Kids Comics Pitchfest 2023 Showcase
Comics creators from around the world submit their unpublished projects to be previewed online by editors and agents. A panel of judges (click here to see the juror list) select the top pitches. Projects are archived here so that industry pros may view them and discover new talent.
HOTEL OF CLAW AND BONE
12-year-old Rugger was raised to be a criminal by his paranoid uncle, able to pick a lock or pocket with equal ease, but when Rugger is sent to an ancient hotel to steal the prize in a Haunted Halloween contest, things quickly go wrong. The contestants are attacked by the ghosts of an evil circus owner and his deadly pets, who are determined to break into the world and destroy the town that sent them to the grave. To stop the invasion, Rugger must ally with an animal ghost himself and put his own life at risk. But is he really shaped to be a hero?
POKEMON meets THE SHINING in this upper MG graphic novel. HOTEL OF CLAW AND BONE echoes the spooky thrills of RAVENFALL, THE GHOUL NEXT DOOR, THE WITCH BOY, AND WEDNESDAY.
Age Range:
Middle GradeGenre:
Adventure, Animals, Fantasy, Holidays & Traditions, Horror/ScaryPage Count Estimate:
200
My Why:
HOTEL OF CLAW AND BONE is born out of Adrian’s love of creepy Halloween monsters combined with a fun idea of battling animal ghosts, just like Pokémon characters. The story promised to be a lot of fun both plot-wise and visually. The small pug ghost is based on Adrian’s own dog, Joey, who has a similar lack of fear and common sense (Joey would have trouble bringing down a well-fed chipmunk, much less the hulking beasts he likes to bark at).
Adrian Croft
Adrian has long been fascinated with both art and stories, although his day job has nothing to do with either. Perhaps that’s why he enjoys getting lost in imaginary worlds so much. In various corners of Adrian's house, you might find a framed television animation diploma, several honorable (and Silver Honorable) awards from the Writers of the Future Contest, a patient wife (well, mostly patient), two boys, and a pet dog who unfortunately has no cool spectral powers. But is cute.