Independent publishing company
Top Shelf Productions (IDW Publishing)
Comics, Fiction
Published Updated Reviewed every month · next review November 2026
About Top Shelf Productions
Top Shelf Productions accepts comic submissions with at least 10 to 20 finished, inked and lettered pages. Email a download link or mail a photocopy to its Marietta, Georgia PO box. It cannot reply to every submission.
Top Shelf Productions has published graphic novels since 1997 and is now an imprint of IDW Publishing. Its submissions address is a PO box in Marietta, Georgia. It looks for comics with literary sophistication, strong art and personal resonance.
To submit, send at least 10 to 20 completed pages that are fully inked and lettered. Email a download link rather than attaching images, or mail a photocopy to Chris Staros. Cover letters, synopses and scripts are welcome only with finished pages. Include your email address, since replies come by email, and note that the press cannot reply to everyone.
What Top Shelf Productions is looking for
- Graphic novels and comics
- At least 10 to 20 completed, inked and lettered pages
- Work with literary depth and distinctive art
Publishes
- Comics
- Fiction
Readers
- Adult
How to submit to Top Shelf Productions
From its own guidelines- Finish at least 10 to 20 fully inked and lettered comic pages.
- Add a cover letter, synopsis or script if you like, but only with those finished pages.
- Email a download link, without attaching image files, or mail a photocopy to Chris Staros at its Marietta PO box.
- Include your email address, and a stamped return envelope if you want materials back.
Is Top Shelf Productions right for your book?
A good fit if
Top Shelf suits cartoonists and writer and artist teams with finished comic pages to show.
Look elsewhere if
Look elsewhere if you have only a script or pitch without finished, lettered comic pages.
Questions about Top Shelf Productions
Does Top Shelf Productions accept unsolicited submissions?
Yes. Top Shelf invites comic creators to share their work. Send at least 10 to 20 completed pages that are fully inked and lettered. A cover letter, synopsis or script is welcome only alongside finished pages. Writers without an artist and finished art will need to team up with one before submitting.
How do I submit to Top Shelf Productions?
Email a download link to your pages, without attaching image files, or mail a photocopy to Chris Staros at PO Box 1282, Marietta, GA 30061-1282. Include your email address. If you want mailed materials returned, add a self addressed stamped envelope with enough postage.
How long does Top Shelf Productions take to reply?
Top Shelf does not give a reply time. It prefers to answer by email and says the volume of submissions means it cannot reply to everyone. If you hear nothing, keep making comics and send your pages to other graphic novel publishers that read open submissions.
Listing history
- Checked on the publisher's own site
