Traditional publisher
Image Comics
Comics, Fiction
Published Updated Reviewed every month · next review November 2026
About Image Comics
Image Comics is open to creator-owned comics proposals by email from unagented creators. Send a cover letter, a one-page synopsis, at least five inked and lettered pages and a cover mock-up. You pay nothing up front, and no reply in one month means no.
Image Comics was founded in 1992 and is based in Portland, Oregon, with a PO Box address. It publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, and it takes only creator-owned, original work. Creators keep all rights. Authors pay nothing up front. Image takes a small flat fee from published books and pays no page rates, so you fund the creation of the book yourself and earn from its sales.
Submissions today go by email as a proposal. Writers send proposals only, not scripts, storyboards, notes or manuscripts. Include a brief typed cover letter with contact information, a typed one-page synopsis of the full story arc with spoilers and target audience, at least five fully inked and lettered story pages and a cover mock-up. If you do not hear back within one month, consider the proposal declined. Artists can send samples to keep on file.
What Image Comics is looking for
- Creator-owned, original work where creators keep all rights
- Comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre
- Proposals only from writers
- Inking, pencilling, lettering or coloring samples from artists, kept on file
Publishes
- Comics
- Fiction
How to submit to Image Comics
From its own guidelines- Write a brief typed cover letter with your contact information.
- Write a typed one-page synopsis of the full story arc with spoilers and target audience.
- Finish at least five fully inked and lettered story pages and a cover mock-up.
- Email the proposal, since Image accepts no physical submissions.
- If you hear nothing within one month, treat the proposal as declined.
Is Image Comics right for your book?
A good fit if
Image Comics suits creators and creative teams with an original, creator-owned comic or graphic novel who can deliver finished, inked and lettered pages. It works best if you can fund the book yourself, since Image pays no page rates.
Look elsewhere if
Look elsewhere if your work uses existing characters, including Image characters, or uses AI-generated artwork. Writers with only a script and no finished pages also need a different route, since Image takes proposals only.
Questions about Image Comics
Does Image Comics accept unsolicited manuscripts?
Image Comics accepts unsolicited proposals by email, but not manuscripts, scripts, storyboards or notes. Writers send proposals only. The work must be creator-owned and original, with no existing characters and no AI-generated artwork. Authors pay nothing up front. Image takes a small flat fee from published books and pays no page rates, so you fund the creation of the book.
How do I submit to Image Comics?
Email a proposal with a brief typed cover letter and contact information, a typed one-page synopsis of the full story arc with spoilers and target audience, at least five fully inked and lettered story pages and a cover mock-up. Do not send physical submissions or original art, and do not hand submissions to staff at conventions. Include an email address.
How long does Image Comics take to reply?
Image Comics asks you to consider a proposal declined if you get no reply within one month. A response, if one comes, should arrive within that window. After a month of silence, you can take your proposal to another publisher. Make sure your proposal includes an email address, since Image will not consider proposals without one.
Listing history
- Checked on the publisher's own site
