Top Cow Talent Hunt Fall 2012 Details
by Brant Fowler
Update: Those published by super small press and self-published are eligible for the Talent Hunt per Matt Hawkins of Top Cow.
We've been telling you about the coming Talent Hunt by Top Cow Productions since San Diego Comic Con in July, and now it's finally here! This morning, September 2nd, Top Cow released the rules and details for their Fall 2012 Talent Hunt. Top Cow has done talent searches and contests like this in the past to success. This time they are looking for two writers and two artists to team up on two different projects in 2013-2014, as detailed in this opening statement of thier Rules and Synopsis document (which you can find a link to below):
"We are looking to hire two writers and two artists to do paid work for the company in 2013/2014. The goal of the Talent Hunt is to find two previously UNPUBLISHED writers and artists and give them a chance to expose their work to the comic industry in the printed and digital formats. The comics industry is an awesome one to work in... both Marc Silvestri and I [Matt Hawkins] thought about this and realized that at some point someone gave us a chance. We're looking to do the same for a few people. 4 people may not seem like a lot but we don't actually publish that many books so it is a LOT for us."
Of course, one line in that paragraph begs the question of what they consider "unpublished." Do they mean unpublished by major companies, meaning self-published writers and artists, or writers and artists who have been published by indie press publishers are eligible? Or not? I suppose you could ask them and they would clarify.
The rules also require the writers and artists submitting to work on ONLY Top Cow Universe characters in a list they provide in the document, which are more obscure characters if you're not familiar with Top Cow beyond a cursory knowledge of the product. No The Darkness or Witchblade here. The list contains the likes of Tom Judge, Ian Nottingham, Sabine and a few others. Again, the full list is in the PDF linked below. If you don't adhere to this list of characters, they won't even look at your submission. So make sure you familiarize yourself with these particular characters if you want even a chance at being in the contest, which is fair. They want to see how you handle characters they most likely intend to develop further.
For writers, you'll be required to submit a synopsis and 8 fully scripted pages based on these characters. You can do more, but you have to have at least that much.
Artists can do just pencils or go completely finished with inks, colors, digital painting or what have you. You can request a sample script from Top Cow to work from, but you have to give them a week to get it to you.
The contest runs from now until December 31st, 2012, and your submission must include a signed Submissions Agreement (which is also linked below).
Matt Hawkins is the ONLY member of the Top Cow staff reviewing Talent Hunt submissions, so don't attempt to send them to anyone else, or approach anyone else about them at conventions. However, Matt said he would be at several conventions and would be glad to look over your stuff. But submissions are only accepted via digital means, meaning email it to them, don't try dropping it off at a con.
No direct reference will be provided to those entering the Talent Hunt. They do list a few books for best reference in the document, which I have listed here:
- Artifacts #14-current issue
- Artifacts Volume 4
- Broken Trinity
- Broken Trinity Pandora's Box
- The Darkness #101-current issue
- The Darkness Rebirth Vol. 1
- Witchblade #151-current issue
- Witchblade Rebirth Vol. 1
- Tom Judge
And other reference:
- First Born
- The Darkness (all volumes)
- Witchblade (all volumes)
Find the full Talent Hunt Rules and Synopsis here: http://topcow.com/files/2012/TopCow-Talent-Hunt-Synopsis.pdf
Find the Talent Hunt Submission Agreement here: http://topcow.com/files/2012/TopCow-Submission-Form.pdf
Good luck!
Brant W. Fowler / Writer, Letterer, Reviewer, Columnist, Podcaster, Co-Owner/COO/Site Manager of Comic Related
Brant W. Fowler has been a professional comic book writer, editor, flatter, letterer and logo designer for several years, and has been a freelance editor for the past five years or so. He is one of the cast members and host of the Zone 4 podcast here at Comic Related, and he letters some of the webcomics on the site. You can see samples of his works and how to hire him at Gonzogoose
Design and Just-Flats.net. And catch up with him on his forums right here at CR. Brant is also a member of the core
operations team at Comic Related.
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