5 Non-Marvel/DC Superhero Comics That Are Actually Incredible

When most people think of superheroes, they picture the familiar faces from Marvel and DC, with Spider-Man swinging through New York or Batman fighting crime in Gotham. But beyond these household names lies a world of independent comics that push boundaries in ways the big publishers never could.

Independent superhero comics offer something the mainstream can’t, and that is complete creative freedom. From ultra-violent fights, weird mythology, or morally messy characters, these titles built their worlds with their own rules. Let’s take a look at five non-Marvel/DC superhero comics that prove great storytelling doesn’t need a corporate logo to pack a punch.

5. Black Hammer

Jeff Lemire and Dean Ormston made the Black Hammer comics. After saving the world from an apocalyptic threat, six superheroes find themselves mysteriously transported to Rockwood, a sleepy rural town that becomes their inescapable prison. As years turn into decades, these former champions attempt to build normal lives, but the facade grows increasingly difficult to maintain. Each hero represents a familiar comic book archetype: the aging strongman, the eternally young girl with incredible power, the alien detective, the reality-warping soldier, the magical witch, and the sentient robot. This slow-burning mystery examines what happens to heroes when their greatest victory becomes their most enduring defeat.

4. Radiant Black

Kyle Higgins and Marcelo Costa have created something that feels familiar and fresh in Radiant Black. The story follows Nathan Burnett, a writer whose creative dreams have crashed into the harsh reality of mounting debt. His life changes forever when he discovers a mysterious black orb that bonds with him, granting him a sleek alien suit and the power to manipulate gravity. He discovers that his newfound abilities connect him to an ancient cosmic war that spans galaxies. Radiant Black has stunning action sequences and interesting character development, demonstrating that fresh superhero stories don’t need decades of continuity to create lasting impact.

3. Irredeemable

Mark Waid and Peter Krause have created one of comics’ most terrifying thought experiments in Irredeemable, exploring what happens when the world’s most trusted protector becomes its greatest threat overnight. The Plutonian had spent years as humanity’s shining beacon of hope, a Superman-like figure. That sense of hope shatters completely when he begins systematically destroying everything he once protected, erasing entire cities from existence and methodically hunting down allies (known as The Paradigm). The mystery deepens as his allies uncover fragments of his human identity as Dan Hartigan, piecing together a trail of betrayals, romantic failures, and the overbearing weight of expectations.

2. Hellboy

Mike Mignola’s creation stands apart from typical superhero fare. Hellboy’s origin as a demon summoned by Nazis during World War II sets the tone for a series that treats the supernatural as mundane and finds humor in the darkest situations. Raised by Professor Trevor Bruttenholm and working for the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, Hellboy spends his days fighting the supernatural. The story has witches who run occult businesses, fairy tale monsters, and cosmic horrors from Lovecraftian nightmares. Hellboy’s role in all this cosmic horror is personal, as he’s prophesied to bring about the apocalypse, but he’d rather drink beer and punch monsters.

1. Invincible

Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker created something that looks familiar but quickly becomes anything but ordinary. Mark Grayson starts as your typical teenage superhero, awkward at school, eager to follow in his father’s footsteps, learning to use powers that include flight and super strength. His dad, Omni-Man, represents everything a hero should be: noble, powerful, and dedicated to protecting Earth from alien threats, the Viltrumites. This setup lasts long enough for readers to get comfortable before Kirkman pulls the rug out completely. The revelation about Omni-Man’s true nature transforms the entire series from a coming-of-age story into something much darker and more complex. The animated adaptation is available to stream on Amazon Prime.