Industry Elites Added As Judges for Webcomic Contest

[Spinwhiz]

Hi Friends,

After reading through a couple posts, the "sketches" seem to be a main point of concern, so allow me to clarify. We don't want art you have already used, in stories that have already been posted, which included sketches and layouts. For example, if you have 10 sketches up on deviantart and then want to use that same exact art for our contest, no go. HOWEVER...if those sketches are changed, updated and polished, as well as adding context, we will take that submission.

We don't want sketches because we want NEW ideas, not ones people have been floating around for years. If tons of people have seen your main characters or creations, how are we supposed to make people excited about them? Change them up, make them awesome, add dialog and submit. We look forward to seeing them.

As for submitting with one account but working with more than one person, be aware that we are asking for 2 webcomics a week, so you had better make sure you can work with this person over a long period of time and that they are reliable.

Someone also asked about the "brand". We want a logo for your comic so we can show everyone.


Thank you to those that are helping me out by showing others previously answered questions in this post. I greatly appreciate it.

Have a great day everyone!
~Spin

 

[gnarwhalstudio]

PHEW That has been eating at me all weekend. Thank you so much, Spinwhiz.

 

[GamerPhate]

Got the idea and theme of mine in place. It is sadly a bit more introspective into my life than I would like to admit, although I am sure many of us have been there. I won't give too much away until close to the release date. But I have all 5 panels made, and am just going back through them nit picking and inking it up a bit. Although I am more of an idea guy, I am not a horrible artist. I have one of those HP SmartTouch tablets that you can draw on the screen. It gives you that nice hand drawn type feel that some of animated series featured on this site tend to have.

I have been tossing it to a few of my friends and getting feedback and reworking a few of the jokes to even put some extra finite polish here and there. I could probably go ahead and upload it, but I HAVE to win this competition. I gotta pay the bills, and this would be the kind of work I would love to do. I want to continue the story that is told here in just these few panels. Although each panel could stand on its own, there is an element of story that is told and progressed as follow along. And in fact, the last panel brings full circle the interesting factors behind what is going to happen due to the aftermath of the prior events. I almost wish it was 5 or 6 panels so I could give you a taste of where the next set would go, but only winning the competition will allow me to spend the amount of time needed to pursue this cartoon further.

One downside to the presentation of the series is that I only get to brush on the game elements lightly. I have full intention to plow into topical game related jokes as well. And am debating on finding space to slide in one or two more zingers, but the space is limited. If anything I fear that it might be too much about the people that play the games and less about footage of the game. But that is due to the limited nature of only having 4 panels to tell the story behind my characters and where the series is headed. Plus, the manor at which I did this allows me to be able to meet the demands of 2 a week release deadlines. I would hate to release something that I couldn't reproduce in a timely manor and so the various stylings in which I used will look familiar to you and yet presentable enough to get the ideas and messages conveyed.

* FIRST EDIT * = I have been making alternate versions of the panels, I almost wish I could submit both forms in case the jokes from one sticks better for the editors. Guess I will just have to use my best judgment on which version I decide to submit.

- MORE INFO TO BE ADDED 1 week from now closer to the deadline -

 

[Gallimaestro]

Hello, I've been viewing this website for at least a solid year, mostly through Zero Punctuation and Movie Bob.

I've been a decent reader of various webcomics, seen them come and go while others remain consistant and dabbled in some webcomics of my own and looking for a fresh start that may hopefully get some side income.

That being said, I'm entering this contest. I just need to know a couple things, I've already seen answers to other questions.

1. The comic idea I have could have a alot more action than your common "Two irate/witty gamer critics + couch" formula that's popular these days. I'm talking zany adventures from certain parts of the globe, parodies of popular game genre (RPG, FPS, retro, etc.), with a mix of one day pot shots of the game industry or pop culture to mix things up. Not sure if twice a week could work for that kind of thing since I am under the impression that you want more of a Garfield/Penny Arcade sort of a deal here... So in short:

Comedy or Action Comedy acceptable? I've learned from reading webcomics that some people hate long story arcs, can't say I blame them BUT it can leave the reader wanting more and could help in longevity too. I think I've seen somewhere in this thread a comic page could be bigger than four panels, but I understand it's better not to push it.

2. The royalty thing kind of bugs me, though the winner gets paid for making the comic s/he wont see profit from any merchandise? What if say the artist sells merchandise from the winning comic in say artwork requests, bumper stickers, comic anthologies, or T-shirts on their own accord, is that allowed? Maybe promoting the Escapist as well just to be fair?

Maybe that's going over my head on #2.

Thanks for your time!

 

[The Random One]

I know it's pretty late to join the fray, but I have a couple of ideas I think could work. But I can't draw, like, at all. So if any artists are reading this and looking to work as a slave for a dictatorial writer, hello! Send me a PM.

 

[aeroz]

My name is Vincent Gray, and I've been making web comics for a while now.
Doing two comics a week is a lot, seeing most webcomic artist only produce one per week.
When I first started I could only make one per month, but it gets easier every time.
Please ask your self can you continue writing two jokes a week? Can you produce your art quickly? If no then it may be to soon for you.
I fear the one that dose get the job will burn out of ideas quickly.

I agree with your concern, and also the issue of quality. I am actually entering average comics rather then my best because I want to show what I can consistantly do. Probably not the best approach to win, but is the best if you want to continue. Otherwise as you said, you'd burn out, quality will tank, ect.

Though in a way this contest itself does help with that. Two weeks left to enter, if someone cant manage manage four strips then they couldn't if they got the contract anyways. But if they can, and it was something they were comfertable doing, then good chance they can into the near future

 

[Space Jawa]

I have to say, even if what Rylan's been doing did get him disqualified, I can't help but be amused at his ability to take it in stride, enjoy the ride, and milk it for all its worth.

 

[jimothy_]

@Gallimaestro: It's already been stated that you can make your comic in any number of styles, including something more like the conventional comic book (adventure, action, etc.). From the rules: "feel free to write and illustrate anything your heart desires. From stick figure drawings to illustrated comics Marvel or DC Comics..." It doesn't even have to be humor-based, although short term appeal is usually easier to generate with light content. Also, it's not four panels, it's four images. Each image can be any number of panels, as long as the image is the proper dimensions (650x1280 or smaller).

I don't know where you got the idea that methods for dealing with royalties were already established, because that question has been pointedly deferred EVERY time it has come up. It's something they'll figure out in contract negotiations with the winner.

Personally, I almost always prefer things with actual plots. Maybe the judges will feel the same. Good luck with your entry!

 

[GamerPhate]

My name is Vincent Gray, and I've been making web comics for a while now.
Doing two comics a week is a lot, seeing most webcomic artist only produce one per week.
When I first started I could only make one per month, but it gets easier every time.
Please ask your self can you continue writing two jokes a week? Can you produce your art quickly? If no then it may be to soon for you.
I fear the one that dose get the job will burn out of ideas quickly.

I agree with your concern, and also the issue of quality. I am actually entering average comics rather then my best because I want to show what I can consistantly do. Probably not the best approach to win, but is the best if you want to continue. Otherwise as you said, you'd burn out, quality will tank, ect.

Though in a way this contest itself does help with that. Two weeks left to enter, if someone cant manage manage four strips then they couldn't if they got the contract anyways. But if they can, and it was something they were comfertable doing, then good chance they can into the near future

That was my fear as well. With a month to prepare, the first one is going to be AWESOME! But can the 2nd and 3rd one be of the same level? I have been racking my brain about TIME versus Quality, and I think I found a happy medium. I wish I had more time to make it look even better, but I have to realize that they are going to need to be constant. So there for instead of focusing on making them all pretty and artistic, I am focusing on content and character development. But 2 a week will be taxing, but I am up for the work. I am a layed off work IT tech that has been searching for work for over a year. So this would the kind of thing I would love to do.

 

[SirPumpkinLongshanks]

Regarding episodic comics, do all four submissions have to occur back to back or can I submit material from future comics to demonstrate where the plot is going? The idea I'm working on now is actually something I've been fleshing out for a while and I want to take one of the major threads and give you guys a preview of how it'll develop.

 

[Emerwyn]

What a fabulous and exciting idea!!! Best of luck to all who are entering!

 

[Redafvir]

Regarding episodic comics, do all four submissions have to occur back to back or can I submit material from future comics to demonstrate where the plot is going? The idea I'm working on now is actually something I've been fleshing out for a while and I want to take one of the major threads and give you guys a preview of how it'll develop.

I assume that would be your call depending on which you think is best for your submission. Personally I'd go for 4 pages in chronological order on the basis that it would make for more coherent reading should the Escapist decide to showcase your entry.

You could always provide a small text synopsis with your entry if you're worried your submission isn't getting the potential of the full story across.

 

[toadking07]

I apologize in advance if this has been address but I could not find an answer to a question I had.

Is there a limit of entries? As in, can I submit two different comics/entries? Each would have their own brand and 4 pieces of art. It wouldn't be a problem, there isn't a limit on entries correct?

 

[Gallimaestro]

@Gallimaestro: It's already been stated that you can make your comic in any number of styles, including something more like the conventional comic book (adventure, action, etc.). From the rules: "feel free to write and illustrate anything your heart desires. From stick figure drawings to illustrated comics Marvel or DC Comics..." It doesn't even have to be humor-based, although short term appeal is usually easier to generate with light content. Also, it's not four panels, it's four images. Each image can be any number of panels, as long as the image is the proper dimensions (650x1280 or smaller).

I don't know where you got the idea that methods for dealing with royalties were already established, because that question has been pointedly deferred EVERY time it has come up. It's something they'll figure out in contract negotiations with the winner.

Personally, I almost always prefer things with actual plots. Maybe the judges will feel the same. Good luck with your entry!

Thanks for the reply! I overlooked the comic style bit, had to re-read everything over after I posted that.

 

[jimothy_]

I apologize in advance if this has been address but I could not find an answer to a question I had.

Is there a limit of entries? As in, can I submit two different comics/entries? Each would have their own brand and 4 pieces of art. It wouldn't be a problem, there isn't a limit on entries correct?

The limit is one:

Sorry if this question has been asked already, but is it possible to enter twice- with two different comics?

Unfortunately not. Submit whatever you think is your best work!

Somewhere else it was noted that comics with more than one creator count for both the submitter and their collaborator, so there don't seem to be any loopholes on this one.

 

[aeroz]

should we watermark the comics when we enter? we weren't sure if we should slap our names on the strips or not

 

[kawaiiamethist]

Is the contest over? I don't see the banner up anymore.

I've been working on my entry, with only a page to go, and will be slightly annoyed if the plug was pulled early.

 

[Emerwyn]

The contest ends on February 28th. I highly doubt they'd change it without telling us.

 

[kawaiiamethist]

The contest ends on February 28th. I highly doubt they'd change it without telling us.

I'm aware of this, which is why I am concerned to not see advertising anymore.

 

[aeroz]

its permalinked on the opening post of this thread. I wouldn't worry. They probably figured if you haven't started by now you probably couldn't develope something from scratch in that time