There’s a lot of cool independent series that are releasing within the past couple months. A lot of the comics that have been releasing recently have been really fun and intriguing not just with their art, but the storylines as well. Being able to check things out before they release, I’ve been able to find some really cool series that are coming out and I’m really excited to see how a lot of these will continue. The biggest interest for myself recently has been the more supernatural or crime-based series. Some of my personal favorites are two new independent comics, and a newer manga series.
First up, Fixation is a vampire-esque series, about a super fangirl of a hit movie series Blood Mountain. Taylor, one of the biggest superfans of the series, wins an exclusive trip to stay at the film set house itself and have the greatest experience during Blood Mountain’s tenth anniversary. Along with her plus one, her friend Karrah, they make it to Vail; not knowing that another fan was murdered there days before at the very house they are staying at. As their exclusive trip continues to get tripped up by threats to Taylor herself and another murder, things are becoming more grim and real about the state of the fanbase, and the actors themselves. Waking up the second day to discover that the lead actress’s life is being threatened, this trip might be more bloody and darker than they thought.
Next is Dinner Date. It’s focused on Izzy and Syd, and a potential budding romance. Izzy is a Ryde driver, who’s been constantly getting hit on and harassed by the random guys that she’s paid to drive around all day. She finally ends her evening by driving a gal named Syd, who she cannot stop talking to the entire drive to her destination. Syd also has been having a rough day with yet another terrible dating app experience with random guys. After dropping Syd off at a random bridge, Izzy helps her move her duffle bag out of the trunk, to find out Syd has a whole dead body in there. While it doesn’t bother Izzy, maybe she would feel differently if she knew that Syd drank this guy’s blood.
A finally a newer series that has become my absolute favorite is Phantom Busters. Phantom Busters is a manga series following four high school guys who started a ghost hunting club at their high school. Eugene, the class rep from the UK, may not fully believe in ghosts, but his three new friends can see them, and one… eats them? Mogari is a transfer student from Akita, who’s also a part-time exorcist. His goal? Start a club at his high school for ghost hunting, call it Phantom Busters, and eat just enough spirits so his family back home doesn’t force him to come back. After all, his goal is to have the city high-school experience with the least bit of effort on his exorcist duties. Along with their two new friends Kaoru and Toman who can also see these ghosts, they help spirits either pass on peacefully, or banish them. It’s been a mix of chaos but also wholesome interactions of all of their friendships growing. Volume five is the newest release here in the states, and I cannot wait to see how this story progresses. If you’re looking for a newer manga to read, I highly recommend this one! There’s an anime in the works for this right now as well, and it’s estimated to release in 2027!