Poyo's Indie and Small Publisher Outlook – Summer 2017

We’re all here for one thing and that’s comics. We have the super hero comics from DC and Marvel that really got this industry going but independent books, I think, really allows writers and artists to flex their talent to bring forth new content to keep us entertained.
So I’m going to spotlight what I think are up and coming great books (because it’s been a while since the last time I did an Indie outlook post), hopefully are great reads, and along with great stories and great artwork by our favorite artists. Some may write and draw for the big two. Some may be new upcoming unknowns to us who are trying to make it big. Either way, Poyo loves independent and small publisher books. So I hope this spreads the word on some potential books we can all enjoy, either by reading, admiring the artwork or simply flipping so we can spend that hard earned profit on more books.
The first book I’m going to spotlight is Eternity from Valiant. This is a new series written by Matt Kindt and art by Trevor Hairsine.

A VISIONARY NEW SERIES! From the minds of New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (X-O MANOWAR, Mind MGMT) and blockbuster artist Trevor Hairsine (DIVINITY, X-Men: Deadly Genesis) comes an expedition into the Unknown. Beyond time… Beyond space… Beyond reality itself… ETERNITY awaits! This October, Valiant unveils a new plane of existence beyond our own and unleashes a universe of new worlds, new beings, and new myths… ”
This new title from Valiant might have the same potential that Divinity had and I can’t wait for it’s release as Valiant in my opinion is an underrated publisher. Also, you have to really dig Jelena Kevic Djurdjevic cover art. The regular cover is the cover to get.
The next book I’m looking forward to after reading the ashcan variant last year at NYCC is Infernoct, from Scout Comics. This was recently mentioned in the Scout Comics October Releases 2017, but it deserves to be mentioned again.

“In the tradition of H.P. Lovecraft., there’s the InferNoct. As Sam attempts to discover the real reason the people of her town are being destroyed, she becomes aware of mind-rending creatures that feed off the sanity of their victims. It’s up to her to do something about it… if she can keep her grip on reality. Sam is trying to turn her life around. Living in her tiny country town, she gets the only job she can, as an unofficial, untrained homecare nurse. However, it soon becomes obvious that her new client was willing to accept an unusual caretaker because this is an unusual job. Sam begins caring for an old man who won’t sleep, doesn’t talk, and never turns off the lights, but there’s something else going on in the house at night.”
Who doesn’t like a good horror mystery type book? I have been really looking forward to this, ever since I discovered it last year.
The talented Steve Skroce now brings us his new title Maestros, out from Image. This one caught my attention as I loved We Stand On Guard, which I still believe one day will catch on fire when it gets a media deal. Honestly, that book has movie written all over it. But for now, we can focus on Skroce’s new work he brings forth for us to enjoy.

The Maestro and his entire royal family have been murdered. Now, his banished son from Earth will inherit the Wizard King’s throne along with a spell that turns its user into GOD. With enemies everywhere, will this Orlando-born millennial be able to keep his new magic kingdom? From STEVE SKROCE, the storyboard artist of The Matrix trilogy, the artist and co-creator of WE STAND ON GUARD and Doc Frankenstein, the writer / artist of Wolverine, and the artist of Amazing Spider-Man and ALAN MOORE’s YOUNGBLOOD. ‘MAESTROS is a masterpiece, with one of the best first issues I’ve ever read. Steve is somehow an even greater writer than he is an artist. Get ready for your new favorite comic.’ -BRIAN K. VAUGHAN”
I don’t know about the rest of you all but as a kid, I was fascinated with astronauts and space. So this next title caught my attention, as it involves the space race never ending. From Heavy Metal, an alternate 1985 story in 1985 Black Hole Repo.

“Welcome to an alternate 1985 where the space race never slowed down, where the push away from Earth relies on duct tape, analog computers, and unstable solid rocket fuel. It’s the worst. Max, Roach, Doc, and Bear are the dregs of the cosmos. Punks. Losers. Dropouts. They make cash repossessing the starships of deadbeats who don’t make their payments. When they unknowingly jack a mysterious ship, they find themselves thrust into a conflict between the US and USSR. Targeted by American cyborg assassins, mad Soviet agents, Japanese video hackers, and every degenerate space punk bounty hunter between the Earth and Moon, their apolitical nihilistic morals are put to the test, making these losers into unlikely heroes.”
Not sure about the rest of you all but before Donny Cates started knocking out hit titles, I absolutely loved Interceptor from Heavy Metal. Now it’s back and Interceptor Vol. 2, Reactor, is being published by Vault Comics. Vault has been knocking out great books themselves, so with one of the hottest writers currently (with hits like God Country, Redneck and Babyteeth) more people might take notice of this title, which could cause the first volume to be sought out as well.

“There’s Weep, your average machine-gun-wielding teenager raised on an Earth overrun with vampires. There’s Poli, who landed on Earth with the mission to kill every damn vampire there. And then there’s King Luc’s heavily fortified blood farm. You do the math. From Donny Cates (God Country, Redneck) and Dylan Burnett (Weavers) comes Reactor, a whole new entry into the world of vampire warfare, overpowered mechsuits, and 10-year-old presidents that Interceptor kicked-off.”
Last on my list is from a CHU favorite writer and creator, Justin Jordan. I’ve been waiting for The Family Trade as well after picking up the ashcan preview he was selling last year at NYCC. This is a new ongoing title published by Image.

THE FAMILY,’ Part One Introducing an all-new ongoing series from the creator of LUTHER STRODE, SPREAD, and DEAD BODY ROAD! Steampunk, alchemy, and adventure meet the ocean. On an island city in a world where history didn’t quite turn out like ours, a hidden family of spies, thieves, and assassins makes sure that the world keeps going. Or they did, until Jessa Wynn, their youngest member, manages to start a civil war. ”
There’s a lot of books coming out in the coming months but these are some of the titles I’m certainly looking forward to and I hope others find enjoyable as well.