Marvel’s talent scout C.B. Cebulski often posts a lot of useful nuggets for comic creators over on his Twitter page. In fact I don’t think I’ve ever seen a representative from one of the major comic publishers be more forthcoming on how to break into the biz.
Today on Twitter he posted the following:
Who am I to refuse such a request?
Here’s some nuggets from his tweets from mid-March, 2010. I believe he wrote these after returning from the Emerald City Comicon in Seattle.
- Don’t approach an editor you don’t know at a con with sketchbook/mini/samples in hand. Start a conversation first then ask if they’ll look.
-Don’t feel you have to talk to just editors. Assistant & associate editors also control their own books and are often better to get to know.
-Don’t lurk if the editor you want to talk to is talking/reviewing with someone else. Leave and come back later. (This is my big pet peeve.)
-Don’t set unrealistic goals for yourself. You work your way up to Marvel & DC, you don’t break in with them. Think smaller publishers first.
-Don’t lurk if the editor you want to talk to is talking/reviewing with someone else. Leave and come back later. (This is my big pet peeve.)
-Don’t set unrealistic goals for yourself. You work your way up to Marvel & DC, you don’t break in with them. Think smaller publishers first.
-Don’t make excuses for your artwork while your portfolio’s being reviewed. Take responsibility for what you put on the page. Listen & learn.
-Don’t ever go to a con with the intention of pitching an editor a story. It doesn’t happen. Go solely to meet people and make contacts.
-Don’t ever bring your portfolio to the bar after the con. When the show ends, work ends, and the creators & editors just want to unwind.
-Want a comics’ “do”? Always include a cover letter with your samples. Keep it short and simple, polite and professional.
-Always personalize any communication you have with editors. Use their names. Mass “Dear Editor” e-mails and packages tend to get trashed.
-If you get an editor’s contact info, I recommend sending a follow-up e-mail without attachments first. Ask if you can submit samples.
Comic news site CBR also had coverage of Emerald City’s panel, ‘Breaking into Comics the Marvel Way‘ which includes more wisdom from CB along with some other creators’ input.
This is all killer info and should be followed. Most comic publishers practically tell you exactly what they’re looking for within their submission policies (if they do still accept creator submissions).
And as luck would have it we have a handy directory of all the comic and manga submission guidelines out there.
-Jay
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