8 Comics Outside Of Marvel And DC You Should Totally Check Out

When you refer to comic books nowadays, you’re more than likely to think about superheroes.

Lads in colorful outfits saving the world and fighting off giant purple aliens have become practically synonymous with the medium due to the massive success of Marvel and DC, but while these two juggernaut companies have provided years’ worth of entertainment through their characters and stories, their popularity can often cause people to overlook other reading material from different genres or companies.

Publishers like Image or Dark Horse Comics (to name a few) have provided a virtual smorgasbord of high quality comic books throughout the years that have garnered awards and passionate fan bases of their own. The creator owned content published by many of these companies allow for the artistic freedom to create properties that are wholly unique and original, resulting in some of the most captivating stories you’ll ever read.

So if you're new to comics, or simply looking to broaden your reading horizons outside of the mainstream serialized hero pulps, let's take a look at those comics outside of Marvel and DC that are well worth your attention...

The first entry on this list comes from the fantastic team of Jason Aaron and Jason Latour, who came together to create what they refer to as a story about everything they both love and hate about the South.

An ongoing series that began in 2014, this comic focuses on the small town of Craw County in the American South where football is a part of the city, and crime goes unpunished so long as it’s in service to the benefit of the town’s football career. The comic explores the various characters that live there and their connection to crime lord and football coach Euless Boss.

The creative team behind Southern Bastards are always on their A-game. Aaron’s writing manages to bring out the humanity in characters who are utterly despicable while Latour’s art really emphasizes this ugly realness of the people being drawn. Combined, their work on this book makes everything feel real and gritty, resulting in a story that feels all the more engaging.

Southern Bastards isn’t just one of the best comics outside of Marvel and DC - it’s one of the best comics you’ll read, period.