What is Pilot Season?

[lesdavies123]

I'm thinking about getting Pilot Season Stealth #1 in January, but I don't really know anything about Pilot Season, what is it? I've seen that many titles have the Pilot Season in front of them but are they related? Does one have to read the other series to understand one in particular? And finally is Pilot Season Stealth gonna be an ongoing or a mini? Thanks!

[Beto_Machado]

They're one-shots that Top Cow fans vote on to choose which become ongoing and/or minis.

The thing is... none of the titles chosen so far has actually become a series. And the first one was a long time ago.

It's a gimmick to draw attention and an excuse to have an IP farm that Top Cow can sell to movie and tv studios. Like every TC title, those are basically made for Hollywood.

[lesdavies123]

Originally Posted by Beto_Machado

They're one-shots that Top Cow fans vote on to choose which become ongoing and/or minis.

The thing is... none of the titles chosen so far has actually become a series. And the first one was a long time ago.

It's a gimmick to draw attention and an excuse to have an IP farm that Top Cow can sell to movie and tv studios. Like every TC title, those are basically made for Hollywood.

Thanks a lot!

[Ron Marz]

Actually, for some reason, Beto Machado has an obsessive axe to grind against Top Cow, which leads him to post things that aren't true. Feel free to ignore his comments on this topic.

The winning titles from Pilot Season 1 were Velocity and Cyblade. The Cyblade mini-series came out. The Velocity series was delayed due to creative differences, but will come out in 2010.

The winning titles from Pilot Season 2 were Twilight Guardian and Genius. Both are in active development, and are scheduled to be published in 2010.

Top Cow would rather do the respectives series properly, rather than rush them to press with insufficient resources. Better "right," than "right now." Thanks for the interest -- hope you try them.

[michaeljsmith]

I personally am a fan of the Pilot Season concept and have been frustrated by the further development beyond the contest but even if none of the books ever got made into mini-series I still enjoyed the five individual stories... especially last season.

[filipsablik]

Thanks for beating me to the punch, Ron... and checking your facts.

Hope you check out some of the Pilot Season offerings this year, lesdavies123.

[DonC]

Originally Posted by michaeljsmith

I personally am a fan of the Pilot Season concept and have been frustrated by the further development beyond the contest but even if none of the books ever got made into mini-series I still enjoyed the five individual stories... especially last season.

I like the idea, too. And I'm glad to see Velocity is still in the works.

[Sillia]

It's a nice idea, but the problem is the lag time between the votes being tabulated and the actual resulting series. By the time the miniseries does come around, it's nearly a year later - and that's if everything is on time.

I just wonder if there's some way to make it work better?

--S

[noh-varr]

Originally Posted by Sillia

It's a nice idea, but the problem is the lag time between the votes being tabulated and the actual resulting series. By the time the miniseries does come around, it's nearly a year later - and that's if everything is on time.

I just wonder if there's some way to make it work better?

--S

The only way for a faster turn around is to have everyone develop and work on a mini right after the one shot, but since you're only publishing the winners, either people are doing work and not getting paid or you pay people for work that doesn't get used and you make no money off of. It is a bit of stall, but really it's similar to how television works, a bunch of pilots are created, critiqued, the best is picked, and then they work on making a series.

[Predator]

A few things I want to say in regards to Pilot Season, without the intent of pointing fingers or assigning blame to anyone:

1. I do like the concept. It feels like a good way to bring exposure to artists and writers, and hoepfully seeing some original ideas presented. I feel that season 2 was better because it didn't focus on established Top Cow creations.

2. It is disappointing that the majority of the winners don't have their mini's made yet. I realize that there are financial/creative reasons for this, but as a fan, it sucks that these great books haven't been made.

3. It's disappointing that the books from season 2 haven't been collected into trade. I felt that season 2 was fantastic and I've love to have all those fantastic comics sitting on my bookshelf in a nice collection!

4. Regarding Beto's comments, I have no way of knowing if this is just a way for Top Cow to sell license's. I hope that isn't true, but if it is, then I'd have a pretty low opinion of the whole operation. But as I said, I do not know this.

5. I bought Murderer this week and liked it a lot!

[noh-varr]

Originally Posted by Predator

A few things I want to say in regards to Pilot Season, without the intent of pointing fingers or assigning blame to anyone:

1. I do like the concept. It feels like a good way to bring exposure to artists and writers, and hoepfully seeing some original ideas presented. I feel that season 2 was better because it didn't focus on established Top Cow creations.

2. It is disappointing that the majority of the winners don't have their mini's made yet. I realize that there are financial/creative reasons for this, but as a fan, it sucks that these great books haven't been made.

3. It's disappointing that the books from season 2 haven't been collected into trade. I felt that season 2 was fantastic and I've love to have all those fantastic comics sitting on my bookshelf in a nice collection!

4. Regarding Beto's comments, I have no way of knowing if this is just a way for Top Cow to sell license's. I hope that isn't true, but if it is, then I'd have a pretty low opinion of the whole operation. But as I said, I do not know this.

5. I bought Murderer this week and liked it a lot!

Some of the turn around is a bit sad, but it happens with comics in general, the Zatanna ongoing from Dini was announced like a year ago and still nothing.
If anything my disappointment in Pilot season is the ones I vote for never win!
I don't think it's for licenses, since I believe outside of the books based on Top Cow characters, the creators OWN the characters and concepts. So they wouldn't be able to sell something they don't own. I remember one of the Top Cow editors talking about this concept and trying to get more original works outside of what they do now from the company, he seemed quite sincere when it came to the idea.