Right in time for the holidays, Summit Comics has crowned the winners for the first part of its first-ever talent search. Writers Scott Alan Gregory and Jimmy Gaspero won their respective categories, coming up with origin stories to introduce characters designed by Summit partner Peter Collins.
As a part of the contest, each writer was to type a brief origin synopsis for their character of choice and then introduce them with a two-page comic script. In total, 145 writers took part in the search, with six Summit partners serving as the committee reading through each entry and voting for their favorites.
The first-ever Summit Talent Search continues with Part Two, focusing on artists looking for their next gig. There are two separate pathways for Part Two–one for pencilers/inkers and another for colorists. Summit is now accepting submissions from artists through December 24th, with the winners being announced on New Year’s Eve.
The first full-length Summit Comics story—Summit: Pinacle #1—is set for launch on Kickstarter in January. As we prepare to put the final touches on the book for the masses, we’ve unlocked our prelaunch so that readers can follow and be the first to know latest news and updates, plus access exclusive rewards! Follow the prelaunch page here.
Summit’s launch roster of creatives includes Travis Gibb (Upheaval, Cthulhu Invades), CJ Hudson (Granite, Interstellar Dust), Devin Arscott (Noir, Magni the Mighty), Adam Barnhardt (SH*TSHOW, Moonspawn), Marcus Jimenez (Techoknights, Knight From Hell), Eric Palicki (Guardians of Infinity, Black’s Myth), Brayden Viloria (Haven), J. Michael Miller (Kid Cretaceous, The Healer’s Blade), Nate Schachter (The CloakRoom), Cam Kerkau(Gilgamesh), Daniel Kalban (American Dreams, Knightwrath), Brian Wolf (Upheaval), Benjamin Morse (We Are Scarlet Twilight), and letterer extraordinaire Jerome Gagnon.
Summit Comics is a new comics collective set to launch a new shared comics universe after the first of the year. It features characters new and old and over a dozen creatives who’ve collectively raised nearly half a million dollars on Kickstarter. Summit will tell tales in a single shared world, allowing characters and storylines to jump over from one creator-owned title to the next.
At the root of it all will be Summit: Pinnacle, an annual anthology featuring short stories from all corners of the Summit Universe. Those shorts will then continue on in Summit Jump, a bi-monthly release inspired by weekly shōnen manga titles. Select characters will then receive their own limited series.
The Summit Universe will then carry over into standalone titles such as Travis Gibb’s Upheaval, and CJ Hudson’s Granite.
Summit’s launch roster of creatives includes Travis Gibb (Upheaval, Cthulhu Invades), CJ Hudson (Granite, Interstellar Dust), Devin Arscott (Noir, Magni the Mighty), Adam Barnhardt(SH*TSHOW, Moonspawn), Marcus Jimenez (Techoknights, Knight From Hell), Eric Palicki (Guardians of Infinity, Black’s Myth), Brayden Viloria (Haven), J. Michael Miller (Kid Cretaceous, The Healer’s Blade), Nate Schachter (The CloakRoom), Cam Kerkau (Gilgamesh), Daniel Kalban (American Dreams, Knightwrath), Brian Wolf (Upheaval), Benjamin Morse (We Are Scarlet Twilight), Ignacio di Meglio, Pete Collins, Sebastian Piccione, and letterer extraordinaire Jerome Gagnon.
Summit’s character rosters and publishing schedule will be available in the coming weeks. The best way to find out the latest news and updates regarding this exciting new publisher is to sign-up for the Summit Comics newsletter at https://readsumm.it, and by following the social media accounts listed at https://readsumm.it/follow.
Next week is Baltimore Comic Con, September 8-10, 2023 at the Inner Harbor’s Baltimore Convention Center. The Baltimore Comic Con has announced the addition of comic guests Jerome Gagnon, Heather and Travis Gibb, David Mack, Patrick McDonnell, Joe Pruett, Evan “Doc” Shaner, Scott Snyder, Jim Starlin, and Sean Von Gorman at the 2023 event. Online tickets are available now so you can avoid waiting in additional lines upon arrival!
Jerome Gagnon, appearing Saturday from 11am-12pm on at the Cards Comics & Collectibles booth (#916), is a graphic designer by day and a comic book letterer by night. He has been actively lettering comics for the past five years and has worked as a graphic designer in the print industry for over 20 years. His previous lettering jobs vary from children’s books to horror. He has lettered superhero books for Advent Comics, was part of The Mike Wieringo TELLOS Tribute, and the Puerto Rico Strong fundraising anthology. He also participated in the first Blood, Skulls & Bones Kickstarter campaign, and others such as Broke Down and 4 Dead Bodies (#1-4), Cthulhu Invades Wonderland, and more.
Heather Gibb, appearing Saturday from 11am-12pm on at the Cards Comics & Collectibles booth (#916), co-owns and operates indie publishing company Orange Cone Productions with her husband Travis. As an editor, she enjoys taking part in bringing out the best in creators and their stories. As a writer, Heather uses her sense of humor and passion for justice as central themes in her work. Heather enjoys spending time with her family, and has also worked in the field of Child Welfare for over ten years. She has worked on titles such as Granite State Punk, Cthulhu Invades Wonderland, Pup Van Winkle, and The Super-Delish Sing-Along Comic: Cottage Cheese.
Travis Gibb, appearing Saturday from 11am-12pm on at the Cards Comics & Collectibles booth (#916), is a Ringo-nominated creator and has been working in comics off and on for over a decade, producing: Coins of Judas, Granite State Punk, Voodoo Nations, and Cthulhu Invades Oz/Wonderland. He has published books with Scout Comics, Caliber Comics, Image Comics, Second Sight, and Band of Bards. Travis is blessed to work with his wife, Heather, in their co-owned publishing company Orange Cone Productions, where she also works with him as his editor. Last but not least, he is the proud father of two awesome daughters and one amazing son.
David Mack is the Emmy-nominated, New York Times Best-Selling author and artist of Kabuki, writer of Marvel’s Daredevil, cover artist of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods and Norse Mythology, Jessica Jones, and Fight Club 2 by Chuck Palahniuk. He is artist on Marvel’s Jessica Jones opening titles and Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier film titles, as well as Cultural Ambassador for the US Department of State.
Mack created the Marvel Studios character Echo, who now has her own Marvel TV series on Disney+ and is featured in the Hawkeye Disney+ series. Mack has signed on to direct the HBO MAX television series of Cover, adapted from the graphic novel which is inspired by his work overseas for the US State Department. Cover was nominated for three Eisner Awards: Best Graphic Novel, Best Cover Artist, and Best Painter.
Mack created artwork for the opening titles of the Jessica Jones Netflix TV series (winner of the Peabody Award), based on the book on which he was co-collaborator. The opening titles he worked on with Imaginary Forces garnered an Emmy Nomination in the category of Outstanding Main Titles. For the Academy Award-nominated film Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Mack created the art and concept for the titles sequence with Sarofsky Designs, which received recognition for the Excellence in Titles Design Award.
Mack’s comic book work has garnered nominations for ten Eisner Awards, four International Eagle Awards, and both the Harvey and Kirby Awards in the category of Best New Talent, as well as many other national and international awards and nominations.
Mack created the final two seasons of Dexter Early Cuts episodes for Showtime (the first, collaborating with legendary artist Bill Sienkiewicz). The latest season earned him nominations for both the Writers Guild of America and the Producers Guild of America.
In 2016, the US State Department honored Mack as a Cultural Ambassador selected to travel abroad to teach storytelling in other countries. In the country of Georgia, Mack taught at settlement camps for displaced persons, the Asylum Seekers Center, the Marneuli Youth Center, Tbilisi Arts Academy, and Special Needs school, and the Tbilisi Palace of Fine Arts Museum featured a massive exhibit of Mack’s work and books.
In North Africa and Asia, Mack taught at the school for the Deaf in Tunisia and Singapore, as well as several other schools and universities as a State Department envoy, and was a special guest speaker for an event in Libya.
Mack had gallery exhibits of his work in Paris and Brussels, and recently in Los Angeles and Chicago, presented with originals of Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, and he spoke in Barcelona at the OFFFest presentation of trailblazing artists and designers, and delivered an inspiring TED Talk.
Mack directed popular music videos for Amanda Palmer and Dashboard Confessional, and has recently completed a new creator-owned project with Brian Michael Bendis from DC Comics called Cover, which earned him Best Comic Artist of the Year from Comic Watch. Mack is developing his creator-owned comic book Kabuki as a TV series with Sony. In 2018, Mack was honored with the prestigious Inkpot Award for his Achievements in Comicbook Art.
Patrick McDonnell, appearing courtesy of Abrams Books, is the bestselling author, illustrator, playwright, painter, and creator of the comic strip Mutts, which appears in more than 700 newspapers around the world. He has received numerous awards internationally, including a Caldecott Honor and the Reuben, the highest honor given by the National Cartoonists Society. The Art of Nothing, a career-spanning monograph, was published by Abrams ComicArts in 2019. His latest book is The Super Hero’s Journey — an original graphic novel in the Marvel Arts line. He lives in New Jersey.
A noted comic book editor, publisher, and writer covering over three decades, Joe Pruett has been nominated for numerous Eisner, Harvey, and Eagle awards. He is also known for the anthology series Negative Burn and his work at Marvel, where he wrote various X-Men family titles. Most recently, Joe has been the Publisher/COO of AfterShock Comics and writer of the Black-Eyed Kids horror series.
Evan (Doc) Shaner is a DC Comics exclusive cartoonist. His past works include Future Quest, The Terrifics, Man of Steel, Supergirl, Doom Patrol, Strange Adventures, and The New Champion of SHAZAM! among others. He lives in Michigan with his wife, two children, and their dog.
A New York Times Best Selling author with previous works on DC’s Batman, Superman, and Justice League, and Image Comics’ Wytches, Scott Snyder has made a name for himself, with his current focus on his creator-owned books such as Nocterra, Chain, We Have Demons, Clear, Night of the Ghoul, Barnstormers, Dudley Datson, Canary, Duck and Cover, and Book of Evil.
The multi-talented Jim Starlin has worked on both writing and creating art for some of the most noteworthy creations since his entry into the field of comics in the 1970s. The mind behind the Marvel character Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu, he is also responsible for a number of noteworthy cosmic characters in the Marvel Universe, including Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, and the villainous Thanos, all of whom are featured in the major motion picture, Guardians of the Galaxy. He developed noteworthy runs on Marvel’s Captain Marvel, Warlock, and Silver Surfer, Marvel mini-series Infinity Gauntlet, Infinity War, and Infinity Crusade, and DC Comics’ Batman, The Weird, and Cosmic Odyssey. His Death of Captain Marvel was the first Marvel graphic novel to be published. More recently, he has provided writing and art for DC’s Stormwatch and writing on Green Lantern: Mongul, and he returned to his classic villain with Marvel’s Thanos: The Infinity Revelation.
Sean Von Gorman is an NYC-based comics illustrator and writer. He is known for co-creating Toe Tag Riot (Black Mask Studios), and Pawn Shop (Z2 Comics) with Joey Esposito. He has recently reunited with Esposito on his latest work, The Pedestrian. He has also contributed art for projects published by Image, Dark Horse Comics, and IDW, as well as anthologies such as Occupy Comics (Black Mask) and the Eisner Award-winning Love Is Love (DC/IDW). In addition to his comics work, Sean has also contributed art for Neil Gaiman’s Neverwear and features for Alt Press Magazine and The New Yorker. He is also a brilliant guerrilla marketer, who has been known to handcuff himself to things and escape straitjackets to promote his comics. His next project, Ghost Planet, was released in 2022.
Insta/Twitter @VonGormanArt
This year’s confirmed guests for the show include: Dan Abdo (Blue, Barry & Pancakes), Arthur Adams (Longshot), Sarah Andersen (Saturday and Sunday only, Sarah’s Scribbles), Mirka Andolfo (Sweet Paprika), Art Baltazar (Yahgz), Jeremy Bastian (Dune: House Harkonnen), Marty Baumann (Saturday only, Pixar artist), Carolyn Belefsky (Curls), Brian Michael Bendis (Action Comics), Jon Bogdanove (The Death of Superman), Judy Bogdanove (Steel Annual), Russ Braun (The Boys), Dan Brereton (Nocturnals), Harold Buchholz (Sweetest Beasts), Mark Buckingham (Fables), Greg Burnham (Tuskegee Heirs), Jim Calafiore (NED, Lord of the Pit), Chris Campana (Death Dealer), Joe Carabeo (Black Magic Tales), Richard Case (Edgar Allan Poe’s Snifter of Terror), Castillo Studios, Howard Chaykin (Time Squared), S.A. Check (Night of the Living Dead: Revenance, courtesy of American Mythology Productions), Jo Chen (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Sean Chen (Genesis), Jim Cheung (Young Avengers), Frank Cho (Harley Quinn), Amy Chu (KISS: The End), Chris Claremont (Uncanny X-Men), Matthew Clark (Adventures of Superman, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Brian Clevinger (Atomic Robo), Steve Conley (The Middle Age), Katie Cook (Nothing Special), Nick Davis (Night Guardians), Deans Family (Crass Fed), Mike DeCarlo (The Simpsons, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Vito Delsante (Stray), Abby Denson (Uniquely Japan), Todd Dezago (The Perhapanauts), Derec Donovan (Adventures of Superman), Scott Dunbier (Jim Lee’s X-Men Artist’s Edition, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Jan Duursema (Star Wars: The High Republic), Drew Edwards (Halloween Man), Garth Ennis (The Boys), David Finch (Moon Knight), Tony Fleecs (Stray Dogs), Chris Flick (Capes and Babes), Scott Fogg (Phileas Reid Knows We’re Not Alone), Tana Ford (LaGuardia), Trish Forstner (Stray Dogs), Franco (Fae and the Moon), John Gallagher (Max Meow), Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (DC Nation), Ron Garney (BZRKR), Joe Getsinger (Finding Jack Kirby in a Pile of Zinc), Mike Gold (Green Arrow), Jimmy Gownley (Amelia Rules!), Randy Green (Nyobi Outbreak), Mike Grell (Jon Sable), Dawn Griffin (Zorphbert & Fred), Torunn Grønbekk (Carnage), Chris Gugilotti (Teen Titans Go!), Gene Ha (Mae), Laura Lee Gulledge (Page by Paige), Bob Hall (West Coast Avengers), Cully Hamner (Blue Beetle), Bo Hampton (Batman: Castle of the Bat), Scott Hanna (Amazing Spider-Man), Tony Harris (The Whistling Skull), Dean Haspiel (Covid Cop), Buz Hasson (Adam Green’s Hatchet, courtesy of American Mythology Productions), Glenn Hauman (They Keep Killing Glenn), Mike Hawthorne (Deadpool), Marc Hempel (Sandman), Greg Hildebrandt (Star Wars), Morry Hollowell (Old Man Logan), Jamal Igle (Superman), Mark Irwin (Green Lantern), Chris Ivy (Venom: Tooth and Claw, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Klaus Janson (Daredevil), Geoff Johns (Geiger), Dave Johnson (100 Bullets), Phillip Kennedy Johnson (Alien), J.G. Jones (Wanted), Kata Kane (Altar Girl), Chris Kemple (Artist Alley Comics), Tom King (The Penguin), Barry Kitson (Amazing Spider-Man), Dan Krall (House of Night), Leeanne M. Krecic (Let’s Play), James Kuhoric (Cursedverse: Blighted Dawn), Jae Lee (Inhumans), Nate Lovett (Dungeons & Dragons), Matthew Loux (Prunella and the Cursed Skull Ring), David Mack (Kabuki), Howard Mackie (Danny Ketch: Ghost Rider), Kevin Maguire (Justice League), Tom Mandrake (Spectre), Laura Martin (Nubia: Queen of the Amazons), Mariano Brothers (Claire Lost Her Bear at the World’s Fair), Ron Marz (Green Lantern), Jason May (LEGO Club Magazine), Patrick McDonnell (Saturday and Sunday only, The Super Hero’s Journey, courtesy of Abrams ComicArts), Mike McKone (Red Goblin), Bob McLeod (New Mutants), Adriana Melo (Action Comics), Pop Mhan (Gears of War 3), Al Milgrom (Spectacular Spider-Man), Karl Moline (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Mark Morales (Thor), Trevor Mueller (Re-Possessed), Sarah Myer (Monstrous: A Transracial Adoption Story), Jamar Nicholas (Saturday and Sunday only, Leon: Protector of the Playground), Dan Parsons (Jade Vampyre, courtesy of American Mythology Productions), Jason Patterson (Blue, Barry & Pancakes), David Pepose (Savage Avengers), Andrew Pepoy (Simone & Ajax), David Petersen (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo: WhereWhen), Brandon Peterson (Uncanny X-Men), Khoi Pham (Star Wars: Darth Vader), Richard and Wendy Pini (Elfquest), Ed Piskor (Red Room: Trigger Warnings), Joe Prado (Superman), Andy Price (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic), Joe Pruett (Black-Eyed Kids), Ron Randall (Trekker), Tom Raney (Green Lantern), Mark Redfield (Vampire Hunters Incorporated), Afua Richardson (Omni), Christopher Ring (Seamus (the Famous)), Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge), Peter Rostovsky (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Freshman Force), Jennifer Rouse (Frankenstein Mobster), Craig Rousseau (The Perhapanauts), Arsia Rozegar (Shahnameh For Kids), Steve Rude (Nexus), Jim Rugg (Hulk Grand Design), Alex Saviuk (Web of Spider-Man), Stuart Sayger (The Joker), Gene Selassie (The Ghoul Agency), Bryan SilverBaX (Creepshow), Alex Simmons (Archie), Louise Simonson (The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special), Walter Simonson (Thor), Matt Slay (Equilibrium), John K. Snyder III (Suicide Squad), Scott Snyder (Saturday only, Nocterra), Mark Sparacio (Omega Paradox), Joe Staton (Dick Tracy), Jim Starlin (Dreadstar), Brian Stelfreeze (Black Panther), Paul Storrie (Storm Kids: Stanley’s Ghost), Philip Tan (Web of Carnage), Martha Thomases (Second-Hand Rose), John Timms (Superman: Son of Kal-El), Peter Tomasi (Batman and Robin), Billy Tucci (Shi), Gus Vazquez (Sunfire and Big Hero Six), Emilio Velez Jr. (The Dodgeball Teens), Dexter Vines (Civil War, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Sean Von Gorman (Return of Toe Tag Riot), Wade von Grawbadger (Justice League), Adam Wallenta (Punk Taco), Todd Webb (Mr. Toast Comics), Lee Weeks (Batman), Scott Wegener (Atomic Robo), Joey Weiser (Ghost Hog), Mark Wheatley (Skultar), Emily S. Whitten (The Underfoot), Bob Wiacek (All-New Wolverine, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Keith Williams (Thor the Worthy), Marcus Williams (Tuskegee Heirs), Rich Woodall (Electric Black), John Workman (Wild Things), Ellie Wright (The Black Ghost), Caitlin Yarsky (Black Hammer Reborn), Kelly Yates (Doctor Who), and Thom Zahler (Love and Capes).
Zeke lives and breathes punk rock, and is not about to conform to the absurdities of the world around him. He has just been released from prison for one too many poor life choices, and is now living in the last place he ever wanted to be…his dead parents’ house. For years, Zeke tried to drown every ounce of the memories of this place and his messed-up childhood. While on an ankle monitor, he tries to find meaning to his life with his girlfriend Ember, who is secretly stealing his soul in order to unlock deep secrets of his family origins. Zeke is now forced to confront his past, and face the revelation that his history is filled with the occult, dark magic, and its connection to New Hampshire’s most historic landmark, The Old Man of the Mountain.
Granite State Punk is written by Travis Gibb, with art and color by Patrick Buermeyer, lettering by Jerome Gagnon, and edited by Heather Gibb. It’s coming to comic shops this March from Scout Comics.
