CASSEROLE
Hints for getting into the comic industry
With the increasing popularity of comic books,
more and more people are becoming interested in
working within the comic book industry. While there
are hundreds of different types of jobs available, the
two most popular jobs are writer and artist.
Although each company has its own set of
guidelines regarding submissions, they are basically
the same. To get started as an artist — either a
penciler or an inker — it is recommended that you
submit several pages of sequential art.
Comic books are a story-oriented medium, and as
a prospective artist, you must prove your ability to
tell a story with pictures. Although large splash
pages are in vogue, companies require you to submit
several pages of everyday people doing everyday
things.
Look at the artists who have been around for a
long time, such as John Byrne, Frank Miller, Bemie
Wrightson and Barry Smith. They have enjoyed
more than 20 years of success because their art tells
a good story, not because they can draw 20 pages of
muscle men beating each other up.
If you wish to submit pencil art, send in good
photocopies, not your originals. If your interests lie
in inking, write to the submissions editor of the
company and ask for sample pencil art that you can
ink.
Breaking in as a writer is much more difficult
than breaking in as an artist, mainly because it takes
more time to review written material than it does to
review art. Although most companies ask that you
send your work to their submission editors, it is my
experience that you get a better response if you send
it directly to an editor who edits the type of books on
which you would like to work.
For Marvel and DC, your submission should be a
one- or two-page typed synopsis of your story. Do
not send complete scripts or other material, because
they will not read them. Also, if you are a beginning
writer, do not submit a 12-part epic or try to take
over a title like “X-Men” or “Batman.” Submit a
story that will take only one issue, because this is
more likely to be purchased. Dark Horse Comics
requires a more extensive submission, so it is best to
write and ask for its guidelines.
Larger companies rarely purchase unsolicited
work. Your best bet is to submit your material to an
independent publisher and slowly build up your
credentials. Smaller publishers are more willing to
work with unknowns and offer them more freedom.
The biggest question is how much you make.
The larger publishers pay a certain page rate, but
most of the independents pay little or nothing. Pay
is usually based upon sales of the book.
Although working for free is not that appealing,
in the long run it could pay off. If you meet editors
and have a slew of small press books to show that
you have been published, they will take you more
seriously. Also, remember that most current comic
professionals got their start in the small press.
With the current explosion of comic book
publishers, there are more opportunities and venues
available than ever before. Always make sure your
submission is neat and free of errors and include a
brief cover letter. And always include a self
addressed stamped envelope. If you don’t, the
publisher will not reply to you. And be
patient. —William Harms
Artists treading into new territory
tiy william ndrma
Staff Reporter
During his 17 years as a comic book professional,
Frank Miller has worked on nearly every major
comic book character.
When he took over “Daredevil” in the late
seventies, he brought a book back from the verge of
cancellation to popularity.
When “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns” came
out, Miller forever changed the face of comics,
presenting a Batman the world had never seen
before.
As influential as Miller has become, it’s hard to
believe that he was once a young artist trying to get
his foot in the door.
“I didn’t have any formal art training,” Miller
said in a phone interview from his home in Southern
California. “It was just a lot of practice. I got some
instruction from Neal Adams, who would look at my
stuff and then give me a verbal lashing over what I
did wrong.
“Generally
I hung
around
lobbies
a lot
and
made
w a
nuisance of myself,” he said.
Miller said the world of comics was much
different in those days. Sales on most books were
falling and the general notion was that there would
be no comics in five years, he said. Pay for the
creators also was poor.
“Artists would dry up and bum out,” Miller said.
“The rules were so bad. The pay was bad. I could
have never have done a book like ‘Sin City’ back
then.”
Times have changed, Miller said. When seven of
Marvel’s most popular creators bolted from the
company and formed Image comics in 1992, it was
the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“Image really changed the face of comics
forever,” Miller said. “They proved that books based
on the talents of the creators, instead of the
characters, could sell.”
The succes of Image, Miller said, was partially
responsible for the formation of the Legend line of
comics.
About a year ago Miller, along with John Byrne,
came up with the idea for Legend. Other Legend
creators included Arthur Adams, Mike
Mignola,Geoff Darrow, Paul Chadwick and Dave
Gibbons.
“Basically we’re a gang of lunatics sharing a flag
as we all run in different directions,” Miller said.
So far Miller has ran the farthest and in the most
directions. The fourth issue of the six part “Sin City:
A Dame To Kill For” should be released soon, and
in May the second series will be released featuring
the character, Martha Washington, who appeared in
the mini-series “Give Me Liberty” a couple years
ago.
Entitled “Martha Washington Goes to War,” the
i series will begin two years after the first one ended,
\ and Martha wiU have spent those years fighting in
4
the Second U.S. Civil War
The Fall of 1994 will also see the release of
“The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot,”
which will feature the artwork of
Darrow. He teamed with Miller
before in the series “Hard Boiled.”
Next Fall also will see the release of
the third “Sin City” series.
With the trends in the comic book
industry pointing toward more and more
super-hero universes, Miller said, Legend is a
breath of fresh air.
“I’m very tired of the Universe of the Month
Club,” Miller said. “And I’ve never been one to
follow trends. I’m having the time of my life. These
are the kind of comics I used to do when I was 14
years old. When you put your heart and soul i
something, it shows
James Mehsling/DN