Date: Mon, 03 Oct 1994 23:49:26 CST From: [gambl j n] at [WKUVX1.WKU.EDU] Subject: The Blue Ketchup Bible WELCOME TO THE BLUE KETCHUP COMICS GUIDELINES Hello. My name's Joe and I am a sophmore college student at Western Kentucky University. The reason why I am in college is a simple one. I came to become a better artist and writer, and one of the mediums that I what to redefine is comic books. For too many years the market has been flooded with poor copies of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee's genius. While EVERY comic creator should be incredibly grateful for all the years of comics that the Man and the King, it is time to move on. We are entering a new age of comics, an age of experimentation. While there will be extensive mounds of shit produced, one studio will not only survive, it will thrive. That studio WILL be Blue Ketchup Comics. For those who would like to be in this studio, read on. Below is the Official Bible of Blue Ketchup Comics. WHY BLUE KETCHUP? The first thing that will catch the reader's attention is our name. Blue Ketchup seems to be an oxymoron. This paradox will grab people's attention long enough for them to look at the comics that they might have otherwise overlooked. Second, with a name like BK, we are showing that even the most average, everyday object will be shown is a whole new perspective. Our goal is to blow the reader away with a combination of art, writing, and metaphysical theories. Have them thinking of the sociological impact of venetian blinds, and ask them, "Do you what fries with that?" ALL FOR ONE, AND ETC. One thing I should get straight now is the fact that BKC is not a company. You will not get a salary. I'll talk about money later though, right now I want to explain a theory of mine. We all know how hard of a industry this is to break into. That is why BK is going to be a union of sorts. Everyone of us will help each other with creating comics and will also help each other grow as individuals. Being a better person helps one be a better creator. I will make a list of all people that join BK and mail it to everyone so that you can get to know one another. Hopefully everyone's communication and quality of work will improve if we are all friends as well as fellow workers. DROWN'EM ALL Think 'a thousand points of light'. Whenever a large groups of people focus their abilities, their overall power becomes a thousand times more powerful. Picture this, the average comic book company gets overflowing piles of submissions from people wanting to work in comics. In that slush pile the editors notice a package with submissions that comes every month on the dot, and has at least ten well written stories every time. One of the most important aspects of selling anything is the packaging. With the BK submissions, we will submit on a monthly schedule to show the editors that if we there to work for them, we know how to work with a deadline. They will also get to see how our stories develop over a monthly period. The advantages to submitting in surges are evident when considering the slush pile effect. MONEY Well, is there any money in this at all? The answer to that question is yes. If your story is accepted by the one of the many companies that will be on our mailing list, you get however much they pay you. All of it. I'm not going to subtract any fees or crap like that. I think a paycheck is wonderful motivation for putting out good work. FREEDOM Notice that you have nothing to lose. When you work for some of the larger companies, they will tell you what you can and can not write or draw. With BK, you write what you like, because if you don't like it, chances are no one else will either. If gay rights interests you, go right ahead. No one here will stop you. COMIC SCRIPTING If we're going to get the big boys to notice us, we have to play their game. That means all writing submissions have to be done in script. I have an example below. Page 1 Panel 1 Bob enters a small dirty kitchen stretching. Bob " *Yawn* Boy, I bet I could eat a cow." Panel 2 Bob opens the fridge and cow horns can barely be seen sticking out of the top shelf. Bob "Wow! There's still some of that hefer left over." I think you get the point. However, if you don't know how to write in script, some one at BK will gladly tutor you. THIS ENDS THE FIRST PART OF THE BLUE KETCHUP BIBLE. THE REMINDER WILL BE SENT OUT TOMORROW, AND YES, IT WILL BE A MORE REASONABLE HOUR WHEN I DO IT. THANKS FOR STICKING WITH ME. Joe