As creators we sometimes work in a vacuum. We sit alone at our keyboard or art table and build new worlds — often out of whole cloth — and then explore them with characters that exist inside our heads until —Prometheus-like, we breathe life into them. Very often, what we really need to ensure that we are on the right track to a marketable product, is the critique of an experienced editor. To that end Ramon Gil (SciFies) has created a very special project to assist comicbook creators with that very thing. On January 22, 2014, three comic book self-publishers will have the chance to have their work professionally critiqued by established industry creators! (This is a Kickstarter project that will only occur if it is fully funded with at least $100.00 pledged by Thursday, January 22, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. EST.
If you a comic book creator who has been struggling to get your work noticed by publishers or a bigger audience, then this event is for you. Learn what is it that separates your comic book from reaching the success that established creators have already attained. Wouldn’t you like to know, in detail, how to make your comic book creation the best that it can be? If so, then you need to submit your work for consideration. This is a Shark Tank for comic books.
Now’s your chance to opt-in to this unique opportunity. On January 22, established comic book pros will be reviewing three self-published books, commenting on the art, the story and everything else that matters. Each creator/book will be discussed for 15-20 minutes from the standpoint of what it will take to make it a professional-level quality, comicbook. The event will be held at the NMBC Conference Room, 1633 Broadway, 30th floor, NYC on Thursday, January 22 at 7 p.m.
The comic book professionals will include Larry Hama who is best known as a writer and editor for Marvel Comics, where he was in charge of the licensed comic book G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. He has also worked on Wolverine, Nth Man: the Ultimate Ninja, Elektra and more, as well as an editor from Valiant Comics. If you are a self-publishing comic book creator who is interested in getting your comic book critiqued, then you need to send a PDF of your self-published book (5-22 pages) to [email protected] for consideration. You must be able to attend the event in New York City in order to be considered. Your PDFs will be made available to the critiquers a few days before the event so that they can better give comments on your work. Pages from your book will also be projected on a screen for discussion in front of all attendees. You can have two to three minutes to make a presentation, if you like.
Please do this only if you are willing to accept honest constructive criticism about your work. Remember, the goal is to get better. These kinds of events are something that Gil does on a regular basis as part of his work running his own graphic design company. Thus he has a pretty good track record of staging these events. In fact, he recently staged a Careers in Comics panel discussion at Winter Con with Tom DeFalco, Nelson Faro DeCastro, Mark Mazz, and Robert J. Sodaro.
The venue is already booked and the industry pros have already committed and are getting paid for their time. The only thing that could stop this would be bad weather or something else equally out of our control. In such an event, we would reschedule.
This project will be funded on Thursday, January 22 2015.
Robert J. Sodaro has been reviewing comic books for some 30 years. During that time, his reviews and articles have appeared in numerous print publications, as well as on the web.