MattBrady
08-09-2007, 08:57 AM
<img src="http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/Cebulski/ChesterQuest/Chesterquest_2007SM.jpg" alt="" name="" border="0" align="right"> by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean (newsarama21848@gmail.com)
Be Professional.
Be Persistent.
Don't be Pestering.
Don't be a Prick.
Remember “The Rule of Four Ps” when submitting to Marvel’s newest talent search initiative, ChesterQuest, officially launched (http://www.newsarama.com/Comic-Con_07/Marvel/Cebulski.html) at Comic-Con International in San Diego last month.
Spearheaded by C.B. Cebulski, ChesterQuest was conceived as a talent search for pencilers and painters. According to Cebulski, It is meant for new artists. Anyone who has previously been published by Marvel Comics is ineligible.
With the ChesterQuest tour hitting WizardWorld Chicago this week, Newsarama.com caught up with Cebulski for an update on things, especially after the first leg of the world tour in San Diego.
In addition to this, we’ll also be talking to Cebulski on a regular basis to find out more about each leg of the world tour, let readers in on the selection process, preview some ‘semi-finalists,’ answer some questions from our readers and much more.
Newsarama: Okay, before we get to some questions that'd been raised since the official announcement at the recent SDCC, San Diego officially kicked off ChesterQuest, right? How did it go?
C.B. Cebulski: It went amazing well. The announcement got bumped up from the Mondo Marvel to actually being featured at the standing-room-only Cup O' Joe panel! From my position on the stage, I think it went over very spectacularly. Everyone loves a contest, right? We even had our very own ChesterQuest graphic made up, with art courtesy of Leinil Yu and Christina Strain, designed by Pat McGrath. The show for me got nuts from that point on, with all kinds of artists hunting me down at the Marvel and Image booths to show me their work. I came out of the show with samples from all over the world as well as what I feel are 5 definite 'semi-finalists". Not bad for the first stop on the tour!
Oh, and I've since been invited to make appearances in Singapore, Bombay, Athens, Essen, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Perth, Sydney and Wellington. Not sure where I'll end up given my current travel schedule, but we'll see.
NRAMA: If it's any consolation to those who'd submitted their proposals, samples and all that, what impressed you the most about the ones that you'd seen at SDCC?
CBC: That's a hard question to answer in writing without being about to show you the artwork or sounding cliché. All the samples that impressed had something new and fresh about them that's hard to express in words. It think originality was the key. The people I responded to most had something unique about their work. They weren't trying to simply emulate Bryan Hitch or David Finch. They brought their own style to the table.
NRAMA: With part 2 of the ChesterQuest world tour hitting WW: Chicago this week, what should contestants/participants/future superstar artists avoid when approaching you with their entries? In other words, what are the do's and don'ts/guidelines that they should follow?
<img src="http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/Cebulski/ChesterQuest/Iron_Man_Suit.jpg" alt="" name="" border="0" align="left"> CBC: I found myself overwhelmed in San Diego and I expect the same to happen in Chicago. I have to accept the fact that I'm not going to see everyone. And I hope that the artists all realize this too. The key thing is that you don't have to see me to enter. Having me review your portfolio will not give you a leg up on winning a spot in ChesterQuest. I give just as much attention to "leave behinds" and mailed in submissions as I do to con reviews. That said, you can find all the submissions guidelines and details up on the ChesterQuest blog now: www.chesterquest.blogspot.com . Please read them carefully before sending me anything.
Also, I will be holding a ChesterQuest panel in Chicago, at 11AM on Friday to discuss the competition and answer any and all questions folks may have! I hope to see people there.
NRAMA: I'd like to know how the whole process works. Are you shortlisting one or a few candidates after each tour or will you and the Committee sit down and make your selections at the end of the tour? After all, you’d already said that you’ve “5 definite ‘semi-finalists’” after SDCC…
CBC: Truth be told, reviewing art submissions is easy for me. Joe Quesada always says I have one of the best eyes for talent he's seen, which I have always found flattering considering who it's coming from! I don't know what it is, but I have the ability to look at an artist's work and judge it pretty quickly and easily. I know after a few pages whether a person has what it takes or not. It's next to impossible to describe how or why though. It's a mystery even to me, but I know what I like. It's a skill that's worked well for me, as well as plenty of artists, in this biz so far.
So that said, yes, I'm shortlisting as I go. But not narrowing it down to just one or two artists. For example, I received samples from maybe 200 artists over the course of San Diego. Half of those I was able to pass over pretty quickly. The other half I took a closer look at. In the end, I came home with about 30 portfolios; 25 of those got filed for future review, five got immediately moved to a "semi-finalist" section.
Will it always go like this? Probably not. Those are pretty good odds, but SDCC is a big show. I might go to some shows and find no one. Others I might find 10 superstars at. We'll just have to see as we go along. In the end, I estimate I'll have about 200 solid portfolios to show Marvel, with 20-25 "semi-finalists" at the top.
NRAMA: You'd updated the ChesterQuest blog and confirmed that there's not going to be sample scripts from Marvel? Does it mean that budding/interested artists would have to write and draw their own stories/try-out pages to be sent to ChesterQuest and Marvel?
<img src="http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/Cebulski/ChesterQuest/Me_and_Stan.jpg" alt="" name="" border="0" align="right"> CBC: Yes, I want people to showcase their originality in this search. I know many editors don't like to do it this way and like to have new artists work off scripts. But that's why it's ChesterQuest, I know what I like and I know what works for me. I know I'd go blind and batty looking at the same samples over and over. Marvel once sent out a Spider-Man/MJ/Mister Hyde script years ago for one of their previous talent searches. I must have seen that scene illustrated 500 times over the last 3 or 4 years. People are still using it! My mind just goes numb when I see pages from that sample now though and I don't want that to happen here. I was to see something new and exciting with every submission. If people do want to use a sample script, there are plenty online that can find.
NRAMA: One question that's been asked on Newsarama and various other forums: Why artists only and not writers?
CBC: Alright, there are a number of reasons for this and I guess I'll just be blunt about it...
1. I'm a writer myself and see it as a conflict of interest to review the work of other writers.
2. There are all kinds of legal implications that could and would arise from a writers search. It's a mess that I'm not equipped or interested in dealing with.
3. And I'll just come out and say this, reviewing writing submissions is a pain-in-the-ass. Plain and simple. It's time-consuming and 95% of what comes in is not very good. People who can't draw freely admit it; they have no disillusions about being an artist. Everyone thinks they can write though. Everyone who reads comics has an idea for their favorite character... and every single one of those people, talent aside, thinks it's a good idea. Wading through writing submissions is a thankless job that rarely bears fruit. That's why so many of the major publishers are looking to Hollywood and the book world now for proven talent. That's why you always tend to hear "get published somewhere else first". It's just how the game is played in this day and age. I hate to sound cold and disrespectful to all the new writers out there as I was once one myself, but I feel I have to be honest with you and let you know the real score.
But that said, it's not hopeless. Every now and then a golden opportunity will present itself. And Marvel has been at the forefront of this in the past in many ways, from the much-maligned Epic launch, to the Spider-Man and X-Men Unlimited titles, to Marvel Comic Presents, there are times when Marvel will open its doors and welcome in new writers. You only need look at the names on some of the comics being published today to see that... Greg Pak, Roberto Sacasa, Daniel Way, even Robert Kirkman, they all came in through new writer initiatives. Yes, the chances for new writers to submit to Marvel will come again soon, but ChesterQuest is not one of those opportunities unfortunately.
NRAMA: In saying that, what if an artist is paired/partnered with a writer to pitch the former's idea to you? Would that be an added plus or a no-no?
CBC: I'm reviewing only art samples. I will not be reading any scripts or pitches or ideas that come in if a writer tries to piggyback on an artist. Sorry.
Like I just said, the chance for writers will come, just not here. I just kindly ask that people respect the parameters of what I'm trying to do here with ChesterQuest.
NRAMA: Moving on, how did you shortlist and decide on which cities to tour?
CBC: My tour stops are all about where I see opportunity and where I was invited. As I said last time, I'm springing for a lot of this on my own dime, so when a con or store offered to sponsor me, I took it. Some people decided to split costs, so one con will fly me over one weekend and another will pay for me to stay the week in between for their con the next weekend. And some of the stops were simply included as I had friends in those cities that offered me a place to stay and an introduction to their comic shop and circle of artists. It all works out in different ways. If there's a way to bring me to a city not on the list, I'm still open to it if something can be worked out.
<img src="http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/Cebulski/ChesterQuest/CBchickenhat.jpg" alt="" name="" border="0" align="left"> NRAMA: So your schedule is still open to include stops at previously unscheduled destinations?
CBC: Yes, all depending on location and travel time. Mexico is still somewhere close I'm looking to go actually. Can I crash, Humberto?
NRAMA: For interested parties who're intending to invite you to their cities/countries, how can they get in touch with you?
CBC: Anyone and everyone can post of the blog or drop me a line at chesterquest@gmail.com
NRAMA: Following WW Chicago this week, and Fan Expo Toronto and Baltimore Comic Con in early September, you're heading to Tokyo, Japan. Do you have the exact dates, venues and all other relevant info for our readers from all over the world who're reading this interview?
CBC: That will all be posted shortly. It looks like the Tokyo event will be held in coordination with the comic shop Blister in Shibuya as well as one additional manga venue.
And again, anyone attending Wizard World Chicago should stop by my panel on Friday morning at 11AM or swing by my table in Artists Alley, number 4500!
NRAMA: When are submission details and all the relevant info expected to be made public?
CBC: It's all up on www.chesterquest.blogspot.com now. And the FAQs will be updated regularly to answer anything I missed.
NRAMA: Finally, do you have anything else that our readers should know about as you approach the second leg of your multi-city tour in search of 12 (or more) artists to work for Marvel?
CBC: I cannot be bribed but free beers are always appreciated!
The official submission address is:
ChesterQuest
Planetarium Station
P.O. Box 732
New York, NY 10024
For the latest news and updates, visit the official blog located at ChesterQuest.blogspot.com (http://chesterquest.blogspot.com/)
If you have any questions, please feel free to post them below and we’ll get them to Cebulski or email them to chesterquestions@gmail.com
Be Professional.
Be Persistent.
Don't be Pestering.
Don't be a Prick.
Remember “The Rule of Four Ps” when submitting to Marvel’s newest talent search initiative, ChesterQuest, officially launched (http://www.newsarama.com/Comic-Con_07/Marvel/Cebulski.html) at Comic-Con International in San Diego last month.
Spearheaded by C.B. Cebulski, ChesterQuest was conceived as a talent search for pencilers and painters. According to Cebulski, It is meant for new artists. Anyone who has previously been published by Marvel Comics is ineligible.
With the ChesterQuest tour hitting WizardWorld Chicago this week, Newsarama.com caught up with Cebulski for an update on things, especially after the first leg of the world tour in San Diego.
In addition to this, we’ll also be talking to Cebulski on a regular basis to find out more about each leg of the world tour, let readers in on the selection process, preview some ‘semi-finalists,’ answer some questions from our readers and much more.
Newsarama: Okay, before we get to some questions that'd been raised since the official announcement at the recent SDCC, San Diego officially kicked off ChesterQuest, right? How did it go?
C.B. Cebulski: It went amazing well. The announcement got bumped up from the Mondo Marvel to actually being featured at the standing-room-only Cup O' Joe panel! From my position on the stage, I think it went over very spectacularly. Everyone loves a contest, right? We even had our very own ChesterQuest graphic made up, with art courtesy of Leinil Yu and Christina Strain, designed by Pat McGrath. The show for me got nuts from that point on, with all kinds of artists hunting me down at the Marvel and Image booths to show me their work. I came out of the show with samples from all over the world as well as what I feel are 5 definite 'semi-finalists". Not bad for the first stop on the tour!
Oh, and I've since been invited to make appearances in Singapore, Bombay, Athens, Essen, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Perth, Sydney and Wellington. Not sure where I'll end up given my current travel schedule, but we'll see.
NRAMA: If it's any consolation to those who'd submitted their proposals, samples and all that, what impressed you the most about the ones that you'd seen at SDCC?
CBC: That's a hard question to answer in writing without being about to show you the artwork or sounding cliché. All the samples that impressed had something new and fresh about them that's hard to express in words. It think originality was the key. The people I responded to most had something unique about their work. They weren't trying to simply emulate Bryan Hitch or David Finch. They brought their own style to the table.
NRAMA: With part 2 of the ChesterQuest world tour hitting WW: Chicago this week, what should contestants/participants/future superstar artists avoid when approaching you with their entries? In other words, what are the do's and don'ts/guidelines that they should follow?
<img src="http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/Cebulski/ChesterQuest/Iron_Man_Suit.jpg" alt="" name="" border="0" align="left"> CBC: I found myself overwhelmed in San Diego and I expect the same to happen in Chicago. I have to accept the fact that I'm not going to see everyone. And I hope that the artists all realize this too. The key thing is that you don't have to see me to enter. Having me review your portfolio will not give you a leg up on winning a spot in ChesterQuest. I give just as much attention to "leave behinds" and mailed in submissions as I do to con reviews. That said, you can find all the submissions guidelines and details up on the ChesterQuest blog now: www.chesterquest.blogspot.com . Please read them carefully before sending me anything.
Also, I will be holding a ChesterQuest panel in Chicago, at 11AM on Friday to discuss the competition and answer any and all questions folks may have! I hope to see people there.
NRAMA: I'd like to know how the whole process works. Are you shortlisting one or a few candidates after each tour or will you and the Committee sit down and make your selections at the end of the tour? After all, you’d already said that you’ve “5 definite ‘semi-finalists’” after SDCC…
CBC: Truth be told, reviewing art submissions is easy for me. Joe Quesada always says I have one of the best eyes for talent he's seen, which I have always found flattering considering who it's coming from! I don't know what it is, but I have the ability to look at an artist's work and judge it pretty quickly and easily. I know after a few pages whether a person has what it takes or not. It's next to impossible to describe how or why though. It's a mystery even to me, but I know what I like. It's a skill that's worked well for me, as well as plenty of artists, in this biz so far.
So that said, yes, I'm shortlisting as I go. But not narrowing it down to just one or two artists. For example, I received samples from maybe 200 artists over the course of San Diego. Half of those I was able to pass over pretty quickly. The other half I took a closer look at. In the end, I came home with about 30 portfolios; 25 of those got filed for future review, five got immediately moved to a "semi-finalist" section.
Will it always go like this? Probably not. Those are pretty good odds, but SDCC is a big show. I might go to some shows and find no one. Others I might find 10 superstars at. We'll just have to see as we go along. In the end, I estimate I'll have about 200 solid portfolios to show Marvel, with 20-25 "semi-finalists" at the top.
NRAMA: You'd updated the ChesterQuest blog and confirmed that there's not going to be sample scripts from Marvel? Does it mean that budding/interested artists would have to write and draw their own stories/try-out pages to be sent to ChesterQuest and Marvel?
<img src="http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/Cebulski/ChesterQuest/Me_and_Stan.jpg" alt="" name="" border="0" align="right"> CBC: Yes, I want people to showcase their originality in this search. I know many editors don't like to do it this way and like to have new artists work off scripts. But that's why it's ChesterQuest, I know what I like and I know what works for me. I know I'd go blind and batty looking at the same samples over and over. Marvel once sent out a Spider-Man/MJ/Mister Hyde script years ago for one of their previous talent searches. I must have seen that scene illustrated 500 times over the last 3 or 4 years. People are still using it! My mind just goes numb when I see pages from that sample now though and I don't want that to happen here. I was to see something new and exciting with every submission. If people do want to use a sample script, there are plenty online that can find.
NRAMA: One question that's been asked on Newsarama and various other forums: Why artists only and not writers?
CBC: Alright, there are a number of reasons for this and I guess I'll just be blunt about it...
1. I'm a writer myself and see it as a conflict of interest to review the work of other writers.
2. There are all kinds of legal implications that could and would arise from a writers search. It's a mess that I'm not equipped or interested in dealing with.
3. And I'll just come out and say this, reviewing writing submissions is a pain-in-the-ass. Plain and simple. It's time-consuming and 95% of what comes in is not very good. People who can't draw freely admit it; they have no disillusions about being an artist. Everyone thinks they can write though. Everyone who reads comics has an idea for their favorite character... and every single one of those people, talent aside, thinks it's a good idea. Wading through writing submissions is a thankless job that rarely bears fruit. That's why so many of the major publishers are looking to Hollywood and the book world now for proven talent. That's why you always tend to hear "get published somewhere else first". It's just how the game is played in this day and age. I hate to sound cold and disrespectful to all the new writers out there as I was once one myself, but I feel I have to be honest with you and let you know the real score.
But that said, it's not hopeless. Every now and then a golden opportunity will present itself. And Marvel has been at the forefront of this in the past in many ways, from the much-maligned Epic launch, to the Spider-Man and X-Men Unlimited titles, to Marvel Comic Presents, there are times when Marvel will open its doors and welcome in new writers. You only need look at the names on some of the comics being published today to see that... Greg Pak, Roberto Sacasa, Daniel Way, even Robert Kirkman, they all came in through new writer initiatives. Yes, the chances for new writers to submit to Marvel will come again soon, but ChesterQuest is not one of those opportunities unfortunately.
NRAMA: In saying that, what if an artist is paired/partnered with a writer to pitch the former's idea to you? Would that be an added plus or a no-no?
CBC: I'm reviewing only art samples. I will not be reading any scripts or pitches or ideas that come in if a writer tries to piggyback on an artist. Sorry.
Like I just said, the chance for writers will come, just not here. I just kindly ask that people respect the parameters of what I'm trying to do here with ChesterQuest.
NRAMA: Moving on, how did you shortlist and decide on which cities to tour?
CBC: My tour stops are all about where I see opportunity and where I was invited. As I said last time, I'm springing for a lot of this on my own dime, so when a con or store offered to sponsor me, I took it. Some people decided to split costs, so one con will fly me over one weekend and another will pay for me to stay the week in between for their con the next weekend. And some of the stops were simply included as I had friends in those cities that offered me a place to stay and an introduction to their comic shop and circle of artists. It all works out in different ways. If there's a way to bring me to a city not on the list, I'm still open to it if something can be worked out.
<img src="http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/Cebulski/ChesterQuest/CBchickenhat.jpg" alt="" name="" border="0" align="left"> NRAMA: So your schedule is still open to include stops at previously unscheduled destinations?
CBC: Yes, all depending on location and travel time. Mexico is still somewhere close I'm looking to go actually. Can I crash, Humberto?
NRAMA: For interested parties who're intending to invite you to their cities/countries, how can they get in touch with you?
CBC: Anyone and everyone can post of the blog or drop me a line at chesterquest@gmail.com
NRAMA: Following WW Chicago this week, and Fan Expo Toronto and Baltimore Comic Con in early September, you're heading to Tokyo, Japan. Do you have the exact dates, venues and all other relevant info for our readers from all over the world who're reading this interview?
CBC: That will all be posted shortly. It looks like the Tokyo event will be held in coordination with the comic shop Blister in Shibuya as well as one additional manga venue.
And again, anyone attending Wizard World Chicago should stop by my panel on Friday morning at 11AM or swing by my table in Artists Alley, number 4500!
NRAMA: When are submission details and all the relevant info expected to be made public?
CBC: It's all up on www.chesterquest.blogspot.com now. And the FAQs will be updated regularly to answer anything I missed.
NRAMA: Finally, do you have anything else that our readers should know about as you approach the second leg of your multi-city tour in search of 12 (or more) artists to work for Marvel?
CBC: I cannot be bribed but free beers are always appreciated!
The official submission address is:
ChesterQuest
Planetarium Station
P.O. Box 732
New York, NY 10024
For the latest news and updates, visit the official blog located at ChesterQuest.blogspot.com (http://chesterquest.blogspot.com/)
If you have any questions, please feel free to post them below and we’ll get them to Cebulski or email them to chesterquestions@gmail.com