#FreeComicBookDay #RIP? #NotSoFast!!!!--Part 1

Today is an especially sad day for me, because it would be my first Free Comic Book Day ever.  But, because of the Rona, it was yeeted out of existence...At least physically.  Today is the day I learned why I love smaller/independent publishers and self-published creators.  If you search #FreeComicBookDay on Twitter, you will find an outpouring of small pubs/indie pubs/folks with webtoons etc. unleashing their creativity onto the world FOR FREE!  All last week, Sourcepoint Press ran a website called FreeComicWeek.com, where all you had to do was pay for shipping (a bunch of the titles are still up there, so go check it out if you haven't.  Where are the big boys like DC and Marvel on the highest of comic book holidays?  Right now, I believe radio silence is the answer.....So, if I can get you to read at least one of the things I review below, and you can thank them or throw them a few bones if you've got it in this tight economy you should #SUPPORTINDIECREATORS!

The first wave of reviews are in no particular order, its just what popped up chronologically when I searched the hashtag!

Signed C: The Missing #1 (Wayward Raven)
​By: Mark C. Frankel, Joshua L.A. Jones, Wayne Brown

The front matter of the book indicates that there is a city where women are the prey to "foul plots" however there is a sorceress who keeps watch over them.  However, the events which are to unfold are potentially too big for even the high levels of magical power she offers to take down whatever the newest threat is. I'll also note, that the third page (which introduces Chapter 1) is incredibly stunning.  You get a mixture of the pleasant sunset over a village, mixed with what appears to be a violent storm starting to brew over the ocean.  Is this an indicator of what's to come?  I hope so! (at least with the art!)

You can find this and several other titles at: www.waywardraven.com

The book opens to a woman being stood up for a coffee meet-up with one of her friends.  After deciding to visit her friend's house, we learn that she was stood up because she appears to be murdered.  We also learn that this woman is the sorceress mentioned in the opening because she instantly chants an incantation and a portal opens up to another world.  After whizzing around New York City and unveiling all sorts of things cloaked behind spells, we learn that the god (I think) she meets with may be behind the murder based on a final phone call on the final panel.

I think this was a pretty interesting first issue, you instantly have the conflict start on about page 3, we start to see some of the breadth of the sorceress' power, and the final panel indicates who may be the guilty party.  If this is a mythical setting + modern day New York + a murder-mystery and then some, sign me up!  I may have to pick up as many of this title as I can when I get paid on Monday!!!!!

inFusion--a one shot (Wayward Raven)
By: Joshua Jones, Pedro Pimentao, Nimesh Morarji

Anyone who's known me in any capacity in the policy debate community (as coach or competitor) they should be able to tell you one pretty simple thing.  I'm a hack for anything dealing with space: colonization, exploration, travel etc.  It is a literature base I am absolutely obsessed with.  The moment I saw this was a title dealing with any of the above elements, I knew it had to be love at first downloaded sight!

You can find this and several other titles at: www.waywardraven.com

THIS BOOK STARTS OFF WITH HELIUM 3 MINING, WHICH I AM ENTHRALLED BY, AND I HAVE NOT SEEN GOOD FICTIONAL COVERAGE OF SINCE THE FILM MOON STARRING SAM ROCKWELL (yes, the all caps were 100% necessary.).  Also, some members of the crew are infused with nanites? Yes Please!!!! You quickly learn that a crew member has gone missing and another one is potentially incapacitated due to an open airlock.  As the cognizant crew members rush to figure out what is wrong, you learn that the hull has been breached by some sort of acid.  On the next day you also learn of a contact with an alien life form, when studied is similar to a sea-squid. And then we hit a full fledged Murphy's law scenario.  The airlock failure, magnetic boots disengaging, and a slew of other massive failures start cascading. The last 10 pages were an absolute rush (which I don't want to spoil), and the argument made in the final page?  How is this a one-shot!  I need more!

Conclusion

If these two titles are what Wayward Raven is offering for free, then what other gems do they have hiding (and by that, I mean up for purchase).  I can tell you I'll be placing an order on Monday and trying to get some of their titles in my rotation to review on the regular.  The art, the stories all excellent, and everyone should go snag these two titles at least!

go check out Wayward Raven!