A monthly column devoted to recommending interesting indie comics for pre-order. Pre-ordering supports indie creators and can often be the difference between a book succeeding or failing. Plus, you usually save money by doing it, too.
Captain Swing
Warren Ellis and Raulo Caceres
Order Code: AUG110836 & AUG110837
Publisher: Avatar
128 pages – FC – SC – $17.99
128 pages – FC – HC – $27.99
While he's not exactly an indie writer, Warren Ellis has been doing a ton of work for extreme indie comics powerhouse Avatar for the last decade or so. It's been a while since I checked out Ellis's work at Avatar, though I believe a lot of it is steampunk inflected. That's the case with Captain Swing, an 1830s London steampunk story of a man who's seeing things he's not supposed to—including famous Victorian boogeyman Spring-Heeled Jack. Even when reworking his common themes, Ellis is always good for a romping fun, snarky, violent tale—and there's nothing wrong with that.
Hark! A Vagrant
Kate Beaton
Order Code: AUG111018
Publisher: Fantagraphics
168 pages – B&W – HC
$19.95
If there are only two comics you're going to buy this month, buy this one twice. Seriously, I like it that much. This is a collection of Beaton's webcomic of the same name. It started as a comic with hilariously irreverent takes on history, but has morphed into a series of uproariously funny strips on topics including history, movies, and Nancy Drew novels. Read this strip – and try not to laugh. If you failed to resist, you should buy the book. You'll get another 160 pages of comics like that.
Helldorado! #1 (of 3)
C. Michael Hall, Martin Coccolo, and Diego Rodriguez
Order Code: AUG110783
Publisher: Ape Entertainment
24 pages – FC – SC
$3.99
If Cowboys and Aliens disappointed you, but you're still in the mood for some mixed-genre Western adventure, Helldorado! could be just what the doc ordered. It mashes spaghetti westerns, Chinese vampires, warrior priests, the undead, and kung fu into what sounds like it will be a solid dose of light-hearted fun. I wish there was a preview of it online, but at $3.99, it's not too much of a risk.
Knowbodys
Matt Maiellaro and Jesus Redondo Roman
Order Code: AUG111096
Publisher: Kickstart Comics
96 pages – FC – SC
$8.99
This graphic novel about a family involved in dealing with the supernatural was creator by the creator of Adult Swim's Aqua Teen Hunger Force. While that show is a comedy, though, this book seems much more serious. In it, the titular Knowbodys are sent to New Orleans to stop a villain from tearing apart reality—which sounds like a pretty solid family vacation. Again, another book I'd like to see a preview of, especially since the interior and cover art are by different people, but that's a nice price for a full color, 96-page comic.
The Vessel of Terror
Magnus Aspli and Dave Acosta
Order Code: AUG110741
Publisher: AAM Markosia
128 pages – FC – SC
$17.99
Who doesn't love a good giant-squid story? And there definitely aren't enough of them in comics, but here's one. In it, an Arctic research vessel reels in a never-before-seen kind of quid. But, since it's a comic, they also reel in a world of trouble that infects the crew and the Norwegian port they've brough the squid to. The one-page preview above doesn't show much, but it looks appealing enough.
Labor and Love
Sam Costello and Neal Von Flue
Publisher: Tent City Comics
44 pages – FC – SC
$7.00
Hopefully this doesn't come off as too self-indulgent, but I've got a new comic that's available for pre-order now. It's self-published, so you won't find it in Previews or at your local store, but if you pre-order it, you'll get a signed copy. The comic, Labor and Love, is a collection of 4 adaptations of classic American folks ballads, from The Wreck of the Old 97 to Henry Lee to The Mermaid. I wrote it, Neal Von Flue drew it, and we're thrilled with how it came out. If you like old-time music, sea shanties, or comics adapting songs, you may want to check it out.
Sam Costello is the creator and writer of Split Lip, a horror webcomics anthology that Comics Should Be Good has called “the best horror anthology on the internet.” It offers over 500 pages of free comics.
Split Lip: Termites In Your Smile and other stories is available now directly from Sam. It's 174 pages of comics for $15. Just try to beat that.
Other iFanboy Posts by Sam Costello
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Indie Comics Coming Attractions Series:
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Both the Ellis and Kate beaton books look pretty intresting, thanks for the heads up!
I don’t think the last issues of Captain Swing ever came out. I love when you have to buy a trade to finish off a story.
Oh, Kate Beaton, how i love thee. Does Hark a Vagrant publish her irreverant takes on superheroes? Cuz that seems like it might be a huge legal hassle
@Potato – I was just about to ask. That’s a shame. :/
It has been really fantastic despite its sporadicness though.
I forgot about Captain Swing. The last issue was a POTW for me if I’m not mistaken….What the hell happened to it?
Also, I love Kate Beaton but you can get her stuff for free online so…..I feel like a dick but I don’t wanna buy something I could get for free.
Sorry Kate.