The Small Press Spotlight is a semi-regular feature on Hypergeek where I dedicate an article to all the excellent small press and indie publishers out there, as well as self-publishing artists. This is accomplished in the form of company/creator profiles, highlights of key works, reviews of the company/individual’s latest releases, and general articles about the small press scene.

About a month ago, we let readers know about an upcoming event called Indy Comic Book Week. Taking place on Wednesday, December 30th, Indy Comic Book Week urges readers to take advantage of the fact that Diamond Distribution isn’t shipping any titles for the week, and pick up some great indy comics!

The people behind the event have been working closely with retailers to help promote the event, and have arranged for participating stores to stock many of the titles that you see listed below. To find out whether your retailer is participating in the event, head to http://indycomicbookweek.com, and check if your store is on the list of participating retailers. If your store isn’t on that list, then just give your retailer a call and find out if they are taking part.

I have reviewed a few of the comics available in the ICBW event, including Ex Occultus: Bange of Langavat, Omnitarium #1, and Turbulence #1 (click for reviews!) – all of which were great books, and well worth your money. I haven’t yet had a chance to review any other the other books, and I doubt I will before Wednesday, but they all look like really interesting titles!

So, when you head down to the store on Wednesday to buy your copy of Blackest Night #6 (only available at select locations), and pick up your free Marvel swag, make sure to grab some indy comics while you are there! You wont regret it!

The following list is an alphabetical listing of comics taking part in the event. The list is mostly complete, but double check the Indy Comic Book Week production blog to see any titles I might have missed.

ArmageddonQuest by Ronald Russell Roach. ARMAGEDDONQUEST is the story of Tazio, the good-guy Antichrist, destined to become that infamous Beast of the Book of Revelations. Three Issues. BW. 52 Pages. Cover Price $3.99 {WSP $2.99} Ordering Contact: davebaxter@sonofhowell.com http://www.armageddonquest.com
Arthur: The Legend Continues Written by Martin T. Pierro, Drawn by Cristhain “Crizam” Zamora, Covers by Atula Siriwardane With the world as we know it gone, mankind is on the verge of extinction yet still struggling to find purpose and hope. From the ancient past a glimmer of light shines and a legend returns to claim his throne. Three Issues. BW. 46 Pages. Cover Price $3.50 Ordering Contact: Martin@CosmicTimes.net http://www.cosmictimes.net
Bamn #1 & #2 Written by Troy Jeffrey Allen Penciled by Jay Payne Nerds vs. Jocks, Bullies vs. Misfits, the Weak vs. the Strong…Everyone loves a good underdog story, SO LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE! BAMN gets its title from the embittered main character. A surly and washed-up former pro wrestler, Bamn has spent the dying years of his career throwing up in bars. He lives out of his car and uses stolen credit cards to pay for beer. A chance encounter with a pair of local high schoolers, Art and Ian, brings him to the FWF, A backyard wrestling federation ran by the two young fans. When the school’s wrestling squad shows up to bully the kids, Bamn steps in. In a rare moment of clarity he promises all the teenagers that he’s going to teach them the most important thing they will ever learn…HOW TO FIGHT BACK AND LOOK GOOD DOING IT! B&W, 24 Pages, Cover Price: 3.50 http://www.bamncan.com/
Dead Man Holiday #-1 by Colin Panetta Dead Man Holiday is a weird, haunted science-fiction comic series centered on Thad Planck, a low-rent security guard in a flooded and abandoned neighborhood known as Little Atlantis, where some strange creatures have been lurking… 35 hand painted pages of story. Visit DeadManHoliday.com to download the first two issues for free. Three Issues. BW. 36 Pages. Cover Price: $3.99 {WSP: $2} Ordering Contact: mrcolinp@gmail.com http://deadmanholiday.com
Dusk – One Shot Written by David Doub, Pencils by Jolene Houser, Inks by Jerry Gonzales, Letters by Jaymes Reed Eve’s life is a living hell of her own choosing. She struggles to survive in a dark world of magic and horror, all in an attempt to please her vampire master. Now Eve has crossed a line and and innocents have been harmed. This hasn’t gone unnoticed by a well meaning cabal of occultist that’s mandate is to police the occult world. What will happen when these two forces clash? Is there ever a”winner” in the supernatural underworld of Dusk? BW. 36 pages. Cover Price: $3.00 {WSP: $1.50} Ordering Contact: ex_mutants@hotmail.com http://www.comicspace.com/david_doub
Ex Occultus: Badge of Langavat Written by: Robert James Russell, Art by: Sandra Lanz, Colors by: Tim McDonley 1864, Scotland. Francis Wakefield and fellow occult hunter Fergus Duff find themselves investigating the disappearance of children from nearby villages. Their hunt leads them to a forgotten castle belonging to a family of undead, cursed werewolves who have nefarious plans for the taken. BW. 28 pages. Cover Price: $2.99 {WSP: $1.50} For every 5 copies ordered, we will ship 2 for FREE Ordering Contact: saintjamesco@gmail.com www.WhoisSaintJames.com
Green Monk by Brandon Dayton Green Monk follows the adventures of a Monk cast out of his order, wandering a mythical Russian countryside. His only companion is a magical blade of grass that draws him into a brutal struggle against a terrifying foe. BW. 132 Pages. 4.25″ x 6.25″Cover Price: $5.00 [WSP: 2.00] Ordering Contact: brandondayton@gmail.com http://brandondayton.com/website/green-monk/
The God of Rock by Paul Milligan ROCK IS DEAD! Or is it? Not if the God of Rock, fresh out of retirement, has anything to say about it. With his trusty ax, his best girl and a few surprising allies on his side, the God of Rock must take on the evil forces of Anti-Rock and make the world safe once again for Rock, Rebellion and all that other stuff your parents really, really hate. BW. 5×7.5. 80 pages. Cover Price $7.99 {WSP: $4.00} Ordering Contact: thesuperleezard@yahoo.com superleezard.blogspot.com
Hermit Hill the Comic Strip by Nate Bramble Hermit Hill is an ongoing humorous comic strip about a geezer recluse dealing with the world… or trying not to. This limited edition comic strip sampler book collects several pages worth of Hermit Hill strips from the serialized comic into print for the first time. BW. 20 Pages. Cover Price: $2.00 [WSP: FREE] Ordering Contact: nate@hermithillcomic.com http://www.hermithillcomic.com
The Horsemen: Book of Olorun By Jiba Molei Anderson The gods of ancient Africa have chosen them to protect humanity from themselves… whether humanity wants them to or not. Who controls the Eight Immortals but the number Seven? Color. 32 pages. 3 issues. Cover Price: $4.99 {WSP: $3.33} Ordering Contact: info@griotenterprises.com
Invisible Sam (One Shot) By Adam O. Pruett About an older, “unremarkable” man B&W, 24 pages, Cover Price: $2.00 Ordering Contact: adam@bigredh.net www.bigredh.net
Jack Rabbit #1 Written by: Boe DuRansier Penciled by: C Wilson Trull In a world gone mad, one hero, in a race against time… is really busy doing something else. That leaves Jackrabbit to deal with the self-proclaimed menace of The Eight Fingers of Mischief. Jackrabbit must run a gauntlet of hilarity to stop an octet of third-rate super villains from achieving their diabolical goal to cause some degree of discomfort and disruption to the world at large. http://www.committedcomics.com/comics/jackrabbit.htm
King of Pain # 2 Written by Nicholas West, Drawn by Sam Rodriguez. Meet Kyle Kapowski. In a world of superheroes he has no known powers. He spends his days at the dry-cleaners washing the drawers of the elite. A chance encounter with “The Brad Pitt of Supers.” begins the lip-splitting, bone-breaking fight of his life. Meet the King of Pain… Ordering Contact: krushjudgement@gmail.com http://westcritic.blogspot.com
Life (With Friends) #1 Written by: Adam Wilson, Art by: Mike Kay, Cover by: Adam Masterman With graduation behind them Drew, B, and Kyle decide to hold a housewarming party to celebrate moving into their new apartment. It’s a party of shocking revelations, unprecedented entertainment, and a morning after sure to leave all their heads reeling. Color. 24 pages. Cover Price: $3.99 {WSP: $1.50} Contact: amwilson81@hotmail.com http://twofoldcomics.blogspot.com
Macabro Story by Carlos Esquivel. Art by Jose Esquivel Created by brothers Carlos and Jose Esquivel, MACABRO is a short story influenced by Italian horror movies. It tells the story of Selena, a high school graduate, who moves to Milan, Italy to attend the Lombardi School of Arts. Believing she’s now on the path to fulfill her dreams, she becomes tangled with the harsh reality of her choice, the alienation from her classmates, and gruesome murders. BW. 16 Pages. Cover Price $2.00 [WSP: $1.00] Ordering Contact: delurio(a)gmail.com http://alto-shorter.blogspot.com
Man Fighting Street #1 & #2 Creator, Pencils, Inks: Ralph Miranda; Writer, Letters: Jeremy Parsons After a rude awakening from his landlord, “Boo” Jackson and a surprise visit from his girlfriend’s mother, Drystan finds himself in a intolerable situation. Drystan finds a quick solution to his problems and escapes, but matters are made worse when he incidentally offends the largest gang of schoolgirls in Sunny Hills. All Drystan Striker wants to do is get his groceries, but in the city of Sunny Hills, even that is no easy task. With maniacal schoolgirls, crime bosses and disgruntled hot dog vendors roaming the streets, Drystan would be lucky to make it back home in one piece. Will Drystan go home hungry? Full Color 20 Pages, Cover Price: $3.99 http://www.manfightingstreet.com/
One-Night Stand by David Hopkins and friends. ONE NIGHT STAND is a collection of one-page stories, all about “casual encounters.” This mini-comic will explore sex and intimacy, guilt and anonymity, risk and fantasy. BW. 32 Pages. [WSP: FREE] http://antiherocomics.com
Omnitarium #1 Written and Illustrated by Jamie Gambell, J.C. Grande & Bernie Lee Arch-villain and murderer, Harrow Moonheart, finally caught and condemned to hang. But will the rope prove enough for the powerful black magician? Behind the walls of the progressive Victorian prison, Pentansly Gaol, are trapped more than just the guilty and condemned. Who is Harrow Moonheart, and what is the Omnitarium? Some doors should never be opened! BW. 28 Pages. Cover Price: $3.50 [WSP: $1.75] Ordering Contact: omnitarium@gmail.com http://monkeypipestudios.blogspot.com
The Oswald Chronicles: Fallen Gods Writer JD Calderon, Penciled and Inked by Jade Gonzalez, Colors by Liezl Buenaventura There’s a war going on, powerful sorcerers are battling over the control of multiple worlds. When one of them manages to steel the sun, New York native, Oswald self proclaimed gentlemouse and scribe is sought out to set things right. Color. 48 pages. 3 issues. Digest size. Cover Price: $4.95 {WSP: $2.47} Contact: JD Calderon | JDCONE@DreamWeaverPress.com www.TheOswaldChronicles.com
OURS! Vol. 1: This Land is Our Land writer Ryan Everett Felton, artist Joshua Hendrickson They were once the president’s hot shot public relations team, but one day super spy Rick Bolt, ultra-powered hero Chuck Justice, buxom bombshell Sierra Starlin, media mogul Martina Friendly, and soothsayer Dug got a wild hair up their tuchases and decided to overthrow the U.S. government. Color. 166 pages. Cover Price: $24.99 {WSP: $22.18} Ordering Contact: surfingbaku@yahoo.com http://boonperiodicals.com
Paradise Road Illustrated by Igor Glushkin / Story by: Benji Ratliff Paradise Road is a story of a detective whose present case leads him back to the disappearance of his wife. Not all roads lead to paradise… Color. 24 pages. Cover Price: $2.95 {WSP: $1.50} Contact: Igor Glushkin | glushkin@igordesign.net http://igor2design.blogspot.com/
Senryu by Matthew Warlick Take an abstract journey into the mind, dreams, and subconscious of the artist told through freeform shorts, sequentials, poetry, and haiku. Part art book, part prose and told in sequentials it’s a look inside the artists fears, dreams and inspirations. BW. 36 Pages., Cover Price: $3.99 {WSP: $2.00) Ordering Contact: soulcoredotnet(a)gmail.com http://soulcore.net
SleepRunners #1 Written by Shannon Vokes, Drawn by Kewber Arruda Alves, Colored by Clarissa Filice SleepRunners is an action adventure that follows the lives of six seemingly ordinary students who have all been hand selected to participate in a special sleep studies program. Things don’t go as planned and the students are forced to fight for their lives. Can these students come together in order to stop a new world threat unlike anything they have ever seen before? Color. 52 Pages. Cover Price: $5.00 Ordering Contact: arcee360@yahoo.com http://www.sleeprunners.net
Solomon Azua #1 by Jake Ekiss The luckiest adventurer in the galaxy wants to prove his fame isn’t all just good fortune when he sets out to retrieve a prize so grand that even his luck won’t explain his success. Color, 22 Pages, Cover Price $2.99 {WSP: $1.50} Ordering Contact: jakeekiss@gmail.com http://jakeekiss.blogspot.com
So Buttons #1 by Jake Ekiss “So… She Moved In With Me Anyway” is a one-pager about my then girlfriend (now wife!)”So… Only Nixon Could’ve Gone to China” about my trip as a Jew to a concentration camp in Germany. $2.99 http://www.sobuttons.com/
Stolen Blood Written by Joseph Pais, drawn by Cristhian Zamora, Lettering by Patrick Meeker Darkness Purges Into The Far Depths Of The Human Soul And Will Forever Leave It’s Imprint. The Origins Of A Super Demon… Half Demon And Half Human. A Combination That Will Prove Deadly To All Who Get In His Way. Available in both Color and BW, 8 Pages. Cover Price: B/W $2.50 Color $3.00 {WSP: BW $1.50 Color $2.00} For Every 5 Copies Ordered We Will Ship An Additional Copy FREE Contact: Joseph Pais- BlackSnakeStudios@Gmail.Com www.BlackSnakeStudios.com
Trouble, Guts & Noir Book One: Replacement by Jesse Mesa Toves “She’s perfect from head to toe, and trouble from start to finish.” The Replacement is the first book in a three part future noir adventure written and illustrated by Jesse Mesa Toves. One night, she disappears without telling a soul, but she leaves behind a trail of clues that only one man knows how to follow. 3 issues. BW. 28 pages. Ordering Contact: www.jesse-toves.com http://www.jesse-toves.com
Turbulence #1 by Chris Garrett Super powers are not granted through freak accidents or genetic defects. They are granted by a force known only as ‘Efflux’ which finds people (regardless of good and evil) that are dedicated to…well….anything. The story follows Turbulence, a hero that has finally decided to join the fight against evil…only issue is everybody seems to be a part of a team already that beats him to the punch. Color. 32 Pages. Cover Price: $4.99 {WSP: $2.50} Ordering Contact: Turbulencecomic@gmail.com www.turbulence-comic.com
Spy Guy by Mike Kitchen Deep in the midst of a police sting operation targeting contraband being smuggled across the United States of America and Canadian boarder, things take a dramatic turn for the worse as the shipment is hijacked by two shadowy villains. Part mystery, part action-adventure, part social commentary, part satire, all fun! Also contains the 16 page essay “The Ultraist Manifesto”. BW. 40 pages. Cover Price: $2.95 {WSP: $1.48} For every 5 copies ordered, we will ship an additional for FREE Ordering Contact: mike@ultraist.net http://www.ultraist.net
The Unstoppable Force: Indy Comic Book Week Special by Rob Payne (writer/letterer), Taylor Lymbery & (Pencils/Inks), Jordan Taylor (colors) When a living statue of Josef Stalin attacks New York City, only some of history’s greatest men and women can stop him! Together, Mr. President (Abraham Lincoln), Human Dynamo(Nikola Tesla), The Carthaginian (Hannibal Barca), Saint Joan (Joan d’Arc), Ronin (Miyamoto Musashi), and Pharaoh (Cleopatra) are… THE UNSTOPPABLE FORCE! BW. 24 pages. Cover Price: $2.50 {WSP: $2.00} Ordering Contact: vonnegution@gmail.com http://www.unstoppablecomic.com
What Planet Is This? By Mike Hankins Space Detective Slam Spifson has once again woken up in a pile of space-garbage, but this time, his wallet and brother have been kidnapped. Now he’s on a mission that will take him across space, time, and the casino in this hilarious Sci-Fi Crime-Noir Comedy. Color. 20 pages. Cover Price: $2.99 {WSP: $1.20} Ordering Contact: hankinstien@gmail.com www.DormDorksComic.com

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