Tips for Breaking In
Many people have asked me how do they break into comics, more specifically places like Marvel and DC.
Let me give you an idea of the time frame. The first time I dreamed of working for Marvel Comics was 1986. I finally got the job at Marvel as an inker in 1997. From 1986 to 1997 I studied comics rather intensely, created samples, received rejection letters, created more samples, practiced, practiced some more, and then practiced some more, sent more samples, worked for local comics, created, published, distributed, marketed and sold my own comic books, expanded my network of comic book contacts, worked for independent publishers in the US, then finally, my work became professional enough to be accepted at Marvel. Because of my work at Marvel and the contacts I cultivated there, I was able to get work at DC for the first time in 2003.
I'm not saying that it will take you as long as that. It could be far shorter in your case if you're talented, but these things don't happen overnight.
If you want to work for a company like Marvel or DC, then you have to be very good. You must know all that it takes to draw a professional looking comic book. That means proper anatomy, proper perspective, proper storytelling, good drafting and a professional attitude. You need to communicate properly. None of that abbreviated jejemon bullshit.
I can't teach you all that. You need to learn that on your own. Buy anatomy books, drawing books, art books, or find sources online, whatever you need to do. An enormous amount of study and training is in your immediate future so you better buckle up.
And even when you have all that, it doesn't guarantee a job. Right now there are hundreds of perfectly able artists, good and professional, who aren't able to find work in comics because there are simply not enough jobs around for everybody. You need to stand out. Your work must not only be good enough, it must be exceptional for them to want to hire you.
Check out the submission guidelines for Dark Horse comics to see what is expected of you:
http://www.darkhorse.com/Company/Submissions
One proven way of breaking in to the big companies like Marvel and DC is to find work with smaller publishers first. As a new artist, your work will most likely not be as good as what it can be a few years down the line. Your first attempts will be clumsy, flawed and rough. Would you want to create THAT kind of work with Marvel and DC at the very start of your career? Many artists who began that way quickly burned out when they couldn't handle the pressure of turning in 22 good pages a month. Most of them are never heard of again.
This is why you need to learn the ropes first before tackling the big boys. It's like playing a video game. Why in the world would you want to fight the last big boss as soon as you start the game? Improve your skills first by learning the tricks of the trade, learn from fellow artists, learn how things are done, develop your art, so that by the end you're prepared to tackle the big stuff.
See how you create your own comic book first. Come up with one, photocopy it, and then sell it at any local Komikon. There's one in April and another in May.
Go online and look for "Artist Wanted" at the various comic book community websites. Be careful who you work with though. Not all of them are honest and straight with you. Check their reputation by googling their names online.
Once you have a library of published stuff, you can use the best of that to show to editors at bigger and bigger companies until hopefully, at the very end, you can show them to editors at the big boys like Marvel and DC. But if you have done good work, you don't need to find them, they will find you.
Remember, this will not happen overnight. Nor it will happen in a month. Or maybe even a couple of months. Be realistic and shoot for a year. A few years. Be prepared to invest an enormous amount of time to achieving your goal. Every successful comic book artist today have set aside years of their life in the effort to become good enough to work in comics.
Work hard. Be patient. Never be discouraged.
Good luck!
