Hi there, folks! Welcome back to Independent Comic Spotlight. This last holiday season was great for a lot of reasons, but it’s always fun to get to the stack of indy books and comics that are sent my way. If you have some extra dough and some extra time (especially if you got some cash from relatives this season), here’s a list of great items that will satisfy your geeky needs!
Executive Outcomes by Nick Bicanic, M. Zachary Sherman, and Emmanuel Xerx Javier
*This graphic novel came with a documentary about a topic that a lot of people have a fascination or interest in, but few actually understand: mercenaries. The comic itself is based on a true story, changing some names along the way to protect and save more lives. Essentially, it’s a late 1990s story about a group of 150 mercenaries who went in and took on an army of thousands in Sierra Leone. And won. Think 300 but with guns and believability and modern. Great art, story, and script from all involved and a truly engrossing military comic.
My Rating: 5/5
Foundations of Chinese Civilization: The Yellow Emperor to the Han Dynasty by Jing Liu
*This graphic novel (the first of a series outlining the history of China) features the time periods of 2697 BCE to 220 CE. The artwork is easy on the eyes and the wording (and glossaries, indexes, footnotes, etc.) make it read more like a textbook than a comic book. There will be four entries into this series, beginning publication later this year. The company putting it out will feature other black and white comics under the label Understanding China Through Comics. This will be a great introduction or supplement to history buffs and fans of various cultures.
My Rating: 3/5
And, as always, here are some actual book books to check out:
- Python Playground: Geeky Projects for the Curious Programmer by Mahesh Venkitachalam
- Junkyard Jam Band: D. I. Y. Musical Instruments and Noisemakers by David Erik Nelson
- The Maker’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse by Simon Monk
- Brooklyn Spirits: Craft Distilling and Cocktails from the World’s Hippest Borough by Peter Thomas Fornatale and Chris Wertz
- Fandemonium by Rick Schindler
And then there are some great children’s books by author Nancy Guettier:
- Circus in the Sky
- I Wish
- Roy G. Biv is Mad at Me Because I Love Pink!
- Jude’s Moon
- Mermaids on the Moon
And textbooks, essays, and studies of the superhero genre:
- Wonder Woman Unbound: The Curious History of World’s Most Famous Heroine by Tim Hanley
- Investigating Lois Lane: The Turbulent History of the Daily Planet’s Ace Reporter by Tim Hanley
So there you have it. Another great list of indy material available upon request. Check these creators out and give them your money. After all, it’s the holidays. See you later on in 2016 for a brand new selection of independent goodies!
