Is anyone interested in the graphic novel form?

[Mark Ellis]

Since the graphic novel is the hot new medium in publishing for all categories, I was just wondering if anybody was interested in breaking into it with their own thrillers or mysteries.

[Craig McDonald]

God, I love that, Mark...and yes, definitely on the same wave-length.

FIrst Second is an Eisner Award-winning imprint of Roaring Book Press which in turn is under another company that owns several other major publishing houses. They've done some great and some very interesting stuff including some books written and illustrated by Eddie Campbell. Their website is here:

http://www.firstsecondbooks.typepad.com/mainblog/

[Nick Lawless]

My brother and I have actually started self-publishing our first graphic novel. We're learning as we go, but overall it's been a pretty rewarding experience. The graphic novel industry really turns out some great stuff, as good as/better than many novels.

[Mark Ellis]

Cool cover, Nick!

Looks like an interesting book...it seems to have a [i]Deadwood[/i] vibe. What's it about?

I see on your profile you prefer stuff with guns in 'em...I have to admit most of my work is sloppin' over with guns, too. Here's a page from the Death Hawk Graphic novel which illustrates that, in more ways than one.

[ed goldberg]

Yeah, I have a vampire hard-boiled story I thought about for a graphic novel, but I can't seem to get my head around the rather stringent form. I can't reduce the action to panels, although the dialog might be easier.
I guess I'll just have to market it as a short story.

[Mark Ellis]

Hi, Ed

Yeah, there's no denying the "graphic narrative" is a different discipline than prose or even screen/teleplay. It can be tough but I always enjoy working with artitsts...good ones, that is. I've mostly been fortunate.

[Rich "Cody" Conaway]

I do enjoy the graphic novel, although I admit to not reading very many. In particular I liked, loved, adored "Maus," because of it's obvious retelling of the holocaust, which I sometimes have the opportunity to teach. The last graphic novel I read was actually this past month, Ian Philip's, "The Rapture for Big Sinners: 66 + 6 Things to Do Before and Afteer the Righteous Lift Off."

[Angela Zeman]

Wow, this is a fabulous thread, with all those art panels. I LOVE graphic novels!!! I read every single one I can find, just in case I might like it--and I like many of them. Sorry I have nothing to add here, just had to hand out some admiration.

[Linton Robinson]

I'm very interested in this. Especially since I have a screenplay that every damn agent or producer says "This should be a comic book". (The hint being that if it was, they might make or rep it.)

Trouble is I don't draw and can't afford to commission an artist to to do it. I've done a bit of search for artists and the replies are in two odd categories: beginners who aren't up to it (and SO many doing that obnoxious manga/anime style) and stone cold pros with great credits but who are looking for work and charging huge prices per page.

I actually cruised the San Diego Comic Con for young artists once. No luck. (But interesting to note that 95% of them are in a straight deriviative groove, pretty much jumped-up fan art)

So, maybe I'll run into somebody and team up.

[Mark Ellis]

Cruise this site:

www.comicspace.com

I think you might find some pro artists willing to work on a 50/50 split basis...you could sweeten the pitch by asking one of those agents who liked your screenplay if they would rep it once the graphic novel was completed. That might get an artist's enthusiasm pumped up.

[Linton Robinson]

I assumed that it would be understood that that's what I'm looking for since I can't pay for somebody to create the art for me. And that the pros in my second category are not going to go for that.


There is no such thing as "an agent said" with any kind of real world validity and it would be dishonest to hold that out to inspire somebody to work with me. And any of them with any brains realize that anyway.

I poke around at it from time to time between other projects. Somewhere out there is a hungry, talented young artist, preferably with a Hispanic slant who would dig doing this. Maybe I'll turn him up.

[Mark Ellis]

I assumed that it would be understood that you were looking for options...that's why you posted in this thread.

It would be up to you to bring the validity to "an agent said" in your pitch, inasmuch as you brought it up.

Obviously, if the agent and/or editor doesn't give you a commitment, then you wouldn't mention it to a potential collaborator.

[Conrad Lawrence]

I have a screenplay that I am seeking an artist to create a few panels on spec to use as part of a sample and proposal to secure a publisher. Can anyone direct me to an artist who might be interested>