What You May Have Missed 2024: Indie Comics

Like the years before it, 2024 has been an excellent year for comics in terms of creativity and originality from comics artists and writers, whether they were published through large publishers like Viz Media and Scholastic, or the efforts of individuals self-publishing their art and stories to enthusiastic readers. However, it is also becoming increasingly apparent that despite the continued growth and expansion by different publishers into the comics market, whether it is through original graphic novels or manga and webtoon imprints, that the people who make comics are struggling in an industry that does not support them as well as it should. To make matters worse, the year began with the news that Diamond Comic Distributors has filed for Bankruptcy, making the future for comics all the more uncertain for retailers and publishers.

With this in mind, I feel like it is all the more important to highlight the comics that were either self-published by cartoonists or published through smaller companies. Here is my list of eighteen comics and manga that deserve more attention for their art, stories, and cartooning. Like my video game list from last week, I have organized these comics based on age rating, with comics intended for all ages on the top of the list, and comics that are only intended for mature and adult audiences at the very bottom of the list. I hope you’re able to find one new story to enjoy as a result of this list.

All Ages

The cover of the comic “Light Through Memory” by Jean Wei. The cover features two people, sitting and facing each other. The person on the left is sitting cross-legged and slouching, holding their head up on the knuckles of their left hand. They are wearing a simple Roman toga, and their black hair is tied up in a simple ponytail. The figure on the right is sitting on their knees, back upright, a fan in their right hand. They are wearing a simple dark-coloured hanfu and their hair is tied up in a topknot. Above them are blue scrolls of paper, with undefined writings written on them. In the center of the cover is a white, glowing, stylized star.

The cover of the comic “Light Through Memory” by Jean Wei. The cover features two people, sitting and facing each other. The person on the left is sitting cross-legged and slouching, holding their head up on the knuckles of their left hand. They are wearing a simple Roman toga, and their black hair is tied up in a simple ponytail. The figure on the right is sitting on their knees, back upright, a fan in their right hand. They are wearing a simple dark-coloured hanfu and their hair is tied up in a topknot. Above them are blue scrolls of paper, with undefined writings written on them. In the center of the cover is a white, glowing, stylized star.

Light Through Memory by Jean Wei

The year is 185 CE. In two completely different parts of the world, Alexandria and Luoyang, two young astronomers observe the “birth” of a new star. Light Through Memory showcases the unique power of comics as a medium for storytelling by simultaneously showcasing both of the main characters’ stories who, despite their geographical and cultural differences, are united by a single star. Available as a digital or physical book through the author’s webstore.


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What You May Have Missed: ShortBox Comics Fair

 

The poster for the 2023 ShortBox Comics Fair, illustrated by Jean Wei. The central image resembles a comic book cover, with an anthropomorphic fig in the center, but it's being pushed back by a hand with a green ring opening the book from the inside; three humans, one of them with a sword and a yellow backpack, emerge from the book, as well as a black tabby cat, a green snake, a purple tulip, a comet, and a broken egg.

The poster for the 2023 ShortBox Comics Fair, illustrated by Jean Wei. The central image resembles a comic book cover, with an anthropomorphic fig in the center, but it’s being pushed back by a hand with a green ring opening the book from the inside; three humans, one of them with a sword and a yellow backpack, emerge from the book, as well as a black tabby cat, a green snake, a purple tulip, a comet, and a broken egg.

As mentioned in my previous blog post, traditional, in-person, means of showcasing various art projects were not available to artists of any medium during the initial years of the pandemic. Comic creators were hit especially hard, as conventions and festivals dedicated to selling and displaying the works of these artists were no longer available, with independent and self-published publications taking the largest blow. Thankfully the internet had alleviated some of these issues, with many retailers supporting digital comics and online sales as a means to reach their audiences.

One such event is the ShortBox Comics Fair, an annual digital comics fair established by Zainab Akhtar of independent comic publisher ShortBox. The event originally began in October 2020 as a means to sell out-of-print books and zines, and from 2021 onwards the Fair has become a month-long celebration of new comics by creators from all over the world. It is a fantastic showcase of the vast breadth of creativity and storytelling that is only possible in the medium of comics. While it may be only going into its fourth year, I eagerly await each October to discover what new comics are there for me to read.

Here is a list of nineteen comics from the 2021 and 2022 ShortBox Comics Fairs, which are among my personal favourites. The majority of these comics are intended for either young adult or adult readers, personally recommended at about 14 years of age or older, and cover a variety of themes, art styles and subject matter. I have made sure to include content warnings, typically those provided by the creators, to best ensure readers are properly prepared to read these comics. I hope readers can discover at least one new title they love from this list, and will be willing to visit the next online fair this forthcoming October.

Note: Every comic here is available in digital-only formats, except for Give Her Back to Me, which is only available as a physical book. Two books are available digitally and physically (Twigs and Wormturn).

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