Creator owned books are probably the greatest thing about the comics industry for a variety of reasons. As a punk rock, do-it-yourself kind of guy, I love the lack of corporate involvement in creator owned comics. You see, when you read a book from Marvel or DC Comics, you’re reading a book that has editorial mandates and corporate interest from Disney and Warner Bros., respectively. To emphasize what that means, it restricts creator input in a series that you’re putting your hard-earned money towards. You’re not just reading a comic from Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham, you’re reading a comic by those two, Jim Lee, Dan DiDio, Mike Marts, and many others who should have no business having input on a comic made by incredibly creative people. You’re not reading a comic that’s sole intention is to be good, you’re reading a comic that a company thinks will sell units. The primary goal of these comics is to make money. So, in essence, you’re losing so much with editorial involvement that’s not there when you read a creator owned book. No one tells these people what they can and cannot have within the pages of their creations. And while I adore characters like Batman and many other mainstream heroes, there’s something magical and pure about reading a comic written and drawn by the creators of the property.

So, it’s in honor of Creator Owned Day that we wanted to take the time to have a look at some Creator Owned Comics That You Should Be Reading if you’re not already.

Got an iPad or a web browser? Of course you do! Well then, there’s great news for you, readers. The awesome fantasy-driven comic Skullkickers is currently having a 99 cent sale on the comiXology digital comics platform.

Now, I’ve been talking a lot about Skullkickers by Jim Zubkavitch, Edwin Huang, and Misty Coats on this site before, and as you can clearly tell, I absolutely love the series.

Each and every week “The Guy That Won’t Stop Tweeting About Felicity” MK2Fac3 and “Give Me An O!” Henchman21 read a lot of comics. Seriously you guys, a lot of comics. Maybe too many comics. I mean, it is possible”¦ theoretically. They look forward to some more than others, I mean, who doesn’t? So, let’s take a look into the depths of their pull lists, grab some comics, and we’ll let YOU know what the top books to look forward to are for the week of November 16, 2011. Single issues and trades, they’re all here.

Okay, so Felicity is a really great show, you guys. It’s about a college-aged girl’s growth as a person when she goes to college in New York City, a long way away from her hometown of Palo Alto, California. In my humble opinion, it’s the spiritual follow up to one of my favorite shows of all time, My So-Called Life. I’m still in the first season, but I can’t stop watching it, nor can I stop talking about it. Hence, what I’m writing right now. It’s a J.J. Abrams show, and you can absolutely tell. It’s not science fiction, but there’s a lot of fun to be had. Also, it’s streaming on Netflix Instant Watch, so you should totally check it out. Oh wait, I’m not reviewing Felicity? I’m supposed to be talking about comics? This is The GoD List! Well, let’s get to it!

Skullkickers, Volume 1
1000 Opas and a Dead Body
Written by Jim Zub
Art by Edwin Huang and Chris Stevens
Colors by Misty Coats and Chris Stevens
Price: $9.99
Image Comics
Release date: March 9, 2011

Skullkickers is a relatively new series from Image that has quickly found an audience and built a buzz. Their first trade paperback collection, “1000 Opas and a Dead Body”, collects the first storyline and their earlier appearances in the Image comics anthology Popgun.

Skullkickers follows the infamous exploits of two unnamed bounty hunters, a short, rude dwarf and a giant bald fellow who we shall refer to as “Dwarf and Big Guy”. They are fighting a werewolf and breaking up a cult. Later we learn that they are performing these acts for a fee. Soon after disposing of the werewolf, they witness the murder of a chancellor. The chancellor’s associates pay them 1000 opas to bring the killer to justice. Of course, what seems like a simple jobs becomes a madcap adventure that involves demons, gypsies, monsters, and the fate of an entire kingdom.