Writers wanted

[starscape]

Sorry, not comic writers exactly but prose writers (although in a comic style).  I'm looking to put together a modern version of the Penny Dreadful or the story papers of old (a la Union Jack, Chums etc). 

If you're interested...style should in the same vein of most of the output of Stan Lee, Alan Moore, John Wagner, Chris Claremont, Michael Moorcock, Robert E Howard, Edgar Rice Burroughs etc etc, i.e. not overt sexual references or extreme swearing (I did say  most of Alan Moore's output  )

Stories should read more like a comic, rather than a chapter of a book.  Serials or stand-alones are fine.  Stories can be anything from 1,000 up to 20,000 words.  Spot illustrations are fine if you so desire (and full colour too if you want).  Tales can be sci-fi, fantasy, superhero or horror based (think a cross between 2000AD, Mighty World of Marvel and Valiant).  Characters can be creator-owned, or from the public domain character range, such as:

    * Spring-Heeled Jack: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_Heeled_Jack (our version Jack is a military man executed for a murder he did not commit.  He has been sent by Satan to terrorise Victorian London.  He is a demon with 'fire vision', claws and gliding/leaping power.  Similar to Ghost Rider in some respects.
    * The Monk: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Monk (our version is a demon-battler, who can use a variety of religious/mythical artifacts and spells to conquer the supernatural).  Similar to Blade/Constantine/Dr Strange/Dr Who
    * Egyptian mythology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_religion (our version sees these gods as a space-faring race with super-powers)
    * Norse mythology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norse_myths (our version has these as more warrior-like than the Marvel version.  Stories should be set in Viking times, although not necessarily on Earth)
    * Monkey King: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_King (you may remember the TV series 'Monkey Magic'.  Please go by the Wikipedia version, however, the TV series is pretty close to the original.)

Monthly mag to be published for free on the web or a small charge to download.  Stories may be collected into a book with 50% of profits going to creators (1 creator = 50%; 5 creators = 10% each).

Please send me a synopsis of one or two paragraphs (not your full story just yet) at editor AT starscapecomic DOT com

...and let's see what happens!

[starscape]

Oops!  I meant editor AT starscapecomic DOT co DOT uk

[locustsofdeath!]

Thanks for posting this, starscape!

I'll be emailing you!

[starscape]

Thanks. I got the idea from a conversation with some well-known comic pros about kids reading books but not comics (not that it's exclusively aimed at kids mind you) and how storypapers might be a welcome return.  But also, I fancied reading some myself.  Most of the fiction (Interzone, Asimov etc) in that mold tends to be 'hmmm nice twist', rather than 'comic action' and very one genre-based.  Nothing wrong with that but sometimes I'd like to read short stories about Batman, Slaine, Dr Who etc or something similar.  But it doesn't seem to be out there.

I was initially looking at a pocket book but without a TV character or known brand, news-stand distribution doesn't seem to be an option (even though I was prepared to fund such a venture).  Likewise, I can't see too many comic shops ordering a non-comic either.  So, internet it is, where, judging by my web comics, it can be read by more people than many Image comics  

[Zarjazzer]

Certainly sounds interesting. Fantasy Lovecraft style ?

[Van Dom]

Yes indeedy, I'm certainly interested. Have a couple of serial type concepts I've been working on which are very much comic-book style. I'm actually sitting on a 700 page novel that I completed a while back, which is basically a comic series in novel form featuring a very comic-book-ish set of characters. Haven't worked out what to actually do with it now that I've finished it, there doesn't seem to be much of a market for that kind of thing so...
well I'll drop you an email then Starscape...so you want a synopsis of just the first few paragraphs of the first proposed installment or a synopsis of the whole idea? Not sure about that one.
Cheers.

[starscape]

there doesn't seem to be much of a market for that kind of thing

I wonder...I'd certainly like to read some.  I've looked up superhero novels on Amazon for instance and they're virtually non-existent except for movie tie-ins or children's versions.  And yet, it's not that different to, say, John Carter of Mars, Doctor Who, the Eternal Champion etc.  Just imagine a well-written Doctor Strange novel or a Green Lantern space saga book.  Wouldn't that be a great compliment to the comics?  Not instead of but a different way to read these tales.

By introducing characters on the net, then perhaps that's a way of getting a story known before it goes to book format.  Without such a thing, then it's basically an unknown releasing a book about characters no-one has ever heard of.  Always difficult to get an audience that way.

well I'll drop you an email then Starscape...so you want a synopsis of just the first few paragraphs of the first proposed installment or a synopsis of the whole idea? Not sure about that one.
Cheers.

Chris will do 

It's the whole story that interests me at first.  Although I say horror, for instance, I don't really want 'Fred West' style torture horror. I want 'comic book' horror. Zombies, monsters, ghosts etc.  That sort of thing, which is why I've only posted to 2000AD so far. (I will post to other forums eventually but if you lot don't get the idea, who will?)

Remember the original post has a mistake in the email.  It should be editor AT starscapecomic DOT co DOT uk

[starscape]

If anyone fancies writing or shaping the mag a bit more, then there's a group set up at http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/starscapecreators/

Got some pretty amazing information on the new 'storycomic'.  I think you'll be excited 

I'll announce more when nearer to publication time.

[House of Usher]

I've not been uot with Nichola Parsons, but I love the 'Mr. Jolly' reference! Nice. 

[starscape]

"It's Nicholas bloody Parsons"!

I actually DID live next door to Mr Jolly, who ran a store named after him in Northampton.  There's also a Jolleys in Downtown Cairo - neither were soft toy businesses unfortunately.  As for Dreamytime Escorts, well, let's not go there...

"...and now, pissed from Norwich!"

[Lady Festina]

Belatedly returning to the world of the interweb after a couple of weeks in less connected climes. V interested and have popped name on the Yahoo Group. Will send across some paras in due course.

[starscape]

Good stuff.  There's a couple of real big names interested too.  I'm sure you'll have heard of them  (can't promise they definitely will but seems to be).

Just to say, this will hopefully be an ongoing thing, whether via print or web, so it's never too late to submit.  Just make it exciting.  Not too much chin-stroking.  Something like, say, Rogue Trooper, Terminator or Green Lantern for instance would be perfect.  Maybe Conan or John Carter could be inspirational.

Please send me a synopsis of one or two paragraphs to editor AT starscapecomic DOT co DOT uk (not com as I wrote in the original post)

Stories should be between 1,000 to 2,000 words per chapter.  Spot illustrations are required.  Any of these may be acceptable:

    * draw a few panels yourself, if you have an artistic hand
    * contact someone else and have them draw them
    * give me some ideas to submit to artists for them to draw.

These can be something to spotlight characters, to show off important parts of the story or just something that might look pretty spectacular.

Chris

PS Never ever bloody anything ever - live my life by it

[Dounreay]

I've got a boatload of Vikings running around in my head. If I can get them to do anything interesting in the next couple of days I'll email you.

Can you maybe elaborate a bit more on what 'read more like a comic than a book' might mean? I'm fairly new to this writing lark. Are you just after fairly staight forward, action driven narrative with supporting dialogue kind of thing?

[starscape]

Well, that, and a few other things.
- something more character driven than a description of situations (great book
though it is, Albert Camus's 'The Plague' wouldn't work for instance but Elric
would be perfect)
- although comics can be any subject, I'm talking fairly traditional adventure
comic territory here (Yes to John Carter of Mars, no to Road To Perdition)
- if it's a serial, then think of why you would want to read next month's
episode (i.e. cliffhanger endings similar to the way Dredd will leave on some
piece of action or information)

Edgar Rice Burroughs or Michael Moorcock are absolutely ideal.  Most of Asimov or Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun wouldn't work.  I'm not trying to dis them in any way, in fact the New Sun is easily one of my favourite sagas but horses for courses.

Chris