Marvel Try-out Book
Encyclopedia
The Official Marvel Comics Try-Out Book is an oversize book originally published by Marvel Comics
in 1983. Conceived by then-Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter
, the book was in the form of a contest encouraging up-and-coming comics creators to try their hand at getting a job with the company. The winner would be awarded a professional assignment with Marvel.
The book described the respective jobs and accompanying tools of a writer, penciller
, inker
, letterer
, and colorist
, and then provided pages ready for the hopeful cartoonist to work on. An unfinished Spider-Man
story (titled "Personals") was the springboard for the try-out portion, which among other features contained blank, pre-ruled pages for pencilers, pre-penciled "non-photo blue
" pages (by artist John Romita, Jr.
) to be inked and lettered, and completed black-and-white pages to be colored. The entire book was printed on two-ply
11" x 17" paper, replicating the size that a typical comic book was drawn on.
For their outstanding entries, the winners received a commemorative certificate. They were also promised "their first regular professional assignment, which will be finishing the Spider-Man story 'Personals' which was begun in the Try-Out Book. The result of their labors will be published next spring in a special giant-sized issue of The Amazing Spider-Man
." That promised issue never was published. However, artist Bagley is now a well-known penciler who would go on to have an extended run on Ultimate Spider-Man
with Brian Michael Bendis
in the 2000s. Inker Hazlewood has had a steady career, mostly for DC Comics
, since the late 1980s. Duffie and Pasda have yet to see their work in print.
story drawn by Andy Kubert
. In addition, the new version take into account advances in computer technology in the production of comics. Other changes include fewer pencilled pages to ink over than in the original book, which are printed in black ink rather than "non-photo blue." (This means inkers must use tracing paper rather than being able to ink directly on the art.)
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
in 1983. Conceived by then-Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter
Jim Shooter
James Shooter is an American writer, occasional fill-in artist, editor, and publisher for various comic books. Although he started professionally in the medium at the extraordinarily young age of 14, he is most notable for his successful and controversial run as Marvel Comics' ninth...
, the book was in the form of a contest encouraging up-and-coming comics creators to try their hand at getting a job with the company. The winner would be awarded a professional assignment with Marvel.
The book described the respective jobs and accompanying tools of a writer, penciller
Penciller
A penciller is an artist who works in the creation of comic books, graphic novels, and similar visual art forms.The penciller is the first step in rendering the story in visual form and may require several steps of feedback with the writer. These artists are concerned with layout to showcase...
, inker
Inker
The inker is one of the two line artists in a traditional comic book or graphic novel. After a pencilled drawing is given to the inker, the inker uses black ink to produce refined outlines over the pencil lines...
, letterer
Letterer
A letterer is a member of a team of comic book creators responsible for drawing the comic book's text. The letterer's use of typefaces, calligraphy, letter size, and layout all contribute to the impact of the comic. The letterer crafts the comic's "display lettering": the story title lettering and...
, and colorist
Colorist
In comics, a colorist is responsible for adding color to black-and-white line art. For most of the 20th century this was done using brushes and dyes which were then used as guides to produce the printing plates...
, and then provided pages ready for the hopeful cartoonist to work on. An unfinished Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
story (titled "Personals") was the springboard for the try-out portion, which among other features contained blank, pre-ruled pages for pencilers, pre-penciled "non-photo blue
Non-photo blue
Non-photo blue is a common tool used in the graphic design and print industry. It is a particular shade of blue that can not be detected by graphic arts cameras. This allows layout editors to write notes to the printer on the print flat which will not show in the final form...
" pages (by artist John Romita, Jr.
John Romita, Jr.
John Salvatore Romita, Jr. is an American comic book artist best known for his extensive work for Marvel Comics from the 1970s to the 2000s...
) to be inked and lettered, and completed black-and-white pages to be colored. The entire book was printed on two-ply
Two-ply
In comics, the term two-ply refers to pre-bordered boards of 11 inch by 17 inch, commonly used by a comic book penciller in the creating of the individual pages for comic books. They often have a marked off art area which is 10 inch by 15 inch, which is the actual size of original comic book art...
11" x 17" paper, replicating the size that a typical comic book was drawn on.
Publication history
Though the book was published in 1983, the contest winners were not announced until 1986. The initial winners were:- Plotter and scripter: Chuck Duffie
- Penciler: Mark BagleyMark BagleyMark Bagley is an American comic book artist. He has worked for Marvel Comics and DC Comics on such titles as The Amazing Spider-Man, Thunderbolts, New Warriors, and Ultimate Spider-Man.- Early life and career :...
- Inker: Doug HazlewoodDoug HazlewoodDoug Hazlewood is an American comic book artist, known primarily for inking.Hazlewood has primarily worked for DC Comics during his career, often partnering with pencilers Tom Grummett and Nicola Scott, and he occupies a particular niche as Superman's "event-book" inker, working on such titles and...
- Colorist: P. Jeanine Pasda
- Letterer: Robin RiggsRobin RiggsRobin Riggs is a British-born comic book artist. The majority of his published work has involved working as an inker for Marvel Comics and DC Comics.-Career:...
For their outstanding entries, the winners received a commemorative certificate. They were also promised "their first regular professional assignment, which will be finishing the Spider-Man story 'Personals' which was begun in the Try-Out Book. The result of their labors will be published next spring in a special giant-sized issue of The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics, featuring the adventures of the fictional superhero Spider-Man. Being the mainstream continuity of the franchise, it began publication in 1963 as a monthly periodical and was published continuously until it was...
." That promised issue never was published. However, artist Bagley is now a well-known penciler who would go on to have an extended run on Ultimate Spider-Man
Ultimate Spider-Man
Ultimate Spider-Man was a superhero comic book series that was published by Marvel Comics from 2000 to 2009. The series is a modernized re-imagining of Marvel's long-running Spider-Man comic book franchise as part of its Ultimate Marvel imprint...
with Brian Michael Bendis
Brian Michael Bendis
Brian Michael Bendis is an American comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim for his self-published, Image Comics and Marvel Comics work, and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics, with his books selling consistently highly for over a...
in the 2000s. Inker Hazlewood has had a steady career, mostly for DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
, since the late 1980s. Duffie and Pasda have yet to see their work in print.
1996 edition
In 1996 a new edition of The Marvel Try-Out Book was released, edited by Marvel Submissions Editor John Lewandowski and featuring an introduction by Bagley. The New Official Marvel Try-Out Book #2 maintains the same overall format as the original, but features an X-MenX-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
story drawn by Andy Kubert
Andy Kubert
Andrew "Andy" Kubert is an American comic book artist, son of Joe Kubert, and brother of Adam Kubert, both of whom are also artists...
. In addition, the new version take into account advances in computer technology in the production of comics. Other changes include fewer pencilled pages to ink over than in the original book, which are printed in black ink rather than "non-photo blue." (This means inkers must use tracing paper rather than being able to ink directly on the art.)