Indie Edge: Inferno, Purrgatorio, and Paradiso

If you've ever cracked open a PREVIEWS catalog, you know how packed each issue can be. So packed, in fact, that you may have overlooked your next favorite comic tucked away on one of its many (many) pages. With so many sections to peruse each month, it can be a nigh-impossible feat to examine all of the incredible books that you'll soon be able to get your hands on. The Indie Edge column is here to help by taking a look at just some (and trust us, there's a lot) of the amazing small press, alternative, and indie titles currently available in this month's catalog!

While we've grouped our featured comics together under the "indie" umbrella, these titles span a wide array of different story types and styles—you can find just about any comic you've ever dreamed of (plus a few you've never even thought to). Take a look at the books we have highlighted below and if any catch your eye, be sure to mosey over to your local comic shop to pre-order these books and many more!

This month's column includes a look back at the history of one of the world's most popular beverages, a trip to hell (or two), a cartoonist dealing with his new blended furry family, and a celebration of the women at the forefront of the underground comics movement. 

Proof-Reading

Brew-lovers, history buffs, and comic lovers intrigued by one of the most ubiquitous alcohols will want to knock back The Comic Book Story of Beer (AUG151702), a new nonfiction graphic novel from creators Jonathan Hennessey, Mike Smith, & Aaron McConnell and the fine folks at Ten Speed Press. Beer has enjoyed renewed attention and examination as of late (thanks in large part to the boom in craft-brewing), but few, if any, afficionados have penned their love letter as a comic epic. Readers will be treated to an illustrated journey through the drink's long and storied history and will get a glimpse at how it has developed (and continues to) across the globe. Thoroughly researched and beautifully drawn (with full-color interiors), The Comic Book Story of Beer should go down smooth for any reader who travels the past through its pages and provide a welcome reprieve for beer fans who may have found other historical texts a little too dry.

How to Be Human

Following up on the long-awaited release of Optic Nerve #14 (and the issue that marked the series' 20th anniversary), Drawn + Quarterly continues their celebration of Adrian Tomine's work with Killing and Dying (AUG151390). This new collection presents a selection of stories from the latest issues of Optic Nerve, including "Amber Sweet," "A Brief History of the Art Form Known as Hortisculpture," "Translated, from the Japanese," and "Killing and Dying." For fans of Tomine, this latest offering is a given, but for readers unfamiliar with the acclaimed cartoonist's work, this new book is the perfect way to get acquainted. With a one-two punch of impeccable artwork and thoughtful writing that offers an engrossing examination of modern-day living, new fans will quickly see why Tomine has established himself as one of the most prominent voices in the indie comics scene. For comic lovers interested in rich, emotional pieces that delve into the human condition or who simply want to look at expertly-crafted comics, Killing and Dying will not disappoint.

Apathy, Empathy, and a Bag of Chips

Hell isn't all fire and brimstone—sometimes it's a weird goo that fills up your room and swallows you and your cat whole. Anne Emond's Debbie's Inferno (from Big Planet/Retrofit - AUG151176) follows the titular character and her talking cat as they travel through the different layers of her personal hell. While the horrors Debbie encounters are a bit more palatable than those found by Dante, her journey is no less harrowing, as she must contend with anxiety, negativity, and a number of other inner-demons she's allowed to take up residence in her headspace for far too long. Emond tackles a heavy subject with freshness and humor thanks to her lively cartooning and deft writing (and Virgil has nothing on Debbie's feline guide). Offering an imaginative look at the inner-life and thought process of someone struggling with depression, Debbie's Inferno will put you in a better state of mind.

If I Only Had a Heart

Nobrow Press has made it their mission to introduce readers the world over to some of the most visually striking comics and picture books being made today, and their fall publishing slate will further this goal in earnest with the release of Curveball (AUG151623) from creator Jeremy Sorese. Curveball is Sorese's first full-fledged graphic novel (having previously self-published short stories, written for established properties, and worked on anthologies), and it is quite the debut at that—clocking in at 420 pages of comic goodness. A romantic tale with a science fiction sheen, the story shows a technologically-advanced future where the give and take between man and machine has begun to change. A severe depletion in energy sources means humankind can no longer rely on robots for its every need, and in the middle of this crisis a woman must deal with her own world order collapsing in on itself (as well as the realization that no one else may even care). Curveball is shaping up to be one of the biggest comic debuts of 2015, and comic lovers will want to sit up and take note of Sorese's rising star.   

Yon of the Dead

Cartoonists and cats go together like, well, cartoonists and cats; their magnetic attraction cannot be denied. While this sacred bond has been explored in countless comics throughout the ages, we're confident that none of them are quite like Junji Ito's Cat Diary: Yon & Mu (AUG151589) from Kodansha Comics. Blending comedy and Ito's distinct brand of horror, Cat Diary finds Ito's life turned upside-down as his then-fiancé moves into his new home and brings along her two furry friends, Yon and Mu. Ito is simultaneously terrorized and entranced by his two new companions and must learn to adjust to his new living arrangement (while trying desperately to win Yon and Mu's affections). While outside of Ito's usual wheelhouse, fans will still find all of the elements that make the cartoonist's work so unnerving and compelling. The result is an autobiographical slice-of-life story that's hilarious, creepy, and (dare we say) disturbingly cute.

1 Room - Available Immediately

If you've ever had a crummy roommate or apartment, you could at least take solace in the fact that the lease would eventually be up. But for the unfortunate inhabitants of Koren Shadmi's The Abaddon (from Z2 Comics - AUG151854), their situation is a little more permanent. In the same vein as Jean-Paul Sartre's stage play No Exit, The Abaddon follows five roommates trapped in a Brooklyn apartment where actions don't have any consequence (or, at least, not their intended ones) and no one can quite remember what their life was like before moving in (or even what their full names are). Tensions flair as the bizarre circumstances push each person beyond their limit, but the group must come together if they want any hope of escape or enlightenment. Shadmi's ethereal pencil rendering alternates between soft and scratchy, and when coupled with the limited palette of mint greens and pinks, it creates an atmosphere that's otherworldly. Horror fans and readers interested in character-driven stories will find a lot to love in the quiet menace of The Abbadon.

History Lessons

Fantagraphics is making sure today's readers get a well-rounded comics education with the release of The Complete Wimmen's Comix this Fall. Edited by Trina Robbins, one of comics most eminent scholars and historians as well as one of the original anthology's creators, this deluxe two-volume box set contains over 700 pages of ground-breaking underground comics. The majority of the content contained within this collection has been out-of-print and long out-of-reach for many comic lovers, making this a much-needed and immensely important piece of work. Told with an unfiltered and unfettered point of view, these stories cover an incredible range of topics, meaning readers will be hard-pressed to find a story that doesn't stick with them long after they've put the book down. Featuring work from some of the most influential creators in comic history, The Complete Wimmen's Comix is a worthy addition to any comic library.

The Winner Takes It All

While the homegrown indie comics and self-publishing scene has been steadily growing, indie titles from around the world have been slow to trickle in. Luckily, Alternative Comics is helping to rectify that problem with the release of Anna Ehrlemark's Winners (published by Floating World Comics - AUG150989). A fixture in the Eastern European comics community, Winners is Ehrlemark's debut graphic novel that contains short stories about everything from witchcraft and economics to family and revenge. Ehrlemark's unique approach to telling stories and bold illustration style make her a welcome new voice to the stateside indie comics scene.