Our mission has always been to give underrepresented creators and rising stars a shot at a career in comics — to learn the necessary skills to break in and thrive within the industry. An important piece to that is being published!
With the Negative Space Comic Book Anthology we are taking that part of the mission head on. This 150-page book will feature our competition winners, some competition finalists, and many of our professional mentors and judges — so, with this book, you get to enjoy amazing short comics from some of the industry best creators while also helping new voices take the next big step to get their stories out in the world.
The crowdfunding campaign for the comic book anthology is open from October 4 to November 4. Please consider supporting the campaign, buying the book, sharing the link with your friends, and helping further our mission to get comic book creators published!
ACE HETISIMER — WRITER & ARTIST OF WHAT ONCE STOOD
STUDENTS COMPETITION WINNER 2022
Ace is a sequential art graduate from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a special interest in creating comics and illustrations. Ace is a nerd at heart, and would love to get some work drawing main line mech franchises such as Transformers. They enjoy drawing, inking, and coloring!
ALEX DVORAK — WRITER OF THE NIGHTTIME KIDS
CO-FOUNDER OF NEGATIVE SPACE
Alex is a Czech and Latina screenwriter, graphic novelist, published essayist, and actor. As the daughter of immigrants from clashing cultures, a teen cancer survivor, and a former runway model, Alex writes stories based on her life experiences with authenticity, dark humor, and heart. She’s drawn to coming-of-age stories of protagonists who turn individuality into superpowers — teen rebellion at its finest.
ANTHONY PUGH — ARTIST OF MIRROR, MIRROR
Anthony is an illustrator and comic artist based in Brooklyn. Over the past 10 years, he has worked various projects in the creative industry including marketing, advertising, storyboard art, character design and comic book art — he has teamed up with companies like: Comedy Central TV Network, All Things Comedy Media Studio, Red Line Publishing, Ogilvy x Adidas, Topps Trading Cards, and many more.
AUDREY MEEKER — ARTIST OF THE NIGHTTIME KIDS
Audrey Meeker is comic artist and editor based in Athens, GA. When she’s not working on her debut graphic novel “SWING”, she’s making coffee or sleeping. You can find Audrey on Twitter @MeekerAudrey.
BRIAN HAWKINS — WRITER OF MIRROR, MIRROR
COMPETITION JUDGE & MENTOR
Brian is a freelance writer with considerable experience in the comic book industry — his latest series, The Vineyard, was released by AfterShock Comics, and volume 2 of his creator-owned series Black Cotton, with Scout Comics, comes out soon. Brian is also an editor for Mad Cave Studios, and a writer for Black Box Comics and Zenescope.
CAITLIN SINCLAIR CHAPPELL — WRITER OF REALM OF POSSIBILITIES
WOMENS COMPETITION FINALIST 2022
Caitlin is a writer turned editor from California. What started as a love for comics, film, and television turned into a career shortly after graduation. She writes and edits for CBR.com and is currently editing the independent comic series Half Dragon. On top of her written work, Caitlin has experience in theater and film production, and she actively seeks new comic, writing, and editing opportunities.
CARRIE HARRIS — WRITER OF SHADOWS OF STORIES UNTOLD
WOMENS COMPETITION FINALIST 2022
Carrie is a geek-of-all-trades who writes genre fiction for all ages. If it has monsters, mayhem, or murder in it — she’s all in. She is a published novelist and freelance writer with approximately 20 years of experience, including fiction writing, Kickstarters, and educational materials. As you read this, she is probably drinking something caffeinated and talking to people that only exist in her head.
DANA OBERA — ARTIST OF SHADOWS OF STORIES UNTOLD
Dana is a comic book artist, watercolorist, and a father of two. He paints with traditional watercolor, gouache, and ink — he does paint commissions and comic book art for a living.
DANIEL CVAMMEN — ARTIST & LETTERER OF RISE AND FALL
Daniel has been a professional artist for over 15 years, working primarily in traditional mediums. His subject matter is varied and often reimagines ideas from pop culture — blending them and warping them into something unique. Daniel’s wide-ranging work experiences include logo creation and graphic design, printmaking, character illustrations, commissioned digital and oil paintings, and teaching high school art.
DENNIS MENHEERE — ARTIST OF THE UNDOING WELL
Dennis is a Dutch illustrator and freelance comic artist with a knack for visual storytelling and vivid colors. Dennis is set to make a splash on the comic book scene with Etheres, which is releasing next year. Dennis is also a family man determined to get his daughter into classic Legend of Zelda games as soon as she can hold a controller. When Dennis is not drawing comics, he spends his time either reading them or thinking about them. Which is totally normal, right?
ERIN COONEY — ARTIST OF REALM OF POSSIBILITIES
ETHAN SLAYTON — ARTIST OF THE WOLFMINDER
Ethan is a comic book artist & RPG illustrator. He has been drawing Dungeons & Dragons characters for friends ever since he can remember rolling dice at the gaming table. He fancies drawing the sword & sorcery most but he’s really a fan of pretty much all the genres out there.
GARRETT LEY — ARTIST OF GAYLANDIA, OR
Garrett is a comic artist/illustrator with a Sequential Art BFA from SCAD who is known for their Copic illustrations & tutorials and their love of manga & local drag. They serve budding talent in their community as the head of digital arts at One River School of Art + Design in Lake Oswego, OR, teaching comics, storyboarding, illustration, and animation. Between teaching full time, hosting local drag events, doing Copic demos at Comic Con, and co-hosting a the “Brainstorm!” podcast, they can never get enough to do! They are currently working on a psychological thriller graphic novel pitch about the woes and complications of love.
GILES CRAWFORD — ARTIST OF WINGSPAN
Giles is an artist and writer specializing in sequential art and narrative development. Obsessed with storytelling. Really into music. From Australia, living in Newark, NJ.
GREY ALLISON — ARTIST OF ATLANTIS
Grey is a freelance comic artist and illustrator. She’s a farm girl with a passion for roleplaying games, horror stories, and historical fiction (plus lots of other nerd stuff). She lives with her Overwatch duo-queue partner/husband and their spoiled tabby cat, Cleopatra.
JEREMY COLWELL — COLORIST OF ATLANTIS
Comic book colorist, painter, concept artist, family man, and nut job!
JOSH SIPPIE — WRITER OF WINGSPAN
DIRECTOR OF CONTENT AT NEGATIVE SPACE
Josh is a writer of a little bit of everything, from plays to fashion to kid’s books. He’s been published in Atlas Obscura, the Guardian, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency and more, but his passion is in writing for children, both in the comic book industry and beyond. When not writing, he can be found kickboxing or kayaking while wondering why he isn’t writing.
JUSTIN ZIMMERMAN — WRITER OF ATLANTIS
COMPETITION JUDGE & MENTOR
Justin Zimmerman, MFA in Film, is a nationally recognized comic writer, director, and professor. He is the recipient of multiple grants and fellowships, he contributed a story to the Eisner Award-winning graphic novel Love Is Love, and his scripts and comic work have been optioned on multiple occasions.
MATT HARDING — ARTIST OF TENETS
Makes comics and stuff.
MARLA EIZIK — WRITER OF GAYLANDIA, OR
CO-EDITOR OF NEGATIVE SPACE ANTHOLOGY
Marla is an Associate Editor at TKO Studios. Previously, they acted as Talent Liaison at Image Comics, and a founding member of Comic Book Workers United, the first union for comic book workers. Marla’s writing appeared in Sky Island Journal, Buckmxn Journal, and The Maine Review. They are currently writing a novel, a collection of queer erotica, and a really weird comic book.
MARTA SELUSI — ARTIST & LETTERER OF THE WARLOCK & ME
Marta is a watercolorist specializing in children book illustration and fantasy graphic novels. She studied fine arts and has a master’s degree in publishing. Her comics work has won the Casal Jove local comic contest in 2019, 2016, and 2009, all of which featured her take on sci-fi stories. She likes working on queer fantasy projects about friendship, QPR, and mental health.
MIA TORRES — WRITER OF THE WARLOCK & ME
WOMENS COMPETITION WINNER 2022
Mia currently works at an insurance agency, but moonlights as an artist/story writer. Ever since she read Calvin & Hobbes as a young kid and snuck into mature-rated manga like Inuyasha, Mia has adored comics. Now it’s her dream to publish her own. Mia loves to write romantic comedy comics — it gives her butterflies to write about falling in love, but she’s equally as excited to dive into horror genre, too!
NAHUEL F.A. — WRITER OF THE UNDOING WELL
CO-FOUNDER OF NEGATIVE SPACE & CO-EDITOR OF NEGATIVE SPACE ANTHOLOGY
Nahuel is an Argentinian comic book writer and screenwriter, and the co-founder of Negative Space Comics. This year, Nahuel wrote the short sci-fi comic The Distance Between [with artist Seigfried] for Amongst the Stars Anthology and is producing a horror short film which explores Nahuel’s favorite theme of the evils of toxic masculinity.
OMAR MORALES — WRITER OF TENETS
FALL COMPETITION FINALIST 2021
Omar Morales (he/him) is a first generation Mexican-American writer who learned English by reading Marvel comic books. He is a former Guinness World Records titleholder for “Largest Comic Book Published.” His credits include CruZader: Agent of the Vatican (The Force Media), The Lunar Ladies (Scout Comics), and various anthologies, including the all-Latinx created MAÑANA (Power & Magic Press).
OMINOUS POWERS a.k.a. S.M. MURPHY & KELLY LA CROIX — CO-WRITERS OF THE WOLFMINDER
FALL COMPETITION FINALISTS 2021
Creators of Everyday Magus & Old31 for Ominous Powers Ink comics/ Montana Escapees. We wanted to make comics since we were kids. Now here we are! Join us!
PABLO ANDRÉS — ARTIST OF HYEON & DRACKO
PETE CARLSSON — BOOK DESIGNER
LETTERER ON ALL STORIES (EXCEPT THOSE OTHERWISE NOTED)
Pete has been a fan of comics, design, music, and pop culture for as long as he can remember. His interest in comics brought him to the Joe Kubert School in 1993, where he studied with Joe Kubert and stuck around to work closely with him on PS Magazine. His latest project, Young Men in Love: A Queer Romance Anthology, was a huge success and one of the best designed books of the year!
ROBBY “RAW!” MELENDEZ — WRITER & ARTIST OF SOAR
FALL COMPETITION WINNER 2021
Robby left a career in marketing for global, national, and local brands to pursue his lifelong dream of making comics. The script for his first comic won the first Negative Space Comics writing competition. He is currently developing his story as a mini-series and will be pitching to publishers.
SARAH ADRIANCE — WRITER OF RISE AND FALL
WOMENS COMPETITION FINALIST 2022
Sarah is a comic writer and co-creator (ADHDman, Octobaby), an arts administrator (Columbia University Film, Daniel Cvammen Studio, Juilliard Dance), potter (mugs and stuff), former dancer (ballet, modern), and an amateur photographer (sky, sidewalks) and visual artist (noods, landscapes). She lives in New York City (apple, big) with her family (husband, two daughters).
TEODORO LEO — WRITER OF HYEON & DRACKO
COMPETITION JUDGE & MENTOR
With almost a decade of professional comic book industry experience, Teodoro Leo has brought his editorial expertise to AfterShock Comics and Seismic Press and wrote and self-published Mind Control: An A.R. Experience and French Fries, Milkshakes & Waffles.
