PopSyndicate.com

Today's adventure: Two French, one American living in Canada, one Californian, and a New York publisher are it.

And finally: the top five independent/small press/alternative comic book creators you should be keeping an eye on for the next year. These people have got it. Whatever “it” is. I guess from my own perspective—the people on this list are not only talented, but they are producing the kind of work that makes me excited about the future of comics.

5. Hope Larson I’ve already mentioned my thoughts on her work in a previous column. With her new book deal from Simon & Schuster, Hope is a very promising new talent who lives up to the hype. Is 24 years too old to be called a prodigy? Considering Hope started drawing comics only three years ago, we may need to make an exception.
official website: hopelarson.com
on MySpace? Don’t think so.

4. Marjane Satrapi (last year at #5) Her latest book Chicken with Plumes, U.S. version published by Pantheon, will be in stores on October 7th. Along with her other books Embroideries and Monsters Are Afraid of the Moon, she’s got the artistic scope of David B (another French contemporary), but her work is one hundred times more approachable. In addition to all this work, she has an animated feature of Persepolis based on the graphic novel coming soon, which she directed. Along with Craig Thompson, Marjane represents a movement away from the bleak work of Clowes and Ware to something more hopeful, while still retaining a bittersweet edge.
official website: Not really. There’s the official Random House site.
on MySpace? Nope.

3. Mark Siegel Before I could write this, I had to go to their website to figure out who was in charge at First Second Books.  I think it’s this guy as the editorial director. First Second came out of nowhere, and released one good book after another, after another, after another, after another. It’s sick. I can’t keep up with them. I went to my comic shop today. There were two more First Second books I hadn’t seen before! What Graphix is doing for young readers, First Second is doing for everyone.  Full color and nicely priced with a standard size layout so the books all look good on the shelf next to each other (thank you), this publisher is amazing. Their editorial vision statement will make you weep. It’s not only about a publisher loving comics. More importantly, do they understand why we love comics? First Second gets it.
official website: firstsecondbooks.com
on MySpace: Again no.

2. Joann Sfar In my opinion, he had the best original graphic novel last year with The Rabbi’s Cat, published by Pantheon. He’s got two equally good books with First Second, Vampire Loves and Klezmer: Tales of the Wild East. He’s another bright and talented cartoonist to come out of France. Marjane Satrapi (you remember her at #4) mentions Joann as a major inspiration. He’s bridging the gap between American and European audiences, which might hopefully allow more opportunities for other talented European creators who have yet to be discovered here.
official website: It’s this, but I can’t read French.
on MySpace? Do the French even believe in MySpace?

1. Kazu Kibuishi (last year at #2) For those of you who were at the San Diego Comic Con this past year, remember that one table in small press alley that was continually surrounded by people all week long? That was Kazu’s Flight table. Kazu is one of the most creative and visionary comic book creators to come along. I’ve seen some finished pages of his upcoming Graphix series Amulet.  Be ready. He is the heir to Jeff Smith and Bone. However, it’s not just his own talent. Under Flight, Kazu has mobilized an entire community of web-savy animation-minded artists to start creating print comics. And these people are really frickin’ good. They are finding ways to be viable outside of Marvel or DC, taking their own stories and going straight to book publishers like Ballantine, Random House, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, and Pantheon. Kazu will reach an entire generation of new comic book readers through the Scholastic Book Fairs before any of those kids ever set foot in a comic book store. That’s not to say the direct market is doomed. If anything, Kazu is helping to find their next generation of customers. When Marvel and DC wear out Hollywood with every conceivable property they have left, the industry will have changed underneath them to one that is far more friendly to non-superhero stories. With the full endorsement of his mentors Jeff Smith and Scott McCloud, Kazu is helping to make that change.
official website: boltcity.com
on MySpace? Yes, here myspace.com/62021537. Although, he doesn’t use it.