Happy fall, everyone. And welcome back to the newest installment of Independent Comic Spotlight. Here are the books that I’ve had sent my way the past few months. Some of these folks I actually had the pleasure of meeting in person at New York Comic Con; the others are ones that I just hope to have the honor of congratulating face to face in the near future. Enjoy!
Park Bench
- Creator: Christophe Chaboute
- Publisher: Gallery 13 – Simon & Schuster
- Format: Graphic Novel, Full Color, Paperback
- Brief Synopsis: The international best-selling graphic novelist is back again with a story that is wholly unique, using a “common park bench as a gateway into exploring a community.” Fans of art house films and classic storytelling will want this book on their shelves.
- Suggested Retail Price: $25.00
- My Rating: 3/5
Off Girl
- Creators: Tina Fine and Mark Reihill
- Publisher: Project Climax LLC
- Format: Comic Book, Full Color, Ongoing Series
- Brief Synopsis: This highly inventive comic book series (with only three issues out so far, so you have plenty of time to catch up) asks the questions: What if your superpower killed people? And what if your superpower was only activated when you experienced an orgasm? The beautiful art and smartly-handled taboo subject matter make for what will most assuredly be a cult classic.
- Suggested Retail Price: $3.99 per issue
- My Rating: 4.5/5
Psychosis Today!
- Creators: Mark Mazz, Joseph B. Mauceri, Edward R. Flynn, Scott Sheaffer, Keith Murphey, Hector Rodriguez, Ven Yann, Shawnti Therrien, Robert J. Sodaro, Matt C. Ryan, Steve Kuster, Allan Abbadessa, Rammer Martinez, Peter Palmiotti, Melvin Ylagan, Craig Wolden, Randall Ensley, Thomas Drew, Jesse Hansen, Kirk Abrigo, and Ed Traquino
- Publisher: Atlas Unleashed
- Format: Comic Book, Black and White
- Brief Synopsis: A super ambitious return to horror anthology, this mature-readers entry into the pantheon is worthy of the EC classics and modern scary films alike, with four awesome full-color covers to choose from and collect. Originality is alive and well in this comic book and it’s a must-read for any hardcore horror fans.
- Suggested Retail Price: $6.99
- My Rating: 3/5
Renegade: Martin Luther, The Graphic Biography
- Creators: Daci Palmerino and Andrea Grosso Ciponte
- Publisher: Plough Publishing House
- Format: Graphic Novel, Full Color, Paperback
- Brief Synopsis: The six-time collaborators return to one of history’s most infamous rebels on the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, telling the story of the man behind the movement that shaped the world and made history. This is a great find for history and religion readers.
- Suggested Retail Price: $19.95
- My Rating: 3/5
Magritte: This is Not a Biography
- Creators: Vincent Zabus and Thomas Campi
- Publisher: Self Made Hero
- Format: Graphic Novel, Full Color, Paperback
- Brief Synopsis: This graphic memoir is the latest addition to the soon-to-be classic “Art Masters” series, placing surrealist painter Rene Magritte into the same pantheon of super famous and highly interesting artists such as Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Goh, Salvador Dali. This is a must-read for any fans of art, biography, or graphic memoir.
- Suggested Retail Price: $17.99
- My Rating: 3/5
Out of the Woods: A Journey Through Depression and Anxiety
- Creators: Brent Williams, Korkut Oztekin
- Publisher: Educational Resources Ltd.
- Format: Graphic Novel, Full Color, Hardcover
- Brief Synopsis: This graphic memoir is designed to help people overcome depression and anxiety with beautiful artwork and a powerful message. This would be a perfect addition to any classroom library or for anyone who has struggled or knows someone who has struggled or is struggling with these very real conditions.
- Suggested Retail Price: $27.95
- My Rating: 3/5
Twisted Dark
- Creators: Neil Gibson, Caspar Wijngaard, Marc Olivent, Leonardo Gonzalez, Jim Terry, and Jan Wijngaard
- Publisher: T Pub
- Format: Graphic Novel series (6 volumes so far), Black and White, Paperback
- Brief Synopsis: This is truly a modern-day masterpiece in the making. Imagine a horror anthology that does two things flawlessly: connects seemingly unrelated storylines and each and every “twist” is actually that there is nothing supernatural, there is nothing otherwordly, there are no real monsters… just real people with real problems and real darkness. Gibson gets my highest rating with this series.
- Suggested Retail Price: $19.99
- My Rating: 5/5
Stardust Nation
- Creators: Deborah Levy and Andrzej Klimowski
- Publisher: Self Made Hero
- Format: Graphic Novel, Full Color, Paperback
- Brief Synopsis: A surreal adaptation of a short story from one of Levy’s collections of fiction, this is a highly complex tale about a advertising boss and his strange adventure into hard-drinking and mind-swapping with one of his colleagues and all of the memories, fears, and identities that go with being successful at any cost.
- Suggested Retail Price: $19.95
- My Rating: 3/5
Book Books Sent My Way
- 100 Things Batman Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die by Joseph McCabe
- The Art of Harley Quinn by Andrew Farago, Paul Dini, and Various others
- Kirby: King of Comics – Anniversary Edition by Mark Evanier
- Supergirl: Age of Atlantis by Jo Whittemore (inspired by the CW show)
- The Flash: Hocus Pocus by Barry Lyga (inspired by the CW show)
And there you have it. Like what you see? Go buy them and spread the good word about these indy creators and their wonderful works. Have a book you want or need reviewed? Email me at JeffHill@ComicBooked.com and we’ll set something up. Until next time, happy reading!
