By Matt Schorr
It seems only fitting that with the launch of this website and, incidentally, my first review for it, I offer up something concerning a new publication…another “upstart,” if you will.
In the past few years, Hollywood has discovered there’s money to be made in film adaptations of comic book superheroes. What was once often sneered at has become one of the industry’s major sources of creative revenue. Just look at this summer’s lineup. Most of Tinsel Town’s biggest production companies are banking 2011’s annual revenue on comic books: Thor, Green Lantern, Captain America.
Subsequently, for most average moviegoers, those superhero franchises are the only ones offering films that aren’t part of the endless cycle of remakes. In other words, one reason America is likely eating these up so much is because they’re actually different.
The irony, of course, is these characters are actually pretty darn old. Thor’s been wielding his magic hammer for several decades. Hal Jordan got his power ring in the fifties. And Captain America…he dates back to World War II, for crying out loud!
Both Marvel and DC Comics have been churning out books with these characters and more for a very, very long time. Not to be outdone, younger companies like Image and IDW now have their own lines of superhero tales, and they all tend to follow the same formula laid down decades ago.
This isn’t an indictment of those series. I’m an avid fan of Superman and the Green Arrow. However, I would like to spotlight lesser known comics that are available to any readers who, like today’s moviegoers, might be looking for something different.
Which brings me to Indie Comics Magazine. At this point, they’ve only published two issues. The third is scheduled for release this summer. Indie Comics is an anthology collection of stories by independent comic book creators across the globe, putting the spotlight on quality stories that might not otherwise see print.
Indie Comics Magazine #1 offers eight entries, including a dark Samurai tale, a twisted horror story, and a gritty detective drama involving various creatures of the night. The second issues features seven stories, showcasing a civil rights superhero and a gritty science fiction tale.
I can’t recommend this series enough. While I don’t want to lie and suggest every story is a winner (there was a clunker or two), Indie Comics still delivers on its promise of new, independent storytellers from outside the mainstream. I can’t outline all the stories contained here, but I’ll take a moment to go over a couple of my favorites.
“City of the Lost Souls,” a collaboration of Tom, Joe, and Jeff Vigil, follows the adventures of Private Eye Dick William Vickers, a hard-boiled detective stuck in an ongoing horror story. It’s a miniseries the publishers felt was good enough to merit inclusion in two consecutive issues. Vickers is searching for a missing girl, and his search brings him up against Mafioso vampires and bloodthirsty werewolves. (All in a day’s work, right?) The two issues are part of a five-issue story, the publishers say, and I really hope they finish it out. I’m pretty intrigued by this one.
“Shadows of the Forest” is a dark tale penned by Tom Kelly that tells of a bloody battle between ninja warriors and a werewolf Samurai. It’s a twisted little story with some really stark images, but it’s definitely a standout.
I’ve managed to snag these two issues via the online distributor I normally order from. Because it’s from a small, up-and-coming publisher, I have a feeling Indie Comics Magazine is probably available in a limited capacity, and the net is the best route to getting them. (But hey, that’s still easier than driving to the nearest shop, right?) It may take a little extra effort to find them and there’s always a slight risk when checking out something new, but I think it’s well worth it. For any additional information on Indie Comics, visit their website: IndieComicsMagazine.com.