OFFICIAL Top Cow Talent Hunt 2015 Discussion Thread

[A.J.]

Thanks to the team at Top Cow for the opportunity, and to CBR for hosting these and the other comic based threads. It was a learning experience, to be sure. Congratulations to the winners who will be announced, I look forward to reading their material next year. Here's to trying to be ineligible for next year! For those like myself who didn't win, don't stop trying. There are only so many closed doors.

I didn't get it either. I like your name AJsAlterEgo.
Here's hoping that next year most of us are ineligible. I've gotten pretty good at licking my wounds over the years, but I'm not gonna lie, not winning sucks just as bad as I thought it would. I'm glad it's over though. Thanks you Matt, Ryan, Pauul and JVillain! I know there were a lot more involved behind the scenes so you guys will have to be the front men for this venture. I really appreciate this little community I've stumbled into.

Top Cow, you big beautiful beast of a bovine you...I still love you. I got the letter and the resend, but did not find any email from Matt or Ryan before that one. I looked like 15 times. You (Top Cow) are awesome for making a contest like this and I am going to work hard to either become ineligible next year or blow your socks off with the next submission.

[Melanchthon]

I think the most valuable lesson from this was being put under a deadline to finish something. I have about 8-10 short stories where I started them with plenty of enthusiasm, then just kind of trailed off when I stopped feeling inspired. Having to actually finish something taught me to just sit down and keep writing, inspired or not. And, of course, often within 10 minutes a scene would hit me and I'd be away.

My partner and I had never really read Top Cow comics before so when we decided to enter this, it had to be something that didn't rely too heavily on continuity. We liked the tone of the Darkness (particularly the early Garth Ennis issues, as I haven't gotten through the whole series) so we decided to do a story that picks up Danny Estacado after the events of issue #100. The (fairly large) leap/hook from there is that while the former residents of the Darkness are being led off by the mysterious robed stranger to another afterlife, some demons prey on the column of refugees and capture some of their souls to be sold off in hell.

It's a fairly light-hearted tone to keep with Danny's personality from the Darkness issues where Jackie runs into him in the Darkness and he just cracks wise and drops one-liners. If anyone wants a read, hopefully the link below works. Would be good to know what you think, as it's the first time we tried a comic script!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hs57oddyn7...inal.docx?dl=0

Thanks of course to Top Cow for the opportunity

[itchytwitch]

Didn't win either, but like everyone here it was quite a learning experience for me, working on the submission showed me where I am weak and need to improve upon. Thanks to everyone on the thread for the wealth of information, and Top Cow for putting on the talent search, see you guys on the next one!

[DNArt]

To Top Cow Ryan:

I've been checking this thread periodically for updates but I have not been getting any emails indicating when winners would be announced and nothing indicating whether I lost or won.
I did get an email verifying my submission was received. I was originally assuming I lost, however the Top Cow Facebook post indicates the winners were emailed. Is there any way I can get confirmation on my standing?

Here is my Deviantart site with my submission:

http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-2-520556832
http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-3-520557104
http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-4-520557212
http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-5-520557475
http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-6-520557616
http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-7-520557780
http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-8-520557852
http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-9-520558093

[Rob_King54]

To Top Cow Ryan:

I've been checking this thread periodically for updates but I have not been getting any emails indicating when winners would be announced and nothing indicating whether I lost or won.
I did get an email verifying my submission was received. I was originally assuming I lost, however the Top Cow Facebook post indicates the winners were emailed. Is there any way I can get confirmation on my standing?

Here is my Deviantart site with my submission:

http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-2-520556832
http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-3-520557104
http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-4-520557212
http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-5-520557475
http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-6-520557616
http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-7-520557780
http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-8-520557852
http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-9-520558093

Wow, man. That's good stuff!

[Rob_King54]

Luckily, I'm not a very optimistic person, so I didn't think I would win even though I did like my story. My ego took a slight hit, but I had already accepted that I lost before I even got the email haha. Congratulations to the winners! It was a great opportunity and I commend the Top Cow team for putting this contest on. I wish I could at least see if I was in the top 40 though

[Lulisluc]

To Top Cow Ryan:

I've been checking this thread periodically for updates but I have not been getting any emails indicating when winners would be announced and nothing indicating whether I lost or won.
I did get an email verifying my submission was received. I was originally assuming I lost, however the Top Cow Facebook post indicates the winners were emailed. Is there any way I can get confirmation on my standing?

Here is my Deviantart site with my submission:

http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-2-520556832
http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-3-520557104
http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-4-520557212
http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-5-520557475
http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-6-520557616
http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-7-520557780
http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-8-520557852
http://duanenicholsart.deviantart.co...ge-9-520558093

Hey dude, I had seen your submission on Deviant Art sometime ago, and I really liked it man, really great stuff. I even thought you were going to be one of the winners haha... Your art is Amazing.

I can't wait to see who won!

[DNArt]

Thank you Rob_King54, glad you like it.

[DNArt]

Hey dude, I had seen your submission on Deviant Art sometime ago, and I really liked it man, really great stuff. I even thought you were going to be one of the winners haha... Your art is Amazing.

I can't wait to see who won!

Thanks Lulisluc! Thanks for checking out my DA page.

I hope this isn't one of the situations where the winners have to confirm and accept the job before Top Cow announces they have won.
In the off chance I happen to be winner I would hate to get passed on because Im not getting the emails.

[PatrickHennings]

HI EVERYONE!

Congratulations to the winners. I unfortunately didn't win this year, but I had some good feedback from Ryan and apparently made the top 10. Im happy with that and can hopefully climb a few places next year! Keep chasing the dream everyone!

You can see my submission pages here, the later pages are more interesting and theres some inked pages and covers....

http://patrick-hennings.deviantart.com/gallery/

Examples & my fave 2 pages:

http://patrick-hennings.deviantart.c...Inks-534684026
http://patrick-hennings.deviantart.c...-Ink-534687926

See you all next year!

[Attila Kiss]

Okie-Dokie.
Let's see what the future holds. First of all, the next years contest... starts THIS year.
Then I got reply from Matt (Thanks for being prompt) advising me that I'm allowed to use my story, with No Top Cow characters and outside their Universe, (which I fully intend to do) in my own book.
and, am I the only one to notice Pauul being awfully quite, of late?

Anyway, time permits I will read the posted scripts (comment too, if you'd like)... and Patrick... you only made top 10 with that art? Damn, it was competitive.
Congrats to the lucky ones, and hoping you all want to see my project brought to completion, right?!
Good mojo, positive vibes and four-leaf clovers are much appreciated and can be sent to my address found on top of every single page of my submission.

Cheers.

[JVillain]

Well seems like I didn't win, had my hopes up but what can you do? But congrats to the winners and especially everyone who entered, art and writing is hard work, I'd like to think of this as a good learning exercise. Since I didn't win I guess I mind as well share my script. I think it turned out pretty well, given that I wrote it in like the span of like 2-3 days at the last moment. It was a nice simple self-contained story, trimmed it down a little to fit 22 pages, but it's actually probably better. Self criticism, aside from the few obvious spelling and grammatical errors I feel I could've simplified some of the pages I wrote, took out some unnecessary panels, maybe shift some panels to previous or next page, but I'm happy with it. Hope I was at least in those top 40 scripts, but I guess I'll never know unless I see Matt at a con or signing. Hope all you guys enjoy and I would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks....

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...ference....pdf

I really liked your story! The medical conference stuff comes through really authentic, are you a doctor? I was right there, though I think you could have trimmed some of it. I like the slow burn of the story, but maybe have the girls meet right at the beginning when they're checking in the hotel, that would give you more room for comedy relief because the character chemistry between them is great!

[gtramountanas]

To Top Cow - thanks for hosting the contest and for all your efforts!

To everyone who submitted (like myself) - good work and keep on going! I hope to see you in the four-color section soon!

[Attila Kiss]

Well seems like I didn't win, had my hopes up but what can you do? But congrats to the winners and especially everyone who entered, art and writing is hard work, I'd like to think of this as a good learning exercise. Since I didn't win I guess I mind as well share my script. I think it turned out pretty well, given that I wrote it in like the span of like 2-3 days at the last moment. It was a nice simple self-contained story, trimmed it down a little to fit 22 pages, but it's actually probably better. Self criticism, aside from the few obvious spelling and grammatical errors I feel I could've simplified some of the pages I wrote, took out some unnecessary panels, maybe shift some panels to previous or next page, but I'm happy with it. Hope I was at least in those top 40 scripts, but I guess I'll never know unless I see Matt at a con or signing. Hope all you guys enjoy and I would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks....

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...ference....pdf

Since you asked so nicely, here it is.
Just want to say that whatever I think of your script is only my opinion of the story itself and the execution. It doesn't mean it's right or wrong, but it is very subjective, so be warned.
We are not going to get individual evaluations (unless we meet Matt, and not all of us can do that) so it's one writer to another.

Very clean, easy to follow script, with plenty of freedom given to the artist.

You noticed yourself, that editorial panel shifts will benefit the story. One that comes to mind is on Page 5 Panel 1 should have been Panel 3 and respectively Panel 2 & 3 should have been Panel 1 & 2.

While I'm not opposed to use of swearing, Rachel did say "sh*t" twice in the beginning where it seemed a lazy way to supplement an appropriate word. It didn't fit with her character and it wasn't lady like, nor an action requirement, where it might have had some merit. That being said the "No sh*t I already knew that.” -on Page 8, would be an exemption.

Whenever you can show us what is happening rather than trying to describe it, choose the former method. Example would be Page 7 Panel 4 when Rachel acquires the business cards. You went as far as describing the action twice. Once in the caption, and again in her dialog, where it could have been just as effective to have her ask: "Uhum... How can I stay in contact with you?" The last two Panels would play out something like this. Panel 5: Both reps shove their cards right into Rachel's face, forcing her to pull back a little. Rep 1: "I though you never ask" Rep 2: "My private number is the BIGGER one... If you know what I mean" Panel 6: Rachel nonchalantly picks the cards off from their hands, replying with a smile. "No ingredients recipe on the back? How disappointing." Rep 1: "He-He... Funny..." Rep 2: "I use it myself, so it's in me to give, and if you play your cards right, honey, I'll give it to you... BIG TIME... If you know what I mean." Caption: "Whoa! I see the side effects might be troubling, when you mixed it with Viagra."

One Panel = One Action. Example would be again Page 7 Panel 6. (throw the business card... slips it into her jacket).
Same as on Page 9 Panel 1. Unless this is a motion picture, it would be hard for the artist to draw all the requirements.

The action scene was pretty exciting, although the whole beginning dragged a bit too long, for my liking. That being said, since this was a self contained one-shot, it can be overlooked. As for the end, the interaction with Michael and the introduction of another male character, this late in the story, right after the earlier encounter went all wrong, seemed as a filler. Instead, I was expecting some sort of resolution to the "girls" reunion.

Overall, I liked it. The writing part of the competition must have been difficult to judge, as well.

Anyone else, want to get my opinion about their script, just ask. It's the least we can do to help each other.

[SaraKpn]

HI EVERYONE!

Congratulations to the winners. I unfortunately didn't win this year, but I had some good feedback from Ryan and apparently made the top 10. Im happy with that and can hopefully climb a few places next year! Keep chasing the dream everyone!

You can see my submission pages here, the later pages are more interesting and theres some inked pages and covers....

http://patrick-hennings.deviantart.com/gallery/

Examples & my fave 2 pages:

http://patrick-hennings.deviantart.c...Inks-534684026
http://patrick-hennings.deviantart.c...-Ink-534687926

See you all next year!

Wow, that's awesome you made the top 10! You do have great, professional looking pages. Your use of panels is just incredible. The variety of it,not to mentions the figures themselves
If only I knew how close to the top I reached. I hope I at least made the top 40, though I noticed while drawing the pages, I have a lot of work to do

Here are mine. Hopefully, they will have improved next time.
http://sarakpn.deviantart.com/galler...call-it-folder