Argo Comics/Thunderzone

Started by Dan Sehn, Argo Comics has reached over 45 issues with their flagship title, Argo 5 – quite an accomplishment for a small press Indie imprint. Dan says, “I had good story ideas that had not been touched upon in elsewhere in comics.” Branching out into multiple titles, Dan also added Thunderzone, a shared universe with other Indie creators from around the world. He strives to blend classic superhero energy with grounded, relatable characters and a touch of indie unpredictability. Titles include (but are not limited to):

Argo 5

Death Squad

Impact International

Lauren Order

Sorority of Power

Team North America

GWP: Guys With Powers

Nature Man

Thunder Guard

Big House Blues

Standard Comics

Founder Roy Johnson says, “I just wanted to make comics like I grew up with... And I wanted to continue the adventures of long-forgotten heroes from the Golden Age.” Something of an expert on Public Domain characters, Standard has mixed updated characters with fresh, original characters for outstanding stories. Titles include (but are not limited to):

The Sentinels

Standard Comics Encyclopedia

Sensational 7

G-Man Comics

Featuring characters created by Rik Offenberger, Eric N. Bennett, and Gilbert Monsanto, G-Man Comics is a creator-owned shared universe. And a growing number of characters from other publishers appear in G-Man Comics as well. Rik says, “Every title is built on our love of classic superhero storytelling, and the sense of wonder that made us comic fans in the first place.” Titles include (but are not limited to):

Global G-Men

The Official Handbook of the G-Man Universe

Simon N. Kirby: The Agent

Taranis the Thunderlord

The First Guard

Sgt. Flag

Lynx

Angry Bear Press

Speaking of Eric N. Bennett, his own imprint has delivered some exciting titles and characters. He continues to work with other Indie creators and support the combined network of the IndieVerse. Titles include (but are not limited to):

World’s Wonders

Steel Wolf

Who’s Who in the Steel Wolf Universe

Indieversity Project

Cosmic Villain Spotlight: Stellarex

Blue Moon Comics

Lloyd Smith says, “I started Blue Moon Comics Group because I … wanted to make the kinds of comics I personally would like to read.” Blue Moon offer a variety of genres and characters all in one place, starting with their anthology Diversions. Individual properties will have their stories appear in a book of their own. It’s a win-win. Titles include (but are not limited to):

Diversions

Commodore Dinosaur

Midnight Stranger

Night Spider

Otherworld

Unbeatable Brick

IronGate Comics

IronGate proprietor Rodney Lockett says, “I used to wish I could draw so I could make superheroes that could interact with the heroes I was reading about. Using the Mighty Men & Monster Maker design kit that gave me my start.” With a large stable of fascinating characters, many of which have crossed over with other Indies, IronGate continues to expand. Titles include (but are not limited to):

All-Winners Society

IronGate Universe

Guardians of Creation

American Alliance

PopSkull Press

A former member of the Marvel Comics editorial staff, Alin Silverwood had long harbored a set of his own original characters and ideas he wanted to tell someday. He likes epic stories with big implications, where good guys win and readers enjoy the characters and surprises. He also enjoys working on tales with other Indie creators when possible. “One of the most enjoyable things for me in a comic story,” he says, “is how a variety of characters interact.” Titles include (but are not limited to):

SPIs Among Us

SPIs Among Us Classified Files

Sky Guy and The Altitude Adjustors

Infinite Souls

Reality Rangers

Bronco Ink Comics

Founder Scott O. Brown says, “We started Bronco Ink to unleash our own imaginations into the marketplace. As huge fans of DC’s weird ’70s and classic JLI comics, our current flagship, Super Team International, draws on those influences for all kinds of comics fans looking for adventure stories full of weird heroes, weirder villains, and a healthy dose of humor!” Titles include (but are not limited to):

Super Team International

Threads (Original Graphic Novel)

Tales from the Water Tower Studios

Jeff Burton says, “Tales from the Water Tower Studios was born out of my kids joining me in making fun comic books! We all feel that comic books are a form of entertainment and escapism from the everyday and therefore should be enjoyable in a wide variety of ways.” Titles include (but are not limited to):

The Adventures of Auroraman

Supernova

Canadian Corps

Philbo Publishing

Perhaps one of the busiest people on the Indie comics scene, Phillip Russertt has not only published a line of comics, but he’s handling distribution and print-on-demand for a number of other Indie imprints. Philbo titles include (but are not limited to):

Arcane Syndicate

Tragedy

The Dynamics

Margood Comics

Mike Ortiz is working on a series of his Last Abraxan story that evolves through segments that reflect the vibe of comics ages. Titles include (but are not limited to):

The Last Abraxan

Hardline Comics

Founded by Richard Carrington, Hardline has produced a variety of comics with a flair for the unexpected. Titles include (but are not limited to):

Mahoney’s

The Guys

Limits

Vermley Keep

Thanks for checking us out! We’ll get more in-depth with our creators and our stories as we go, but we wanted to give you a quick glimpse of what we’re up to. Make sure you sign up for the ICCA Newsletter!

— Alin Silverwood

Depending on how much of a comics geek you happen to be, you may or may not be aware of some of the fascinating history of the comic book, particularly the superhero genre. Now, people have written entire books on that subject, but I won’t do that to you. But there are a few things that will help you understand where we come from, so let me roll out a little bit of “back in the day” for you. (I promise, it’s painless. And fun!)

The earliest era of comic heroes was… weird. Not gonna lie. Creators were experimenting with the new medium, and some of it was pretty strange. You had characters like The Eye, who was (as you might have guessed) a floating eye. A lot of characters relied on fringe science or twists on common gadgets. Mirror Man walked through mirrors (which could be startling, if you think about it).

It’s no surprise a lot of these numerous characters didn’t last long and have been mostly forgotten. Unless…

A funny thing happens when you’re a character in the funny pages. Your quirky traits become amusing and endearing over time, and the simplistic style of storytelling leaves you with a wide range of potential for a resurrection.

And then there’s the Public Domain rule that allows lapsed or improper copyrights to become public property, paving your way for a comeback. Or an update. Or both.

Today, a number of independent small-press publishers have discovered these characters and found inspiration. Not only do their unusual traits make them stand out from modern comics, but they come from an era when the grim and gritty reality of today wasn’t so embedded into them. They can be a little less serious, more lighthearted, and still function within meaningful and stimulating tales.

Comprised of a few of these small-press publishers combining forces like the super teams of then (and now, to be fair), the Indie Comics Creators Association (ICCA) celebrates the pioneering spirit of a young medium. We’re dedicated to making comics with one eye on nostalgia, and another eye (No, not THAT Eye.) (Well, okay, that Eye is here, too.) on innovation and creativity.

Beyond some fantastic takes on a few Public Domain characters, expect new characters that feel comfortably familiar, new worlds, twists on beloved themes, and stories with an eclectic mix of exciting adventure, whimsy, nostalgia, and a little thing we like to think of as hope.

Come with us as we guide you through the corridors of times that might have been, or worlds that may be, and with characters you’re going to love. If you want fun reading, this is the comic book journey you’ve been looking for!

— Alin Silverwood

Next time: Now that you know what we are, meet some of our publishers, find out just how crazy we are, and get a peek at some of our projects!