10 Comics You Should be Reading

Here are 10 books that are my suggestions that I think deserve a wider audience and I would bet would be enjoyed by a lot more people if they picked up the book and actually gave it a try. For those of you who are die hard super hero fans, remember that I'm sure you eat more then just hamburger every day and you probably watch more then one type of TV show or movie, so please go out and try something in comics that is not your normal book and see if you like it.

These suggestions are in no particular order.

1) Left on Mission - This is an very smart action book. Thought provoking, beautifully paced, terrific artwork and coloring. Flat out a great read. Issue #2 of 5 has come out already, but I'm sure you can find copies around. If nothing else hope it gets traded. Check out the website http://www.leftonmission.com/LOM/index.html

2) Alien Pig Farm 3000 - #2 is out already and I believe #3 is due out this week. If there is a better over the top comedy book out there, I have yet to see it. This is like a 50's "B" alien invasion movie done with a total tongue in cheek style that adds in a Duke of Hazards sensibility. This book is a joy to read - check out the website http://www.alienpigfarm3000.com/

3) Wasteland - This is a novel in the making. A post apocalyptic tale. This book reads like it has an end point in mind. I hope it does, because one thing missing from comics are long form story telling like Preacher was and Sandman became. Starman by James Robinson had that feeling. The world has been devastated by a great flood and now life and communities are reforming.

4) Dynamo 5 - Okay for all the super hero only fans, read this book about a super hero group and tell me it doesn't hands down beat the various Marvel group books and most of the DC group books. Also this book starts off a group in issue #1 and you can remember who is who in one issue.

5) Mr. Stuffins - This is such a fun concept and was executed so well in issue #1. A Teddy Bear gets an artificial intelligence program and believes he is a secret agent. Action, intrigue, funny stuff ensures with a boy and his secret agent teddy bear caught in the middle.

6) Killer - A translation of a French comic that follows a hired killer in what appears to be a downward spiral. A very compelling read and told from the killer's perspective.

7) Nightly News - The last issue is coming out soon, but pick up the trade when it comes out. An excoriation of the national media and many other elements in our society. Very political and just a plain good story. Full of interesting facts that you can ignore if you don't want to read the small type.

8) Hero Squared - The best sitcom in comics. Okay there are no other sitcoms in comics, but this is as good as any sitcom ever done on TV and is funny for super hero fans at all the jokes they make at super hero conventions.

9) Wormwood Gentlemen Corpse - Ben Templesmith as artist/writer and mad creator. Not for the faint of heart or easily offended, but if your enjoy a little crude humor, great art and fun story telling, how can you go wrong with a tale about a worm that inhabits and animates a corpse.

10) Cover Girl - Action/adventure set in Hollywood. A mini-thriller type story. Starts with a mystery and danger, add a little action and romance, plays with gender roles (the "Cover Girl" is a bodyguard) and you have a strong story and a good read.

I choose only books not from Marvel and DC as they make up 75% to 80% of the market. Although in May Marvel owned 42% and DC was down to just 27% and needs to really push back to take Marvel down a notch or two. (Wasn't it just a year or so ago when DC actually won a month). Still neither of these companies need anyone else to hype their stuff, plus the vast majority of it is super hero books anyway. I did not include Invincible, Two Guns, Mouse Guard and many other books as I wanted to try and give a little push to just 10 books that to me deserve an even bigger audience and don't get as much exposure as other books.

Every book on that list is a good read. Every book up there will not be to everyone's taste, but I bet if you tried four or five of them you would find a new book to enjoy.

Finally these comics are fun and entertaining. The term independent can have a negative connotation of something that only critics like, but these are not those books. These are a mixture of types and I think everyone could add at least one to their list.