The picks this week for our roundup of worthy projects from crowdfunding sites are all comics. No industry is changing more in the face of crowdfunding than comic books: as traditional publishers continue to focus on broad appeal, independent writers and artists are bypassing publishing companies and Diamond entirely by going straight to readers to offer their wares. Here are four books to keep an eye on, with nary a superhero in sight.

Pick #1 – Wild Blue Yonder

It’s been 9 years since the release of Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge on the original X-Box, and while the game didn’t perform well enough to get a sequel (we’re still holding out hope) we’re happy to say Wild Blue Yonder is a comic that looks like it could hold us over nicely. Wild Blue Yonder follows the adventures of a teenage fighter pilot named Cola as she and her family fight to survive in the skies over a wasteland that once was Earth. The survivors of a ravaged planet have taken to the air in makeshift Zeppelins and flying fortresses. Jet packs, warplanes, and even sky cycles all make appearances in this aviation extravaganza from Zach Howard, Mike Raicht, and Austin Harrison. If you ever wanted to see a project that looked like Mad Max meets The Rocketeer, you’ve found it.

Pick #2 – Pawn Shop: Love and Life in NYC

Four New Yorkers lives intersect through an eponymous pawn shop in Manhattan. Each chapter of the book will follow a different character as they deal with life in New York City, aging, relationships, and regret. The heartfelt story is written by long-time New Yorker Joey Esposito, who successfully created his last book Footprints through Kickstarter. The book looks to be a quiet, introspective tale and worthy of your attention.

Pick #3 – G.E.E.K.

When an ordinary Comic-Con goer is swept up into a world of spies and intrigue, he’s not sure what to do. His only option may be to become the leader of the secret government organization called G.E.E.K. The G.E.E.K. team faces off against the forces of SLICK, an evil organization bent on ruling the world. Springing from the mind of Matt Cohen, the book will be drawn by Axel Ortiz and feature stylized, sleek artwork. According to Cohen, G.E.E.K. is “a love letter to all the things that make the Geeky world go round.” We can’t wait. We haven’t gotten a love letter since the teacher stopped requiring students to bring valentines for everyone in 5th grade.

Pick #4 – Golem: A Sci-fi Graphic Novel – Swords, Guns, & Revenge

Golem is a creature in Jewish folklore made from clay or other earthly materials. The most well known story of the Golem is its use to defend the Jewish Ghetto in Prague. In the story, the Golem became violent and began killing indiscriminately. Hilary Goldstein has created a comic that is heavily influenced by that classic tale while dropping it into a future world of mercenaries, familial relationships, and revenge. The leads form a mother-and-son mercenary team with Danya taking on the role of the Golem when she scrawls Hebrew letters on her forehead to become unstoppable in her pursuit of revenge. We’re so glad that our take-your-child-to-work days were never this violent.