Announcing the Negative Spaces Competition Finalists

The amazing Negative Spaces Comic Book Writing Competition Finalists!

Like we mentioned before, the submissions keep getting better and better, and really any one of the semifinalists’ stories could have easily been on this list! The stories told in this batch are next-level, and we are so proud to be able to showcase and spotlight these stories. Each one of these would make a huge splash in the comic book world and any publisher out there better be ready to swoop them up quickly!

Here are the Negative Spaces Comic Book Writing Competition Finalists
(in alphabetical order based on the project name — with story synopsis)

BLACKNERD by Quincy Scott Jones
It’s 1992 and in an attempt to talk to the girl of his dreams, the beautiful and politically-active Diamond Powers, the 15-year-old college super-shy super-genius Black Nerd becomes the mysterious armored hero Hard Khrome. After surviving gangsters, monsters, and super-villains, Diamond grows a fondness for Hard Khrome, but she still barely knows Black Nerd even exists.

EXIT BAG by Kyle Lawrence
Luis’ drug fueled suicide attempt is fortunately (or unfortunately based on Luis’ perspective) interrupted by his former imaginary friends: a peppy Kangaroo pilot named Pepperneuse and his gruff wallaby co-pilot Jojo. This cartoonish pair of figments plan to stick with Luis until his frown is turned upside-down, or they’re erased to non-existence by the manic 5th Dimension enforcer Bazipsky for crimes against reality! Whether a death dream, hallucination, or hell itself, this calamity is all too real for Luis and the only way out might be… an exit bag.

FRIENDS FROM CAMP by Mike Tjaden
Aidan Canosa has been excited for summer camp all year, but as soon as he gets there, he realizes something is wrong. He soon discovers that Shady Acres Camp for God’s Children is a fundamentalist conversion therapy camp. Years later, Aidan uses mysterious psychic powers to cause chaos at a job interview.

TIKBALANG TALES: THE MAMBABATOK by Nicole Andrea Solis Magno
A tattooist, a teacher, and a tikbalang walk into a bar… Welcome to The Balete, a refuge for wandering humans and spirit monsters of Filipino folklore. Our tattooist, Kannao, is far too familiar with these monsters, but her old friend, Analyn, shouldn’t be.

We are honored to be able to read these scripts and give a platform for underrepresented comic book creators to share their work. The industry needs new voices, and new stories, and we hope this competition starts a new path for many writers to come. The grand prize winner is announced on September 18 — don’t forget to check back to see who wins!

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