Comics Features

5 Comics You Should be Supporting on Small Press Day 2016

It goes without saying that we here at A Place To Hang Your Cape love our comics. July 9th marks Small Press Day, a day celebrating the UK’s micro and self-publishers of comic books.

A great thing about A Place To Hang Your Cape is the our privilege to be a fly-on-the-wall of the indie comics scene. Our mission is to support independent comics in whatever form they may come in, so in honour of Small Press Day, we countdown 5 superb indie comics that would love your support!

Paradox Girl

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This fun comic from Cayti Bourquin and Yishan Li is one of my favourite reads this year. You can tell that Bourquin and Li had a lot of fun coming up with the premise of Paradox Girl. For one thing, the character has no origin story to explain her ability to travel through time and space at will (and sometimes at random).

The best moments are when PG interacts with her own time duplicates, fighting over the last toaster pastry or telling her past self that training was boring. The artwork is as colourful as PG herself, with similarities to the classic Marvel style and pallette. Highly enjoyable and easy to jump into, Paradox Girl is a great twist on classic superhero comics without venturing too far into full parody territory.

Reddin

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The latest offering from Dead Canary Comics, Reddin is, at its core, a classic Western story. It’s got all the classic trimmings – a tragic, gunslinging hero, a simple revenge story, and a supernatural spirit that possess the living. That last part is what sets Reddin apart from other Western tales you’ve read, making for something truly unique.

Reddin (the creature) forms a symbiotic relationship with the hero, speaking to him and gradually leading him down darker and darker paths. The main story is broken up with short prose narratives that provide more insight into the two main characters’ backstory and add a deeper layer to the betrayal that sets them against one another. The artwork by Conor Boyle perfectly complements the dark story written by Matt Fitch and C.S. Baker, perfectly capturing the shadows of the desert.

The Feminist Superheroes

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The immediacy of of Silvia Carrus‘ parody-like, self-referential comic is highlighted by its title. The Feminist Superheroes focuses on a trio of heroes who jump into everyday public situations to combat feminism. Sounds simple enough right? The Feminist Superheroes IS a simple enough comic, spanning only 12 pages in length. However, that briefness in length, the black-and-white artwork, and quick-witted script/characters make it a vital commentary on the state of females in superhero fiction.

More than that though, in just those 12 pages, The Feminist Superheroes captures both the contemporary struggles of the female character in superhero comics, as well as the female superhero fan outside of those comics. Carru’s comic is as vital as it is entertaining.

Torsobear Volume 3: Back on the Blocks

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Is it cheating that we’re praising a comic that’s yet to be produced? Or is it smart to look ahead to the final chapter of Torsobear? The third instalment in the Torsobear series, created by mastermind Brett Uren along with over 20 other comic artists and writers, is already on the top of our Christmas lists. Could part three be even darker and more twisted than Yarns from Toyburg or All Stitched Up?

Torsobear tells the adventures of Detective Ruxby Bear, whose career and life turns to hell as he attempts to crack the bleak, subversive cases of the bleak, subversive Toyburg. This fluffy noir series is an intoxicating powerhouse of indie comic talent, with a wide variety of artists and writers lending their skills in crafting this wonderfully weird world.

Expected to launch on Kickstarter later this year, Torsobear: Back on the Blocks promises to be a must-watch for any fans of comics, robust story-telling, and immersive characters, all thrown together with a wicked sense of humour.

Samurai Slasher: Part II

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A mythical samurai warrior goes on a killer rampage across multiple locations – what’s not to love? Volume 1 of this blood-thirsty anthology was a sure-fire hit with us, but Part II is bigger, better and bloodier than the first.

Similar in structure to Torsobear, Samurai Slasher is the brainchild of The Kill Screen‘s Mike Garley, and features an array of artists who bring Garley’s wonderfully violent vision to life. Each individual story may be seen as an excuse for the titular character to unleash his rage, but that’s what makes Samurai Slasher: Part II such a thrilling read.

There’s a non-stop intensity to the scripts and the artwork, and the end result is an immensely entertaining read that never forgets its humorous side.

What comics are you reading on this year’s Small Press Day? Let us know in the comments section below or send us a Tweet!

About the author

Fred McNamara