PRESS RELEASE:
For immediate release: June 1, 2010
EAGLES INITIATIVE ATTRACTS EXTENSIVE SUPPORT FROM TOP NAME CREATORS
HAVING recently announced the Eagles Initiative, Barry Renshaw and Cassandra
Conroy are delighted to announce that the initial line-up of judges for
their global talent search includes a wide range of major names from across
the world and from all quarters of the comics industry.
Those writers and artists already committed to the project are: Gabriel Bá,
Peter Bagge, Riccardo Burchielli, Mike Carey, Howard Chaykin, Chris
Claremont, Becky Cloonan, Alex De Campi, Mike Deodato Jr, Steve Epting, Dave
Gibbons, Geoff Johns, Fabio Moon, Terry Moore, Denny O'Neil, Guiseppe
Palumbo, Trina Robbins, Gilbert Shelton, Gail Simone, Jeff Smith, Bryan
Talbot, Roy Thomas, Jim Valentino, Ethan Van Sciver, Mark Waid and Brian
Wood. In addition other aspects of the industry are represented by Ellen
Abramowitz, Scott Allie, Karen Berger, Dan Berry, Tom Brevoort, Steve
Brezzo, Olivier Cadic, David Campbell, Shane Chebsey, Scott Dunbier, Jay
Eales, Alex Fitch, Paul Gravett, Milton Griepp, Nick Landau, Selina Locke,
Jim McLauchlin, Bob Shreck, Diana Schutz, Matt Smith, Eric Stephenson, Vicky
Stonebridge, Kev F Sutherland and Sean Michael Wilson.
"The name echoes the noble name of one of the great British comics papers...
and the awards seek to honour new talent and good work," stated Roy Thomas,
declaring his support for the project. "So what's not to like? I'm honoured
to be aboard!"
For his part, Tom Brevoort said, "It's a chance to give a leg up to the next
generation of talent, and possibly pave the way in some small manner for
great works yet to come."
Full details of all participants are attached.
The Initiative is an offshoot of the long-running Eagle Awards to which
their founder Mike Conroy is serving as a consultant and publicist.
Discussing the initial reaction to the project, he said, "I'm elated that so
many of comicdom's top professionals have got behind what Barry and my
daughter are trying to achieve.
"They've already got writers, artists, editors, academics, convention
organisers and UK small press publishers on board but want to expand the
panel beyond America and Great Britain," he continued. "Before judging
commences next year, I know they plan to add European, African and Asian
judges, including many who have worked outside the US/UK establishment so
that the entries can be evaluated from a truly worldwide perspective.
"Sequential art is an international language. It's only fitting that we
should try to incorporate as many points of view as possible. The Initiative
is ultimately a showcase for the entrant's storytelling abilities and not
every country approaches narrative in the same way," he concluded.
For further details on the Initiative, a full list of judges and complete
submission guidelines, go to http://www.eaglesinitiative.com/. For press
enquiries, contact director Barry Renshaw: editor@enginecomics.co.uk. For
further details on the Eagle Awards, contact Cassandra Conroy:
eagleawards@gmail.com.
ABOUT THE EAGLES INITIATIVE:
Launched in May 2010, the Eagles Initiative provides a unique platform from
which the next generation of writers and artists can promote their
storytelling ability in an increasingly competitive market. The brainchild
of Barry Renshaw, the Initiative is an unprecedented global talent search,
entrants will be asked to submit an original self-contained illustrated
story. The winner will be awarded a £1,000 cash prize; the runner up will
win £500 with the third place submission being given £250. All three stories
are to be included in the Initiative Anthology, which will be released as a
print publication and in multiple languages across the digital media.
ABOUT THE EAGLE AWARDS:
Introduced in 1976, the Eagles are the comics industry's longest established
awards. Unique in that they reflect the people's choice, they are awarded by
fans who vote for their favourite in each category of the awards. They are
named after the fondly remembered 1950's British comic anthology Eagle, and
were originated by two British fans, Mike Conroy and Richard Burton. The
awards proved to be successful, with American publishers such as Marvel
Comics announcing their victories with pride. They have relaunched in 2010
with a new look, a new mandate and a new vision for the future.
ABOUT BARRY RENSHAW:
Barry Renshaw has been an active creator in the UK independent comics
industry for over a decade, as publisher of his own Engine Comics imprint,
the award winning Redeye Magazine, and the popular How to Self Publish - A
Rough Guide, as well as running or appearing at various workshops, seminars
and panels over the years. He was asked to join the Eagle Awards committee
in 2009 to help reinvent the brand, and saw an opportunity for the Awards to
play a more progressive and proactive role in the comics industry. The
Initiative is the first part of that expanded role.
ABOUT CASSANDRA CONROY:
Cassandra Conroy has been a regular presence on the UK convention scene for
several years. In 2008, her father Mike Conroy handed over the running of
the Eagle Awards to Cassandra, who has worked on Eaglemoss's Classic Marvel
Figurine Collection and DC Comics Super Hero Collection.
ABOUT MIKE CONROY:
Formerly editor of Comics International, Europe's trade paper, veteran
comics journalist and historian Mike Conroy is the founder of the Eagle
Awards. Established in 1976, they are one of the comics industry's earliest
established and most coveted international prizes. Sought after to talk
about comics and movies on TV and radio, Mike has written extensively on
those subjects for various publishers and magazines. He is the author of 500
Great Comic Book Action Heroes its sequel 500 Comic Book Villains and War
Stories: A Graphic History as well as a major contributor to Comix: The
Underground Revolution. His former position on CI followed his 10-year reign
as the magazine's news editor. For over 12 years, his monthly Frame to Frame
– the comics industry's longest-running column discussing the interaction
between movies and comics – had been a feature in CI, which he had been
associated with since the magazine's very beginnings in 1991. Contact him
at: demigod@btconnect.com.
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