vertigo

[patchesk83]

Does anyone know how to get anything submitted to Vertigo? DC's website says it doesn't take unsolicited submissions, but how does one get their approval or whatever to submit? Thanks.

[Newt]

I think Vertigo mostly uses DC's established creators. It's sort of the 'premium' line, so you've got to work your way up to it.

[exilednight]

You can not submit directly to Vertigo. You submit to DC and they determine what line it goes into, and 99.9% of the time, you will not get into the Vertigo line unless you have been previously published.

[kdmelrose]

You can not submit directly to Vertigo. You submit to DC and they determine what line it goes into, and 99.9% of the time, you will not get into the Vertigo line unless you have been previously published.

DC proper doesn't accept unsolicited submissions, either.

For DC and all of its imprints (Vertigo, WildStorm, Minx, et al), you have to:

a.) become friendly with an editor -- through convention hobnobbing, online interactions, mutual acquaintances -- and ask if you can pitch something; or

b.) make an impression with work you've published elsewhere, and be asked to pitch.

There's probably a "c," but I can't think of one right now.

[exilednight]

DC proper doesn't accept unsolicited submissions, either.

For DC and all of its imprints (Vertigo, WildStorm, Minx, et al), you have to:

a.) become friendly with an editor -- through convention hobnobbing, online interactions, mutual acquaintances -- and ask if you can pitch something; or

b.) make an impression with work you've published elsewhere, and be asked to pitch.

There's probably a "c," but I can't think of one right now.

About once a year I see a help wanted in circulation for DC. They do draw a lot of their talent straight out of art school. I had a friend who finished the Kubert school and was given an intern job and later went on to be gainfully employed by DC.

I really believe that this is how they cultivate their talent.

[kdmelrose]

Okay, but you're talking about two different things.

[exilednight]

DC does take submissions, but only at conventions, and they don't review writing; only art.

[T.J. May]

DC does take submissions, but only at conventions, and they don't review writing; only art.

That's not a submission, that's a portfolio review.

Submissions are stories and projects based on their properties, or you pitching an original, creator owned idea. See Melrose's post for how to get into DC that way.

As for hiring guys out of the Kubert school...they do a little of that to fill out their inhouse Bull-pen, and from time-to-time a Bull-pen guy goes freelance. But mostly artists make a name for themselves on their own via self-pub, or small press.

The writing route often starts in the editorial department. I was offered a job as an editorial assistant at DC back in the day. That usually puts you on a ladder that climbs to editor. Many editors will then use that position to start procurring freelance work on their way to becoming freelance writers.

[MARK A ROBINSON]

The best way is to do the cons and do a meet and greet with an editor that you strike up the best rapport with.

But coming from a guy who has had many a sit down with Vertigo editors...Get ready for a LONGGgggggggggggggggg wait.

(still waiting)


and then get ready to wait alil longer.

you might be better off going to a smaller publisher to get your idea off and running.

M.

[T.J. May]

you might be better off going to a smaller publisher to get your idea off and running.

M.

That's sound advice. Jason and I were lucky that our cousin was editing Batman back in the 90s. It taught us oodles about the industry and it became very clear, (even with a industry-relative that felt we were talented) that pitching DC or Marvel was a waste of our time.

So, we self-published together and looked for opportunities to do little things for small companies. About two years after he left DC my cousin was thumbing through a few of the stories I had done (over the prvious 8 years) and said, "you know if I was still at DC I'd give you a shot at a fill-in script based on these."

A fill-in script, not an opportunity to pitch him, just a fill-in issue between name talents. And then likely more waiting. Now, that would have been a great opportunity, but that's my cousin, man. And it is all he would have given me after I self-published 3 books and had several other works in different anthologies.

If I hadn't gotten those other books published, he wouldn't have even considered me, cousin or not. That's the luxury of editing at DC and Marvel, you hand pick your talent because everybody wants to work for you. And they NEVER go with a non-published talent these days.

[Mark Bertolini]

Not to be a thread-killer, but doesn't this belong in the writer's forum?