The Future Is Indie
Comic Reviews for the week ending 1/19/2024
Good morning, my friend,
As of this writing, a great disturbance is spreading through the Internet as millions of Tween voices cry out and are suddenly silenced.
The American ban on TikTok has begun.
The reasons for the ban range from international security concerns to retribution for election interference to fascistic control over free speech.
I don’t know about any of that, and frankly, the rationale doesn’t matter.
What matters is learning from the situation to forge a new, better path.
The lesson with TikTok is that reliance on large platforms and institutions for your creative work is a big risk that favors what’s best for the institution instead of what’s best for the creator.
The rug could be pulled away at any moment, and you have no say about it.
Comic creators may never get a shot with the Big 2. Even if you do, the work you create belongs to the publishers. Not you.
Wannabe musicians hoping to get a break with a big label will spend years navigating the quagmire of copyright claims and royalties.
Writers hoping to get an agent and publishing deal must hustle and edit to create stories that appeal to the publisher’s target demographic.
Worse, creators in any of the mediums above may grind for years to get a break from those institutions and never get a chance.
What’s the solution?
Build it yourself. Embrace the indie road.
Write and draw your comic and publish it on your website.
Record your music in your studio and distribute it yourself.
Write your book, short stories, and poems how you want, and lean into self-publishing.
Platforms, publishers, and institutions are good to start but can’t be fully trusted.
Place that trust in yourself, and forge ahead.
-Gabe
Next, our Pick of the Week for the most entertaining comic is…
Read it: Space Ghost #9
If you’re a subscriber to our podcast, please check out the audio versions of our review using one of the links below. If you’re not a subscriber, we host our feed on multiple podcast platforms for your convenience.
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Now, let’s get on to this week’s reviews (and a little catch-up)
JUPITER’S LEGACY: FINALE #3 – Review
HEAT SEEKER: COMBUSTION #3 – Review
GRIMM TALES OF TERROR (VOL. 5) #1 – Review
[Pick of the Week] SPACE GHOST #9 – Review
ROGUE: THE SAVAGE LAND #1 - Review
GREEN LANTERN: FRACTURED SPECTRUM #1 - Review
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The Magic Order (Vol. 5) #4 (Dark Horse Comics)
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #313 (Image Comics)
Hyde Street #3 (Image Comics)
Void Rivals #16 (Image Comics)
Resurgence Finale (One-Shot) (Valiant Comics)
Grimm Fairy Tales (Vol. 2) #92 (Zenescope Entertainment)
Marvel Viewers’ Choice (Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to vote)
DC Viewers’ Choice (Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to vote)
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Have a great day!
Well said. I believe I WILL embrace the indie road and go about, building things myself.