Top Cow Talent Hunt

Do you want to be a comic writer or artist? Our Top Cow Talent Hunt is one of the best ways to get in and noticed. Previous winners include Tini Howard, Jim Towe, Isaac Goodhart, Hannibal Tabu and so many others!

Download the details from here (cut and paste):
https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/2yybVhb8y0/fi-6483a4d9-f684-4e78-8f95-b3355b70a915/fv-fcbcc5d0-43be-4b58-aaed-8ca84edc23ce/POSTAL%20%2316.docx

READ THE WHOLE DOCUMENT. I get hit up with questions every year that are CLEARLY ANSWERED in there.

There’s also a direct link at the CBR story you can click on: http://www.cbr.com/top-cow-talent-hunt-2017-details/

The reference books this year are Postal, Think Tank, The Tithe, Samaritan and some of those are free here:

The Tithe #1: http://topcow.com/files/TI001_loreader.pdf
Postal #1: http://topcow.com/files/PO001_loreader.pdf
Postal #5: http://topcow.com/files/PO005_loreader.pdf
Think Tank #1: http://topcow.com/files/Think_Tank_01_Digital.pdf
Think Tank #2: http://topcow.com/files/ThinkTank02_lo.pdf
Think Tank #3: http://topcow.com/files/ThinkTank03_lo.pdf
Think Tank #4: http://topcow.com/files/ThinkTank04_lo.pdf
Think Tank Fun with PTSD #1: http://topcow.com/files/ThinkTank_FunwithPTSD01_reader.pdf

My best advice is to write a story about a single character, self-contained story and have it be about an emotional reaction of sorts.

March 16, 2017

Like Jason Bourne? Tom Clancy stories? Then Samaritan is for you!
In SAMARITAN, a woman with a vendetta decides she’s going to take down the largest military contractor in the world and has the means and a plan that just might work. How do you bankrupt one of the richest, most technologically advanced and successful companies in the world? You steal all their research and give it away to everyone. Can she survive long enough to pull it off with the entire US government trying to kill her?
SAMARITAN #1 (MAR170694) hits stores on Wednesday, May 24th. The final order cutoff deadline for comics retailers is Monday, May 1st.

New Think Tank in stores this week!

New Think Tank is in stores this week! The entire first volume is free here along with 50 other books: http://topcow.com/moos/43-latest-moos/949-free-comic-downloads-from-top-cow

Dante, Postal 17 and Mechanism V1 live from the Top Cow sexy offices in Los Angeles!

In comic stores 1/18 is Dante by me and Darick Robrtson, Mechanism V1 by Raffaele Ienco and Postal 17 by Bryan Hill and Isaac Goodhart.

Sunstone V5 in stores 1/18

The concluding volume of Sunstone hits 1/18.

https://www.amazon.com/Sunstone-5-Stjepan-Sejic/dp/1632157241/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483741240&sr=8-1&keywords=sunstone+volume+5

Read V1 for free here: http://topcow.com/moos/43-latest-moos/949-free-comic-downloads-from-top-cow

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Dante Graphic Novel releases 1/25

Dante is releasing 1/25 by me with art by Darick Robertson you can read a free preview here: https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/1YSvE

 

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Think Tank: Animal #1 to hit in March

Think Tank: Animal #1 hits March 1st by me and Rahsan Ekedal! If you’ve never tried Think Tank before you can read for FREE here the first four issues of VOL 1:
 
Issue 1: http://topcow.com/files/Think_Tank_01_Digital.pdf
Issue 2: http://topcow.com/files/ThinkTank02_lo.pdf
Issue 3: http://topcow.com/files/ThinkTank03_lo.pdf
Issue 4: http://topcow.com/files/ThinkTank04_lo.pdf
 
Here’s the solicit info for March:
 
THINK TANK: ANIMAL #1 (VOL 5)
MARCH 1 / 32 PAGES / FC / T+ / $3.99
 
Several key NATO figures are assassinated…by animals? Someone has perverted Dr. David Loren’s surface thought-reader and turned it into a device sending animals on kill missions. Still recovering from his recent suicide attempt, Dr. David Loren is forced back into the military game to help uncover who is behind this. His fragile relationship with Mirra Sway is tested even further as his father shows up…with a sister he didn’t know he had.
 
People always ask me what I recommend of mine to read, well this is the one! I love doing this book =)
 
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The Clock

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What would happen if people started dying around the world in record numbers from cancer? It appears to be spreading like a virus and it’s fast. By the time it’s diagnosed it’s too late… An eugenics conspiracy thriller about overpopulation, scarce resources and survival as told through the lens of the leading cancer researcher and his lifelong quest to eradicate cancer and save his daughter!

The Clock by Colleen Doran and myself will be out in mid to late next year!

Wondercon schedule

WONDERCON SCHEDULE

FRIDAY 3/25/16

1-3 At Top Cow’s section of Image Comics booth #1802

3:30 – 4:30 Panel Room 515B

Space Goat: Prep Your Portfolio to Impress a Comics Editor
Space Goat Productions is the comic industry’s premier creator management company, representing dozens of comic creators worldwide. This presentation will provide the resources, techniques, and tips for aspiring artists to best prepare their portfolio for viewing by a comics editor. Join Space Goat’s Shon C. Bury and Dave Olbrich plus panelists Matt Hawkins (Top Cow Productions) and writer/editor Shannon Eric Denton discuss putting your best foot forward to begin or advance your career in comics.

5-7 At Top Cow’s section of Image Comics booth 1802

SATURDAY 3/26

10-11 At Top Cow’s section of Image Comics booth 1802

11:30-12:30 PANEL Room 515B

Top Cow Productions: From Then to Now
Founded by Marc Silvestri in 1992, Top Cow Productions soon made its name as the publisher of hit comics like Witchblade, The Darkness, and Cyberforce. The series stood the test of time, spawning a whole multimedia empire. Sit down with Silvestri, Matt Hawkins (COO of Top Cow Productions) and Bryan Edward Hill (story editor) for an exclusive look at where Top Cow has been and where it’s going next.

1-3 At Top Cow’s section of Image Comics booth 1802

5-7 At Top Cow’s section of Image Comics booth 1802

SUNDAY 3/27

11:30-12:30 PANEL Room 515B

Comic Book Editorial Panel 2016
Vince Hernandez (Aspen Comics VP/editor-in-chief), Matt Hawkins (Top Cow Productions publisher), Barbara Randall Kesel (editor), David G. Wohl (DC Comics editor), and Shannon Eric Denton (editor, writer) detail the keys to success in getting published and hired by a comic book publisher.

1-3 At Top Cow’s section of Image Comics booth 1802

This is a local show so I do NOT hang out in the evenings. I go home and recoup. See you next week.

‪#‎wondercon‬ ‪#‎convention‬

Convention tips

While I’m thinking about conventions, let me offer some tips:

1) If you aren’t good at talking to people, you’ll need to bring someone that is
2) Best opening is “hello” or “would you like a free ______”
3) Best sales are always in the final hour of the day so don’t leave early
4) Ask people what they like to read, let them tell you which of your books they’d be more interested in (what kind of movies do you like can be good too).
5) Have 10 second and 60 second pitches for each book. With the 60 second know which key pages of art to show.
6) Have a cheap entry level thing they can buy to try (or give for free)
7) Have expensive quality items for your hardcore fans
8) Have a variety of things. Some people like to choose.
9) When you leave your table leave a sign saying when you’ll be back. I do this and every time someone is waiting for me when I get back (at the time I indicate so don’t be late!)
10) Take credit cards. With the square register there is no reason not to. You’re missing out on sales when you don’t.
11) Hand a person talking to you a book to flip through
12) Smile
13) Make positive comments about their cosplay, kid, t-shirt and follow it up with a question. Where’d you get the shirt?
14) Plan your calories. You need to eat to keep your energy level up
15) Have a clear display with your name, best known property (ies), even a single banner behind you is enough.
16) Have something visible with your social media. I have a “fan card” I give out that has my name and social media on it. Also good to give people who ask for your business card that you don’t want having your email or phone #
17) Bring a small water bottle you can refill at the water fountain.
18) If you’re getting angry, annoyed or are dead on your feet…take a break. Go walk around a bit. Bring a sheet or something to cover your table and as said earlier put a sign, be back at 3:30 or whatever
19) Try and make people laugh. Try different things. Practice and come up with one liners that will make people smile.
20) Don’t be pushy. People come to comic conventions to chill. You can actively sell them without coming across as a used car salesman. And yes you have to “sell” most comic books don’t sell themselves.