Indie Comics: Why you should be reading independent comics.

If you are here, on Medium, reading through articles and blog posts, there's a pretty good chance you’re a fan of storytelling and the written word.

Whether your go-to medium (pun intended) of choice is film, novel, short stories and even micro-fiction, stories are at the heart of it all.

Now, you may well have your favourite format, but I’d strongly recommend stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something new. And more specifically, I’d recommend comic books. But not just Marvel and DC comic books, you probably already know many of those stories, you should be reading indie comics.

Why Indie Comics?

It’s a fair question.

Marvel and DC Comics are Marvel and DC for a reason. They have inspired multi-billion dollar franchises and are the current obsession of every man, woman, teenager and toddler out there. Superheros are absolutely in right now, and while the movies are growing stale and people come face to face with superhero fatigue, there’s a lot more than superheroes found on the pages of indie comics all over Kickstarter and at your local comic con.

If you want to dive into an LGBTQIA+ story filled with angst, drama and self-discovery, you can. Likewise, if you are looking to find a story, loosely based on true events which depict giant alien worms attacking Earth, that’s there too.

If you want to read some of the dingiest, most grotesque and heart-thumping horrors, you can. And if you’re looking for a surreal sci-fi adventure from the perspective of a time-displaced Vincent Van Gogh, you can!

Indie comics have an unlimited potential to explore and make real the wildest imaginings of anyone. Writers and artists are passionate and driven individuals who make time to create outside of their day jobs as accountants, marketing execs, salesmen, dentists, construction workers and much much more.

What About Spider-Man, Batman and the other greats?

Classic comics and the current runs from major publishers are still well worth reading, but they are limited in a number of ways that indie publishers are not.

For example, a character like Spider-Man, with his first appearance in 1962 has had a largely ongoing serial story in The Amazing Spider-Man to the present day. In just this main series, there have been well over 900 issues released.

It’s wonderful to have such a wealth of stories based on the character, but it also means that the creators are restricted in what they can and can’t do. Spidey is established, the publisher has certain expectations for how his character should operate and what they can and can’t do and the editor will ensure this expectation is kept.

900 issues worth of stories have been told putting Peter Parker through every conceivable test and pushing him to his limits again and again only to see him come out on top. There have been surprises and twists, but with the character enduring so long already, you can expect that he never stays down.

Looking to indie comics, stories are fresh, expectations can be subverted, and new stories are being told. Not to mention, you don’t need to invest a huge amount of time and money to catch up with the current events of the story.

Indie stories can be more playful, focus on real and under-discussed topics which may be difficult to get approved by groups like the Comics Code Authority, and give voices to new talents.

It’s worth exploring the world of indie comics at conventions or searching on Kickstarter to find stories that you will likely fall in love with, and a whole new medium to take in stories.

Some of the most emotional and engaging stories I have ever read have been in the graphic novel medium. Maus by Art Spiegelmann is the touching story of a boy connecting with his estranged father through his stories of life as a Jew during World War II. Art reimagines the individuals involved as anthropomorphized animals which softens the intense and violent images, while also highlighting the divide between those being hunted, and the hunters.

Ghost World by Daniel Clowes is widely regarded as a beautiful and imaginative representation of youth, growing up and growing apart as teenagers find themselves searching for the next big thing after High School. The story was made into a movie in 2001 starring Scarlett Johansson and Thora Birch.

These stories and many others are portrayed with beautiful simplicity and depth through the panels on a page and narration. Artists and writers are able to advance time and deliver messages through this combined medium in a way that is unlike any book or film, because of the method of delivery.

Recommended Reading

If you’ve made it this far, hopefully, you are at least intrigued to start digging deeper into the world of Indie comics and ready to find your next favourite story.

To help you with that, I have compiled a list of several of my favourite stories and creators from the last few years and I hope this can help you to get started on your journey into the world of indie comics.

Matt Garvey- Matt is an easy recommendation because he has spent the last decade honing his craft and telling stories that he is passionate about. He has a particular talent for comedy and creating engaging narratives that satisfy readers. Whether you are interested in noir, crime, sci-fi, horror or comedy, Matt has just the comic for you.

In addition, if you are interested in dipping your toes into creating comics for yourself, Matt runs a fantastic YouTube channel about how to do just that.

Afterlight Comics- Afterlight Comics was founded in 2018 by Joseph Oliveira, a multi-award-winning writer with an incredible passion and drive for storytelling and horror. Since launching, Afterlight has successfully launched more than 30 Kickstarter campaigns and created the means for numerous writers and artists to publish their work. Having recently won the SME UK Enterprise Award for Best Horror Comics Publisher, Afterlight is the place to go if you're looking for thrilling, terrifying stories created to a high standard of excellence.

BentBox Comics- BentBox Comics is very new to the world of indie comics having just started in late 2022, but the dynamite team of Chris O’Hara and Gabriel Fonseca have combined together to create something that is absolutely going to continue to gain attention and acclaim. Fonseca’s art style is incredibly unique and energetic, rather than copying the popular artists, his style is clearly his own and breathtaking is an understatement. O’Hara also has a wild imagination with the ability to tell a story that not only highlights some of the fears of modern technology but also frames it through the familiar face and voices of historic figures. This contrast and his ability to inject wit, rich details and a clean flow make him one to watch.

Ryan Little- Ryan may be better know for his work as a writer for Marvel Studios having worked on Marvel’s What If…? and the Groot shorts now playing on Disney+, but he is also a dedicated comic book writer. Many of his stories glean inspiration from nostalgic sources such as Digimon and Power Rangers. Ryan creates imaginative worlds filled with colourful characters and rich humour. For fun, action-packed stories that can trigger your nostalgia for Saturday morning cartoons, I recommend checking out Ryan’s work.

Reckless Hero- If you told me that Reckless Hero was a small division owned and operated by one of the major publishers, I would believe you. The quality of the art, lettering, storytelling and every other aspect of these books is absolutely top-notch. The reality is, it’s mainly three guys who began creating comics together back in 2012 and have just recently begun to expand their team. Stories like Knights Vs. Pirates combine Arthurian legend, historical figures and a generous dose of imagination to create something truly special. Beautiful, high-quality artwork, and rich storytelling which is imbued right down to the letters on each page are executed to perfection in stories by Reckless Hero.

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