Tired of comic books featuring do-gooders in capes and tights fighting the same villains over and over again? Can't wrap your head around the latest Crisis or Secret War? Does the mere mention of the word "reboot" have you reaching for the Tums? We feel your pain.
Thankfully there is a whole world of alternative comics out there for people who want to step away from the small corner of the superhero genre and into a much larger world.
But where to start? With publishers like Image, Dark Horse, Fantagraphics, Top Shelf, Boom, IDW, Archaia, Avatar Press and Black Mask Studios all vying for shelf space, it can be tough to figure out which books are worth your time.
Well, we're here to guide you with a rundown of some of the best indie titles hitting the shelf on July 8:
Invader Zim #1 (Oni Press)
Writer: Jhonen Vasquez
Artist: Aaron Alexovich, Megan Lawton
What It's About: Based on the cult hit Nickelodeon cartoon, Oni Press' Invader Zim comic book follows the same premise as the TV series with Dib obsessed with hunting down and capturing Zim, who has eyes on conquering Earth, alongside his robot servant, GIR.
Why You Should Care: Invader Zim has been dormant for almost a decade, but that doesn't mean fans have forgotten about it. And while a comic series might not satisfy those clamoring for a TV revival, the fact that Jhonen Vasquez, the series' creator, is on writing duties should make this a welcome, if not superior, alternative.
Random Thoughts: Invader Zim, like IDW's Samurai Jack series before it, is the perfect opportunity for these properties to live on well after their TV time is up. These shows lend themselves seamlessly to comics, especially with Vasquez's history with books like Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. To have the show's creator actually involved elevates Invader Zim from cash-in to must-read for fans of the series.
Vasquez said it himself, "I'm always confused when people say how much they miss 'Invader Zim' because the show never stopped running in my head, and then I remember everyone else isn't in my head."
Well, now we can all be in his head.
Providence #2 (Avatar Press)
Writer: Alan Moore
Artist: Jacen Burrows
What It's About: Providence weaves a murder mystery with elements of Lovecraftian horror into a package that is both incredibly dense and impossible to put down. In this book, Alan Moore takes a look at what makes H.P. Lovecraft's universe tick and deconstructs those themes using his own sensibilities and style as he explores the societal views of crime and sexuality in the early 1900s.
Why You Should Care: It's easy to say that you should care about this book just because of Alan Moore, but, honestly, that's what's going to get most people in the door. The first issue was, admittedly, hard to get a grasp on and required multiple read-throughs just to get comfortable with; however, if you occupy the moody space of being both a fan of Moore and Lovecraft, there's a lot here to take in. Plus, at $4.99 of "Giant-Sized, ad-free" goodness, the dissection of both the plot and subtext should be well worth the cover price.
Random Thoughts: The publisher's claim of Providence being "The Watchmen of horror" is completely eye-rolling, so getting that comparison out of your head is a good place to start with this title. This is a niche book for a niche crowd, and it's more in line with Moore's work in From Hell than Watchmen or The Killing Joke. There's a nebulous plot, endless literary allusions, densely-packed art and kinky perversions throughout - yeah, this is peak Moore.
Strange Fruit #1 (BOOM! Studios)
Writer: J. G. Jones, Mark Waid
Artist: J. G. Jones
What It's About: Set against the backdrop of the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, Strange Fruit promises to be a "challenging, provocative examination of the heroic myth confronting the themes of racism, cultural legacy, and human nature through a literary lens," according to Boom Studios. As the flood waters rise, a fiery message claims a being will appear to "rip open the tensions in Chatterlee." Who is this savior? And are they out to do more harm than good?
Why You Should Care: That above description should sell just about anyone on this book, but if not, the team of J.G. Jones and Mark Waid should finish the job. This is a formidable creative pairing tackling important, timely issues with an eye on history. And just take a look at the fully-painted art by J.G. Jones, courtesy of Comic Book Resources:
Random Thoughts: While Boom is insistent on comparing this title to Of Mice and Men on its website, I'm much more comfortable letting the creative team, the premise and the art speak for itself. Two powerhouse creators tackling important themes and subjects, all set to gorgeously painted art? If that doesn't convince you, you might not like comics.
Saga #30 (Image)
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Artist: Fiona Staples
What It's About: On one hand, Saga is a star-crossed, cosmic romance centering on two lovers from warring planets that have a child together, all while being hunted down by vengeful governments and ruthless mercenaries. On the other, it's a crass, bizarre space opera filled with widescreen battles, political drama and an otherworldly supporting cast made up of talking cats, sexually adventurous dragons and anthropomorphic television sets.
Why You Should Care: Saga #29 brought the emotion to a startling crescendo with the deaths of both The Brand and Gwendolyn, all set to an absolutely heartbreaking final page by artist Fiona Staples. This month, Image only provided this preview text for the issue: "Sooner or later, everything dies." And, really, Saga has earned everyone's trust at this point, so we don't really need to know anything else about the issue.
Random Thoughts: I'll spare you the image here, but will anything in Saga #30 outdo the - for lack of a better term - kinky dragon from last month? I'm not endorsing that Vaughan and Staples should try and top that, but I would be gravely disappointed if I could show Saga #30 to my mother with a clean conscience.
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