And Now For Something Completely Different
Thoughts on running a comics anthology
Hey, there! Periodic reminder that I’m Clay Adams, writer of BLAZING BLADE OF FRANKENSTEIN and DREAMQUEST, co-writer of PRODIGAL SON (in stores now!) and CARMILLA UNBOUND, and co-editor of the NIGHTMARE THEATER horror anthology. You probably signed up for this newsletter on one of those Kickstarters… or maybe we met at a signing or con? In any event, glad you’re here. Pull up a seat, grab a beverage of your choice, and feast your eyes on the latest news…
Hey, how’d you like that Superman trailer that dropped last week?
Ever since Michelle Pfeiffer stole the show (and my heart!) in BATMAN RETURNS but had to share precious screen time with the guy from THROW MOMMA FROM THE TRAIN, I’ve been *ahem* SUPER leery of any non-team comic book movie that introduces too many heroes or villains.
(Also looking at you, SPIDER-MAN 3).
But the casting seems phenomenal and I’m 100% here for Superman vs. Kaiju, so I say bring it!
Speaking of things with lots of heroes and villains, I’m talking anthologies this week, but first, a couple of announcements…
This Week!
PRODIGAL SON: ISSUE 3-- IS IN STORES this week on 5/21! Don’t miss out on the next chapter in this thrilling tale of revenge!
The hunters become the hunted when The Grey Devils turn the tables on the unlikely band of outlaws chasing them. After a fierce firefight, who will remain to carry out the Man in Black's vendetta?
LEARN MORE ABOUT AMP COMICS: linkin.bio/ampcomics/
FIND A COMIC SHOP NEAR YOU: https://www.comicshoplocator.com
Next Week!
If you're in Pasadena, CA or the surrounding area, consider coming to see me and Devilish Dave Schrader at MonsterPalooza in one short week:
We'll be in Exhibit Hall C, table 558:
Who needs a Celeb Photo Op when you have comics?
(Don’t answer that.)
Quick Hits
Here’s a trip around the horn to let you know where things stand with various projects…
There’s still time to nominate NT3D for a Ringo
All DEADSKINS! 10th Anniversary hardcovers have shipped!
BLAZING BLADE OF FRANKENSTEIN #4 is finished and headed to the printer next week
Not to be outdone, CARMILLA UNBOUND: 1984 is also finished and headed to the printer next week
OK, that’s a lotta news. Now for the main event!
Thoughts on anthologies from someone who’s run them…
Because of the success of NIGHTMARE THEATER, Dave Schrader and I are often asked to give advice on running an anthology. So, this week, for posterity* I decided to record and share a conversation I had with writer/editor Andy Nordvall.
(*Ten dollar word because I’m pretentious.)
Andy’s work appears in NIGHTMARE THEATER 3D in a fun story drawn by Don Nguyen titled The Moral of this Story, and currently Andy is putting together his first anthology, which you can follow here:
FOLLOW BAD FUTURE COMICS
Andy had lots of great questions about the process, including wanting some advice for running a Kickstarter in general.
Hopefully there are others who find this kind of thing useful…?
Take it away, Andy!
If you found that helpful, please give Andy a follow so you’ll know when he goes live. Here’s that link again:
(And thanks, Andy)!
I delve into this in more depth on the video, but if you’re a writer looking to get published in an anthology, here’s my advice on pitching:
If there are previous volumes, familiarize yourself with them so you’re not pitching a similar story/twist/image
Know that an editor wants to like your story
Make sure you understand what they’re looking for! If the call for submissions says,“Looking for hard sci-fi only” and you pitch a fantasy romance…
I tried to put all this into practice when pitching to Nathan Lueth’s upcoming anthology, CONCRETE ARCANUM: LIVING WITH MONSTERS.
The call for submissions read like this:
Concrete Arcanum takes place in a modern world where the knowledge that magic and monsters exist has become mainstream. Some monsters are obvious, like the neighbor who’s half-ogre, or the woman at the office with eyes that flicker like wildfire. Others are more insidious, hiding their true nature beneath human masks. They could be family, friends, or even the person staring back at you in the mirror. Some monsters protect, some manipulate, and others simply survive. All demand to be reckoned with.
Explore themes of trust, fear, love, and betrayal in a world where monsters aren’t just threats to fight—they’re part of the family, part of the system, and sometimes, they are the system.
Stories of all scopes and tone are welcome. Cute, funny, satirical, dark, thematic, personal, epic... it's all on the table. And it doesn't have to be strictly fantasy either. Ghosts, ghouls, werewolves, and other tales of the supernatural are welcome, as well. The only two things your story must have are 1. Be set in the modern world. 2. Include some fantastical or supernatural element.
I’ll share the story I produced with Peter Taylor and D. Forrest Fox in full next time, and you can judge how well I hit those marks.
Meanwhile, if you want to get notified when the anthology goes live, Nathan gave me this handy-dandy little graphic:
That’s all for now! Thanks for taking this little detour with me. Free comic next time, promise.
-Clay
Oh hey, I know that book! 😁 Great advice on pitching. You've really got to understand the theme of the book you're pitching for to catch the editor's eye.
Thank you for sharing this, Clay! After releasing Slice(s) of Life, I've been wondering how to best go about a sequel and working with more creators. This was really helpful in guiding that.