Panel from “Firebug,” from the anthology Island #7. Illustrated by Johnnie Christmas. Photo courtesy of Image Comics.
This week’s comic roundup doesn’t feature anything from the “big two,” Marvel and DC. Plenty of interesting comics came out this week from both publishers (take a look at Marvel’s stunning Black Panther #2 and DC’s grim Swamp Thing #5), but the indie scene is stronger than ever. Between a classic reprint, a book about a dog and cat rebellion, a collection of short comics, and the comic that most epitomizes the wildness of the indie comic scene: War of the Independents. If readers are new to comics, or new to indie comics, the characters featured in War present a great place to start.
Cover for Island #7. Illustrated by Matt Sheean. Photo courtesy of Image Comics.
Island is a great entry point for newcomers to comics looking for something deeper than the classic capes and cowls of superhero comics. This anthology, which runs huge at around seventy pages (and costs a few bucks extra), features four stories of varying length and complexity. In this seventh issue of the anthology series by comic creator Brandon Graham, the story “Firebug: The Chained Goddess” stands out as exemplary, featuring warring factions and plenty of political (and mystical) intrigue.
Cover for Kennel Block Blues #4. Illustrated by Daniel Bayliss. Photo courtesy of Boom Studios.
This Kennel Block Blues is the fourth and final issue of the miniseries. Written by Ryan Ferrier and illustrated by Daniel Bayliss, the story takes place in a kennel, where dogs and cats are represented as humanoid figures trapped in a jail. The kennel masters are depicted as swirling, magical black ghost hands, and each dog and cat has a bit of their breed injected into their personality. This is the culminating issue, so if the premise sounds intriguing (and it is, and really well illustrated), it’s recommended readers go back to issue one and start up from the top.
Cover for Champions #12. Illustrated by Chris Marrinan. Photo courtesy of Heroic Publishing.
Originally released in 1988, Champions #12 is an outstanding example of how indie comics can get superheroics right. The Champions are a group of classic superheroes who battle classic foes, but their lives are messy. And not grim, tangled up, overdramatic-messy one reads in current comics, but messy in a “his feelings are hurt” and “we’re upset because our friend left the group” way that makes everything realistic, but doesn’t mire it down too heavily.
Cover for War of the Independents #4. Illustrated by Don Simpson. Photo courtesy of Red Anvil Comics.
This is one of the strangest comics to hit shelves in a long time. Starring a jam-packed who’s who of independent comic stars from the 1990s, War of the Independents follows characters from The Tick, Bone, Zippy, Usagi Yojimbo, and more as they attempt to help Cerebus get his helmet back. This is a hyperactive comic with tons of corny jokes, callbacks to old comics, and even a bit of ridiculous adventure (Too Much Coffee Man, for example, challenges rappers Public Enemy to a rap battle). This comic is a love letter to readers who grew up reading weird comics like Rat Bastard and Milk & Cheese.To check out these comics, visit your local comic book shop, or buy them digitally via Comixology.What were you reading this week? Let us know on Twitter or Instagram.Related:This Week in Comics #16This Week in Comics #15This Week in Comics #14
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