Submission Guide to OTHER
Publishers
So you want to break into the Comics Industry but are unsure how and where to submit your magnum opus? Is our Marginal Publishing house not the right fit for you? That’s okay! We get it. You need to find the right publisher that fits your value base and ethos. The publisher that can give you the right platform to be seen and heard.
Here’s an update of comics publisher submission guidelines from across the globe. Let’s face it, we’re living in truly turbulent and uncertain times right now in the roaring twenties and your unique voice and perspective is needed now more so than ever before.
Society needs your creations, art, and passion. NOW. You matter. This is the time to be daring and speak truth to power! It is time to step up and lead change for the next generation.
The BIG 4 Comic Publishers
Dark Horse Comics
Writers, Artists, Inkers, Colourists
Dark Horse Comics is the third-largest comics publisher in the US, know for such titles as Star wars, Buffy & Hellboy. Linked here are individual guideline policies for writers (both prose and comics), artists, inkers, letterers, and colourists.
Dark Horse welcomes your submissions, and all submissions are reviewed, but they can no longer be mailed back to the sender. All unsolicited story/series proposals must have a full creative team on board. Writer-only proposals will not be reviewed.
https://www.darkhorse.com/Company/Submissions
DC Entertainment
DC has transitioned their submissions into a ‘Talent Development Workshop’ in which creators need to apply in order to be accepted.
Writers Workshop-How to Apply
· A CV should include all published writing experience, comics-related and beyond.
· A short composition-equivalent to about a page, or 200 characters-explaining why you want to be a DC comic book writer.
· Two published writing samples. Comic book work is preferred, but they will also accept any published fiction writing that will highlight your skills as a possible DC writer.
Artist Workshop-How to Apply
· A CV including all published drawing experience, comics related and beyond. Sequential art experience is preferred but not required.
· A short composition-equivalent to about a page, or 2000 characters. You’ll cover why you want to be a DC comic book artist and how your background will add a unique perspective to DC’s publishing portfolio.
· ART Portfolio-that includes up to give pages of art: at least three pages of sequential art (preferably three pages in a sequence with one another) and no more than two illustrations. You may also send DC links to a file share or blog site such as DeviantArt. Portfolio’s that don’t include sequential art won’t be considered.
https://www.dccomics.com/contact
Mad Magazine (DC Comics)
MAD is always actively looking for new talent! They welcome all humour submissions and the best way to know what they’re truly looking for is to take a peek at what they’re doing right now! Originality and visual humour are especially prized! (When you get in, do us a favour and suggest a re-brand on the name 😉 )
As a publisher, Mad is focused on material covering evergreen topics, such as dating, school, work, family and topical material about celebrities, politics, news and social trends. It is important to note that they will not consider movie or television satires, rewrites of established MAD premises, your take on existing features or cover ideas.
https://www.madmagazine.com/submissions-form
Image Comics
Image Comics specifically publishers creator-owned material. They do not contract creators; they are only interested in publishing original content for which you would retain all rights. Please do not submit any work that utilizes already-existing characters-Image characters or otherwise-as they will be automatically declined.
Image Comics DON’T PAY PAGE RATES. Image takes a small flat fee off the books published, and it will be the responsibility of the creators to determine the division of the remaining pay between their creative team members.
Artists: Image accepts inking, pencilling lettering, or colouring samples. These will be kept on file, and you may be contacted if and when the occasion presents itself. It your art-only submission is not kept on file, you will not get a response. DO NOT SEND ORIGINAL ART as you work will not be returned.
Writers: They accept proposals only- please do not send storyboards, scripts, notes or manuscripts-anything other than a proposal that meets the below specifications will be automatically declined.
https://imagecomics.com/submissions
Marvel
“Marvel does not accept or consider any ideas, creative suggestions, artwork, designs, game proposals, scripts, manuscripts, or similar material unless we have specifically requested it from you. Marvel is continuously developing and creating its own ideas and materials, and we don’t have the resources to review or respond to unsolicited material. Unfortunately, any unsolicited material you send will not be read or shared. It will be destroyed, and it will not be returned.
While we can’t accept your unsolicited submissions, please know that Marvel is always looking for new comic book artists and writers. We constantly read and review indie, self-published, creator-owned, and web-comics, review popular online art communities, ask other artists for opinions and recommendations, and host portfolio reviews at conventions from time to time. If you are an aspiring comic book artist or writer, we suggest you publish or publicly post your material, continue to create, and if you have the right stuff…we’ll find you. ”
We’ll say no more……
https://www.marvel.com/help/category/17/topic/30
Submission Guidelines for Independent Comic Publishers: Arthouse & Literary
Drawn & Quarterly
Please send all submissions via a low-resolution PDF to submissions[at]drawnandquarterly[.]com. They do not respond to all submissions and they do not read scripts. If you mail them a physical copy (which they strongly discourage) please do so knowing that you will likely not hear back from them. Take your time to research what they publish in advance to ensure that your comic is well-aligned with their existing titles.
https://www.drawnandquarterly.com/faq-page#t311n3477
Fantagraphics
Fantagraphics Books (Love & Rockets, Hip Hop Family Tree, Eightball) publishes comics for thinking readers – readers who like to put their minds to work, who have a sophisticated understanding of art and culture, and appreciate personal expression unfettered by uncritical use of cliché. Fantagraphics will always reject any submissions that fit neatly into (or combine in a gimmicky fashion) the mainstream genres of superhero, vigilante, horror, fantasy, and science fiction.
The main focus of Fantagraphics is to showcase your own, individual voice; originality, aesthetic maturity, and graphic storytelling skill are the signs by which Fantagraphics judges whether or not your submission is ready for publication.
They do not hire illustrators or pair artists with writers. They seek independently-created, publishable work. They want to see an idea that is ready to go. They advise you submit a minimum of 5 pages of completed art (high-quality reproductions only-no original art). They do NOT look at work submitted in digital format.
http://fantagraphics.com/flog/frequently-asked-questions/
NoBrow
NoBrow is a publisher, not an illustration agency. You should have a specific type of work collaboration in mind when you submit work to them (i.e- a picture book or perhaps a graphic novel), make sure it is in line with their ethos and vision.
Provide a brief summary and overview of your project. Look at their body of work and think, does what I want to pitch fit in with the NoBrow canon of works? They have separated their submission process into three distinct groups.
Category 1: Short-form comics- The 17 x 23 Series: They must be 24 pages beginning to end.
Category 2: Long-form comics/ Graphic Novels: submissions for graphic novels that are 90 pages or more. If you are an illustrator/author or an illustrator and author duo, you should supply a minimum of ten finished pages in the pitch to give them a taste of the ‘look and feel’ of the proposed book.
https://nobrow.net/submissions/
Northwest Press
Northwest Press is a small publishing house entirely devoted to spotlighting the best in LGBTQIA graphic novels and comics and is primarily focused on encouraging upcoming talent.
Northwest primarily published graphic novels and comics. They are not currently accepting submission for prose work.
All the material they publish has strong LGBTQIA content. This can either be explicit (stories about situations and struggles tied to the queer experience) or implicit (looking at more general situations through the lens of LGBTQIA people).
They can also publish shorted pieces as digital comics and are actively seeking new and previously-published work to release digitally.
https://northwestpress.com/submission-guidelines/
SelfMadeHero
SelfMadeHero is an ardent supporter of graphic novel talent from the UK and beyond, welcoming submissions from both new and established creators. Before you submit your work, check them out and do your research. If they publish your book, it will likely fit into the following categories: Original Fiction, Non-Fiction, Graphic Biography, Sci-Fi & Horror or Crime Classics.
Remember that if it is a collaborative project, SelfMadeHero prefers to receive pitches from writers and artists who have already agreed to work together.
Do you have a pitch?
If you are happy that your graphic novel would suit SelfMafeHero’s list, please send a synopsis (not exceeding one A4 page) and least eight pages of sequential art by email to submissions[at]selfmadehero[do]com.
Are you an artist?
If you don’t have a particular project in mind but would like them to know about you work, send a link to your website or portfolio to submissions[at]selfmadehero[dot]com.
Are you a writer?
If you have written a graphic novel or script, please send a synopsis along with the script itself to submissions[at]selfmadehero[dot]com.
Soaring Penguin Press
Soaring Penguin Press is open for submissions of graphic novels, or individual, self-contained stories for inclusion. Submissions may be made by email or by post and can be in whatever form you feel best presents your work.
http://www.soaringpenguinpress.com/submissions/
Submission Guidelines for Independent Comics Publishers: Genre, Manga, and Pop!
Antarctic Press
Artists: ONE COMPLETE ISSUE (22-30 pages) of rendered (penciled, inked) SEQUENTIAL art via photocopies. They look for a MANGA/ANIME style of artwork, that many of their creators employ.
If you wish to submit your own original series, start with a one-shot or a 3- to 4-issue mini-series.
Writers:
1. 1- to 4-page typed STORY SYNOPSIS and/or TREATMENTS. If they like your idea, they’ll request a script from you.
2. A typed cover sheet of the overview of your story. Example: How many issues the story will be and how many pages per issues. 1- to 4-issue mini-series are preferred over ongoing series. Stories that are finite encourage the retailer to give your new comic a chance.
3. Published work that you’ve done if applicable.
http://www.antarctic-press.com/html/submissions.php
BHP Comics
Things that they need to know.
1. Who is working on the book/comic?
2. An elevator pitch followed by short synopsis. What’s it about? How does the story unfold?
3. An example of the work to date (if any art is completed)
Things you need to know.
1. NO superhero comics
2. BHP is creator-owned, and don’t ‘buy’ the works from the maker. You’d retain at least 50% of the rights to the title, dependant on the contract terms.
3. They prefer complete creator teams and don’t match up artists and writers.
4. They’re open to any genre. Comedy, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, westerns, real-life, crime, romance… just not the guys in capes and tight pants. Ideally, mature and well-structured genre stories, and socially engaging books. No exploitative comics.
5. NO single issues i.e ongoing series. They want graphic novels/complete books. This can be in anything from a small album (Asterix/TinTin style) 48 pages to 288 pages books.
https://bhpcomics.squarespace.com/submissions/
BOOM Studios
BOOM! Studios are always looking for new talent to work with and explore.
FOR ARTISTS (pencilers, inkers, colorists, cover artists, letterers):
Upload examples of your work for the BOOM! Studios Editorial staff to review
Golden Liberty Comics
Golden Liberty Comics, a division of Golden Bell Studios, is looking for creators with an innate passion for storytelling. Our mission is to reinvigorate the creative process and to reignite the industry’s artistic spark.
Writers: Include A logline that summarizes the premise of the project using 50 words or less.
A fully typed synopsis of the story from beginning to end (i.e. an overview of the complete plot), not just the first issue. Use only one page for your synopsis, however, any additional pages outlining the rest of the story are not discouraged by any means. Do not be afraid to include every major plot thread and reveal in your pitch, and be sure to be as original and unique as possible
Include any completed scripts that go along with the overview of your pitch packet.
Interior Artists: Submit at least five pages of sequential art with a minimum of 20 total panels. This is your chance to select your best material to showcase your ability to draw facial expressions that make an audience “feel” the characters, a skill for designing original and memorable characters that pop off the page, as well as locations that showcase your knack for understanding complex perspective and creating framed shots with depth, dynamic angles, and interesting prop placements. Interior Artists must not send pinups and/or splash pages. Interior Artists may send model sheets (these are the frontal, back, and side views of a character’s design).
Inkers: Include at least five pages of sequential art, but there’s no limit in regard to the panels per page. Inkers should send the initial penciled pages for comparison. A variable of detailed faces, backgrounds, and strongly rendered figures should be included. Be sure to show off a wide variety of textures and techniques in your submitted works.
Colorists: Include at least five pages of sequential art, but there’s no limit in regard to the panels per page. Colorists should send the initial inked and uncolored pages for comparison.
Letterers: Submit five pages of sequential lettered art with no limit on the number of panels per page.
Lion Forge Comics
The Lion Forge, LLC (“Lion Forge”) does not regularly accept unsolicited ideas, treatments, concepts, scripts, artworks, or other materials. However, Lion Forge occasionally considers new ideas, formats, or concepts from outside sources.
If you have an idea, treatment, concept, artwork – you may submit such materials to Lion Forge, but only if you first acknowledge and agree to the Lion Forge Submission Policy and Submission Release Agreement.
Please note that if you choose to submit materials, send a link to publicly-posted portfolios. Any submissions in excess of 25 MB will not be accepted and must be provided by sending a link.
You won’t always get an immediate response, but their editors DO look at everything that comes through the portal.
https://www.lionforge.com/submissions/
Red 5 Comics
Your submission should include at least five (5) pages of your best sequential storytelling art, not just sketches or pin-ups. These pages should demonstrate an ability to handle a variety of scenes, technology, backgrounds, and characters… ranging from quiet dialog to intense action.
Pencillers: Your portfolio should show pencils-only, not inked or colored pages. Make sure the scans are of good enough quality to clearly see your work.
Inkers: Your examples should be black-and-white and include a side-by-side comparison with the original pencils.
Colourists: Your portfolio should be based on line-art from multiple artists and show your abilities in a variety of styles.
Red 5 Comics is always open to looking at quality creator-owned projects for publication. You and your team deliver print-ready pages, and Red 5 Comics looks after marketing, printing, distribution and related activity. The comic is published and there is a profit-split. You and your team retain full rights to the intellectual property.
Your project must already have a full creative team committed and on-board, including a writer, penciler, inker, colorist (if color), and letterer. Red 5 Comics is interested only in projects that are G, PG or PG-13 in nature. We will not accept R-rated proposals. No costumed superhero stories at this time.
http://www.red5comics.com/artsubmit
Scout Comics
Scout Comics & Entertainment is actively looking for creator-owned titles to publish.
A proposal should:
· Mention what makes your comic unique and sets it apart from other comics in the genre. It
should also explain who the target audience is.
· Include A ONE PAGE synopsis of the story. An overview of the ENTIRE series or story arc.
· FIVE (5) PAGES of HI-REZ fully INKED and LETTERED ART.
· A COVER MOCK-UP
https://www.scoutcomics.com/submissions/
Titan Comics
Titan Comics welcomes all submissions, and all submissions will be reviewed directly by the editorial team. They prefer to receive all submissions digitally.
NEW PITCHES: The chances of them picking up your title are vastly improved if you are approaching us as a writer/artist team, or if you are an artist writing your own title.
They are still open to writer-only pitches, and do read all submitted plots, so an electrifying concept will still make it through. Titan’s preferred format for new and original series is for stories to be told in four issues, each of around 20-22 pages in length.
If you have an artist on board, seeing art samples is essential. Similarly, if you already have a colorist and/or letterer as part of your team, seeing samples of their work, and how they will work together as a team, is paramount.
Comic Submissions Guidelines for Book Publishers
Capstone Publishing
Capstone is closed to unsolicited submissions. However, they are always seeking new authors and illustrators interested in work-for-hire assignments.
If you are interested in writing or illustrating work, please familiarize yourself with their books before reaching out to them.
Authors
Email authors[at]capstonepub[dot]com and include the following:
· Cover letter
· Previous publishing credits
· Writing sample
· Topics of interest for writing assignments
Illustrators
Email il.sub[at]coughlancompanies[dot]com and include the following:
· A link to your website
· One or two illustrations that showcase your best work
· Subject matter and or styles you have experience in illustrating
Capstone is committed to serving marginalized communities. They actively seek Own Voices contributors; please specify in your cover letter if you identify with a specific community.
https://www.capstonepub.com/library/service/submissions/
Kids Can Press Illustrator Guidelines
Kids Can Press are interested in and look forward to seeing illustrations of all kinds. Every book is unique, and they never know what they’ll need regarding illustration style.
Send them an email with your contact information and a link to your website or portfolio. Attach only one or two low-resolution JPEGs that best represent your work.
https://www.kidscanpress.com//illustrators
Myriad Editions
Graphic novels: documentary comics, graphic reportage, fiction, memoir and life writing, graphic medicine.
Myriad accepts submissions directly from authors, and also from literary agents.
Before you submit your manuscript, explore the other books they’ve published to ensure that yours fits with the style and themes of their list.
Myriad does not publish:
· Young adult fiction, children’s books, horror, science fiction, fantasy, plays or poetry
· Books that have been previously published or self-published (in print or as ebooks) unless you are a graphic novelist
https://myriadeditions.com/about/submissions/
Papercuts (and CHARMZ)
Papercutz are all about publishing great graphic novels for all ages. Popular with reluctant readers and gifted readers alike, Papercutz graphic novels for kids, tweens, and teens include a wide range of genres, including humor, action adventure, mystery, horror, and favorite characters. Papercutz is proud to be the only publisher exclusively dedicated to children’s graphic novels.
If you’re interested in submitting work to Papercutz, please e-mail Salicrup[at]papercutz[dot]com.
https://papercutz.com/contact-papercutz
Penguin Publishing
Donald A. Wollheim (DAW) Books are strongly committed to discovering and nurturing new talent, and to keeping a personal “family” spirit at DAW—something they feel is all too rare in today’s world of international conglomerate publishing.
Submission Guidelines
DAW accepts unsolicited submissions of science fiction and fantasy novels. They won’t consider short stories, short story collections, novellas, or poetry. The average length of the novels they publish varies, but is almost never fewer than 80,000 words.
A literary agent is not required for submission. They won’t consider manuscripts that are currently on submission to another publisher unless prior arrangements have been made with a literary agent. It may require three months or more for their editors to review a manuscript. If they take longer than three months to review your manuscript, they no longer require an exclusive submission.
At this time, DAW only accepts electronic submissions through their Submittable page: dawbooksinc.submittable.com/submit.
The Phoenix
The Phoenix are not actively looking for submissions at this time but if you are an artist or think you have a cool idea for an awesome comic that’s appropriate for kids age 6-12 then they would still love to hear from you.
You can send art samples and story ideas to submissions[at]thephoenixcomic[dot]co[dot]uk. Obviously, the more fully formed an idea is, the easier it is to consider.