This past March, AiT/Planet Lar turned 10 years old. If you are not familiar with the name you should be. The publisher has supplied us with some fantastic creator-owned comic works this past decade. A publisher specializing in graphic novels featuring stories and creators the mainstream might not have ever embraced otherwise, not for lack of talent but because of an industry that mostly specializes in spandex heroes than most anything else. Strangely inspired by Warren Ellis’ Come In Alone columns and Dave Sim’s letter columns in the back of Cerebus, the publisher started about the time I desperately wanted something new, different,and more mature in my comics. When I was looking for comics that worked outside of the box a little bit.

I was very much a lover of DC’s Vertigo imprint when I had this desire for more out of my reading experience, but I wanted to read comics created by new, relatively unknown and passionate creators not servicing trademarks, who were struggling to give their own voices to the medium. The largely unknown yet talented individuals who had something genuine to contribute. There was a time I was going thorough Previews and looking for indie books, ordering a handful, only to be disappointed with the sheer amateurish things I had bought. I wanted to support new creators but I needed some graphic novels that would deliver the goods as well.

AiT/Planet Lar gave me Astronauts in Trouble (written by Larry Young, who runs and is largely responsible for the creation of AiT/Planet Lar) which I adored and from there I continued to find new and interesting projects to devour. I found Channel Zero by Brian Wood, which changed the way I thought about comics and who made me wish I was making my own graphic novels, too. It fed the part of me that wanted whole, self-contained stories. That made me want to dig into the meat of a book, have my way with it and let it push me to the next story like a man with a horribly expensive addiction.

Because of their recent anniversary, I once again checked out their website and looked through their list of titles. There were some really awesome comics I remember reading once upon a time and some I remember wanting to read. I suggest you go on sometime and see if you can find something that appeals to you. Go get a slice of fiction. Grab a book with a beginning, middle and an end for a reasonable price. I’m sure you will find something.

If not allow me a few suggestions to wet your appetite: Astronauts in Trouble: Live from the Moon, Channel Zero, The Couriers, Full Moon Fever, Switchblade Honey and The Annotated Mantooth.

- SJD