Who wants to create a Super****e? I DO! I DO!

[cleasterwood]

April,
If your pitch is chosen you have to sit down & write out the full script one panel scene at a time.   It's not as simple as describing a character and the basics of each panel (or scene).   Franchesco! is very popular & extremely talented and will certainly bring his own ideas into play, if the writer gives him leeway.  (Which I would definitely make use of his expertize.)   It's quite different than writing prose.  Think of it as writing a movie script as it's very similar.  You have a certain format to adhere to as well.  You must write the description of the contents of the panel, any important details that need to be in the scene, layout each page, add dialogue, specify captions, specify certain types of word balloons, how each balloon functions, what type of panel gives what kind of "feel", etc.  Ending pages with cliffhangers takes practice.  Pacing is another hurdle to overcome.  You must think "Visually" to write a successful script.  If you make it to Round #2, the first 5 pages are THE most important as far as this contest is concerned, IMHO. ONLY the first 5 pages need to be scripted.  So make them count! 
Round 1- Brief paragraph of story synopsis- Beginning, middle, end.  Who? What? When? Where? How?  Why?
Round 2- 5 fully scripted out pages from the 10 people whose story is chosen.  Five pages with #'d panels with everything the artist needs to know.
Round 3- Announcement of finalists & voting begins.

The one with the most votes wins.

Do a little Googling homework for comic book formats to learn the various aspects of it.  I've been doing this about 3 months now & am always learning new things from amateurs and pros alike.  Get involved with comic forums.  Do your homework.   At the least, it's good exercise for the brain.  I came out a winner just because I created a new character. 

Lynn

[Volitzer]

Anyone want to go in on an "Amazon League" Best character wins ??!??

[cleasterwood]

Volitzer,
What is that Amazon League banner all about?  And no, it's actually the best Script wins, not necessarily the best character.  What they want to see is a unique super****e story with a unique premise.  As with any writing contest, it's about the story.  Strong character + strong plot= strong story.  They will pick the best 10 story pitch paragraphs, ask those 10 people to write a script.  From there the editor's & other judges pick the best 5 scripts. Those 5 scripts will be voted on by comic book readers.

Here are a few links to get you started.
How to write comics:  http://www.bigredhair.com/work/comics.html
Script links:  http://homepage.mac.com/dmcduffie/site/Scripts.html
Scott McCloud-great resource:  http://www.scottmccloud.com/
Art of Paneling:  http://www.mangarevolution.com/tutorial_display.php?tutorial_id=149
Panel Layout You-Tube:  http://youtube.com/watch?v=bCTUEGmLass
Writing Comic Books:  http://www.writing-world.com/freelance/comics.shtml

On a personal note, my first 5 pages of script are already plotted out & now all I have to do is convert the outline into actual panels. It took me 7 drafts & 4 days to get the first 5 pages of script to my satisfaction.  It's never taken me 7 drafts to get 5 pages finished.  I usually write 10-15 pages a day with little to no effort.  The pacing and ending page 5 with a 'cliffhanger' were the hardest hurdles to overcome.

Blessings & good luck to all who enter,
Lynn

[cleasterwood]

Deadline has come and gone!  I managed to submit two entries and with any luck will be posting some good news on Feb 4th.  Now I can stop ripping my hair out and losing sleep.  lol 

[April Kincaid]

Congratulations, Lynn! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

When will know for sure?  Is everyone going to get a response or just the winners?

[cleasterwood]

I sincerely doubt Kris wants to notify over 3,000 people that they didn't make it, but everyone who entered got a standard, your entry has been recieved; thank you; good luck after she read the entry.  Only those who are chosen to go to the next round are to be notified.  The semi-finalists will be announced to the public on Feb. 4th, I believe at newsarama.  I will hotlink the thread when it's been posted. 

I don't have much hope for my submission as far as them being a good fit for this contest, but it's all good either way.  I plan on writing the comic anyway as I've already thought of a villainess to use in place of Bomb Queen.     My pitch throws a wide net into a big alternative ocean playground so it has potential.  I have every confidence my idea will succeed regardless of this contest's outcome.  In my mind, I'm already a winner.     I can still use the luck though.  Thanks April.

Lynn

[Trent]

I've done these comic book entry things before and it's difficult to see what they want.  Who cares?  Sure, it would be nice to have them pay for the publishing, but most of the best success stories in independent comics have been the things that have been self-published and picked up by major companies later.

Take Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!

Good luck, Cleasterwood, let us know if you hear anything.

[cleasterwood]

Alas, my pitch did not make it.  It's all good though as I've decided to develop the idea regardless and already have an alternate villainess to replace Bomb Queen. 
I'm skiddish about posting it and if anyone has any ideas about ripping this off ( I know no one here will do that, but who knows about others who happen to surf to the site), let me say this:  the sketches & scripts have been started and it's already been picked up!  There will be a few changes, like nanite technology will be replaced (as soon as I find the right technology that is), the villainess isn't BQ, and Nytrix is going to be working in cahoots with a Secret Service Agent so she is no longer portrayed as a vigilante.
So, here is my pitch:
Nytrix
BOMB QUEEN creates a personal "Knitemare" when she devastates SUNNY KNITE’s life twice in one night.   A sabotaged military train explodes sending top-secret debris into the tanker of nitrous idling in front of Sunny.  Heated nanites, nitrous, and her “orichevlar” suit melt into her flesh.  The altered nanites fuse with Sunny’s blood transforming it into living nano-metal.  Dazed, but alive, she lugs her motorcycle back to “Heaven’s Fire”—the hottest fetish club in South Florida.  There, Sunny sees a vaguely familiar face drinking at her bar and when the bomb-happy psycho destroys it, Sunny’s fury mutates her into NYTRIX.  A razed path leads Nytrix to Key West where she uncovers an explosive plot to pilfer Spanish doubloons, a nuclear warhead, and then kill President Bushton during the International Debate on Nuclear Armaments.  Nytrix narrowly escapes a watery death and races to the convention center arriving within minutes of detonation.  After disarming the warhead, Nytrix hunts down Bomb Queen to exact her revenge.  Using a drop of her blood and a special serum, Nytrix turns Bomb Queen into a permanent decoration for her wall.

[Volitzer]

 

[Pagan]

So what progress has everyone made towards inventing their super****es?

[Volitzer]

No new progress here.

I wasn't expecting much anyway.

Those who write comics always want new ideas from people but get very antzy about legal contracts and payment or recognition.

Tent is right the best way to do it is to independently and then get picked up by a major comic book corporation.

[Pagan]

Well, I created a new super****e:

She's called, "Nympho-Girl."  She gains superpowers each time she sleeps with someone.  They last about twenty-four hours, though, and then, whoops!  She has to go get recharged again.  Think it will sell?

[Volitzer]

Well, I created a new super****e:

She's called, "Nympho-Girl."  She gains superpowers each time she sleeps with someone.  They last about twenty-four hours, though, and then, whoops!  She has to go get recharged again.  Think it will sell?

I've actually had that fantasy myself.  Yeah I'd think it would sell.