For much of their young lives, Greg Semkow and Mike[name fixed from article] Whittenberger have wanted to make comic books for a living. If things go the way they hope in next week’s international Comic Book Challenge, they may just realize that dream.
Semkow, 29, of Forest Hills, and Whittenberger, 28, of College Point, are heading to San Diego next week to present their original ideas to a panel of judges who will determine whether the two advance to the next round of the 2007 Comic Book Challenge. On July 26, Semkow and Whittenberger will face 48 others vying for a spot in the top.10.
For Whittenberger, this is the second go-round. He found out about last year’s contest just hours before the deadline, and quickly put together a submission.
“This year,” he said, “I feel super-prepared.”
Whittenberger came up with the concept and wrote the script for his submission. He’s also working with an artist, Delia Gable. While Whittenberger himself has little formal training, Gable, from Westchester, attended the School of Visual Arts in Philadelphia. [Delia actually attends SVA in NYC right now]
Contestants in the challenge are not permitted to reveal their submissions prior to the public voting period, which begins on July 28, two days after their panel presentations. But Whittenberger said he’s trying to break out of the superhero prototype to make comic books more accessible to a wider audience, especially women. ‘If they don’t start focusing on that,’ he said, ‘there won’t be too much left after a couple more years.”
As someone who’s created rudimentary comics his entire life, Whittenberger said he won’t be happy until he’s published a comic book. If he loses this year’s contest, he plans to continue shopping around his submission, or even self-publish.
The challenge’s other finalist from Queens also found a love for comic books early on. Semkow, a writer and artist, has a co-creator, Jason Carter. The two came up with the idea for Semkow’s submission a few years ago. The Comic Book Challenge presented a great opportunity for him. “I’ve been looking for a way to break into the business,” Semkow said. “Getting a chance to get my own ideas and characters out there is really important to me.”
Currently working as a personal trainer and having recently married, Semkow said all the pieces of his life are falling into place. Semkow said winning the competition would justify his career change and give him a sense of validation. “I feel like it’s something I’m cut out to do.”
Like Whittenberger, Semkow said he’s also planning to find a way to publish his comic, regardless of whether he wins the contest.
As for now, both are still very much in the game. Dan Forcey, with the contest’s sponsor, Platinum Studios, said this year’s contest drew in entries from 22 countries on six continents — all but Antarctica. Semkow and Whittenberger are the only two entrants from New York who made it into the top 50. Semkow expressed a mixture of nervousness and excitement heading into the next round. Whittenberger said he’s had a chance to hone his pitching skills this year.
The next round of the contest will take place during San Diego’s Comic Book Convention. From there, the judges will announce a top 10. The public will then have a chance to see the submissions and vote on their favorites. A tally of their votes will whittle those finalists down to three; they’ll be announced on Aug. 14. Voting on the top three will close on Aug. 26, and the winner will be announced on Aug. 28.
Forcey said the challenge cuts out a lot of legwork for aspiring comic book artists, many of whom must resort to pitching their ideas on the convention circuit. The winner of the contest receives a publishing contract with Platinum Studios and a print premiere at one of the Wizard World comic book conventions. The prize package also includes development of the winning entry for film and television.
Whittenberger said the contest is a chance for him to give back just a little bit of what he’s taken out of the world of comics. His goal remains unchanged: “To walk into a comic book store and see my own book up on the shelf.”
Read the article at The Queens Chronicle Site
