The Sprawling EPIC of Wojr and the Crap Dragon

Back in distant 2003, Marvel Comics tried an interesting publishing concept that really was doomed to fail. They reinstated an old Marvel imprint called EPIC comics and, in an effort to recruit new (and cheaper) talent, they opened the doors for submissions to EPIC – accepting unsolicited submissions from colorists, letterers, inkers, pencilers and, most importantly, WRITERS. Many comic book companies don't take submissions from writers. Not only does it open a huge can of worms in terms of legal exposure, but it is a huge burden on their editorial staff to review writing submissions.

Reviewing artwork only takes mere minutes, if not seconds, to determine the level of the creator's ability. While script evaluation takes considerably more time and effort. Plot, characterization and dialogue are not as apparent to an editor as solid line work, accurate anatomy or effective shading.

While most people think they can write, nearly all comic book readers think that they can write comics. Just look at any comic book message board and you will see the Marvel/DC fan base raging against the current writer of whatever superhero title that speaks to them on a personal level. Those fans will be professing how these classic characters would be so much better off under the guidance of a caring fan like themselves. (I'll admit to thinking those thoughts on occasion. I just won’t admit to posting them onto the Internet.)

Thus, given all that, the Marvel offices were inundated with scripts. Many of which were penned by hopefuls that had never tried to write a comic book.

After a few short months, Marvel stopped accepting submissions and, after a change in Marvel presidents, they cancelled the EPIC line. All comics published under the banner were from relatively established writers that had submitted their proposals before the submissions were made open to the public, leaving a bad taste in the mouth of all those hopeful comic creators.

Now, was I one of those hopeful comic book writers left with a bad taste in my mouth?

When Marvel began accepting submissions to the re-vamped EPIC line, I was extremely reluctant to submit anything. I didn’t want to be part of that initial deluge of what I imagined to be utter crap.

That reluctance, however, did not stop my imagination from coming up with story ideas. The little concept generator that lives in my head started spouting things ranging from super-powered bounty hunters to super-villain advocacy groups to the "National Enquirer" of the Marvel Universe. (That last one has since become an actual comic book. I don’t think they stole the idea from me, but I changed the looks on my door anyway. Kidding.)

The one idea I kept coming back to, though, was an update of the "Daughters of the Dragon", two obscure characters form the 70s that were, like many new characters of that time, an amalgamation of the era’s popular culture. Throw equal parts of the 'Six Million Dollar Man', 'Cleopatra Jones', 'Charlie's Angels' and every Martial Arts film ever, into a blender and the resulting comic book smoothie would be "Daughters of the Dragon."

Needless to say, such a hodge-podge of clichés just spoke to some hidden portion of my soul and a sprawling epic of a story formed in my head. When I told a fellow writer about my apprehension in relation to submitting to Epic, when I mentioned how I did not want to associate myself with that "deluge of crap", he replied, "Do you write crap?" Despite what some of you may think, I personally do not believe that I write "crap" and I told him so. "Then, what are you worried about? Who cares what anyone else submits?"

Thus, "Daughter of the Dragon" was born. I mailed it in to Marvel offices on a Friday. The next week, they closed submissions. Probably, due to a "deluge of crap."

Did the people at Marvel ever read it? I have no idea. Was it rejected? Well, do you see me telling you all to go out and buy my "Daughter of the Dragon" comic book?

Can you read the script and see if it’s "crap"?

Now you can.

DAUGHTER OF THE DRAGON – Issue One

wojr
  ¶ 12:50 PM