10 Indie Comics You Must Read Before You Die
Because sometimes Batman needs a break.
While an industry that stretches farther than the eye can see, the majority of comics revolve around a comparatively small collection of spandex-clad superheroes. Though the famous few found at the likes of DC and Marvel deserve their fame, they represent but the tip of the iceberg in regards to comics that are both artistically and literature-wise a fantastic read.
That's where indie comics come in. Though often still owned by major companies, there are an incredible amount of non-mainstream titles worth reading, when you fancy something different to the Man of Steel or Caped Crusader for a change.
That said, even for those who can't get enough of the main comic franchises, there are indie comics that use ideas established by these huge franchises to create interesting and unique comics that are still worth both their time and attention. For every type of comic fan imaginable, there is at least one indie comic practically tailor-made for them.
Though it has more than its fair share of garbage, there is a treasure trove of quality awaiting those willing to go off the beaten track in search of a brilliant read. Here are the best of all.
10. Paper Girls
Any comic that begins its first issue with a group of girls delivering papers in a suburban neighbourhood and ends with them lost in a bizarre and fantastic futuristic wonderland deserves at least some credit, especially when it's masterfully drawn by Cliff Chiang, who is responsible for illustrating some visually excellent issues of Wonder Woman.
This is not to say its writer is lacking either, however, as Brian K. Vaughan has an equally impressive writing past under his belt, most notably the acclaimed Y: The Last Man, and a mixture of impressive issues in DC and Marvel respectively.
More importantly, Paper Girls bares a striking similarity to Netflix favourite Stranger Things, in both atmosphere and plot, as well as both intending to give a kind but honest portrayal of the eighties.
Both also focus on the friendships between youngsters caught in incredible situations in a way that will leave you both struck by nostalgia and very aware of the often brutal nature of growing up. Given the incredible popularity of the show, its comic equivalent definitely deserves at the least a fraction of the success its tv counterpart has seen.