EAGLES INITIATIVE ATTRACTS EXTENSIVE SUPPORT FROM TOP NAME CREATORS

HAVING recently announced the Eagles Initiative, Barry Renshaw and Cassandra Conroy are delighted to announce that the initial line-up of judges for their global talent search includes a wide range of major names from across the world and from all quarters of the comics industry.



Those writers and artists already committed to the project are: Gabriel Bá, Peter Bagge, Riccardo Burchielli, Mike Carey, Howard Chaykin, Chris Claremont, Becky Cloonan, Alex De Campi, Mike Deodato Jr, Steve Epting, Dave Gibbons, Geoff Johns, Fabio Moon, Terry Moore, Denny O’Neil, Guiseppe Palumbo, Trina Robbins, Gilbert Shelton, Gail Simone, Jeff Smith, Bryan Talbot, Roy Thomas, Jim Valentino, Ethan Van Sciver, Mark Waid and Brian Wood. In addition other aspects of the industry are represented by Ellen Abramowitz, Scott Allie, Karen Berger, Dan Berry, Tom Brevoort, Steve Brezzo, Olivier Cadic, David Campbell, Shane Chebsey, Scott Dunbier, Jay Eales, Alex Fitch, Paul Gravett, Milton Griepp, Nick Landau, Selina Locke, Jim McLauchlin, Bob Shreck, Diana Schutz, Matt Smith, Eric Stephenson, Vicky Stonebridge, Kev F Sutherland and Sean Michael Wilson.



“The name echoes the noble name of one of the great British comics papers... and the awards seek to honour new talent and good work,” stated Roy Thomas, declaring his support for the project. “So what's not to like? I'm honoured to be aboard!”



For his part, Tom Brevoort said, “It’s a chance to give a leg up to the next generation of talent, and possibly pave the way in some small manner for great works yet to come.”



Full details of all participants are attached.



The Initiative is an offshoot of the long-running Eagle Awards to which their founder Mike Conroy is serving as a consultant and publicist. Discussing the initial reaction to the project, he said, “I’m elated that so many of comicdom’s top professionals have got behind what Barry and my daughter are trying to achieve.



“They’ve already got writers, artists, editors, academics, convention organisers and UK small press publishers on board but want to expand the panel beyond America and Great Britain,” he continued. “Before judging commences next year, I know they plan to add European, African and Asian judges, including many who have worked outside the US/UK establishment so that the entries can be evaluated from a truly worldwide perspective.



“Sequential art is an international language. It’s only fitting that we should try to incorporate as many points of view as possible. The Initiative is ultimately a showcase for the entrant’s storytelling abilities and not every country approaches narrative in the same way,” he concluded.



For further details on the Initiative, a full list of judges and complete submission guidelines, go to http://www.eaglesinitiative.com/. For press enquiries, contact director Barry Renshaw: editor@enginecomics.co.uk. For further details on the Eagle Awards, contact Cassandra Conroy: eagleawards@gmail.com.



ABOUT THE EAGLES INITIATIVE:
Launched in May 2010, the Eagles Initiative provides a unique platform from which the next generation of writers and artists can promote their storytelling ability in an increasingly competitive market. The brainchild of Barry Renshaw, the Initiative is an unprecedented global talent search, entrants will be asked to submit an original self-contained illustrated story. The winner will be awarded a £1,000 cash prize; the runner up will win £500 with the third place submission being given £250. All three stories are to be included in the Initiative Anthology, which will be released as a print publication and in multiple languages across the digital media.



ABOUT THE EAGLE AWARDS:
Introduced in 1976, the Eagles are the comics industry's longest established awards. Unique in that they reflect the people's choice, they are awarded by fans who vote for their favourite in each category of the awards. They are named after the fondly remembered 1950's British comic anthology Eagle, and were originated by two British fans, Mike Conroy and Richard Burton. The awards proved to be successful, with American publishers such as Marvel Comics announcing their victories with pride. They have relaunched in 2010 with a new look, a new mandate and a new vision for the future.

ABOUT BARRY RENSHAW:
Barry Renshaw has been an active creator in the UK independent comics industry for over a decade, as publisher of his own Engine Comics imprint, the award winning Redeye Magazine, and the popular How to Self Publish - A Rough Guide, as well as running or appearing at various workshops, seminars and panels over the years. He was asked to join the Eagle Awards committee in 2009 to help reinvent the brand, and saw an opportunity for the Awards to play a more progressive and proactive role in the comics industry. The Initiative is the first part of that expanded role.



ABOUT CASSANDRA CONROY:

Cassandra Conroy has been a regular presence on the UK convention scene for several years. In 2008, her father Mike Conroy handed over the running of the Eagle Awards to Cassandra, who has worked on Eaglemoss’s Classic Marvel Figurine Collection and DC Comics Super Hero Collection.



ABOUT MIKE CONROY:

Formerly editor of Comics International, Europe's trade paper, veteran comics journalist and historian Mike Conroy is the founder of the Eagle Awards. Established in 1976, they are one of the comics industry’s earliest established and most coveted international prizes. Sought after to talk about comics and movies on TV and radio, Mike has written extensively on those subjects for various publishers and magazines. He is the author of 500 Great Comic Book Action Heroes its sequel 500 Comic Book Villains and War Stories: A Graphic History as well as a major contributor to Comix: The Underground Revolution. His former position on CI followed his 10-year reign as the magazine's news editor. For over 12 years, his monthly Frame to Frame – the comics industry’s longest-running column discussing the interaction between movies and comics – had been a feature in CI, which he had been associated with since the magazine's very beginnings in 1991. Contact him at: demigod@btconnect.com.