***NOTE: Open Call for this year’s anthology is now closed! Thank you to all the creators who sent queries. Selections will be announced in March! Sign up for our newsletter to be notified when the next Open Call goes out for our anthologies! ***
Welcome to Hell
Turns out there is such a place, and the souls of the damned languish forever in a misery of their own making. You’re not damned. (Not yet.) But you do have a chance to listen to the stories of the wretched and decide for yourself if the sin is worth the squeeze.
But be warned: the definition of “good” is a little fluid in the grand scheme of Hell. And one might question what qualifies as “evil” in a world gone mad. The struggle is real (and eternal) in What Fresh Hell Is This?, A comic anthology inspired by Dante‘s Inferno.
For the eighth annual Red Stylo Presents anthology, we continue our literary explorations with a collection of original comic stories inspired by one of history’s quintessential allegories, Part I Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy. The What Fresh Hell Is This? comic anthology will take the reader on a journey through the nine circles of Hell, pausing in each circle to learn how some poor, wretched soul came to inhabit the City of Dis. Edited by returning RSM editor, Genevieve Trainor.
As in past years, we’re looking for you to provide us with your own interpretation of some aspect of the source material; show us your vision of the Inferno with original and twisted takes within each circle of damnation. In this world, “evil” really does exist, and “sinners” really are consigned to Hell. It’s up to you to show us what those concepts mean, and tell stories where readers get a glimpse of who they are and who they don’t want to become.
Dante’s nine circles of Hell are: Limbo, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Wrath, Heresy, Violence, Fraud, and Treachery, with a Virgil/Dante frame narrative that guides a reader through the descent. Your pitches must either match these categories or propose a frame narrative for how we came to tour Hell and why. In every case, we’re looking for you to give us fresh interpretation of what these concepts mean. Your tales should be allegorical (per Merriam-Webster, “use symbolic figures, objects, and actions to convey truths or generalizations about human conduct or experience”) and present these concepts in stories with new and interesting context. Hell shouldn’t be all pitchforks and horns, either: artists in all styles are encouraged to breathe fire into new iconography as they represent the damned.
There are nine circles of Hell and RSM will accept one story per circle, plus a story that twists on the Virgil/Dante narrative and a story of Satan’s origin. Choose a circle and tell us the story of a damned soul and what they did to deserve consignment to that circle of Hell. The truly ambitious might even tell us a new story of how Hell came to be, or how Satan came to rule there. Vignettes also welcome.
Some things to consider when formulating your story ideas:
- When in doubt, Dante: wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, but don’t forget that we are looking for twists on Dante’s story. Look to the original poem for your inspiration and give us a twist or new interpretation of what it all means. That’s the true heart of this challenge: can you get creative with a story that’s endured for seven centuries? Can you make evil new? Any character, setting or backstory within Dante’s tale is fair game for inspiration; at the same time, give us a story of your own making. If you haven’t already, check out our past comic anthologies to get an idea of how previous contributors have taken on similar challenges.
- Dante was a poet, but you don’t have to be! We welcome and encourage work in verse or prose. (If you choose the path of poetry, however, it would be helpful if you included some of your past work in your portfolio.)
- Oh, you don’t believe in evil? Well, evil believes in you. And it takes many forms. You don’t have to give us a religious or conventional version of right and wrong. Intrigue us with your idea of true evil and commit to a path for the righteous and a path for the damned. It should surprise no one that RSM will accept no middle ground.
- Is there sympathy for the Devil? Sure. Good vs. Evil is never as simple as it sounds. You may rail at the unfairness of a universe that demands harsh choices, but dem’s da rules. Dante felt compassion for the damned—and you can too—but goodness is its own (and only) reward.
- Do you have to read the book? Yes, damnit. At the very least you have to trick us into believing you did. There are lots of great ideas for good vs. evil stories, but the core of this project is Dante’s Inferno. A story that strays too far from the theme, no matter how brilliant, won’t make the cut.
- Any genre is welcome, and there is no restriction on the setting/time of your story. Modern, historical, comedy, horror, tragedy, farce, sci-fi…the more “out there” the idea is, the more we want to see it.
- Invited applicants will have the opportunity to pitch for more than one circle of Hell. In fact, to help your chances, if you’re invited to pitch, we recommend you try to diversify land holdings in the Hellscape. (This is encouraged, but not required.)
Follow the path or you’ll end up in purgatory–NOT Hell. The rules for submitting are outlined below. Here’s how to pitch for the anthology:
You must be invited to pitch. To make our list, writers and artists may send a query as a comic team (writers and artists together) or as an individual open to being assigned to a creative team. Please note: do not send a pitch or attachment without being invited. Pitches sent without invitation will be deleted without reply–sorry!
- WRITERS, please format your query as follows (no more, no less): Send a message through the form below with your name, brief bio and a link to a portfolio or sample of your work–links only, no attachments. First time comic writers and students welcome, but you should at least have some kind of creative work available online for us to peruse. Tell us if you are a team or an individual.
- ARTISTS, please format your query as follows (no more, no less): Send a message through the form below with your name, brief bio and a link to your online portfolio or website. Again, first timers and students welcome, but you MUST have a link to samples of your work online, no exceptions. Tell us if you do sequential work, or will only do covers/prints/vignettes. Please note that vignette artists will still be asked to complete between two and four pieces. Inkers and Colorists are welcome to apply as well!
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Everyone can expect a reply within two weeks of receipt. Haven’t heard from us? Please check our guidelines and send again. Fuzzy on anything? Check out our FAQs page here.