Are you an aspiring graphic novelist? Do you have an original story to tell? Jonathan Cape Graphic Novels and Comica have again got together with the Observer newspaper to offer you the chance to see your work in print and win £1,000.
Now in its 11th year, it’s an opportunity to get your work read by industry experts; this year’s judges are writer Phillip Pullman (whose own graphic novel, The Adventures of John Blake: Mystery of the Ghost Ship, was published last month), Stephen Collins (author of The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil), Rachel Cooke (Observer), Dan Franklin (Publisher, Jonathan Cape), Paul Gravett (Director, Comica Festival) and Suzanne Dean (Creative Director, Vintage).
The first prize is £1,000 and publication in the Observer New Review. The runner-up will receive £250 and their work will appear on theguardian.com.
Last year’s overall winner was Matthew Dooley, whose previous works include the self-published comic Meanderings. As we reported here, his four-page story, “Colin Turnbull: A Tall Story“, which you can read here, wins £1,000 cash and was published in the Observer New Review. He’s since self-published The Practical Implications of Immortality, which is available to buy digitally here.
Richard Woods won in 2014 with ““The Giants Of Football‘ and Alexis Deacon won in 2014 with “The River“.
• The deadline for entries is Friday 29th September 2017. Open to UK residents only, sorry! Entry form here (PDF)
• Emily Haworth Booth, who was the winner of the Graphic Short Story Prize 2013 for “Colonic” (which you can read here on The Guardian web site), offers some sage advice to creators about the competition here on the Comica web site
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: British Comics, Comics Competitions, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News