I’m pretty sure you have come in to expect a comic checklist for a blog about comics; instead you have links to comic checklists. Well if you’re looking for one about the best comics of all time, there are already plenty of those. See here for arguably the most comprehensive lists by the Comic Book Herald.
What you get here meanwhile is a list about comics that fall under the radar by both the public and the direct market. There will be plenty of stuff by Marvel and DC; but we’ll also include the stuff that gets good reviews but no further coverage. This list will also include character portrayals that are not commonly seen. For example Manhunter’s entire run by Marc Andreyko and Deathstroke’s take during the DC Rebirth era.
The Primary Comic Checklists
Please note that we will displaying the most efficient means of gathering these series; ergo single issues are minimal and Omnibuses will have priority over standard trade paperbacks. We’re always growing though so feel free to leave suggestions in the comments.
The Alternatives
Other comics that do not appear in the limelight are usually under the banners of alternative publishers. These publishers hold the rights to make deals with their IPs like movies. For some of the best that are not licenses visit Comic Book Roundup’s lists. These include:
- IDW
- Boom! Studios
- Dynamite
- Oni Press
- Aspen Comics
- Avatar Press
- Black Mask Studios
- Zenescope Entertainment
- Valiant Entertainment
- Aftershock Comics
- Heavy Metal
- Titan Comics
- Albatross Funnybooks
- Legendary
- Red 5
- TKO Studios
- Graphix
- American Mythology
- Ahoy Comics
- Vault Comics
- Mad Cave Studios
- AWA Studios
- Scout Comics
- Ablaze Publishing
- Behemoth
- Comic House
- BHP Comics
More Obscure Publishers
- Alterna
- Antarctic Press
- Monkeybrain Comics
- Abstract Studio
- AAM-Markosia
- Caliber Comics
- Z2 Comics
- ComixTribe
- Devil’s Due Comics
- Lucky Comics
- TPub Comics
- Impact Theory
The only criteria for all of these is that the “underrated comics” are not part of franchise licenses, are not featured in major site news like io9, Free Comic Book Day promoted, and above 7.5 in reviews.
The Others For Comic Checklists
The more independent series are getting harder to distinguish from true indies. These publishers for the most part lack major business connections such as partnerships and mergers. Fan Favorites include the published work of:
- 451
- Ominous Press
- Benitez Productions
- Rent-A-Thug
- Aardvark-Vanaheim
- Source Point Press
- BroadSword Comics (NSFW)
- Cartoon Books
- Floating World Comics
- 5150 Media
- Coffin Comics
- American Gothic Press
- Black Panel Press
- Renegade Arts Entertainment
- Lone Star Press
- Black Box Comics
- Inverse Press
- Soaring Penguin Press
- Penny Farthing Productions
- Space Between Comics
- Starburns Industries Press
- A Wave Blue World
- KES Comics
- Storm King Comics
- Cave Pictures Publishing
- Future Dude Entertainment
- Bliss On Tap
- Outland Entertainment
- Signal Comics
Bonus Comic Checklist
For the truly independent companies/series that start small or originate from crowdfunders like Kickstarter a list compiles them. Unlike the lists above, these series/companies don’t have any mainstream connections. This includes Diamond Comic Distributors handling distribution and (A-C)-List creators providing support.
- Unlikely Hero Studios (Super!, The Surgeon)
- Hero Tomorrow Comics (Apama, Tap Dance Killer)
- Sugar Skull Media (Halloween Man)
- Wannabe Press (Katrina Hates the Dead, Cthulhu is Hard to Spell)
- Martian Lit (Martian Comics)
- Red Anvil Comics (War of the Independents)
- Aw Yeah Comics!
- Top Secret Press
- Advent Comics (Southside)
- 215 Ink (Enormous)
- Approbation Comics (Chaos Campus)
- Locus Comics (Locus)
- ErgoComix (Wyliman)
- WCG Comics (Rob Hanes Adventures)
- Red Stylo Comics (Crossing, Ninja Bear)
- Invader Comics (Kodoja)
- HBComics (Lazerman)
- Big City Comics (Jolly Jane)
- Studio Stella Polaris
- Stranger Comics (Niobe)
- Terminus Media LLC (Dominion)
- Committed Comics (Nira X)
- Wunderman Comics
- Cave Pictures Publishing
- Action Age Comics (Radical Guardian Skater X)
- Burlyman Entertainment (Doc Frankenstein)
- Dark Planet Comics (Silver)
- Big Dog Ink (Critter)
- Cloud 9 Comix (Exilium, Trail)
- Critical Entertainment (Planetary Expansion)
- Blue Juice Comics (The Accelerators, Aether & Empire)
- Big Punch Studios (Afterlife Inc.)
- Creephouse Comics (Krush McNulty, The Haunter)
- Isle Squared Comics (Bang Bang Lucita, Empress)
- NimProd (Snake)
- ARH Comix (Queen of Vampires)
- Fanbase Press (The Gamma Gals)
- Drumfish Productions (The Sentinels)
- Rising Sun Comics (A Time of Heroes, Armadillo Justice)
- Expastic Comics (Disgruntled Avenger)
- Mana Comics (Sistah Shark)
- Standard Comics (The Sentinels)
- Scattered Comics (Shadow Hunters)
- Outhouse Cartoons (Combat Fairies)
- Higher Universe Comics (Stargirl, Misfits)
- Iron Gate Comics (All Winners Society)
- Constant Hustle Comics (Nightfall)
- C3 Comics (Intrepid)
- Blue Fox Comics (Sinners)
- Lantsuta
- Think Alike Productions (The Agency)
- Red Eye Press (Valentine)
- Lone Wolf Comics (Night Wolf)
- SitComics (Startup)
- Will Lill Comics (Monty’s World)
- Y Comics (Kinetic)
- Vices Press (M3, Forgotten Home)
- QAM Comics (Template)
- Polite Strangers LLC (Sucker, Nocturnal Comissions)
- Cloud Wrangler Studios (The Arcane Cocktail Enthusiast)
- Buño
- LabRat Comics (The Devil In Disguise)
- Rainy Road Media (Neotheric)
- Absolute Comics (White Widow)
- Winter City Productions (Every Sin Has a Price)
- Gestalt Comics (Changing Ways)
- Space Captain Steve (Mech Skin)
- Timberwolf Entertainment (The Few and Cursed)
- Mountaineer West Productions (War Angels, The Book of Luka)
- Plastic Sword Press
- Freestyle Komics (Hotshot)
- AfterLight Comics
- Ovation Comics (Goth Ghost Girl)
- Kraven Comics (Class6)
- Concept Moon Studios (Frontline Soldiers)
- Rocket Ink Studios (Gapo The Clown)
- UMC Comics (Silver Sun/Sol de Plata)
- Altruist Comics (Bullet)
- Taurus Comics (Xob the Lightning Wielder)
- Correct Handed Comics (The Offspring)
- Lesser Known Comics (Digital Lizards of Doom)
- Junction City Comics (All-New Union)
- SnowyWorks (Caspian Porter)
- Rising Eagle Comics (Kani: Timeless Assassin, Showtime)
- Unparalleled Comics (Operation: Eclipse)
- Oniric Comics (The Formidables, The Astro-Dome)
- Atomic Pulp Media (Space Crusaders)
- Unstoppable Comics (Shield of the Interceptor, The Stormchasers)
- Griot Enterprises (The Horsemen)
- Catalyst Press
- Owl Eye Comics (The Maroon)
- New Age Ninja Corps (Rags)
- FairSquare Comics (Lady-Bird)
- Super Serious Comics (Idle Thuggery)
- Crazy Monkey Ink (Darum: Captain of the Stars)
- Rogue Comix (Adam & Eternity)
- Literati Press (Glamorella’s Daughter)
- Artillery Network (.357 Magnum Opus)
- Orange Cone Publishing (Voodoo Nations)
- Wingless Comics (Justice)
- EC3D Design (The Ignis Quadrant)
- PitDoc Press (By the Time I Get To Dallas)
- Merc Publishing (Miss Meow)
- Dren Productions (Anti-Christ)
- Atlas Studios (American Dreams)
- Atrocity Press (Mary Machinegun)
- BG Comics (Gl’urk & Bo)
- Iqbal A Comics (Plant Life)
- Two Gargoyles Comics (Thunder)
- Unearthly Comics (Gatorman Kills)
- Spectacular Ink (Atomic Woman)
- Haunted Pixel Studio (Necroblivion)
- Optical Illusion Studios (Angel of Darkness, Spirit of the Dragon)
- Carnouche Productions (The Resurrected)
- Blue Moon Comics (Diversions)
- Summoner Studios (Project Magus)
- Covenant Comics (Burlap)
- Mythoverse (Changling: An Urban Fairytale)
- Amazing Action Comics (Project: Shadow Breed)
- Finish Line Comics (Immortal Era)
- Manos Publishing (Red Knight)
- Catalyst Comics (Tilt)
- Dark Fire Press (Wonder Duck)
- Millennial Comics (Delta Dogs)
- Triumphverse (Agents of Talon, Codename: Black Death)
- One Blue Land (Captain Bitcoin)
- Curious Perspective Comics (Ruination)
- Blue Turtle Comics (The Owl, Sooner Force)
- Darkstorm Comics
- Latina Superheroes (A La Brava)
- Sigma Comics (Calico)
- Pocket Watch Press (Area 51: The Helix Project)
- Red Sea Comics (The Saturn Effect)
- MAZE Comics (The Mistakes)
- Beyond Comics (Gekido)
- SouthEast Comics (Square One)
- HekaCo (Neonseed: Babylon)
- Raze Comics
- XanCon Entertainment (Once Upon A Time In Xanatopia)
- Xion Studios (Spider-Squirrel)
- Godhood Comics (The Antagonists)
- As a bonus, there are networks of publishers like the operative network and the CCBA.
I can’t have webcomics on here however; because these websites do better than I ever could.