I Sent My Comic Pitch Into the Wild

Now we wait.

Well, homies… I did a gosh dang thing. I finally took my long-brewing comic project, Taggin’ Quest, and tossed it straight into the chaotic, nerve-wracking void known as Pitchfest 2025. Will it soar? Will it plummet? Will I stress-eat an entire buffalo chicken pizza (with bacon!) while waiting for results? Probably.

Read on for the deets and get a special peek at my 4-page Taggin’ Quest submission later in the post!

What’s Pitchfest, Anyway?

For those unfamiliar, Pitchfest is this big-deal event put on by Kids Comics Unite, where creators pitch their stories to industry pros—editors, agents, publishers, you name it. Only the top 50 projects get showcased, and from those, the top 5 will get special presentations. TL;DR: This could be a huge break for Taggin’ Quest. No pressure, right?

Why I Entered (And Why This Feels Like a Big Deal)

I started Taggin’ Quest back in 2023, fleshing out the story, writing little six-to-twelve-page mini-adventure comics, and daydreaming about where it could go. But like an abandoned sketch layer, it kinda sat there—full of potential but not quite finished. Pitchfest was the kick in the pants I needed to finally bring it to life and get it out in the world.

I originally planned on submitting eight pages for my pitch, but wound up only having time to finish four. I’m kinda’ bummed, but two weeks really isn’t realistic when you’re the one writing, drawing, inking, coloring, and lettering, ya’ know? But, man, the four pages I was able to finish are honestly some of the best-looking pages I’ve ever done and I’m crazy proud of what I managed to pull off. This story is a love letter to JRPGs, self expression, and the magic of youth. I also feel like I’ve finally nailed my style: that perfect blend of bombastic comic style merged with high-end cartoon vibes. I was watching Glitch Techs on repeat for like five days while watching this and I think it shows. See for yourself.

Looking at it now, there’s a few small things I’d change, but I honestly think they’re the best pages I’ve ever drawn. Waddaya’ think? Is this something you think people would wanna’ read?

What Happens Now?

The Pitchfest Showcase drops on March 29th, 2025, revealing the top 50 projects. If Taggin’ Quest makes the cut, it gets put in front of all those industry heavyweights. AND, because I’m all about leveling up, I also signed up for a 1-on-1 critique session with an editor (Chris Duffy of Union Square & Co.). That means no matter what happens, I’m getting direct feedback from someone in the biz, which could be game-changing.

So… What’s Next?

Right now, I’m in that fun little limbo stage where I just have to sit back and see what happens. (And by "sit back," I mean obsessively refresh my email while pretending to be cool and collected.) Either way, I’ll be back with a follow-up once the results are in.

In the meantime, I’ve been hard at work coloring the last few pages for Lost in the Shuffle #2 written and drawn by Alex M. Clark. I’m also hoping to do a little Taggin’ Quest ashcan minicomic thing for S.P.A.C.E. (Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo) in Columbus at the end of April. Other than that, I just wait out this Pitch Fest thing to determine my next move, I guess.

Will Taggin’ Quest make the top 50? Will an editor drop some game-changing wisdom on me? Will I finally figure out how to properly take a compliment if someone likes my work? FIND OUT NEXT TIME.

Stay toon’d 👀
RAW!