Marvel Comics recently announced that they altered their policy on accepting open submissions from artist and writers. Due to an overwhelming number of unsolicited art and writing samples, Marvel will be reevaluating its submissions guidelines for seeking future talent.

"If you look at our track record over the last 18 months, I think you'll find the names of more new writers and artists in Marvel books than ever before. Maybe more than at any other major comic book publisher, as a matter of fact," said Marvel Talent Liaison C.B. Cebulski, in a recent press release. "We pride ourselves on finding new voices and artistic styles to help us shape the Marvel Universe in original and exciting ways. [W]hile the hunt for new artistic resources to help us ever expand the Marvel mythos will continue, we'll just be going about it in different ways. We've examined all our past practices concerning talent recruitment and it quickly became clear that more 'reactive' methods such as open submissions were the least effective ways to open the Marvel door for up-and-comers. So instead we'll be continuing with the more 'proactive' methods of artist and writer discovery that we've found so successful of late, including some soon-to-be-announced new outlets."

As the last of the major comic publishers who were accepting open submissions, Marvel has decided to continue to actively recruit new talent through its Talent Management department and still encourages artist to bring portfolios to conventions this season for review.

"In regards to finding new artists, we in the Talent Management department will still continue to look at online websites such as Deviant Art, Comic Art Community, as well as comic art blogs, and other related sites," said Chris Allo, Talent Coordinator for Marvel, in the same press release. "Online comics are rapidly becoming a source for scouting as well. And, of course, we will still go to the comic book stores on Wednesdays and see what new artists are out there working for other companies and on independent books."

According to the release, Marvel will be announcing it's new submissions policy in the near future.