GEEKED call for submissions heroes and gods

GEEKED Call for Submissions

heroes & gods PLUS! An exclusive look at the new comic,

Kismet

Fall 2016

Call for Submissions:

heroes & gods Fall 2016 There has been so much bad news this year and it seems now, more than ever, we are in desperate need of heroic action and maybe even a little divine intervention! From global refugee crises, to violent hate-crimes, to political upheavals, we seem to be facing a lot of darkness. As we creep towards the latter half of the year, GEEKED has decided to take Mr. Rogers’ advice, and “look for the helpers”.

We’re kicking off our next publication year with a zine focused on heroes & gods and we want you to be a part of it!

We need submissions that help us to explore what makes a hero, how do heroes give hope, when do our heroes seem to become almost divine? This zine will look at heroes and gods from all different aspects and will help us to ask ourselves some meaningful questions as we head towards a new year. It will also serve as a partner publication to our Spring 2017 zine focused on Monsters & Villains. If Marvel has taught us nothing else this year, it has certainly helped to remind us that the line between heroes and villains is tenuous at best.

So, we’ll continue our GEEKy investigation of the mythic polarities our culture creates by turning to the other side of the coin and asking questions about who counts as villainous, what makes a monster and why? (This zine will also be organized to speak to some of the themes explored in the academic conference Monstrous Women in Comics–find out more here!)

By this time next year, we’re willing to bet that the difference between heroes and villains, between gods and monsters, and between our Fall and Spring issues, isn’t so clear.

Do you wanna pitch for the Heroes team? Here’s what we need from writers, creators, and artists: A Word from the Y: Stereotypically, heroes and gods have been gendered male, and often bring with them standards of physical prowess, infallible morality, and a lack of emotion. How do these archetypes shape the kinds of heroes men can have? What kinds of pressures does this create for masculine aspirations to greatness? Who is left out of heroic paradigms by virtue of these stereotypes? We’d like anyone who identifies as a man to explore these types of questions in an opinion piece of no more than 1,000 words. **This piece will also need illustrating so, if you’re an artist, send us a pitch outlining what visual elements you would create for this topic.

Fashion: We know there are some pretty awesome clothing companies out there producing GEEKY fashion that features everyone’s favorite heroes so we’d like a round-up of the topten chicest hero items to wear. We would encourage writers to look at small, independent companies as well as the more established clothing lines. Unique finds, a plus! We will also need you to get permission from producers to use their images of the clothing/accessories in question.

Film: There is almost no limit to this category! There have been so many superhero films out in the last couple years and no end in sight to the ones in pre-production! Send us a pitch for an article of 1,000 words exploring heroes and gods in films. We would especially encourage pieces that critically engage with film representations of race, gender, sexuality, and/or disability. **This piece will also need illustrating so, if you’re an artist, send us a pitch outlining what visual elements you would create for this topic.

Literature: We’re looking for a line-up of delicious books that explore heroes and/or gods or a nice, juicy review of a single book. Send us a pitch for your top picks, or the info for the book you want to review! Top picks can be up to 500 words, a single-book review can run up to 1,000 words.

Art: Do you know of an art exhibit that blurs the lines between reality and the divine? Or that makes heroes out of everyday folks? Have you seen the work of an artist whose efforts to represent the world are nothing short of heroic? We want to hear from you! We’re open to pitches for write-ups on all types of art and all types of artists. This piece will be 1,000 words and you will need to obtain permission from the artist(s) in question to make use of their images.

Performing Arts: HAMILTON! We have not seen anything quite like the popular reception of the musical Hamilton and we want to know more about it! As a production that re-examines historical American “heroes,” and that takes a progressive stance on casting actors of color, we’re super keen to see a piece which can talk in detail about this piece of theater. Send us a pitch for an article of 1,000 words.

Music: 2016 has not been kind to our musical heroes. We’ve lost so many truly inspirational musicians–ones who almost seemed to be gods on earth. We would like to see a piece exploring what makes certain musical figures particularly meaningful, how do they become our cultural heroes? How do they become immortal through their art? Send us a pitch for an article of 1,000 words. **This piece will also need illustrating so, if you’re an artist, send us a pitch outlining what visual elements you would create for this topic.

Comics & Graphic Novels: Bring us ALL THE THINGS! Here again, there are so many ways we could explore heroes and gods through comics. Do you want to talk about conflicted gods like those in Wicked + Divine? Are you a fan of unlikely heroes like Moon Girl in Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur? Are old favorites like Spider-Woman becoming the new heroes of your heart? Let us know! We are also looking for unique comics to include in this issue, so if you’re a creator and you’ve got a few panels on your hands, send them our way!

Do you have other ideas?

Let’s hear ‘em! If you’ve got an awesome way to think about heroes and gods that doesn’t quite fit into the categories above, send us a pitch, we’d love to hear from you. All GEEKs who align with our mission are welcome to participate.

All pitch submissions must be received by September 1, 2016, 5pm GMT. Please state clearly which topic you wish to discuss, a short abstract of how you would like to approach the piece, and your contact information. If you’re an illustrator, we need your proposals by this date and encourage you to include links to your previous work or portfolio.

All contributors to GEEKED Issue 9:

heroes & gods will be compensated! Rates will be discussed following successful pitches (spoiler: it’s not loads, so don’t get too excited).

Be a hero and submit your pitches to submissions@geekedmagazine.com by September 1, 2016, 5pm GMT

Want a sneak peak of

heroes & gods?

Here’s an exclusive look at a new superhero,

Kismet: Man

of

Fat!E!!

Once, he was Khalil Qisma of Algiers. Then, empowered by forces beyond his understanding, he became Kismet: Man of Fate! Using his split-second glimpses of the future to fight Nazis in wartime France, Kismet performed covert missions for the Allies until his sudden disappearance from the front in 1944. Now, he’s been whisked far into his own future, thrown 70 years forward, to forge a new fate with new allies in modern-day Boston -- mysteriously transported into a world without the Nazis but threats very much its own.

Kismet debuted in BOMBER COMICS #1 (1944) as the first identified Muslim superhero in U.S. comics. After four issues, the series ended, and Kismet was left unseen and unexplored until entering the public domain and being revived in the pages of the 2016’s BROKEN FRONTIER ANTHOLOGY. Now, the Eisner Award-nominated team of A. David Lewis and Noel Tuazon (with Rob Croonenborghs, Kel Nuttal, and Asher J. Klassen) are rolling out new adventures and a new mythology for the historic Man of Fate; learn about his next appearance via Twitter at @Kismet1944.

ALL BACK ISSUES NOW * ONLY £2

*£2 + P&P Available at geekedmagazine.com

Look out for

monsters & villains in Spring 2017

GEEKED

Cover photo by JD Hancock