OUR NEW SELECTION OF AMATEUR SUPERCHARACTERS NEED DEVELOPING

…That was the Email subject of an inquiry I received today.  Here was the text of it:

«<Hello Glasshousegraphics contact, from amateur supercharacters creative team, from UK Britain…
Please view our selection of new and original supercharacters on direct photobucket link below, we do not have the skills to develop ourselves, and would like help from professionals like yourselves,to get the characters considered with most potential into comics..If you can help us please contact us anytime at your convenience.»»

Judging by the wording and typos in the inquiry, I had the feeling these were kids with no money — but you never know.  They could be ADULTS with no money.  Or they could be legit — amateurs with some backing who were ready to “put their money where their mouths are” and finance development of their ideas, for better or for worse.

Here is an example of their concepts —

I wrote back:

«<Certainly, we can help you to develop your projects.  Anyone can create characters; it’s what you DO with them, creatively and from a marketing standpoint, that counts.

You need first to figure out your BUDGET — what can you afford to spend to create a comic book using professional people?

If you want to create a complete first issue, for example, you would need:

*  Cover design/art/color
*  Finished character designs (front/back/sides)
*  Logo
*  Script
*  Interiors layouts/art/lettering/coloring
*  Publicity art.

As a ballpark range, professional writers get $35 to $100 per page.  Artists gets $100 to $500 per page.  Colorists get $35 to $150 per page.  Lettering is $10 to $30 per page.  Covers are usually a little more than interiors.

Depends on the style/writer/artist chosen.

If you can’t budget an entire book, you may wish to consider creating a Proposal Package.  This consists of the final designs, logo, cover, promo art, and up to seven pages of the interiors completely finish…enough to shop your property around to publishers.

We represent more than 125 talents all over the world and provide these services to individuals such as yourselves as well as small and large publishers — Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Dynamite, IDW, Radical, Del Rey, Ape, and many others.

Figure out your budget, and let us know when we can help!»»

They promptly wrote back:

«<David thanks for your informative and very helpful reply about our supercharacters, but in our present unemployed situation, we are unable to finance our characters ourselves, and are looking to cut any kind of a deal for someone professional to develop them into comics for us..Can you help David, providing you see some of our characters as worthy enough.»>

So I responded:

«<Hello, again.  I think, without $$$ to move this forward in a professional manner, you’re going to run into problems.  Here’s the truth nobody wants to hear:  Why should a professional devote many, many working hours of their time into making YOUR dreams come true, when they can spend that time being paid by a publisher to make their OWN dreams come true?  EVERY professional can create fascinating characters, myself included.

It’s kind of like this:  You wouldn’t expect a professional carpenter, plumber, or surgeon to work for you for free — it’s no different for a professional author or illustrator.  They do this to earn a living. 

Certainly, you may find some talented amateurs to help you — but they are amateurs, not professionals, for a reason.

All my best in your hopes and dreams.  I hope you find what you’re looking for — but don’t be disappointed if you don’t.»>

I receive variations of this kind of request several times each week.  Sure, sometimes they’re from young beginners hoping this will be their way to a “big break” in the comics biz, but more often it’s some adult who should know better.

In 18+ years of agenting, and 28+ years in the comics business, I have NEVER ONCE seen one of these things actually break through.  No youngster with the “next great idea” that they want someone else to do the real work to develop.  No schemer trying to get professionals to do the work for free — “on the back end” — “on the come” — who saw “their” idea turned into something big.

But still they try. 

Hey, ya get what ya pay for, people.