Research Task: Comic Submission Guidelines
- Abbie Vidler
- Nov 5, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 10, 2022
While bigger comic publishing companies like Marvel and DC Comics don’t accept unsolicited submissions, many smaller companies do. Some have specific guidelines for how they like scripts to be written or their own sample scripts for illustrators to draw from that feature their own characters, and some are looking for original characters that they will publish. Similarly to book publishing and filmmaking, comics is a very competitive industry, so you may be disappointed at first, but the more thoughtful companies will offer feedback even if they’re not interested in your first submission, so you can keep trying and developing your work if you’re not successful at first. And there are always self-publishing networks, comic fairs, conventions, crowd-funding platforms and digital publishing if you just want the pleasure of getting your artwork out into the world.
Here is a sample list of just a few current comics publishers (of which there are literally hundreds) and their submission guidelines pages to give you an idea of the various types of comics they publish and the details of their guidelines:
● Action Lab Comics: http://www.actionlabcomics.com/contact/
● Aftershock Comics: https://aftershockcomics.com/submissions/
● Alterna Comics: https://www.alternacomics.com/submit-your-comic
● Avatar Comics: http://www.avatarpress.com/avatar-press-submission-guidelines/
● Dark Horse Comics: https://www.darkhorse.com/Company/Submissions
● Drawn & Quarterly: https://www.drawnandquarterly.com/faq-page
● Fantagraphics Books: http://fantagraphics.com/flog/frequently-asked-questions/
● Image Comics: https://imagecomics.com/submissions
● Iron Circus: https://ironcircus.com/submissions/
● Mad Magazine: https://www.madmagazine.com/submissions-form
● Nobrow (UK): https://nobrow.net/submissions/
● Titan Comics (UK): https://titancomics-wanted.tumblr.com/guidelines
● Toon Books: mail@toon-books.com
Look at the submission guideline pages on these companies’ websites and compare their requirements and specifications. It’s also worth looking at the comics and books they publish. Some companies will request either a synopsis or a full script, some will have specific script samples of their own characters for potential artists to illustrate, while some will only want to see your original characters and properties. Identify the companies producing the kind of comics you are interested in, and write a 200-word summary of this type of visual and narrative content.
Companies I liked
After researching into each of the companies I picked out a few companies that I would personally pick out.
- Drawn & Quarterly
-Fantagraphics
-Iron Circus
-Nobrow
200 Word Summary
After researching the different companies I could potentially work with I found 4 companies that I feel suit what I would/could work with. Drawn & Quarterly, Fantagraphics, Iron Circus, and Nobrow really appeal to me, due to their diverse range of visual styles; they all encourage visual freedom while telling a well-developed story. In terms of genre, many of them refuse the "trend" of zombies, superheroes, and violence (those being Fantagraphics and Iron Circus), which I'm not disappointed in since I want to drift away from those common genres.
The process of submitting work is varied from company to company, Drawn & Quarterly would like a low-resolution PDF file (details of the story and some sketches) and a cover letter. Fantagraphics would like 5 complete pages with a synopsis and length of the project; similar to Iron Comics just including a creative tea, timeline, and creator bio. While Nobrow would only like full synopsis, a sample of writing with brief-written characters (and sketches), and 10 fully-worked pages.
I find that I want to explore different stories rather than an ongoing series that Marvel and DC Comics do, I also want my visual style to be able to evolve and improve and the companies I picked out encourage that.
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