Kids Comics Pitchfest 2025 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Comics creators from around the world submit their unpublished projects to be previewed online by editors and agents.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.
Fame Hound
In 1985, 15-year-old Cali has spent her childhood chasing stardom, convinced that earning the rare EGOT will finally win the love of her mother and grandmother. However, while her career stalls, she’s stunned to see a scrappy dog she rescued from the pound, Oscar, become Hollywood’s next big star. Jealousy leads to a heartbreaking mistake—losing Oscar—and Cali is forced to confront the immense pressures she’s carried all her life. Through the dog’s pure devotion, Cali realizes that she doesn’t need fame to be loved. After finding Oscar again at a local pound, she creates her own version of the EGOT—adopting and finding joy with four dogs: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.
Age Range:
Young Adult (approx ages 13+)Genre:
Animals, Fiction, Humor, Performing Arts, Social-Emotional, Social IssuesPage Count Estimate:
176-199
My Why:
Having grown up surrounded by generational trauma and a mother obsessed with fame and celebrity culture, I‘ve spent years working to heal and break free from patterns of family dysfunction and unrealistic expectations. However, it wasn‘t until I adopted a rescue dog that I truly understood what unconditional love feels like. Fame Hound is a fictional story about experiencing pure love from a dog and how that love changes you. This project also brings me back together with artist Jeff McComsey. Jeff and I collaborated on the Flutter graphic novel series from 2009 through 2018.
Jennie Wood
Jennie Wood is a non-binary author, musician and animal rescue volunteer. Their latest YA graphic novel, Paper Planes, was published by Mad Cave Studies and won the 2023 Next Generation Indie Book Award for YA Fiction. Their other books include Flutter and A Boy Like Me. Their work can be found in several anthologies, including the Eisner award-winning Love is Love and John Carpenter’s Tales for a HalloweeNight. Jennie lives in Boston with their partner Natalie and rescue dog Moxie.
Jeff McComsey
Jeff McComsey has been a comic book creator and illustrator for over 17 years. He’s the editor-in-chief of The New York Times best-selling zombie anthology FUBAR, where he mixes his passion for history with a good dose of zombie action. His other works include Grendel, Kentucky and The Fourth Man. He is also an instructor at the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. Based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Jeff juggles family life and his creative pursuits—usually with an iced coffee in hand.
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