"Indie" in comics usually means creator-owned: the writers and artists own their characters, not a corporation. That changes everything. Stories can end. Characters can die for real. Genres go far beyond superheroes.
Why Read Indie
- Complete stories. Many indie series have a planned ending.
- Every genre. Horror, sci-fi, fantasy, crime, romance, and memoir.
- Creators first. Buying indie directly supports the people who made it.
The Publishers to Know
- Image Comics: founded in 1992 by star artists who left Marvel. Home of Saga, Invincible, and Paper Girls.
- BOOM! Studios: horror and genre hits like Something is Killing the Children.
- Dark Horse: Hellboy and a long list of cult classics.
- Small press and webcomics: where books like Nimona started.
Seven to Start With
Saga
Space-opera family drama and one of the best-selling comics of the century. Mature readers. Saga Vol. 1
Invincible
It looks like a classic superhero book, then goes somewhere no corporate hero ever could. Invincible Compendium Vol. 1
Something is Killing the Children
Monsters are eating kids in a small town, and only the kids can see them. Then a stranger with a blade shows up. It's horror done right. Something is Killing the Children Vol. 1
Hellboy
A demon who works for a paranormal defense agency. Mike Mignola's art, all heavy black shadows, is instantly recognizable. Hellboy Omnibus Vol. 1
Paper Girls
Newspaper girls, 1988, and time travel. It's complete in one volume. Paper Girls
Nimona
It started as a webcomic, became a bestseller, then an Oscar-nominated film. Nimona
Bone
A self-published fantasy epic that became a classic for all ages. Bone
Saga Vol. 1
Invincible Compendium Vol. 1
Something is Killing the Children Vol. 1
Hellboy Omnibus Vol. 1: Seed of Destruction
Paper Girls: The Complete Story
Nimona
Bone: One Volume Edition