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Permalink Reply by Buzz Dixon on February 17, 2012 at 5:30pm

Hi, Julio!

 

This is a question with no snap easy answer.  It may sound like I'm joking (but I'm not) when I say "The best company to publish your Christian comic is the company you can convince that they will make money by publishing your work."
 
You need to do market research.  Go online to various publishers websites.  See what kinds of books they are publishing.  See if they are publishing anything similar to what you'd trying to do.

 

(Similar does not necessarily mean identical.  A publisher who does a lot of Young Adult books might be interested in a graphic novel even if they haven't published one before.  A publisher with an interested in books with a similar theme to yours might want to publish it, etc.)

 

Try to locate either the acquisitions editor or the editor for the type of books most like what you're pitching at each publisher.  If you can get an introduction from someone they know or trust, so much the better!  Make a short pitch & present it to them; if they find it interesting they will ask for more.

 

Be aware that several Christian publishers have tried their hand at graphic novels in the last decade or so and "got their fingers burned".  We can debate if they did so because they had unrealistic expectations of how fast their books would take off, or because they didn't know how to best market the material.

 

Whatever the case, be prepared to tell them why your project would be different (i.e., more successful).

 

God bless you in your efforts!

 

Buzz

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Permalink Reply by Martin Murtonen on February 17, 2012 at 6:54pm

Dang. So much to say - but I will hold my type.

You'll need to determine who you want to reach. Do you want to reach "Christians" or do you want to reach the "Secular World". And then who in those categories. (Age, M/F, Where they live etc.)

But read Buzz's advice. Twice. Then a third time. Just to make sure. There is no easy answer. And sometimes - doing it on your own might be the way...and if pursuing a publisher - determine for yourself what exactly you expect from them, and they expect from you.

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Permalink Reply by Julio Molina-Muscara on February 17, 2012 at 8:24pm

Thanks Buzz and Martin for your valuable comments.

I found Kingstone Media Group, they're a big Christian publisher from Florida and offer very interesting, high quality books. They're definitely in my list for a pitch.

I am just six pages shy from finishing drawing issue #1. I plan to finish the issue, letter it, and after confirming from the publisher that they're accepting proposals, send the issue along with a presentation letter and the short plot of the entire story.

Would you recommend any other Christian publishers?

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Permalink Reply by Christina Cheek on February 17, 2012 at 9:54pm

Zondervan publishes "The Son of Samson" you may try to pitch at them. I have a few resources out of the "2010 Artists & graphic Designer's Market" that may help (though I would check the 2011-2012 updated version of this book to be sure everything is still there or if not more added).

Some of these are not necessarily Christian or straight comic book based, but that doesn't mean you can't send in a pitch.

Antarctic Press (www.antarctic-press.com)

Church Publishing, Inc. (www.church publishing.org)

Dark Horse (www.darkhorse.com)

Jonathan David Publishers, Inc (www.jdbooks.com)

DC Comics (www.dccomics.com)

Fantagraphics Books, Inc (www.fantagraphics.com)

Image Comics (www.imagecomics.com) *wants comic proposals only, comics are all creator owned*

Impact Books (www.impact-books.com) *wants comic art/illustration instructional books*

New England Comics NEC Press (www.newenglandcomics.com) *at time of printing (2010), not interested in new stories*

Palace Press (www.insighteditions.com)

Papercutz (www.papercutz.com) *indy publisher of graphic novels based on popular existing properties aimed at the teen and tween market*

Tyndale House Publishers, Inc (www.tyndale.com) *Specializes in children's books on "Christian beliefs and their effect on everyday life"*

Hope this helps, and is for anyone else that might be interested in pitching or freelancing for publishers :D God bless!

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Permalink Reply by Martin Murtonen on February 17, 2012 at 10:47pm

DC and Marvel will ABSOLUTELY NOT look at your book. Period. Maybe Vertigo from DC - but that is a very slim chance, and only if it fits their oeuvre. Those two companies are specific to their universes and to work for them you either already have to have a serious track record or be invited. They don't add new books to their lines - though Marvel does have the Icon line - but that's for veterans only.

If and when you do your pitch, make sure to look at all the other books that the publisher produces and see if yours fits either their "look and feel" or their philosophical approach.

Speaking of the Publishers, Buzz, if you're out there, in your opinion what is the Publisher supposed to do for the "creator", and what is the creator supposed to for the publisher? And who owns what?* I have my notions (and alternative notions) but I've only been getting my own feet wet with personal projects so I'm relatively green.

I will say this: Analyzing "publishing" for years, essentially it is what you make of it. Therefore, don't necessarily consider the classic model the best fit. I've read more than one story of BIG name publishers that don't do squat for the products they produce. Also, they seem to be as stuck or perplexed at how to get their books (I don't think we can call these things books anymore - maybe content?) in the hands of people as the independent. The only thing they got going for them is deeper pockets and  better distribution options.

Their traditional models aren't working - and the expectation that the content will sell itself is not helping. They throw as many copies of said content out into the arena of the world and hope there is enough people to pick up enough copies to make their money back - and if not, they pulp it and print a new book on the recycled paper.

So, be focused, be nimble, and be very very creative in figuring out how to get your book out there.

*IMAGE is actually one of the most creator friendly comics models. You own your creation. But it would have to kind of fit their "Brand mentality" (even though they do a wide variety of things, there's something that says "Image Comic" no matter who does the art).

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Permalink Reply by Julio Molina-Muscara on February 18, 2012 at 3:12pm

Christina, thanks for your comprehensive and useful list. Martin, I'm with you.

I am a published artist but this would be my first Christian published work. My experience will help me, and the insight and info you all have poured into this discussion is very, very helpful, filling in the blanks I had. I'm sure it will become helpful for others as well.

Thanks again :)

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