The best superhero comics not published by Marvel or DC

Over the years Marvel and DC have become powerhouses. Both companies have spawned countless films, television shows and toy lines, and millions of devoted fans around the world eagerly await their next comic book fix.

Of course, these two titans of the industry weren’t the only ones to publish content in the comic book medium. In fact, they weren’t responsible for what most would consider the greatest stories that comics have to offer. In fact, there’s no shortage of them, with companies like Image and Dark Horse pushing the boundaries of what comics can really be. incredible comics from publishers other than the two big ones.

7 Spawn

Published by Image Comics

• Created by: Todd McFarlane
• First issue published: May 1992

Spawn After being given a second chance at life, he must confront the forces of heaven and hell. As an antihero in the truest sense of the word, he will stop at nothing to atone for the sins of his past.

This iconic comic book series is synonymous with gory and adult comics, and its popularity has only grown over the years. It has also helped set the tone for Image Comics as a publisher that is not afraid to release darker comic book series.

6 Invincible

Published by Image Comics

• Created by: Robert Kirkman
• First issue published: January 2003

Mark Grayson is a normal high school student who happens to be the son of a citizen of the Viltrumite Empire, meaning that as his own powers begin to develop, he must learn to balance normal life with being one of the most powerful beings in the universe.

The premise sounds familiar at first, but readers’ expectations are quickly dashed when they delve into this immensely brutal comic series. While the numerous spin-offs and side comics are great, Invincible itself is a sprawling story full of the craziest twists and turns you’ll see in comics.

5 Hellboy

Published by Dark Hose Comics

• Created by: Michael Mignola
• First issue published: 19 August 1993

Since Hellboy is a demon (red skin, red tail and all), you would expect him to be an enemy of humans. However, this is far from the truth. He was born in Hell but raised on Earth. He lacks any malevolence and instead fights against the occult.

Hellboy is exceptional, particularly in its tone. The illustrations, stories, and themes all have a similarly dark tone, often contrasted with the title character’s hilarious personality, expressed through one-off gags or silly snippets of dialogue.

4 My Hero Academia

Published by Shueisha

• Created by: Kohei Horikoshi
• First issue published: July 7, 2014

In a world ruled by superpowers (Quirks in the series), there are people who don’t have any. Izuku Midoriya is one of those unfortunate ones, but after meeting the world’s greatest superhero, he gains a Quirk called One For All, which he plans to use to become a great hero, just like his idol All Might.

My Hero Academia is a manga that introduces readers to many faces throughout its 430 chapters, but all of them have their time to shine as the threats they face become more and more existential. It is a manga that enjoys the ups and downs that come with being a super-powered being at every opportunity.

3 Sailor Moon

Published by Kodansha

• Created by: Naoko Takeuchi
• First issue published: 28 December 1991

Sailor Moon follows the reborn Sailor Guardians as they work together to protect the innocent from the forces of evil. And protect them they will, as the heroes face one threat after another, both to Earth and the universe.

With its interesting power system and surprisingly complex story, this manga has managed to retain its huge fan base even decades after its conclusion. And since it’s a shojo series aimed at girls, it became the gateway into the world of comics for many women around the world.

2 The Umbrella Academy

Published by Dark Horse Comics

• Created by: Gerard Way
• First issue published: September 2007

Fans of My Chemical Romance may not have known that frontman Gerard Way has always had an interest and affinity for creating comics. Without their later support The Umbrella Academy may never have seen the light of day.

Related

Who is your favorite character from “The Umbrella Academy”?

My favorite character in The Umbrella Academy is torn between Five, Klaus, and Diego. Klaus has my favorite power in the series (but Diego is a close second) and I enjoy his development throughout the different seasons and time periods. I really like Diego’s personality and how he initially comes across as a somewhat ruthless tough guy, but later reveals his soft side and past struggles. Plus, his relationship with his “mother”/Grace is so heartwarming. And finally, it’s hard not to like Five – this character is just the perfect embodiment of a “grumpy old man stuck in a child’s body.”

The story follows a “family” of super-powered people who were all born on the same day from different mothers, but were brought together by a wealthy benefactor and raised as siblings. Later in their lives, they are called together to save the world from an impending danger. It’s a strange story to say the least, but one that was interesting enough to be turned into a popular Netflix show.

1 Judge Dredd

Published by IPC Media and Rebellion Developments

• Created by: John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra and Pat Mills
• First appearance: March 5, 1977

In a distant cyberpunk future, Judge Dredd is a police officer of sorts, tasked with preventing and punishing crime. With a mountain of bullets and quick witted quips, he will stop at nothing to keep the streets of Mega-City One clean.

Full of hyper-violence and full of satire, Judge Dredd is a cautionary tale about the long arm of government justice. As such, Dredd and the rest of the Judges are not meant to be seen as “good guys.” Still, it’s hard to look away from their heroic deeds highlighted in these comics.