Will you join artist Tom Foster on 2000AD thanks to this year’s Thought Bubble challenge? (Art from “Sinister Dexter: Shady as Funt” by Dan Abnett, Tom Foster, Ellie De Ville, in this year’s 2000AD Summer Special)
Calling all budding writers and artists – this November could be your big chance to break into comics, courtesy of 2000AD and the Thought Bubble Festival.
During November’s Thought Bubble convention in Leeds, 2000AD will once again stage the only talent search of its kind in the UK – and two lucky creators could be walking away with paid work with the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic!
It’s Dragons’ Den meets the Nerve Centre as hopeful writers and artists will compete for the chance to win paid work for 2000 AD at the weekend-long convention in Leeds, UK, with top creators sitting in judgement at special panels.
Writers will be given two minutes to pitch their idea for one of 2000AD’s legendary Future Shocks before a live audience, while artists will be judged by a live panel of established creators on how well they have drawn a set script.
All entry details and the script are now posted here on the Thought Bubble web site. The script for this year is “The Timeless Assassin” by last year’s script competition winner, Rory McConville.
The winners will be joining creators such as Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, Mark Millar, Jock, Brian Bolland, Frazer Irving, Charlie Adlard, and many more who got their big breaks in the pages of 2000AD (although not, it should be pointed out, in this way). Former competition winners include artist Tom Foster, who has gone on to draw “Storm Warning” for the Judge Dredd Megazine, as well as “Future Shocks” and an already-iconic Judge Dredd cover, plus Rory McConville, now a “Future Shocks” and “Tharg’s 3riller” writer.
The six best entries and ultimate winner will be shown at a special 2000AD portfolio review panel at the Thought Bubble Comic Con on Sunday 6th November.
Matt Smith, editor of 2000AD, said: “This is a unique opportunity for budding comics artists and writers – I’m not aware of any other competition like this in comics where you don’t win a “maybe”, you win actual paid work. It can sound daunting, but the panels are great fun and there’s real talent on show here.
“2000AD has an almost 40 year history of discovering the hottest new talent and over the past few years we’ve found some truly fantastic creators. I’m looking forward to seeing what Thought Bubble 2016 has to offer.”
The Thought Bubble Festival is the UK’s largest event of its kind – an annual celebration of sequential art in all its forms, including everything from superhero comics to independent and small-press artists and writers. A non-profit-making organisation dedicated to promoting comics, graphic novels, and animation as an important national and international cultural art-form, Thought Bubble is now in its 10th year, culminating in a special two day convention at the Royal Armouries in Leeds, UK.
• Please note: you’ll need a valid Thought Bubble Comic Con ticket to enter this competition which can be bought here
• Full details of this years 2000AD/ Thought Bubble Festival Challenge here
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: 2000AD, Comics Competitions, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
Budding comic creator? Don’t miss out on Thought Bubble and 2000AD’s annual Creator Challenge 
2000AD Creator Competitions, New Posters At Thought Bubble 2015