US publisher Platinum Studios, also owners of the Drunk Duck webcomics site, has announced the launch of The Comic Book Challenge 2008 – a Pop Idol-styled comic book contest – at www.ComicBookChallenge.com, coinciding with the release of Jorge Vega’s 2007 winning title, Gunplay, at the Wizard World LA convention this weekend (15 March). Submissions for this year’s contest officially will open at 12:01am on Thursday, 1 May 2008 and close at 11:59pm on Saturday, 31 May 2008.

Changes to The Comic Book Challenge submission process are detailed on the contest website, but include the submission of three pages of artwork, instead of only the single page required in previous years. Aspiring comic book creators will have one month to submit their entries at www.ComicBookChallenge.com.

An internal Platinum Studios committee will select the Top 50 entrants, who then will move on to pitch their ideas to a panel of celebrity and entertainment industry judges on 24 July during the 2008 Comic-Con International in San Diego, CA. The finalists chosen by the judging panel will then have their work voted on by fans across the globe, with the winner receiving a multitude of prizes including the coveted publishing deal.

“We’re upping the ante a little bit this year with our three-page requirement because comics are about effective storytelling in a visual medium and not about key art or character designs,” said VP of Content Development, Dan Forcey. “We really want to see what your vision for the piece is and that you can really shine in the medium of sequential art.”

“We have seen The Comic Book Challenge grow significantly in just a few short years,” said Platinum Studios Chairman & CEO, Scott Mitchell Rosenberg. “With last year’s entrants representing nearly two dozen countries — triple the number of countries from our inaugural contest — we look forward to continuing to build on the success of The Comic Book Challenge.”

The Comic Book Challenge 2008 winner will receive a publishing deal with Platinum Studios, which will include print, online, and mobile distribution. In addition, the company will help develop the property for film and television.

The Comic Book Challenge past winners include DJ Coffman’s Hero By Night, which sold out through Diamond Comics Distributors during its first print and is now an ongoing series in its second volume, and Jorge Vega’s 2007 winning entry, Gunplay, which will debut at Wizard World LA.

Gunplay centres on a buffalo soldier, post-Civil War madness in the South, and a terrible curse.

John Freeman

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: Comics Competitions

Tags: Platinum Studios