With SPX hitting the scene in Bethesda, MD this weekend, we at In the Mouth of Dorkness wanted to celebrate our favorite independent comics. So you all don’t accuse me of nepotism, I’m not going to give a shout-out to the very awesome Warrior 27, which is clearly the best anthology on the indie market. The only comic with the vision to publish one of the English language’s greatest champions. So, I’m not going to mention Warrior 27, which has a really sweet trade paperback that makes a nice addition to any collector’s shelf.
5. Ntombinde by Sterling Clark: I just came across this at Baltimore Comic-Con, and really enjoyed it. Yes, sometimes the dialog is wonky, reminding me of the often awkward stuff from 60s Marvel comics like Fantastic Four. But, the stories, and the rich mythology drawn mostly from Africa are quite cool.
4. Whiteout by Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber: A solid murder mystery set against the stark and deadly landscape of Antarctica. Ignore the awful film version. This book is quite good.
3. Afrodisiac by Jim Rugg and Brian Maruca: Like excerpts from an ongoing, wacky comic book from the 70s, Afrodisiac should prove fun for fans of retro comics, Blaxploitation, and general crassness. Oh, Nixon.
2. Journey by William Messner-Loebs: I haven’t even finished this, but I love it. The ongoing adventures of a slightly daft, gruff, and frequently unlucky Wolverine MacAlistair, a fur trapper and free spirit. It’s full of strange characters, goofy humor, sadness, and occasional fearful incidents. This comic captures the strangeness and grandeur of a less civilized era in American History.
1. Godland by Joe Casey and Tom Scioli: Like Fantastic Four meets Austin Powers, Godland is a wild, colorful, completely over-the-top homage to silver age comics. Complete mad genius. And a must read.
-Matt
Nice list, Matt. Journey is a great lost gem from the b/w days of the 80s. Godland is lovely to look at and I enjoyed the first few issues, but I haven't gotten on board with the trades yet. Someday, I'll have to rectify that. whiteout and Afrodisiac are sick comics (am I trying too hard to hip? yeah, but that's a'ight.) And that #5 books looks intriguing, to say the least.
ReplyDeleteLoved these lists gents. My top 5 hipster books:
Rambo 3.5 from Jim Rugg (you need to own this)
Earth Minds Are Weak #8-11 (Kaiju Jugorama) crazy sci-fi with a fluid, insane art style LOVE IT!
http://www.clifffacecomics.com/2007/04/earth-minds-are-weak-8.html
Breathers by Justin Madson - more futuristic sci-fi with beautiful art reminiscent of Mignola while being its own thing. CHECK IT!
http://www.justmadbooks.com/?page_id=18
SOULWIND by Scott Morse - gorgeous, challenging, one of the best books I own
COLD HEAT from Frank Santoro and Ben Jones - ninjas, aliens, karate classes, mythological beasts, drugs, sex, more sex, hypnotic colors, insane action, drugs, powermad businessmen, dead musicians brought back to life by aliens, IT'S GOT IT ALL. And it'll solidify your indy cred, mos def.
http://www.coldheatcomics.com/Home.html
-chris