Oh what great cool weather we finally have in the southland of California, dear Gatherers! Temperatures have cooled down, more clouds are overhead, and the general feel of fall is all around us.  The kind of weather that makes you really want to break out the pumpkin spice coffee and doughnut, and enjoy a good piece of indie comic literature.  Unfortunately I cannot suggest a good place to find the coffee or the doughnuts so how about I do the next best thing and suggest some Picks to go along with those items?


STL059876Algernon Blackwood’s The Willows #1
Writer(s): Nathan Carson
Artist(s): Sam Ford
Cover Artist(s): Sam Ford
Publisher: Alternative Comics

Synopsis: “Algernon Blackwood’s immortal novella of extra-dimensional weirdness on the Danube comes to life with incredibly detailed artwork by Sam Ford (Wizard Rifle). Two women encounter strange horrors in the Hungarian wilderness of 1907. Nathan Carson’s (Witch Mountain) graphic retelling reverently preserves the classic tale while breathing character-driven depth into H.P. Lovecraft’s personal favorite short story. A Floating World production.”

PREVIEWSworld

Strangeness.  That is probably the most descriptive term to use when speaking of this comic adaptation of classic tales written by Blackwood and Carson and Lovecraft.  You’ll have that and every other such adjective under the sun when reading this work and for me, the real kicker is just Sam Ford’s artistic expression when put to the pages in light of the text.  They both make for a powerful combination and, in my mind, a most effective read when it comes to Gothic or odd style indie comic literature.  At any rate, this book is another successful attempt to translate older books into modern day comics medium and thus is quite the must-read.

Digital purchase is available through http://indyworld.com/ and https://www.comixology.com/.  Hardcopy purchase is available through your LCS!

STL061080Agent 47: Birth of the Hitman #1
Writer(s): Christopher Sebela
Artist(s): Jonathan Lau, Ariel Medel
Cover Artist(s): Philip Tan, Jonathan Lau
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

Synopsis: “47 and his handler, Diana Burnwood, are a team responsible for some of the most ruthless, efficient and untraceable assassinations across the globe. But before they were operatives of the shadowy International Contracts Association, 47 and Burnwood were on their own separate paths in life – streets lined with blood, bullets and revenge. As 14-year-old Diana begins a mission to track down the people who killed her parents, the one responsible, 47, is struggling to free himself and his brother, 6, from the mysterious Institute which has bred them as killers since they were kids. With a story that stretches from the heartland of America to the Berlin Wall, Lone Wolves will trace the birth of the legendary Hitman…” 

PREVIEWSworld

It almost goes without saying that if you’re a fan of the game that you will certainly be a fan of this new series. But every good story needs a beginning, and this particular series is giving us just that with regard to how ’47’ began and how his handler took to the assassin’s path as well.  This book is world-building at its finest and is a must for all of those that love a good violent story of where evil truly begins.

Digital purchase is available through https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/ and https://www.comixology.com/.  Hardcopy purchase is available through your LCS!


So now that I’ve given you enough to sustain you on these cooling fall days, go ahead and get that pumpkin spice latte and pumpkin spice old-fashioned style doughnut, and get to reading about tales of weird old realms or stories of assassin’s origins.  These are the gems that await you at the mere click of a button on your phone, keyboard or tablet.  I’ll suggest to you to go the next step, though, and go to your local comic book shop and support their business by buying the hardcopies themselves.  Read them and share with your friends.  Start up a conversation and be sure to leave a comment or two.  But most importantly, Gatherers, remember…GGG!