Indie Edge: Panel Sequences and Stanzas

By Ashley Hurst

If you've ever cracked open a PREVIEWS catalog, you know how packed each issue can be. So packed, in fact, that you may have overlooked your next favorite comic tucked away on one of its many (many) pages. With so many sections to peruse each month, it can be a nigh-impossible feat to examine all of the incredible books that you'll soon be able to get your hands on. The Indie Edge column is here to help by taking a look at just some (and trust us, there's a lot) of the amazing small press, alternative, and indie titles currently available in this month's catalog!

While we've grouped our featured comics together under the "indie" umbrella, these titles span a wide array of different story types and styles—you can find just about any comic you've ever dreamed of (plus a few you've never even thought to). Take a look at the books we have highlighted below and if any catch your eye, be sure to mosey over to your local comic shop to pre-order these books and many more!

In October we’ll take a look at the convergence of poetry and comics, a survey of contemporary artists turning a keen eye to the natural world, a dog at the end of his rope (literally and figuratively), a woman with weapon in hand and justice in mind, and a story about a young boy stuck at home—er, in home?

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Paneled Poetry

Ink Brick is a small-press dedicated to exploring the intersection of comics and poetry, and to that effort they’ve released a series of short anthologies to showcase creators who are pushing the boundaries of comic expression. Ink Brick: A Journal of Comics Poetix No. 1 (from Alternative Comics - OCT151077) is presented in full color and offers eight different perspectives on comics-as-poetry. Ranging from meditative reflections on life (be it emotions, events, or experiences), exercises in form and abstraction, or more straightforward narratives, this debut issue features a nice array of styles and approaches to making comics. Readers interested in works that fall outside of the usual comics purview or who are keen to learn about new creators would be remiss not to check out this anthology project.

New Natural Order

The natural world has long been a source of inspiration for artists across the ages (seriously, it’s nice out there—put your comics down and take a look!), and Juztapoz Magazine has rounded up a selection of creators who have turned their focus onto untamed terrain for their latest collection. Juxtapoz Wild (from Gingko Press - OCT151883) is a new hardcover art book that showcases works that deal with creatures of all shapes and sizes and environments that are both familiar and, at times, seemingly fantastical. From Josh Keyes hyper-realistic vignettes of animals traversing post-apocalyptic spaces to Laura Ball’s delicate watercolors of collaged-hybrids, the artists within this book offer a unique perspective on the world around us. The book will include 28 artists, and the magazine’s keen curatorial eye coupled with Gingko Press’s high production values will ensure that this tome is a work of art.

The Dog Days of Bummer

Stories that ruminate on depression and death may seem like old hat to the realm of alternative comics, but creator Jayro Lantigua’s tale of a down-on-his-luck (to put it lightly) dog should offer something new to even the most seasoned reader. In Burnt Comix #1 (from Creature - OCT151309), we find a dog at his absolute nadir and ready to take his own life—and he wants to go out with style. His macabre misadventure to find the perfect way to die is fraught with complications, not the least of which is coming face-to-face with an entity known as the “Dark Master.” If you’re into dark comedies, then look no further, as Lantigua’s squishy, rubbery characters plumb the depths of despair in preposterous ways. Burnt Comix #1 is the first of four issues, and present the original self-published comics in color and with added material.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to Violenzia

Previously offered by Fantagraphics as a digital-only release, this new collected edition of Richard Sala’s Violenzia and Other Deadly Amusements (OCT151449) will see the original comic in print for the first time along with new stories starring the titular pink-haired, pistol-wielding vigilante. Violenzia’s past and persona may be shrouded in mystery, but she’s made it her mission to eradicate the world of evil (which, usually, involves a pretty high body count). Sala’s lurid and ludicrous tale of a woman taking justice into her own hands harkens back to the ridiculously fun pulps of yesteryear, and readers who like their humor and action over-the-top will soon have a new hero to root for.

 Worlds Between Walls

In creators’ Pierre Paquet and Tony Sandoval’s A Glance Backward (from Magnetic Press - OCT151542), 11-year-old Joey doesn’t get the luxury of growing up at his own pace, instead the onset of adulthood hits like a sack of bricks. Joey gets trapped within the walls of his home and discovers a strange and exciting realm within. To make it back to the world he knows, he must navigate new, and increasingly terrifying, environments and what it means to be an adult (even if it’s a reality he’s not quite ready to face). Sandoval’s animated, painterly style provides a striking juxtaposition to the story’s more intense elements, and readers should be advised that despite its inviting style and focus on a young person’s coming-of-age, this book is decidedly not for little comic lovers. However older readers, particularly those with an interest in surreal imagery and story-telling, will enjoy the journey.