Here Come September 2024's Best Indie Comics (2024)

Every month, independent comic book publishers release some of the best stories and art on shelves. The worlds of indie comics are incredibly creative and varied compared to their more mainstream competitors. Because there are so many series, genres, and publishers, it can be difficult for readers to stay on top of new comic book releases, especially compared to the more streamlined offerings from Marvel or DC.

The term “best” is inherently subjective, and opinions on a new series like Minor Arcana and returning titles like The Magic Order will certainly vary from person to person. Based on publisher solicitations and preview pages, these upcoming comics are poised to rival the competition and give readers plenty to enjoy in the month ahead.

Updated on August 29, 2024, by Thayer Preece Parker: The recent vampire craze, which has already hit Marvel comics, has now extended its reach into the indie comics scene with a couple of new vampire titles hitting shelves from Image and Dark Horse this month. Indie publishers are increasing their output this September, with a wide range of stories on offer, from a Chinese version of James Bond to a biography of one of the world’s greatest living composers. There is plenty to enjoy with September’s new comic series.

Between Two Sounds: Arvo Pärt’s Journey to His Musical Language Explores the World of an Innovative Modern Composer

Most people are familiar with the names of the most famous classical music composers in history, such as Beethoven or Bach. Fewer people can name any living composers, but hopefully this book will help change that. One of the most well-known composers still working today is Estonian-born minimalist composer Arvo Pärt, the subject of this new graphic novel.

Arvo Pärt’s minimalist music, with influences from ancient music such as Gregorian chant, have helped him connect with audiences around the world. Comics inspired by musicians are not new, but classical composers rarely get the comic book treatment. Pärt’s struggle against an oppressive Soviet government and his journey to self-discovery provide ample material for a graphic novel that will entertain and intrigue readers.

Minor Arcana #1 Explores Tarot-Inspired Family Legacies

People have been intrigued by the idea of fortune-telling since the earliest days of humanity. One of the most popular tools of fortune-telling in the modern era are tarot cards, which purport to be able to predict peoples’ futures. Tarot cards form the basis of the newest creator-owned comic from Jeff Lemire, creator of hit indie titles like Sweet Tooth and Descender.

In Minor Arcana, Lemire introduces readers to Theresa, a young woman who is forced to return to her hometown in order to care for her ailing mother, a tarot-reading fortune-teller. Over multiple story arcs that will be influenced by the four suits of tarot cards, Theresa will discover that there may be more to her mother’s “magic” than she initially realized.

The Farscape 25th Anniversary Special Returns Fans to an Epic Sci-fi Universe

Farscape was one of the best and most beloved sci-fi TV shows of the early 2000s. The show revolves around an American astronaut who travels through a wormhole and becomes embroiled in intergalactic politics while fleeing an oppressive space empire in a living spaceship populated by diverse aliens. Farscape’s use of puppet-based special effects, created by the Jim Henson company, helped it age well, even decades later.

The Farscape TV show ended in 2003, and the last comic book in the franchise was published in 2010. Now, in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the show, BOOM! Studios is uniting an array of talented comic book creators to celebrate the classic series with all-new stories featuring the colorful Farscape cast.

Time Waits #1 Explores the Traumatic Effects of Time Travel and Violence

Chip Zdarsky is one of the most prolific writers in the comic industry today, best known for his current run on the main Batman title. This month, Zdarsky has teamed up with a number of other prominent comic book creators to bring readers a new creator-owned title from publisher DSTLRY, Time Waits.

Blue was a mercenary from the future, hired to do a job that went badly. Stuck in the present day, Blue is building a life alongside his partner, a small-town sheriff, and trying to look forward to a new future in the life he has created. Unfortunately for Blue, his PTSD is not the only thing that has followed him back from his violent past/future.

Summer Shadows #1 (of 4) Combines Mystery and Vampires in the Mediterranean

This year, vampires seem to be all over comic book shops, largely thanks to the massive Blood Hunt event that is crossing over most Marvel titles. Vampires are showing up across a number of indie comics as well, including a new LGBTQIA+ romance Summer Shadows, from Dark Horse Comics.

Nick thought he had found the love of his life in his ex, Anthony. Anthony left without an explanation, and Nick needs answers if he is going to move on with his life. While Nick is searching for Anthony on the sunny Greek island of Avraxos, he discovers that Anthony is not the only missing person on the island, and its sunny shores are hiding a mystery that is darker than Nick could have ever imagined.

The Tin Can Society #1 (of 9) Investigates Friendship and the Murder of a Superhero

The Tin Can Society is a new comic from Rick Remender’s Giant Generator imprint, published through Image Comics. Written by screenwriter Peter Warren, and drawn by illustrator Francesco Mobili, the book explores the dynamics of how friendships evolve over the years, through the lens of a murder mystery.

Johnny Moore was a famous tech mogul and superhero who designed mobility aids for people with disabilities like himself. After he is murdered, and his supersuit is stolen, his estranged childhood group of friends reunites to try and solve his murder. The result is, according to Warren, “a page-turning murder mystery about childhood friendships tested by ableism, celebrity, wealth and jealousy.”

The Moon Is Following Us #1 (of 10) Begins a Quest to Save a Child from an Evil Fantasy Force

Eisner-winning Transformers writer and artist Daniel Warren Johnson and artist Riley Rossmo became fast friends after meeting at a convention for the first time. Now the pair have teamed up for a new creator-owned title, The Moon Is Following Us, which was inspired by their experiences in raising their young daughters.

Six months ago, Sam and Duncan’s daughter was abducted by the mysterious Cascade, an evil force that the couple barely understands. Now they must battle to recover their daughter by fighting alongside the magical creatures she loves. Featuring art by both Rossmo and Johnson, this new title promises ten issues of dynamic and emotional action.

Violent Flowers #1 (of 4) Sets an Immortal Vampire on the Path of Vengeance

Maria Llovet is writing and illustrating some of the most sensual comic books available on shelves. Her newest title, Violent Flowers, coming from Image Comics this month, appears ready to combine her trademark style with the blood and horror of a vampire tale, told across the centuries of the characters’ long lives.

Carnelia is an ancient vampire whose principles have driven her to abstain from drinking blood, leaving her immortal but ancient-looking. After her brother, The Sentinel, who is responsible for overseeing supernatural populations, is murdered, Carnelia sets out on a quest for vengeance, while also minding a mortal woman who she has been assigned to protect.

The Horizon Experiment: The Manchurian Imagines a Chinese Version of James Bond

The Horizon Experiment is a new series of one-shot comics presented by Image Comics and created by comics, film, and TV superstars. The series acts like a series of pilots for potential new series, all of which provide new perspectives on familiar genres. The first issue, The Manchurian, is created by the talented team of writer p*rnsak Pichetshote and illustrators Terry and Rachel Dodson.

James Bond has appeared in comic books before, but The Manchurian puts a new spin on a Bond-like tale of espionage. In The Manchurian, the main character is a debonair spy working for China and operating within the United States. This twist on a familiar formula should provide an exciting new take on the spy-thriller genre, and following issues promise to do the same for other familiar narratives.

The Magic Order 5 #1 (of 6) Presents the Final Chapter of the Epic Urban Fantasy Series

Comic Book writer Mark Millar has created some of the most successful franchises in the genre. The Magic Order is one of the best Image Comics series of the past decade, and its final chapter is beginning this month after migrating along with several other titles to Millar’s new publishing home, Dark Horse Comics. The Magic Order is also set to soon become a TV show on Netflix.

Cordelia Moonstone is the de facto leader of the five powerful families who make up the Order. After disobeying the rules, Cordelia has been given a death sentence, but there is no way that she will simply lie down and let her life end without a fight. This series promises a climactic conclusion to the dark urban fantasy series that has kept readers fixated since its debut in 2018.