For the casual, mainstream comics fan, it would be easy to assume that Marvel and DC Comics are the only comic publishers in town. After all, they certainly and undoubtedly are the biggest companies in the world, especially for moviegoers who see both the MCU and DCEU dominate the box office every single year.
Although it may feel like the comics industry is currently stuffed with properties from both companies, there are other comic companies out there - some independent, others trailing right behind DC and Marvel in terms of success - who are currently putting out some of the best new comics to hit the shelves in recent memory.
10 Radiant Black Nails Power Rangers Without Being Power Rangers
Kyle Higgins and Marcelo Costa had previously collaborated on the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers comic book series and their work together turned out to be a huge success beloved by fans of the franchise. Now they embark on a totally new and totally original adventure: Radiant Black.
The aesthetic borrows classic elements of Power Rangers and even classic comics like Invincible and Spider-Man, but at the same time, offers something totally new.
9 The Scumbag Explores A Morally Grey Character
Everyone loves a good anti-hero and morally gray character and morality has never looked grayer than in Image Comics' The Scumbag through the gaze of its lead character Ernie Ray Clementine once he's forced to work with a spy organization as its accidental lead super spy.
Lewis LaRosa's artwork creates a fascinating, gritty atmosphere while Rick Remender's writing envisions characters with a questionable moral compass that makes for some interesting, funny moments. Clementine isn't the most upstanding citizen as he only fights for the greater good if there's something in it for him, but the spy organization isn't much better as they manipulate him into doing good.
8 The Department Of Truth Validates Classic Conspiracies
It's no secret that the idea of conspiracy theories continues to titillate and intrigue critics around the world, especially in the wake of wacky events that took place in 2020 and 2021. This is why Image Comics' The Department of Truth feels so timely.
Encompassing themes of paranoia that are indicative of the average conspiracy theory, The Department of Truth centers around a man who has spent his entire life studying conspiracy theories, only to discover that all of them - including those about a flat Earth and the Kennedy assassination - to be true and covered up by a secret organization called The Department of Truth.
7 Dead Dog's Bite Could Be A New Dark Horse Classic
Dark Horse Comics has published numerous works in the industry that have now been revered as classics, including (but not limited to) Sin City, Hellboy, and The Mask. Now, they've just released a mini-series that is already on its way to being praised in the same manner.
Writer/artist Tyler Boss depicts a crime drama where Cormac Guffin goes missing and in a town that's lost hope, only her best friend Joe is prepared to find her. Only two issues of a four-issue run have been released so far. With the final issue on its way in June, readers have plenty of time to catch up.
6 Nobody Dies In Stillwater Explores A Classic Small Town Mystery
Eisner Award-winning writer Chip Zdarsky has what he told Syfy Wire was a "mild obsession with the idea of mortality." He attempts to explore his obsession in a collaboration teaming up with Image Comics to produce his newest intriguing horror endeavor called Stillwater.
Stillwater revolves around a small, fictional town of the same name that, inexplicable, no one dies in. Mortality here does not exist and nothing dies, but when a town like this becomes harder to hide on Google Maps, exposure is risked as deeper secrets continue to be exposed.
5 Scout's Honor Is The Apocalypse, Now With A Dash Of Gender Politics
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, writer David Pepose's called his new Aftershock series Scout's Honor, “like Fallout meets Mulan meets The Handmaid’s Tale.” All of these comparisons bring up how a surprising mix of coming of age drama and gender identity commentaries can make for a unique thriller.
The story follows a post-apocalyptic world where the only relic left behind to give society a new code of ethics is an old Boy Scout's manual. Now, the main character Kit attempts to unlock the secrets behind it.
4 Home Sick Pilots Mixes Punk Rock With The Shining And Power Rangers
At its core, on paper at least, Home Sick Pilots is far from the most original story in the world. It's essentially a haunted house story where a ghostly residence traps inside of it a high school-aged punk rock singer. It even borrows elements from some readers' favorite stories but compiles them in a way that makes it look and feel like something completely new.
The story has been promoted as mixing horror with action and The Shining with Power Rangers (yes, really, it makes sense upon reading). It's a one-of-a-kind combination that thanks to the stylized art of Caspar Wijngaard and the spirited writings of Dan Watters, the story looks and feels like something completely different.
3 I Walk With Monsters Tackles Everyone's Inner Demons
Everyone may harbor at least a hint of darkness or evil inside of them. Perhaps even a monster. Paul Cornell and Sally Cantirino - the minds who previously brought readers Doctor Who, Wolverine, and We Have To Go Back - explore this nihilistic idea in I Walk With Monsters.
It follows Jacey and her monstrous friend David who literally transforms into a monster as they hunt down men who prey on the weak and vulnerable. I Walk With Monsters is a surprisingly subtle story that offers commentary on the monsters people hide within themselves.
2 Man Goat & The Bunny Man Is Horror Comedy At Its Finest
Zenescope's latest horror-comedy follows the title characters of the Man Goat and the Bunny Man. Internet users who love looking up real-life horror stories may have come across two similarly named urban legend videos that each went viral.
In the confines of this story, Man Goat and Bunny Man are real, as are all scary urban legends ranging from Bigfoot to the Loch Ness Monster. Man Goat and Bunny Man exist to take on all of them, using fear to fight fear. Some of the visuals alone are equal parts terrifying and hilarious.
1 The Picture Of Everything Else Reprises A Literary Classic
For fans of classic literature, a title like this evokes memories of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. To the surprise of those same fans, that's entirely the point as this new series by Vault Comics takes place in the same universe.
At the dawn of the 20th century, two art thieves discover paintings crafted in the spirit (literally) of recent murder victims who have died in the same way they appear damaged in their paintings. Only one thing is for certain: the original artist who painted Dorian Gray years prior has returned.