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.
Finally! This month we finally get a lot of books that have online previews to help you decide before placing an order. Here's hoping that continues.
The Cabbie: Book One
Order Code: APR111033
Publisher: Fantagrapics
Details: B&W, 64pgs, HC
Price: $19.99
This European import is being touted as a combination of Taxi Driver and Dick Tracy, which seems like a pretty interesting mix. It follows the ultra-violent exploits of the titular cabbie who's on the quest to recover the stolen coffin of his father, which allegedly contains his inheritance. Since there's no preview of this one, you'll be flying a bit blind, but if you like Eurocomics, or ultra-violent ones, The Cabbie might be worth taking a chance.
Old City Blues
Order Code: APR110780
Publisher: Archaia
Details: B&W, 120pgs, HC
Price: $14.95
Preview
A sci-fi/police manga written and drawn by Giannis Milonogiannis, who doesn't sound like your traditional Asian manga-ka to me. It's a murder mystery set in the Athens of 2048 focusing on the cops investigating the crime. What's particularly interesting here, besides Milonogiannis' cool art, is that this is a print collection of a webcomic—the entirety of which you can read on the Old City Blues website before you decide whether you want to buy.
One Soul
Order Code: APR111123
Publisher: Oni Press
Details: B&W, 176pgs, HC
Price: $24.99
Preview
The subject of a 6-page preview on iFanboy in March, One Soul is garnering a lot of pre-publication buzz. The story, written and drawn by Ray Fawkes, weaves together the lives of 18 separate characters into a single tale about spirituality. This looks to be a challenging formal exercise, but if you're up for a challenge to traditional comics structures and styles, this is one of your best bets for the month.
Potter's Field
Order Code: APR110885
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Details: Color, 112pgs, SC
Price: $14.99
Preview
Mark Waid writes and Paul Azaceta draws this story with a compelling premise: New York's Potter's Field is the cemetery where unknown bodies are buried. In this story, a man sets out to put names to all those unknown bodies. Seems like a terrific set up for telling powerful short crime stories. Includes both the 3-issue mini and a follow-up one-shot.
A Treasury of 20th Centry Murder, Vol. 4: The Lives of Sacco & Vanzetti
Order Code: APR111110
Publisher: NBM Publishing
Details: B&W, 80pgs, HC
Price: $15.99
Preview
Another of writer/artist Rick Geary's tremendous historical true-crime comics. This one focuses on Italian anarchists Sacco & Vanzetti who were executed by the state of Massachusetts in 1927. In his typically well-observed and rendered way, Geary examines the controversy around the execution, including the contention that they were innocent.
Sam Costello is the creator and writer of Split Lip, a horror webcomics anthology that io9 has called “the webcomics answer … to the Twilight Zone and Night Gallery.” It offers nearly 500 pages of free comics.
Split Lip: Termites In Your Smile and other stories will be on sale at the end of the month directly from Sam.
Other iFanboy Posts by Sam Costello
On My Own in Indie Comics Series:
Indie Comics Coming Attractions Series:
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I recognize that this article is about HCs, but I am looking forward to Witch Doctor and 50 Girls 50 which are both available for pre-order this month.
Oh man!…Now I want to buy all of this. Great recommendations
My preoders list of HCs from April Previews includes:
Old City Blues
One Soul
The Man Who Grew His Beard
The Bombyce Network
Thanks again for this recommendations. Always helpful.