2018 is a great year for Indie comics and speaking of Indies comics, Image Publications always come in mind. Le’s see which Image books were most fascinating this year.
Note: This list will not include books which are released in December because we don’t know what future they might hold.
15.The Weatherman
Writer(s): Jody Leheup
Artist(s): Nathan Fox
Current Issue/ Final Issue: #6 (June 2018 –)
Genre: Sci-fi, Adventure, Action
Nathan Bright, a successful weatherman on terra formed Mars (after the destruction of Earth by a Terrorist organization) is accused of the greatest terrorist activity of all time – Destruction of Earth. A sci-fi adventure of Nathan Bright who fights all odds to survive from the hands of terrorists and the whole population of Mars who wants to kill him to avenge their loved ones from Earth. A journey that will make you a binge reader.
14. Flavor
Writer(s): Joseph Keatinge
Artist(s): Tamra Bonvillain, Wook Jin Clark, Rich Tommaso
Current Issue/ Final Issue: #6 (May 2018 – October 2018)
Genre: Drama, Adventure, Cooking
Flavor is self-described as a Young Adult Culinary Fantasy that will make you think, “Can a comic related to cooking be any good?”. Take the word from a comic nerd this mini-series will never disappoint you with its storytelling, visuals and stunning artwork. Must read, the journey of a stubborn but passionate girl who constantly moves towards her future goals.
13. Unnatural
Writer(s): Mirka Andolfo
Artist(s): Mirka Andolfo
Current Issue/ Final Issue: #5 (July 2018 –)
Genre: Drama, Anthropomorphic
Hope the guilty pleasure will amaze you. The tale of a pig girl, Leslie, who always has an “unnatural” dream about having relations with another kind. The world she lives in, crossbreeding, is declared a crime by the government. Some are lurking in the shadows. A tale, full of suspense and thrill that will have you wanting to read more.
12. Monstress
12. MonstressWriter(s): Marjorie Liu
Artist(s): Sana Takeda
Current Issue/ Final Issue: #18 (January 2017 –)
Genre: Adventure, Action
A book with fascinating art style with the non-linear storytelling will bind the reader till the end of the book. Having lots of element of mystery, epic war that sets a large scenario with deep and connected meaning making the reader fall in love with this imaginary world.
11. Killed or Be Killed
Writer(s): Ed Brubaker
Artist(s): Elizabeth Breitweiser, Sean Philip
Current Issue/ Final Issue: #20 (May 2016 – June 2018)
Genre: Crime, Action, Adventure
Dylan, an NYC student, attempts a suicide which leads to a demon who saves his life but wants the souls of bad people in exchange. A take on vigilantism, where Dylan is forced to killed bad guys and do everything in order to keep he and his loved one’s safe, no matter what. If you have not already read this epic book, then you know what to gift yourself this new year.
10. Skyward
Writer(s): Joe Henderson
Artist(s): Antonio Fabela, Lee Garbett
Current Issue/ Final Issue: #9 (April 2018 –)
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Adventure, Action
Suddenly one day, the gravity of Earth became a fraction of what it is now. Seven years later, most of humanity adapted to the new lifestyle, yet some rich and powerful use technology to maintain gravity. An adventure of a girl named Willa who wants to fulfill her father’s wishes to bring back gravity once and for all. With constant storytelling and nice artwork, a journey with Willa will ah make you root for her success.
9. Cemetery Beach
Writer(s): Warren Ellis
Artist(s): Jason Howard
Current Issue/ Final Issue: #4 (September 2018 –)
Genre: Sci-fi, Adventure, Action
A 7- issue limited series by the writer of TREES shows the life of a professional pathfinder who wants to break out of a torture cell in pursuit of his worst extraction scenario ever: escaping on foot across a sprawling and secret off-world colony established a hundred years ago and filled with generations of lunatics. A tale with lots of emotions to feel and astounding artwork makes it a book that will get better and better until its end.
8. East of West
8. East of WestWriter(s): Jonathan Hickman
Artist(s): Nick Dragotta
Current Issue/ Final Issue: #40 (November 2015 –)
Genre: Sci-fi, Adventure, Action
You know a book is good when an indie book stated from 2015 is still acclaimed in 2018. A time when civil war never ended between different factions of the world, the Union, the Confederacy, an African American kingdom, a Native American confederacy, Chinese exiles, and Texan separatists. This strife comes to a sudden halt when a comet hits present-day Kansas on November 9, 1908. The six warring parties meet at Armistice (the location of the comet’s impact) and make a truce, thereby forming “the Seven Nations of America”. A prophecy will change the future of this new world.
7. Oblivion Song
Writer(s): Robert Kirkman
Artist(s): Lorenzo De Felici, Annalisa Leoni
Current Issue/ Final Issue: #10 (March 2018 –)
Genre: Supernatural, Adventure, Action
A decade ago, 300,000 citizens of Philadelphia were suddenly lost in Oblivion. The government made every attempt to recover them, but after many years they gave up. Nathan Cole Won’t… He makes daily trips, risking his life to try and rescue those still living in the apocalyptic hellscape of Oblivion. But maybe Nathan is looking for something else. The siren call of the Oblivion Song changed everything. A must-read book.
6. Crowded
6. CrowdedWriter(s): Christopher Sebela
Artist(s): Ted Brandt, Ro Stein
Current Issue/ Final Issue: #5 (August 2018 –)
Genre: Sci-fi, Adventure, Action
Charlie Ellison had a normal life until the whole city was trying to murder her. This is because she earned a bounty of a million dollars on her head. She hires Vita, a low-rated bodyguard to save her life and find out who wants to kill her. With vibrant art, this is the best indie book out there.
4. Ice Cream Man
Writer(s): W. Maxwell Prince
Artist(s): Martin Marazzo
Current Issue/ Final Issue: #8 (January 2018 –)
Genre: Anthology, Comedy
A tale of Ice Cream Man, with a colorful truck, inter-weaves stories and will tell you stories that will literally haunt you after reading. Lots of stories and lots of odd and bizarre characters will have you on the edge of your seat. An unnatural element and other unexpected factors have you reading this story in puzzling horror.
4. Farmhand
4. FarmhandWriter(s): Rob Guillory
Artist(s): Rob Guillory, Taylor Wells
Current Issue/ Final Issue: #5 (March 2018–)
Genre: Sci-fi, Suspense
Jedidiah Jenkins is a farmer, but his cash crop isn’t corn or soy. Jed grows fast-healing, plug-and-play human organs. Lose a finger? Need a new liver? He’s got you covered. This is not the only secret on his farm. A horror, suspense tale with a dark comedy about science when sinister and agriculture has gone apocalyptic. Nature is a Mother. One of the finest books from Image.
3. Paper Girls
Writer(s): Brian K. Vaughan
Artist(s): Cliff Chaing
Current Issue/ Final Issue: #25 (December 2015 –)
Genre: Action, Adventure
While delivering newspapers, a group of girls is attacked by a group of teenagers. One of the teens steals a walkie-talkie from one of the girls. This led to the girls chasing the group of teens; later to find out that the group of teens are time-travelers from the future and part of “Battle of the Ages”. The question of whether or not the past can and should be changed by future time-travelers. Unique art style and perfect writing make this book one of the best.
2. Saga
2. SagaWriter(s): Brian K. Vaughan
Artist(s): Fiona Staples
Current Issue/ Final Issue: #54 (March 2012 –)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-fi, Mature
Currently, in hiatus, this book published in 2012 and is still one of the hottest indie books of all time. This intergalactic space adventure that shows how two different species survive and save the life of their new-born child. Six years in the making and it has become one of the most highly recommended books. If you didn’t read you have plenty of time to catch up because this book is on a one-year hiatus.
1. Gideon Falls
Writer(s): Jeff Lemire
Artist(s): Andrea Sorrentino
Current Issue/ Final Issue: #9 (March 2018 –)
Genre: Horror, Supernatural
The lives of a reclusive young man obsessed with a conspiracy of the city’s trash, and a washed-up Catholic priest arrive in a small town full of dark secrets. They become intertwined around the mysterious legend of The Black Barn, an alien building that is alleged to appear in both the city and the small town. The Black Barn brings death and madness in its wake. With a different art style and horror element, it easily is the best book of 2018.
So here we go, they are the best of the best. If you already not have just go to your LCS or buy comics on Amazon while clicking the Image and just start enjoying best Image comics of 2018.
