Welcome to Fresh Friday Features, indie comics that showcase characters brimming with tenacity and fighting spirit. From epic battles to personal struggles, these stories highlight the indomitable strength of the human spirit, the forever warrior's internal fire, making them a must-read for fans of action, adventure, and inspirational storytelling.
This week, ArtCrumbs picked four titles that'll give you a peak into the ordinary lives that maybe aren't so ordinary anymore!
- Graphic Novel - Samurai Grandpa: A mysterious figure from retired samurai Ojichan's past resurfaces and his granddaughter goes missing. Now he is forced to set out on one last adventure.
- Comic - Phototaxis of a Fighter: A team of queer women fighters dream to get out of the slums.
- Manga - Guardian: In order to avoid the threat of Devourer (evil spirit who devour soul) a soul must be accompanied by the Guardian (Grim Reaper).
- Manga - 5STAR VICER: Akira wants to join Vicer to find his sister who went missing years ago. It is a bloody competition of people putting their lives on the line!
Samurai Grandpa, 166 pages - Published by Source Point Press, (cc/ @TravisM)
A Samurai past his prime, Ojichan has left the blade behind to live out his remaining days in peace with his family. But when a mysterious figure from his past resurfaces and his granddaughter goes missing, he is forced to set out on one last adventure. As he does, he must explore the depths of his own past, face monsters new and old, and question the choices that led to this final mission.
Story and Art by Eastin DeVerna and Shawn Daley
Comments from @ArtCrumbs: Can a retired samurai face his toughest foe ever?
The art in this is just stunning! Watercolor, texture, and beautiful intentional use of color to show the present, past, memory and mood. It was dreamy and soft in gentle moments when needed, yet could still feel sharp and move quickly when it was time for action!
It's a magical story that includes lots of different lore, from multiple lands, and develops the characters' motives in a provoking way. There's a deeper web of the characters being connected, which was engaging to unravel. I enjoyed sifting through the layers in this story! Great job, team!
Phototaxis of a Fighter, 145 pages - Published by Tarraxahum, (cc/ @tarraxahum)
An underground fighting arena, a mentally ill street brawler with unhealthy coping mechanisms, and a team of queer women* fighters dreaming to get out of the slums. Perhaps the real victory is the family and love we found along the way... Or perhaps it's time to bash some heads in. Turn it up!
Story and Art by Tarraxahum
Comments from @ArtCrumbs: What fighting is all you know, how do you seek out greener pastures?
Life is tough, and sometimes you gotta fight for survival! Imagine living your whole life that way, though? Our poor protagonist obviously has trouble feeling comfortable with rest and being at ease. It was very easy to feel empathy for her. It's nice to see a diverse cast, too!
The battle choreography was well done and flowed well with the panels, in addition to a few panel-less pages that had very easy reading flow. There are lots of fun textures and there's no shyness from backgrounds either. This comic hits all my notes for a great series! I'm already two chapters in, and I can't wait for more!
Guardian, 91 pages - Published by Eiidriyen, (cc/ @Eiidriyen)
when a person died, their soul will be transported to afterlife, but in order to avoid the threat of Devourer (evil spirit who devour soul) a soul must be accompanied by the Guardian (Grim Reaper) to ensure the success of entering the afterlife.
Story and Art by Eiidriyen
Comments from @ArtCrumbs: Are you ready to fight for your right to live?
Saving another's life is an admirable thing for someone to do, but it doesn't usually end the way it does here. Having to protect your soul from being devoured doesn't sound like a very fun prospect. I dunno about you, but I don't want that!
The character consistency is well done, and the twist that occurs later definitely upped the ante! I wasn't expecting that at all. I thought the story was going to go in a different direction. I was very happy to be proven wrong and see how this new journey begins. This manga also isn't shy of backgrounds with a feeling of a black and white anime with the stylistic difference.
I loved it so much that I read all (current) 4 chapters in one sitting, and I can't want for more! I'm looking forward to it!
5STAR VICER, 180 pages - Published by Kaz Art, (cc/ @kazart)
The Vice: Defense Agency tournament, is a place where only the strongest weavers, aka magic users, compete to gain new important information about the state of the weaver world, battle to their hearts content and get a chance at joining Vicer. Akira wants to join Vicer to find his sister who went missing years ago. The others competing have their own reasons for joining Vicer. It is a bloody competition of people putting their lives on the line to get what they want! READ 5STAR VICER TODAY! Chapter 7: July 7th updates every Friday
Story and Art by Kaz Art
Comments from @ArtCrumbs: What would you do to save your own sibling?
Would you join a deadly tournament for the chance to gain the power to accomplish your goals? Between deadly sharks, cardio, and good old-fashioned beat downs, this manga will get you rooting for your favorite competitor. Lots of big panels, double spreads, big action, and excitement. It's a great manga that'll keep you on the edge of your seat here. The dynamic poses and action are seriously impressive! There's 6 amazing chapters here for us to read, I'm only about 2 Chapters in, and I need to read more! I know how I'll spend my weekend!
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!
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