WHO is eligible to submit?

This contest is limited to only current William & Mary students. Individual and group submissions are both welcome, though prize money will be allocated per submission, not per individual. Only one submission is accepted per individual/group, with the exception of the Mini-Comic category.

WHAT needs to be submitted?

Main Contest Category

For the main contest, a single page document that includes all of the panels must be submitted. Panel layout and the number of panels are up to you. The comic can be in either color or black & white.

For digitally created entries:
The work should be scalable up to 22’’ wide and at least 33’’ long (at 300 dpi).

For physically created entries:
Work size should be no larger than 11”x17”.

Work can be scanned using Workstation 2 at the Reeder Media Center on the ground floor of Swem Library. Book Workstation 2 online in advance to reserve your spot. If Workstation 2 is unavailable, Workstation 3 can be booked online in advance. Ask for help with moving the scanner. The software app “VueScan” can be used on the computer to scan the work and make sure that the scanning resolution is at 300 dpi. If assistance is needed with this step, consult a student employee at the service desk.

All completed entries should be submitted through the contest form.

Mini-Comic Category

In addition to (or instead of) the main contest, individuals or teams may also submit to a simplified “Mini-Comic” category. Mini-comics must be made of only all-vertical or all-horizontal panels of 2.75-inch square boxes (up to 14) and may only be in black & white. 

Download the mini-comic template (PDF) as a reference. Participants may choose to submit only to this category, but if making a submission to both this category and the main contest, their comics must depict the same event.

All completed entries should be submitted through the contest form.

Contest Submission Guidelines

For both the main contest and Mini-Comic category, only .jpg, .png, and .pdf files are accepted. Comics must consist of only your own original work (read: no AI or borrowed content). 

Each submission needs to be accompanied by an artist statement. If submitting to both mini-comic and main comic contest, artist statement may be the same or similar. The artist’s statement should consider the following questions and be around 250-500 words: 

• What incident of student activism did you draw inspiration from for this comic? Why did you choose it?
• What do you hope readers/viewers come away with after encountering your comic?
• Was there anything unique about your process of creating this comic that you’d like others to know about? 

Finally, please include a list of source(s) consulted in gathering background information about the incident portrayed in your comic, in your preferred citation format (e.g. APA, MLA). 

If you have any technical questions about submitting your comic, please email embellamy@wm.edu and rnhogan@wm.edu

WHAT prizes are available?

The main contest will have one overall grand-prize winner who will receive $750. 

Three runners-up will also be identified in the categories of:
•    Best visuals
•    Best story
•    Best evidence of research
and will receive $250.

Finally, the winner of the “Mini-Comic” contest will receive $250.

Main contest finalists (winner and runners-up) will have their comics displayed in Read & Relax in Swem Library in the Spring 2025 semester. The Mini-Comic winner will be published in W&M Libraries’ Short Story Machine, with the possibility of being further published in Short Story Dispensers worldwide. All prize-winning comics will be preserved in ScholarWorks, William & Mary’s open-access digital repository.

WHEN does the contest run?

The submission portal opens September 23, the first day of Banned Books Week, and runs through Friday, October 25, 2024. Winners will be notified by the end of October, and a celebration of contest winners will be held in the Spring 2025 semester.
We hope to hold the contest again in 2025 with a rotating theme but cannot guarantee that it will be repeated.

WHERE should submissions be sent?

Click here to submit. 

HOW can interested students get more information?

An information session for the contest will be held on September 24 at 5pm via Zoom. The session will be recorded. Register here to attend live and/or be notified when the recording is made available. 

Questions may also be sent to Liz Bellamy and Rachel Hogan, contest chairs. 

This contest was inspired by the Jurgen Comics Contest held by VCU Libraries, who generously shared their expertise and planning materials with us.