Carl Doherty came, he saw, he lugged his own weight home in comic books.

As ever, the British International Comic Show in Birmingham was an eye opener. It’s difficult to conceive of any other storytelling medium that would receive such an intimate display of affection. From the established talent that not only offered signings but were always willing to chat, to hopeful self-publishers unveiling their creations on the world, there was something for everyone.

In fact, if anything struck me most about BICS 2009, it was the diversity of the indie and self-published books on offer. So often comic books are crudely categorised as simply superhero tales or manga, with a gaping chasm in-between. BICS 2009 emphasised that this simply wasn’t the case, the sequential art translations of literary favourite published by Classical Comics alone defy this ignorant overgeneralization.

There were some great events on too, including a talk by Japanese illustrator Michiru Morikawa – her images graced much of the show’s publicity material – about her work and career. DC editor Michael Wright and some very artistic company chatted about 70 years of the Dark Knight, and Tim Pilcher discussed the creative exchange between the comic book and film industries. The ‘Comics Insider’ symposium was particularly interesting, as publishers, creators and retailers alike exchanged ideas

But that’s enough about that.

I’ve been meaning to commence a regular series for alltern8.com for several months now, in which I simply mention several self-published or small press books that have taken my eye. Nothing more, nothing less; these aren’t reviews as such, but a nod to the charming and inventive work that is being produced on the periphery. Visit these talented people’s sites, buy their books or enjoy their webcomic, and tell your friends. Spread the word. That’s the most anyone can possibly do.