Welcome to my first column here at InvestComics.com.

To start with, here are two reviews from the world of independent comic books (meaning anything not DC or Marvel):

MINDFIELD #1

Aspen Comics

J.T. Krul, writer and creator

Alex Konat, illustrations

Saleem Crawford & Jon Bolerjack, inks

John Starr, colors

Josh Reed, letters

$2.99

What writer and creator J.T. Krul did with MINDFIELD is write a pilot for a television action drama that should replace "24" on Fox.

In this first issue, we are introduced to five government agents who can read minds. It comes in handy when stopping members of a terrorist cell from detonating a bomb in the New York City subway.

However, it appears looking into people's minds can take its toll. Some members of this covert team become drunk with power, while others begin to question it.

Between the art by Alex Konat and the subplots and character development by Krul, this is the making for what could be an amazing series.  Considering the comic book world is dominated by super heroes, Krul is doing something fun with this book - experimenting.

The result of his experiment is a success.

BANE OF THE WEREWOLF #1

Silver Phoenix Entertainment

Rob Brown, writer and artist

$3.75

BANE OF THE WEREWOLF tells the story of Eliphas, a gypsy in 1640s France who finds out the werewolf curse runs through the family bloodline. When a gypsy witch faces danger from a ghoul, she unleashes his family's curse.

Eliphas transforms into werewolf reminiscent of Oliver Reed in THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF and strays away from the current UNDERWORLD style of werewolves.

BANE OF THE WEREWOLF is one of the best independent comic books ever made. From the cover, which is a tribute to the Marvel Comics monster books, to the interior which is closer in style to the newspaper comic strip PRINCE VALIANT than anythng comic book related.  Add to it, creator Rob Brown has made many other nods to Universal's monster pantheon.

Yet, Brown creates an original story that is (pardon the cliche) a page turner!

At the end of this comic, any reader will call Joe Quesada or Dan DiDio and ask, "Why are you people not publishing this?"

This is most assuredly worth the cover price!