read it. But I’d love a physical copy. Email me at JeffHill@ComicBooked.com or reach out to me on Twitter (jeffhillwriter) and we’ll get you thrown into the queue for Vol. III of 2019. See you then. In the meantime, be a good literary citizen and pick up all of the great books featured in this first installment of the year. Happy reading!
