From surreal landscapes to dystopian societies, these stories navigate the disorienting yet thrilling experience of stepping into the unknown. Exploring the themes of transformation and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of the unknown, these Fresh Friday Features offer a thrilling escape into realms where the line between reality and fantasy blurs.
This week, ArtCrumbs picked four titles that'll transport you to new worlds! In our line-up this week, we've got one comic from each category to vary up your weekend reading!
- Comic - Meme Heroes: One day you open your cell phone and find that it has become a self-help reincarnation system, you think you can finally end your life as a loser and start a new life!
- Graphic Novel - In the Shadow of the Throne: Instead of wandering around the museum, Jordan finds himself dropped in a fantasy world of magic where he can finally have some fun and train to become a knight.
- Manga - Armageddon Divinity: Only a handful of magical girls can stop a demon incursion.
- Webcomic - Icy Copper: Stuck in an eternal winter doesn't sound fun, but how else can you find your lost abilities?
Meme Heroes, 49 pages - Published by Meme Heroes, (cc/ @MemeHeroes)
One day you open your cell phone and find that it has become a self-help reincarnation system, you think you can finally end your life as a loser and start a new life! But you are transported to an unknown world where even the children in crotch pants know kungfu... When you are abused by kids and want to cry, you find that you can not go back... The only way to regain your life is to learn the best kung fu and defeat the BOSS behind the scene!
Story and Art by Meme Heroes
Comments from @ArtCrumbs:
With a name like "doggo" and skills in the martial arts as smooth as a gravel road, you know it's gonna be a great comic! I was recommended to read Meme Heroes by a friend of mine, looking for a nice vertical comic to read. Meme Heroes hits everything that I can think of as far as the bar for awesomeness. Great humor, and unpredictable humor is the best kind. I don't typically read comedy, or find myself enjoying comedy often, but the jokes are well-timed and the events themselves somewhat hard to predict! Lots of surprises and things not going as planned for the protagonist.
As an isekai, my expectations were a little high, as the genre is flourishing in the last few years, and it's hard to stand out. The artwork in Meme Heroes is clean, the spacing between panels in vertical scroll feels natural, and utilizes side-by-side reading and composition well too! I read through the first 2 episodes, and I'm super excited to read more!
In the Shadow of the Throne, 165 pages - Published by Mad Cave Studios, (cc/ @chrisfernandez)
Maverick by Mad Cave Studios presents: When his younger siblings and parents begin to irritate him on vacation, Jordan tries to get some space. But instead of wandering around the museum, he finds himself dropped in a fantasy world of magic where he can finally have some fun and train to become a knight. Except Prince Astel and Sir Griffith are about to uncover a sinister secret kept hidden by the queen that’ll thrust Jordan in the middle of a magical battle he never could have anticipated.
Story and Art by Mad Cave Studios
Comments from @ArtCrumbs:
Ever go to a museum and get lost in the amazing art and relics you see? Maybe you've been transported to a mysterious world with magic and have to save a prince from some demonic wolves? No? Just me?
Jordan ends up doing that exact thing after wondering off while in said museum. I really loved how smooth the transition was between the two "spaces and times", it was beautifully done and effortless as a reader to follow. What I also really liked was the way magic was handled, as something tangible to many different senses like sound and smell. The colors are generally pretty soft, but it has moments where it stands out.
I won't speak too much to the events of the story, as the description above covers it very well. I loved this enough to want a copy for myself and purchased a PDF. It's also a fitting feature for Pride Month! Thank you team and Mad Cave for sharing this with us!
Armageddon Divinity, 186 pages - Published by Cayen's comics, (cc/ @Cayen)
Humanity is fighting for it's life as a demon incursion seeks to wipe them out. Only a handful of magical girls can stop it.
Story and Art by Cayen's comics
Comments from @ArtCrumbs:
These magical girls are your average beauties! They'll do whatever it takes to exterminate the demon invasion and save humanity! Rough and tumble, gristly, cussing, and gun-toting magical girls are a wonderfully unique combination, I don't really recall seeing it anywhere else. After going through some intense science to become a magical girl, Brighid works with the military to start her demon-fighting career, but she'll have to meet the other magical girls first and figure out how to get along.
I myself love a good shojousei, but I hold seinen close to my heart as well. This is the manga that fits both sets of expectations. It's gritty, rough, and brutal. There's a level of sass and crassness we don't typically see in magical girl manga, it's delightfully unexpected and I'm happy to share it all with you.
I have known the creator, Cayen, for some time now, and it's a pleasure to see this transform into its own. Read this manga over the weekend, I hope it supercedes your expectations for what a magical girl manga can be.
Icy Copper, 35 pages - Published by Toivoshi, (cc/ @Toivoshi)
An incapable shapeshifter gets stuck in the land of eternal winter while searching for his abilities. Catching up with updates here every Monday and Friday! More info/links at icycopper.carrd.co
Story and Art by Toivoshi
Comments from @ArtCrumbs:
A beautiful blend of painted and a traditional comic, Icy Copper is a must-read if you are into mythology, lore surrounding animals or prophecies, and underdogs. I read every single update this creator has in one sitting. The artwork is beautiful, there's no shortage of backgrounds or perspective. The idea of hooved animals having each their own unique cultures is not something that I would have thought of, personally, but it's wonderfully woven with the artwork.
Story-wise, it's fun, sly, and clearly there's a lot of mysteries and hidden motives about. The drama is real, as well as the bizarre lore surrounding our main characters. It's a hidden gem, and I strongly suggest this to be added to your reading lists! Keep up the great work, Toivoshi, I loved it!
That's all for now, but we'll have another set of Fresh Friday reading recommendations next week. If you're looking for more recommendations, make sure to opt-in for our weekly reading list email! You can find that in your User Profile Notification settings. You can also browse through our Featured Comics news section!
Check out more amazing stuff from @ArtCrumbs below.
ArtCrumbs