Breaking the Rules: An Unsolicited Pitch by a Professional Creator
Twenty year comics content creator veteran and past Legion of Super-Heroes penciller Christopher Taylor decides on a rather unorthodox approach to pitching to DC Comics.
The project is unsolicited.
The project is unapologetically diverse.
The project invites hardcore Legion fans throughout social media to weigh in and more impotantly to WRITE IN to DC Comics directly. It’s a exercise that purposely breaks the rules. It’s a exercise in galvanizing fans in a unique way.
From the onset this was a experiment. To develop a long form single story focusing on the Legion of Super-Heroes; a comic book franchise that’s over forty years old and retains some of the most passionate and critical fans in all of fandom. This presentation would be unique, utilizing the social media platforms Tumblr and Deviant Art to visually - almost organically - present story ideas along with corresponding character designs while simultaneously engaging fans on various Facebook Legion fan sites.
At two years and counting without a monthly published Legion title from DC, hardcore fans were voracious for new Legion-centric content. Now this almost daily new content, although not official canon, released over a two month period by a professional past Legion creator was met with an overwhemingly favorable response. This culminated with a presentation that was well designed and took full advantage of past Legion, Wildstorm and current New 52 DC Multiverse continuity. It also invited fans, both old and new, to Tweet, use Tumblr and message DC Comics directly to let their voices be heard. http://www.dcentertainment.com/#contact
The question remains… in a environment where unsolicited pitches are frowned upon by the editorial status quo, “don’t come to us… we’ll come to you,” can creators use new social media tools to galvanize their fans on their own, and petition the legitimacy of their projects? Or does this path remain a delusional quixotic pursuit?
See what all the fuss is about…
