Broken Frontier

If you're an artist in search of your big break, it's time to pull out your pencils and put on your game face with the announcement of Viper Comics' latest pin-up contest.   The brainchild of The Middleman writer/creator Javier Grillo-Marxuach and artist Les McClaine, aspiring pencilers will compete for the chance to draw an alternate ending in the upcoming third installment of the critically acclaimed series due to premiere at San Diego Comic Con later this year.

Those artists interested in participating are asked to submit a fully colored pin-up featuring characters from existing Middleman storylines as well as two pages of sequential samples by March 28, 2007.  The top three submissions received (as judged by Grillo-Marxuach and McClaine) will be printed in the pages of the The Middleman: The Third Volume Inescapability .  The grand prize winner will receive masthead credit alongside of the creators and will be chosen to draw the alternate ending to the latest installment of the series, which has been scripted by Grillo-Marxuach, writer/producer of NBC's Medium and former writer/producer of ABC's Lost.

"This is a huge opportunity for an aspiring artist to get noticed and hopefully, jumpstart a career," says Viper Comics President Jessie Garza.   "The Middleman has been so well-received throughout the industry that we think this is a great way to expose new talent that, for whatever reason, has yet to been given a chance.   It's our hope that we can give someone the break they've been looking for.

In the third installment of the series, The Middleman and Wendy return in an all-new adventure that redefines "shocking destiny" -- and NOTHING will be the same after the uncompromising finale!  Including a dizzying alternate ending (as drawn by you), a stunning sketch gallery and a twisting collection of fan art, The Third Volume Inescapability will change The Middleman forever!

Those interested in submitting a pin-up to the contest should send jpg or pdf files to middleman@vipercomics.com by March 28, 2007.  Winners will be announced on April 2, 2007 at www.vipercomics.com.

The Middleman: The Third Volume Inescapability will ship to stores in July.

For more information on The Middleman and Viper Comics, visit: www.vipercomics.com.