From Novel to Comic – Part Two
by Joe Nassise
Last month I began telling you about how my novel HERETIC went from mass market paperback original to soon-to-be released comic book mini-series. When we left off, I had just created a pitch book containing a sample script and several pages of full color comic art and had flown to San Diego for a whirlwind day of meeting with several editors from different comic companies at the San Diego Comic Con.
So what did my initiative get me?
Well, that depends on how you look at things.
The majority of the editors that I spoke with were pleasant and encouraging. None of them jumped out of their seats at the concept, but many of them applauded my professional approach and the samples that I had with me. Several asked me to touch base again after the show, to continue discussions in a less hectic atmosphere. Ultimately, all of them passed on acquiring the rights to adapt the series.
But I did get the opportunity to meet editors from several major comic book houses and introduce my work to them. I presented my materials in a professional manner and received several invitations to stay in touch and submit other concepts at a later date. They had passed on the chance to adapt the Templar Chronicles, but the process had opened the door for me.
As the months went by, that open door began to pay off.
About four months after the show, one of the editors I had met called me about a different project. He needed someone to handle the scripting for a four issue mini-series with a horror background and wondered if I’d be interested. Would a work for hire gig scripting the four issues from the creator’s outline and notes be something I could handle? I said yes without having to think about it too much and a few weeks later had completed three out of the four issues needed. The editor was thrilled with the scripts, as was the art team. Everyone was confident the series would be a hit. Unfortunately, the creator went flaky on us and the series never saw publication.
Despite the fact that the project had ultimately crashed and burned, I’d proven myself to be a reliable writer who could take direction and deliver a better-than-average script and deliver it on time. Good things were being said about me in certain corners as a result.
About a month later I answered a call for a writer on a graphic novel project. I needed to submit several samples of my work, both in script and prose format. Thanks to the previously failed project, I had some sample scripts on hand, something I might not have had otherwise. I combined them with a few chapters of my latest novel and sent the package off to the editor. It took several weeks, and a few more hoops to jump through, but eventually I won the gig. While I’m not at liberty to discuss the project in any kind of detail, I can say that it has been a terrific undertaking. I’m very excited about the end product and can’t wait until I can let the cat out of the bag and talk about it in public.
And so it went.
I stayed in touch with people and people stayed in touch with me. At one point I touched base with one of the artists I had met at the show, to congratulate him on a project he’d recently announced. We got to talking about his publisher, Markosia Comics. One thing led to another and I ended up asking for his editor’s email address, figuring that sending out another proposal packet for the Chronicles couldn’t hurt. I was glad I did, for the editor, Harry Markos, the man behind Markosia, very quickly got back to me, asking to see the novel. Before I knew it, Harry was offering to acquire the rights to the book and turn it into a six issue mini-series. I accepted. Chuck Satterlee was hired to adapt it into comic format and Loren Meyer was hired to do the artwork. The rest, as they say, is history.
Heretic: The Templar Chronicles will see publication as a six issue comic mini-series this winter. I couldn’t be happier about the additional exposure the novel series will get as a result and the contract has already resulted in my taking on additional work on other comic related projects.
All because of my interest in comics.
What are you interested in? What additional media opportunities are available for the work you are producing now or have produced in the past? Where can you make one of your existing works step up and work harder for you and your career?
You might be surprised at where your work will take you. I know I was.
