Marvel has ended its policy of accepting unsolicited art submissions, according to a press release, below. However, Talent Liaison C.B. Cebulski talked about it early in the week at Comic Book Club; audio here.

Due to an unprecedented number of unsolicited art and writing submissions, Marvel has altered its open submissions policy effective immediately. Marvel has remained the only major publisher to continue accepting open submissions, however that practice has been halted as we review our strategies for accepting future submissions.

Marvel has a proven track record of attracting new and emerging talent and does not plan on ending those efforts in any way.

“If you look at our track record over the last 18 months, I think you’ll find the names of more new writers and artists in Marvel books than ever before. Maybe more than at any other major comic book publisher, as a matter of fact,” says Marvel Talent Liaison C.B. Cebulski. “We pride ourselves on finding new voices and artistic styles to help us shape the Marvel Universe in original and exciting ways. And while the hunt for new artistic resources to help us ever expand the Marvel mythos will continue, we’ll just be going about it in different ways. We’ve examined all our past practices concerning talent recruitment and it quickly became clear that more ‘reactive’ methods such as open submissions were the least effective ways to open the Marvel door for up-and-comers. So instead we’ll be continuing with the more ‘proactive’ methods of artist and writer discovery that we’ve found so successful of late, including some soon-to-be-announced new outlets.”


While the open submissions policy has ceased, Marvel will continue its active recruitment of artists through its Talent Management department. Artists are also encouraged to bring portfolios for review to the major conventions at which Marvel will have a presence this year.

Talent Coordinator for Marvel, Chris Allo adds, “In regards to finding new artists, we in the Talent Management department will still continue to look at online websites such as Deviant Art, Comic Art Community, as well as comic art blogs, and other related sites. Online comics are rapidly becoming a source for scouting as well. And, of course, we will still go to the comic book stores on Wednesdays and see what new artists are out there working for other companies and on independent books.”

With the successful discovery and publishing of writers in the fields of comics as well as TV, film and literature, Marvel will continue to search out new voices in all published fields, as we have for the past number of years.

As new media and means of publishing comics on the web as well as small and independent press, we encourage all new creators to continue honing their craft by using all of the tools available during this time. Marvel will be announcing a new submissions policy in the near future.

6 COMMENTS

  1. Essentially, Marvel has just said that they only want established writers. Noobs need not apply. Then they say:

    “If you look at our track record over the last 18 months, I think you’ll find the names of more new writers and artists in Marvel books than ever before.”

    Newer artists? Their latest version of ‘young guns’ features a couple guys who have been in the business for many years. Some of their other ‘new artists’ are accepting less pay for the work than their predecessors were paid. Sorta like the Circuit City approach–“Out with the well paid old employees, in with the less paid new employees…we’ll make a killing this way!”

  2. Yes, look at how DC has dominated the market since ending open submissions. And how well both of the big two publishers have done on getting books to market on time with the current crop of writers and artists. Why, it has been nothing but steady gains in market share and increasing audiences for years now, with hundreds of new comic book stores opening to keep up with the demand for new content! No doubt, there is no need for anyone whom they do not already know to get on board! Brilliant job gentlemen. See you in the bread line.

  3. “Marvel has remained the only major publisher to continue accepting open submissions.”

    Well, yeah, if you just count Marvel and DC–in which case “only” seems like kind of misleading language.

  4. Marz, well no need to stop by the Sarcasm store on the way home today!

    Seriously, I don’t think Marvel gets too many creators out of the “slush pile.” Neither did DC, but it was a huge strain on time AND had so many legal problems they had to stop it. It sounds harsh, but I can understand it.

    There are still lots of ways to catch an editors eye, believe me. AND also believe me when I say there is no editor of professional calibre out there who is not delighted beyond measure when they come across a new talent who is of a level to provide work for them.

    I haven’t had time to listen to th einterview with CB but I’m guessing it says much the same thing.

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