Personal Favorites: Top 21 Indie

From high-end studios to self-published stories, there are worlds of imagination outside of the "Big Two" companies. Here are my Top 21 Independent Characters.

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  1. Empowered

  
  

  Elissa Megan Powers wants to be a respected hero in the worst way. As a bondage-prone heroine, Empowered does her best to stay positive in Adam Warren's tongue-in-cheek universe. Despite the kinky nature of this Dark Horse series, it is Emp's character development and heart that shine brightest.

  
  
  


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  2. Melaka Fray

  
  

  Joss Whedon introduced Melaka Fray as the future Slayer in her own limited series from Dark Horse. Possessing half the slayer powers and none of the experience, Melaka battled the supernatural as well as her estranged family. Eventually encountering Buffy Summers during the Season 8 arc, Fray has emerged as one of Whedon's best comic creations to date.

  
  
  


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  3. La Bionda

  
  

  A mysterious thief who ends up in all sorts of bondage predicaments, "the Blonde" was developed by Italian artist Franco Saudelli. Published under the Eros imprint, the decidedly adult comics proved to be a hit with audiences around the globe. With quirky characters, screwball plots, and fit-to-be-tied escapades, the Blonde in surely a league of her own.

  
  
  


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  4. Megatron

  
  

  Leader of the Decepticons, Megatron established himself as the iconic villain of the Transformers universe. Incarnated into various forms across the years, his goal of Cybertronian subjugation remains the same. Currently housed under IDW, Megatron schemes to rule with an iron fist.

  
  
  


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  5. Ultra

  
  

  The title heroine of her own Image series, Pearl Penalosa championed for justice as the beloved Ultra. When pictures from a one-night stand are leaked to the press, Pearl is forced to deal with fallout of a very personal attack on her life. Existing as a satire of celebrity-obsessed culture, Ultra's storyline is a powerful as it is poignant.

  
  
  


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  6. Vampblade

  
  

  Comic store assistant Katie Carva found herself transformed by twin mystical blades into a walking '90s bad girl. Using her new powers to hunt space vampires across the Action Lab universe, Carva is growing into to her new role of Vampblade. While Katie would prefer to be stocking comic shelves, the origins of her abilities are drawing Katie into a world of danger and intrigue.

  
  
  


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  7. Slash

  
  

  Originally created as a foil for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Slash became a popular anti-hero in his many incarnations. The Archie version fought for his palm tree, the IDW version seeks to protect his fellow mutants, and the Nickelodeon version just likes to hit things. No matter the venue, Slash always remains a cut above the rest.

  
  
  


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  8. Bettie Page

  
  

  Based on real-life model Betty Mae Page, Bettie has made countless appearances under the pencils of various artists: Jim Silke, Olivia, and Dave Stevens, to name a few. The right mix of sultry and sweet, Betty's legacy lives on in the flirty adventures of her comic counterpart.

  
  
  


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  9. Kir Kanos

  
  

  Imperial Guardsman Kir Kanos found himself out of a job following the demise of the Emperor. Determined to eradicate all who had betrayed the Galactic Empire, Kanos wandered the Star Wars universe as a vengeful bounty hunter. One of Dark Horse's most unique additions to the Star Wars mythos, Kir Kanos's twisted idea of honor generated an engaging tale.

  
  
  


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  10. Bomb Queen

  
  

  Engineered to be a living weapon, the volatile Bomb Queen rules over the depraved criminal oasis of New Port City. Not above using terror, violence, or sex to get her way, the Queen makes up her own rules as she goes along. Blowing up Image's Shadowline imprint, Bomb Queen's saga is a blast.

  
  
  


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  11. Umbrella Academy

  
  

  Reginald Hargreeves groomed seven special children to become a team of heroes - only to watch them drift apart over time. Only the emergence of a global threat would once again unite the Umbrella Academy, forcing them to accept themselves in order to save the world. Despite the limited run, the creative partnership of Dark Horse and Gerard Way generated something special.

  
  
  


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  12. Mitchell Hundred

  
  

  Mitchell Hundred initially attempted to use his technological gifts to fight crime as the Great Machine. Realizing that he could do more good within the system, Hundred attempted to change things as a politician rather than a vigilante. Fighting in a mature arena of red tape and double talk, Hundred emerged as the breakout star of Wildstorm's politically-charged comic series.

  
  
  


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  13. The Tick

  
  

  The Tick is the nigh-invulnerable dispenser of justice, battling all manner of evil in the superhero satire series from New England Comics. The bouncing blue hero evolved from scathing pastiche into lovable lunatic, even transitioning into an oddball animated series. Naively entertaining, the Tick and his cast of characters remind readers that comics should be fun.

  
  
  


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  14. The Flare

  
  

  With heat-based powers that were literally burning him out, the Flare was determined to leave the world a better place. The two-issue Meltdown series pitted self-destructive Cal against against his deadliest foes, questioning whether noble intentions could make up for wrongful actions. Image's own hot-head offered a scathingly introspective look at the end of a hero's journey.

  
  
  


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  15. Madame Mirage

  
  

  The Madame Mirage program was a high-end holographic interface designed by the Temple sisters. When Angela Temple is murdered by corrupt corporation ASI, Harper dons the digital alias in order to exact revenge - all while wearing her sister's face. A twisted game of vengeance from the Top Cow universe, Madame Mirage was brought to life by the excellent pencils of Kenneth Rocafort.

  
  
  


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  16. Lisa Williams

  
  

  Lisa Williams is a frustrated girl dealing with loneliness. After meeting with dominatrix Ally Carter, Lisa began a journey of self-discovery that is chronicled in Stjepan Sejic's webcomic Sunstone. Published by Top Cow, characterization and charm have breathed humanity into Lisa and her circle of friends.

  
  
  


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  17. Joule

  
  

  Enlisting in the Superhero Idol competition, Leslie Linnell stepped into the spotlight with her easygoing facade. In truth, Joule sought to fulfill a vendetta against the villain who shattered her life. Aspen's Idolized serial twisted pop culture into superheroics, and made Joule a star.

  
  
  


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  18. Dr. Dinosaur

  
  

  H'ssssk is a hyper-intelligent raptor, seeking to control the world through his oddball schemes. With only a handful of adventures under his talons, the loud-mouthed villain's backstory has much to be revealed. Antagonist to Red 5 Comics' very own Atomic Robo, Dr. Dinosaur steals every scene he is in.

  
  
  


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  19. Cassie Hack

  
  

  Cassandra Hack was the daughter of a "slasher," powerful killers and psychopaths that haunt the Devil's Due universe of Hack/Slash. Cassie now slays these creatures with her partner Vlad, working out her own personal issues in the process. Tough and determined, Cassie Hack and her trusty baseball bat are not a team to be messed with under any circumstance.

  
  
  


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  20. The Lobster

  
  

  William "Lobster" Johnson made his mark (literally) on the enemies of freedom during the 1930s. Even death could not stop the Lobster, as Johnson returned in a ghostly incarnation to aid the BPRD numerous times. As one of the most powerful spirits of the Hellboy universe, Lobster Johnson added a pulp element to the mystical Dark Horse series.

  
  
  


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  21. Pearl Jones

  
  

  As the second vampire created on American soil, Pearl Jones was drafted into a war between cultures. Forever linked with the psychotic Skinner Sweet, Pearl put her abilities to use in wiping out the invading European bloodsuckers. Tough as nails, Pearl stole the spotlight in Vertigo's American Vampire series.