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Who doesn’t love a good countdown? Hasn’t High Fidelity taught us that life can be better managed in a series of top five lists? Of course. Wizard magazine has their monthly top ten writers, top ten artists, and their hot list for comics. Diamond releases a monthly top 100 list. However, within indie and small press comics, there is a sad lack of lists. A shame.

To correct this heinous error, last year, I started my own “It List” (CLICK HERE FOR THE 2005 LIST). It’s that time of year, time for the 2006 list. Also a good way to fill five weeks worth of Pop Syndicate columns, while I’m busy getting back to teaching high school English. Yes, the other job.

The It List is nothing more than my own careful consideration of the top 20 people in small press, alternative, and independent comics who you should keep an eye on. It’s an opinion poll of one, namely me. Take it with a grain of salt. I’m don’t usually name people like Chris Ware, Daniel Clowes, Art Spiegelman, or Alan Moore. I’m hoping to surprise you with some up-and-comers, the underdogs (hence the title of my column), and also squeeze in a few well-known veterans who are doing their best work right now. I spend a lot of time, maybe too much time, on these lists.

ANOTHER ANNUAL COUNTDOWN -->FAMOUS FOR BEING PRETTY

Who knows? My opinion might have some credibility to it. Last year’s list hit the nail on the head. R. Kikuo Johnson (#10) won an Eisner for best new talent. Bryan Lee O’Malley (#4) published the highest anticipated small press book of the year with Scott Pilgrim and Infinite Sadness. Kazu Kibuishi (#2) got a book deal with Scholastic and recently published the highly acclaimed Flight Volume 3. Jessica Abel (#8) published her book La Perdida through Pantheon, which is available at any Borders or Barnes & Noble. Scott Morse (#9) recently announced that the Magic Pickle is returning through Scholastic’s Graphix imprint. It’s not rocket science. You can tell some people are just so darned talented--they’re it. I’m taking the opportunity to spotlight those people who are part of a larger community of talented people.

ANOTHER ANNUAL COUNTDOWN --> FAMOUS FOR BEING DEAD

Any predictions? Who would you put on a top twenty list of the must-read comic book creators outside the mainstream? Any unrecognized or unappreciated creators who you think will hit big this next year? You can say you knew them before they were cool.

So yeah, this week was just a big tease for next week. Sorry.

THE CHESS MATCH CONTINUES -->

Hopkins - McCloud (French Defense, Winawer Variation)
1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. Nc3 Bb4
4. e5 c5
5. a3 Bxc3
6. bxc3 Ne7
7. Qg4

Check out Scott McCloud’s favorite list: The Creator’s Bill of Rights

This concludes my seventh week of “Beneath the Underdog” for Pop Syndicate. Feedback appreciated. Discussion encouraged.

Come back next Thursday for #16 through #20 of the 2006 It List!

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