CREDIT: COVER CREDITS (LEFT TO RIGHT): ADRIAN DINGLE (HILLBOROUGH STUDIOS), SIMON ROY (IMAGE COMICS), JESSE JACOBS (KOYAMA PRESS)
Canadians have helped shaped the comic industry from the very beginning and Canadian comics just keep getting better.

Canadians have been steeped in comics since their tight-clad heroes and villains lept into the 20th century-from Nova Scotia native Hal Foster illustrating Tarzan in 1929, to Joe Shuster’s drawing of Superman in 1933. Despite the contributions it sometimes gets drowned out by Marvel and DC duking it out at the top. Well, not anymore. Thanks to indie publishing, new and old Canadian comics are getting into the hands of readers worldwide. Here’s a list of the best Canuck comics you probably never heard of.

Nelvana Of the Northern Lights by Adrian Dingle

Imagine an Inuit Wonder Woman, fighting bootleggers, Nazis and ice monsters. That’s Nelvana, a crimefighting goddess recreated from the Inuit tale of the same name. Adrian Dingle wrote and drew this Second World War era comic during a time when imports from the U.S. were strictly controlled. This meant entire markets opened for things like clothing and books – even comics – had to be made by Canadians, for Canadians. To push home the point of how awesome this collection is, Nelvana was the first Canadian national superhero, and one of the first female superheroes, premiering before Wonder Woman – Nelvana kicks ass.

Essex County by Jeff Lemire

Showcased at the Ting Comic Festival at the downtown ArtsProject last year, Jeff Lemire hails from Essex County, which he also chose to name his debut series. Essex County is beautiful, though also terribly sad. But it should not be a turn off for potential readers. Turning his home into a backdrop where brothers became enemies and families fell apart, it shows the human spirit at its best and worst. The only superheroes or aliens are in the protagonist’s imagination in this realistic and hauntingly beautiful comic. If you’re looking for something a little less close to home, try Lemire’s Trillium, a love story stretched between the past and future, connected by a single species of plant.

Jan’s Atomic Heart by Simon Roy

Somewhere Simon Roy stepped from our world and straight into that of Heavy Metal and 2000 AD. The B.C. writer/artist first trained in Ukraine, then returned to Canada – primed with a fine arts degree and enough comics for Jan’s Atomic Heart. A compilation of Roy’s university tales, the comic is a beautiful array of his growth as an artist and the overall range of what today’s comics can be. From an English-speaking gorilla in Shipwrecked, the human/alien duo in Hunter/Killer, or the title stories idea of robotic proxy bodies, Jan’s Atomic Heart is a treasure trove of what the artist is truly capable of. Also check out Tiger Lung about a neolithic shama and his struggle on the plains of Europe 35,000 years ago; it’s beautiful.

Safari Honeymoon by Jesse Jacobs

Jacobs was also featured at Ting Comic festival last year. Calling London home for several years, Jacobs continues a trend of vivid illustrations, drawing the patterns contained within life. His most recent work, Safari Honeymoon, is exactly as the title suggests. A rich couple hires out a local guide, taking them through the most dangerous environment in the world – the jungle. Complete with parasites trying to enter all holes possible and telepathic monkeys, it’s probably the weirdest book on this list. But with a beautiful all green colour palette and everything being drawn in a hypnotic fashion, it’s definitely worth it.