Broken Frontier

Aspiring writers and artists nationwide are invited to submit their work to Platinum Studios, an entertainment company that controls the world’s largest independent library of comic book characters, and NBC 7/39, San Diego’s only network owned and operated television station as they search for the hottest comic book concept – the Comic Book Challenge.  The winner’s comic concept will be developed for print, online, film and TV.

New and unpublished comic book creators can submit their ideas online at www.comicbookchallenge.com through July 5, 2006.  On July 20 the top 50 semi-finalists will pitch their concepts live to a panel of industry insiders.  The judges on the panel include Gale Anne Hurd, producer of over 25 movies including “The Terminator” features and “Armageddon,” Marc Silvestri, founder and chief executive officer of Top Cow Comics, and Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, chairman of Platinum Studios and founder of Malibu Comics, where he discovered and developed “Men In Black” into a billion dollar entertainment franchise.  “Men in Black” itself was written by a previously unpublished comic book creator, highlighting Rosenberg’s belief in new talent.

“If you think you’ve got the best new idea for a comic book character or story, we urge you to submit your idea to the Comic Book Challenge at www.comicbookchallenge.com,” said Rosenberg.  “It is very hard to break through into comics and get noticed by industry luminaries.  The Comic Book Challenge allows creators and aspiring fans a new opportunity to get their concepts reviewed and turned into an entertainment property.”

The top three finalists will appear on NBC 7/39’s “Streetside San Diego with Kimberly King” on July 21st to pitch their comic vision.  Comic book fans will be invited, starting midnight on Thursday July 20th, to vote on their favorite of the three finalists at www.comicbookchallenge.com.  Voting will be open from Thursday night until midnight on Sunday July 24.  The winner’s comic book concept will be published by Platinum Studios and premiere in print in March of 2007.  In addition, Platinum Studios will work with the creator to develop the property for film and television.
Characters from Platinum Studios’ intellectual property library of more than 3,800 characters have appeared in over a billion comics, and have been included in film and entertainment deals with Disney, MGM, Sony, Universal, DreamWorks, Warner Brothers, Lions Gate, NBC and Showtime, including upcoming Sci-fi epic “UNIQUE” at Disney and tentpole “COWBOYS & ALIENS” at Sony.