From the In Box: Comics Commotion II
Er... Ghost World? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? -- Joe Germuska

Good points, both. (And duh.) Not to pick nits or split hairs about the differences between alternative comics and independent comics, but I'd still contend that the early issues of TMNT were more independent than Dan Clowes' Eightball -- at least in terms of obscurity. I'd also argue that Mephisto and the Empty Box is much lesser known than either Eightball or TMNT. Does that make it more independent or alternative? Hmm. Nits and hairs.