FAQ
How many pages does my comic need to be?
Minimum 4 pages and maximum 8 pages. Covers and credit pages will not count towards your page count.
How many members can I have on my team?
Your team can have as many members as you’d like. If you can make a comic all by yourself, you can enroll as a one-person team.
Can I be on multiple teams?
Yes. You can be part of as many teams as you want.
Do I need to know who my team members will be when I enroll?
No. We just need your name and contact info when you enroll. We only need the full credits when you submit the finished comic.
What does it mean that each team will be assigned a Unique Theme?
At the start of the 10K, your team will receive a unique Theme that you must use for your comic. This is meant to challenge the creators but also to make sure nobody is making comics in advance. An example of a theme is: Cold War Spy Thriller or Outer Space Love Story.
What about the Line of Dialogue?
Along with their unique Theme, every team will receive the same Line of Dialogue, meaning there is one Line of Dialogue shared by every team. It must be used at least once in their comic. An example dialogue would be: “Does anybody want fruit salad?”
Can I tweak the Line of Dialogue?
Yes, if you want to change a word or two, that’s fine. But make sure to keep the main idea of the dialogue.
Does the Line of Dialogue need to be spoken?
No, it can be written. Could be a headline on a newspaper or displayed on a sign, the more creative the better.
Can I submit my comic if I am not in the USA?
Yes! We accept comics from all over the world. That said, if the judges can't read in your language, they won't be able to enjoy your story. So make sure your lettering is in English.
Can I make a horror comic?
Yes. All genres are welcome.
How old do I have to be to enroll?
You must be 13 years or older to participate. If you are younger than 18 years old, you must have the permission of a parent or guardian.
What file format does my final comic need to be?
Your comic MUST be uploaded as a PDF. Any resolution or dpi is acceptable, but the file will need to be under 20MB.
How do I make my comic into a PDF?
You’re in luck! We made a video series all about comic book production. Check out our Tutorials page.
Does my comic need to be colored?
No, black and white is totally fine. If your comic does not have color you will receive a neutral score in the Color category, meaning it won’t help or hurt your final score.
Can I submit a script or pencils?
You should only submit comics that have been finished and are ready to be read like any other comic. There is no rule that your comic has to be colored, or even lettered (maybe you don’t have any dialogue), but if your comic is half finished the judges won’t be able to experience it properly.
Can I make a comic that uses popular characters?
No. Characters and stories must be fully owned by the person submitting. The only exception are stories and characters in the public domain.
How will my comic be judged?
The judges will have a scorecard with points for different categories, including but not limited to: writing, art, colors, lettering, and overall score. The creative use of your assigned theme and line of dialogue will also contribute to your score.
Will these stories be published in an anthology?
Platform Comics will release an anthology of all the finalists. It will be free and distributed digitally. All creators retain full rights to their stories and characters and are free to publish it elsewhere.