11 Non-Dc/ Marvel Comics You Should Read Before This Year Ends (Part 1)

Think comics are so last century? We hate to break it to you but they aren’t and never will be — in fact, they get better and better each year as comic books with fresh, new plot add to the block! It doesn’t even matter if you’re a big superhero fan or not, because with the modern comic artists on the rise, we get to have different star characters and story lines that are anything but just all capes and kicking bad guys’ butt. Explore the comic book genre as you check these 11 must-read comic books you definitely should put your hands on, ASAP. (Just don’t expect Batman or Iron Man to make a special appearance because you know, a breathe of fresh air)

“The Saga of Evil Monkey Man was inspired by a song (“Evil Monkey Man”) written by my friend Frank and recorded by his band FL!NG LO!S. The story also incorporates some concepts and character from another song ("Strobe Warrior") also by Frank & FL!NG LO!S which was based on a comic book idea I was working on a long time ago with Ross Andru & Mike Esposito. – Nicholas Blake Seals, Creator

“Swords & Sorrows is a 22 page one-shot about katana fights, ninja assassins and deep personal regret. Something you won’t read in the promo materials about it is that the relationship between the two characters is center stage the whole time. Of course there is some bad-ass action but it's a very character driven story. One raised the other since childhood, yet the two only truly come to know each other once they are engaged in a fight to the death.“ - Conner Bartel, Creator

“The Offspring circles around a group of three friends, Sara, Will and Vince that have led troubled lives. They found themselves in a group home and developed a unique bond. As their connection grew the friends realized they were also developing strange abilities. It's this connection that awakens a powerful force in the universe and sends our heros on a quest through time and space fighting god-like creatures all trying to steal the power for themselves.” - David Whalen, Creator

“Powers Squared is about alienation and belonging. On the one side, as twins, the boys have been somewhat insular and different from everyone else. Part of the reason for them moving to another city to go to school was to try to reset their lives, make new friends, meet girls and find someplace to belong. The fact that they discover that they have these powers, and must keep them a secret, once again sets them apart from their family and friends.” - Paul and Trevor Hankins, Creator

“I wanted to combine [Vampirella and 2000 AD magazine] concepts and formats rather than doing just another anthology type book. At the same time though, I wanted to focus on my portion of the book, and let the other artists and writers run free creatively. I knew everyone involved was incredible and would do something amazing. From there, the book Monsterella basically just shaped itself up.” - Nevin Arnold, Creator

“[In Moss series], I create weird, wonderful and less-human-centric worlds. The series consists of short stories that combine observation, imagination, and facts. I approach each story from a different angle, giving agency to human, animal, plant, and/or fungus characters.” - Suus Agnes, Creator

“The Eighth is a paranormal adventure graphic novel in process, is about the fall of the forbidden fruit of Life in our actual world and in our current year. Demons but also angels try to get this fruit for different reasons, but there's the rule that only the reincarnation of Eve, Evelyn, can grab it with her bare hands, so angels and demons need her.” - Marcela Esquivel Dávalos, Creator

“Divinus Machina is a story centering a cyborg who is vigilante assassin hunting down criminals in a dystopian future. Since then the idea for the project grew and changed dramatically and has become more expansive and in-depth in terms of its lore and characters.” - Waylon Wesley, Creator

“I think the world of GameSpace is while somewhat new is also a good extension/projection of what the world could be in a hundred or so years. I don't think there are many western books that cover an accurate extrapolation of online gaming that GameSpace has. Also, the characters are multi-dimensional. Everyone has their motivations to do what they are doing, even if it seems it's a bad thing.” - Josh Gorfain and Yuki Saeki, Creator

“Jeanne & Modigliani is a graphic novel biography of Jeanne Hebuterne and her companion, the famous artist Amedeo Modigliani” - Andrew Benteau, Creator

“Sidekick'd is the wacky story of two unlikely heroes who are suddenly thrust together by an online matching service (FindYourSidekick) and must find a way to work together before they destroy each other. Especially, since the lead hero has just realized that HE has become the sidekick!” - Adam Fox, Creator