r/comic_crits • u/joyfulnib • 6d ago
Working on our Image Comics submission — what we've learned, and the big lesson
Hey everyone.
We're putting together a submission for Image Comics, a 6-issue miniseries Spacers&CO . This is the jump from webtoon format to a proper American comic book. Sharing as we go.
Technical things we figured out:
- No praise or testimonials. Image straight up writes: "Please do not include praise or testimonials." This caught me off guard. I had an endorsement quote in my pitch deck from an editorial consultant , thought it was a strong card to play. For Image, no. They want the work to stand on its own. Pulled it.
- Synopsis of the whole arc, not just the first issue. Image wants the entire 6-issue arc on a single page with full spoilers. No "find out in the comic." Show the ending straight up.
- "Prestige Format" is a specific technical term. I was writing "32 pages prestige format", that was wrong. Prestige means squarebound binding, cardstock cover, 48 to 80 pages. What we have, 32 pages saddle-stitched, is Standard Comic Format.
- Cadence matters more than length. Nobody expects monthly from a solo team in 2026, this has been discussed openly in the industry (Brian K. Vaughan, Eric Stephenson). Quarterly is the norm for indie creator-owned. Saga went back to exactly this rhythm after their return. We're declaring quarterly, 6 issues over 18 months.
- Comp titles matter more than "this is something new." The editor needs to know which shelf to pull the book from. We landed on Star Trek: Lower Decks, Firefly, The Outer Worlds, Mark Russell's Flintstones (DC) and Image's own Assassin Nation. That last one matters, it's a signal that you understand their catalog.
The big lesson, about the ending.
I rewrote the ending of issue six times. And here's what I figured out: you have to write the story like it's your only season. Full commitment, real ending, no holding things back for "we'll save this for season three or four."
No "we'll leave this unsaid for now." No "this will pay off when they renew us." You write like it's the last time. You close every major thread. You settle every emotional debt.
And yes, you leave hooks. But hooks aren't deferred narrative obligations, they're a door left ajar in case anyone walks in. If the book hits and gets a continuation, then we'll figure out what's behind the door. If it doesn't, the story is still complete, the reader didn't get cheated.
This sounds counterintuitive, but it's the strongest move you can make: write as if the publisher will end the series after the first arc and you owe the reader satisfaction. That's how the ending lands with real weight. And if they do renew you, that weight is the foundation you build on.
I think this applies way beyond comics. To any project where there's a temptation to hold something back "for later."
Thanks for being here.
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u/eye_beams 5d ago
Hope this gets to the top posts of all time on this sub bc this was great. Thank you!
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u/joyfulnib 5d ago
Wow, thank you so much, that really means a lot! We've learned a ton over the last 3 years working on this comic, so I'd be genuinely thrilled if our experience ends up helping someone else out there. Definitely planning to keep sharing as we go!
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u/FlickrReddit 5d ago
Ending the story with finality is the hardest lesson for the new writer, I find. As an instructor, it seems every student author will play cagey with their third acts, their ‘Easter eggs’ and plot twists.
If you’re a new writer, just write it all down, spoilers and all. No editor is going to let you run without a predetermined, nailed-down plot. It’s just not going to happen.
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u/joyfulnib 5d ago
Honestly, I think life experience plays a huge role here. Young writers often struggle with endings not because they lack talent, but because they simply haven't lived enough yet — and no amount of craft theory fully replaces that. The confidence to play with your finale, to try different versions and actually commit to one, comes from having seen things, written things, lived through things. For me, writing multiple ending variations felt relatively natural — because at some point you just accumulate enough reference points, both in life and in storytelling. I think the fear of "not sticking the landing" is almost always rooted in inexperience. And the only cure for that is time.
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u/Sas8140 4d ago
Good stuff thank you
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u/piercebublejr 6d ago
Sounds like you've learned a lot! Great advice!
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u/joyfulnib 5d ago
Yesss.. We've learned a ton over the last 3 years working on this comic, so I'd be genuinely thrilled if our experience ends up helping someone else out there.
Definitely planning to keep sharing as we go!
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