Love That? Try This!

The weekend numbers are in, and Marvel Studio's latest, Doctor Strange, is a hit! It takes the now classic Marvel origin formula and gives it a fresh coat of mystical paint while expanding what we know about the shared universe and offering innovative solutions to world-ending problems. Comic books outside of the Big Two superhero universes are full of stories about magic, demons and alternate dimensions and we've put together a list of five of the best independent titles for you to try next.

Over the past few weeks, HBO's new hit series Westworld has captivated a viewership with its complex tale morality play of gods, men and machines. As great as Westworld is, it's only on for one hour a week, and soon it'll reach the season finale. If you need more of that good machines-achieving-sentience action, we've selected five of the best robotic comics for you to sample next. Love that? Try this.

We're currently in the midst of our Fantasy Week, and there's no greater fantasy tale than JRR Tolkein's epic Lord of the Rings trilogy. The series --- which was later adapted by Peter Jackson as one of the most critically acclaimed genre franchises of all time --- helped define Western interpretations of the genre as a whole and even people who don't care for fantasy probably have some positive feelings about Lord of the Rings. Comic books have a long history with the genre and we've assembled a list of five of the best independent fantasy comics for you to check out if you're a fan of the genre. Love that? Try this!

Odds are, you're one of the millions worldwide who binged all of Luke Cage when it premiered on Netflix last weekend. With its sterling cast, gripping story & standout score, Marvel's newest original TV series for the streaming giant is the best one they've made yet. If you loved the NYC authenticity & hip-hop/R&B-infused aesthetic of the series --- and you've read all the Luke Cage comics you can get your hands on --- we've got five of the best creator-owned comics that capture that same feeling. Love that? Try this!

Chikara Pro Wrestling is wrestling for people that think they might not like wrestling. It’s essentially a fast-paced, high-action stunt show with plenty of drama, comedy and excitement, and it's essentially the closest thing you’ll get to seeing superheroes in real life. I love Chikara so much that I've just spent three days watching the huge King of Trios tournament alongside other ComicsAlliance staffers!. If you love Chikara or the art of lucha libre in general, there’s a wealth of comics out there for you. Earlier this year, I recommended five comics for fans of WrestleMania, but this week I’ve chosen five comics with a decidedly lucha twist that are perfect for fans of Chikara Pro Wrestling. Love that? Try this!

Who’d have thought in a world where we have Chopped and Cutthroat Kitchen that one of the most popular cooking shows is about a group of British people being nice to each other in a tent? Great British Bake Off --- or The Great British Baking Show if you’re watching PBS --- has proved to be an international hit and people around the world are enthralled with the competition to find Britain’s next best baker. It may surprise you that there are actually a host of great cooking and baking based comic books, and the genre seems to be, excuse me, on the rise. If you love GBBO or baking and cooking in general, we’ve got a list of five great independent comics that might whet your appetite.

Whenever Laika put out a new film, it's worth sitting up and paying and attention, and between films like Paranorman, Coraline and The Boxtrolls, the studio has proved itself one of the best places for nuanced and touching approaches to films aimed at children. Laika's newest release, Kubo and the Two Strings, is based on classic Chinese stories and traditions, and comics is a medium that has provided opportunities for creators from around the world to tell their own cultures' stories and traditions. If you loved Kubo and the Two Strings, we've put together a list of five comics to check out next. Love that? Try this!

Over the past month or so, it seems like everybody and their mother has become obsessed with the latest hit Netflix original series, Stranger Things. The '80s-inspired horror series blends the likes of Stand By Me and ET: The Extraterrestrial with elements of eldritch horror and X-Files-style conspiracies and the lead cast of kids is one of the most engaging group of youngster on television. If you've found yourself craving more stories in a similar vein, we've put together a list of five of the best independent comics that deal with similar themes of horror, nostalgia, friendship and conspiracy. Love that? Try this!

Suicide Squad is the latest film from DC Comics' cinematic universe, and while it has received mostly negative reviews, many die-hard DC fans have come away thrilled by the villain-centric romp. If you're one of those that loved the film and want more comics in the same vein --- but you already know to check out the John Ostrander, Kim Yale and Luke McDonnell run on the series --- we've got a list of five independent comics to seek out next. Love that? Try this!

This year we're celebrating fifty years of Star Trek, and as part of the celebrations there's not only a brand new film in cinemas now, but Bryan Fuller is also working on a new television series titled Star Trek: Discovery, due out next year. Star Trek's vision of the future can represent the very best of who we can be as a species, but often it shows how easily it is to become corrupt. We've selected five of the best independent sci-fi comics to check out after seeing Star Trek: Beyond in the cinema. Love that? Try this!