If you were going to bring a title to a publisher...

RJMooreII · Post by **RJMooreII** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:48 pm

Let's say you have a title that is so great you know you can get any given publisher to take it...what company, publisher and/or imprint would you go with?

I am something of a comic writer (though nothing professional) and, given my taste for realistic but non-gritty, I would say I would fit in best at either Image or Vertigo. Both are very creater-driven; though Image has better policies in terms of how much an artist gets once he covers printing and promotional costs. Then again, if DC/Vertigo picks up your book, you get at least one paycheck no matter what.

Although a lot of stuff I would like to write would go on the MAX or Icon Imprints under Marvel I just don't feel that Marvel is as open to new directions as DC or Image are.

400yrs · Post by **400yrs** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:50 pm

If you are going to try Image, you'll need an artist. They don't match people up. You can't just sumbit a script.

You really should submit everywhere. You'll probably get rejected everywhere and the experience will help.

RJMooreII · Post by **RJMooreII** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:55 pm

400yrs wrote:If you are going to try Image, you'll need an artist. They don't match people up. You can't just sumbit a script.

You really should submit everywhere. You'll probably get rejected everywhere and the experience will help.

This is more a hypothetical on if you had a sellable property. But you're correct, you either need to be or have an artist before Image will publish you.

400yrs · Post by **400yrs** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 10:22 pm

If you don't mind doing your own promotion, I'd do Image. The creator gets the reward, but there's no push from the company.

Unblessed · Post by **Unblessed** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 10:28 pm

There are some working-less than they use to artists out there. Have you asked them?

Jim Lawson comes to mind. Since TMNT vol 4 and Tales of TMNT have slowed/stopped.

That David Sim guy did that book about Cerebus?

I know some artists are more open to talk with fans via email than others. Some have blogs, etc.

Then again, I'm a total fan of the self-published book. I just love indy books. If it's an anthromorphic animal book....

xodacia81 · Post by **xodacia81** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 10:32 pm

Speaking of self published work, ever heard of Arrow Comics? They started up because the founders were impressed with the success of the first issues of TMNT, perhaps THE example of self published books. The editor in chief is a local guy, but I've never thought of taking my stuff there. I just don't think it would be the right fit.

RJMooreII · Post by **RJMooreII** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 10:47 pm

Just so everyone is clear, properties I have developed are far from ready for launching off. I am just wondering about your opinions of various publishers.

xodacia81 · Post by **xodacia81** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 10:52 pm

RJMooreII wrote:Just so everyone is clear, properties I have developed are far from ready for launching off. I am just wondering about your opinions of various publishers.

Image seems the most open to new talent, of "major" publisher. If this had been ten years ago, I would have also listed Dark Horse. Otherwise, you're best bet is doing it yourself or finding a very small press company that wants to work with you.

RJMooreII · Post by **RJMooreII** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 10:54 pm

xodacia81 wrote:
RJMooreII wrote:Just so everyone is clear, properties I have developed are far from ready for launching off. I am just wondering about your opinions of various publishers.
Image seems the most open to new talent, of "major" publisher. If this had been ten years ago, I would have also listed Dark Horse. Otherwise, you're best bet is doing it yourself or finding a very small press company that wants to work with you.

Thanks for the info. Small press...like whom?
I have a big question: I can't really draw, I mean I can draw well enough to give an idea of what I want but I can't develop images suitable for comics. How do I get hooked up with artists if I don't know any?

I do have some serious intention of trying to put a book out during college that will be my dream "open-source, free-roam, superhuman, nul-trope fiction" comic. Unlike Gritty I am not going to intentionally buck tropes, but I am only going to allow them insofar as they are plausible social tropes rather than writing tropes.

xodacia81 · Post by **xodacia81** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 10:57 pm

RJMooreII wrote:
xodacia81 wrote:
RJMooreII wrote:Just so everyone is clear, properties I have developed are far from ready for launching off. I am just wondering about your opinions of various publishers.
Image seems the most open to new talent, of "major" publisher. If this had been ten years ago, I would have also listed Dark Horse. Otherwise, you're best bet is doing it yourself or finding a very small press company that wants to work with you.
Thanks for the info. Small press...like whom?
I have a big question: I can't really draw, I mean I can draw well enough to give an idea of what I want but I can't develop images suitable for comics. How do I get hooked up with artists if I don't know any?

I do have some serious intention of trying to put a book out during college that will be my dream "open-source, free-roam, superhuman, nul-trope fiction" comic. Unlike Gritty I am not going to intentionally buck tropes, but I am only going to allow them insofar as they are plausible social tropes rather than writing tropes.

There are a lot of different small press out there. Some of them even have a presence around these parts. As to the question of an artist, that IS the question. I have no answers there.

superman-prime · Post by **superman-prime** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 11:58 pm

image if you have a good book story and are ready to go they will take care of all the legal crap for ya

DH its tough to get in but they are great

aracnia is good but very small press