Taking Submissions: Vault of Shadows: Issue 1

Submission Window: April 1st – 15th, 2024
Payment: $35 per page of the adapted script, up to 12 pages, paid via PayPal, and a print copy of the issue.
Theme: Scripts for comics in the style of Tales from the Crypt, Haunt of Fear, Vault of Horror, etc.

Vault of Shadows: Issue 1

A New Generation of Horror Comics

Wish your story could be adapted as a comic book?
Here’s your chance to make it happen.

Open call submission window open April 1 – April 15, 2024.

Extended submission window exclusively for LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, neurodivergent, and other marginalized writers open April 16 – May 1, 2024.

Do you love old-school horror comics? Think Tales from the Crypt, Haunt of Fear, Vault of Horror, etc. We want to work with you to adapt your short story (original stories and reprints welcome) into a comic with artwork by the incredible Christopher Castillo Díaz (It Was All a Dream, It Was All a Dream 2 interior illustrator). If your story is selected, you’ll have the opportunity to adapt your story into an 8-12 page comic script that will be inked, colored, and included in the first volume of Hungry Shadow Comics’ Vault of Shadows. Only 3 stories will be selected for the first issue, with a fourth selected from an invited author (TBD).

What are we looking for?

Short horror, weird, dark fiction between 3000 and 7500 words (not really a firm limit – the final product will be the comics script, not the short story), that can be adapted into a comic book script of 12 pages or less. We want to read the story, not an already created script. The challenge is to adapt the story after it’s selected.

Really dig in to your experience with horror comics. Visual stories full of gore, body horror, over-the-top characters, and dramatic irony with brutal, sometimes ironic, sometimes comical endings are the way to go, but don’t shy away from more modern themes. Reprints are very welcome as this will be a totally different medium from how it’s been previously published. All rights for the story must sit with the author in order to be considered for publication.

This project is open to all writers, but we strongly encourage writers from the LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, neurodivergent, and other marginalized communities to submit.

What are we NOT looking for?

Do NOT send already adapted comic scripts or stories that have been adapted into this format before.

Stories that deal with bigotry are fine, but bigoted stories are not.

Graphic rape or sexual assault scenes will not be accepted.

Any story that does not contain elements of horror, weird fiction, or dark fiction will not be considered.

Erotic elements are fine, but keep in mind this is not a call for erotica so make sure it contains elements of horror, weird, or dark fiction.

How to submit:

Word format (.docx), in something approximating standard manuscript format (double-spaced, 12pt font, word count and email address on the first page). We’re not a huge stickler for font, but please don’t hit us with novelty fonts (comic sans, papyrus, etc.).

Submit the file in the form by clicking the button below. You will need to submit the story file, a few bits of information, and a brief cover letter.

Pay, rights, etc.:

$35 per page of the adapted script, up to 12 pages, paid via PayPal, and a print copy of the issue.

Print and graphic novel rights to the story for this project only with no exclusivity period.

Simultaneous submissions are fine, but please let us know as quickly as possible if you intend to withdraw your submission.

Only one submission per author, please.

Both original stories and reprints welcome.

Do NOT send already adapted comic scripts or stories that have been adapted into this format before.

 

Via: Hungry Shadow Press.