Late Friday Marvel announced that due to an overwhelming response the company has, for the moment, suspended their open call for submissions for the EPIC comics line. The EPIC comics line was an initiative realized by Marvel's Bill Jemas as a means to give previously unknown talent the opportunity to write for Marvel. Originally the line was to support creator-owned publication as well, a policy which was soon changed after the launch. Mark Millar's "Trouble" remains the only creator-owned property published through EPIC.

The full text of Marvel's press release is reprinted below.

Due to the continuing overwhelming response to its EPIC Comics open

submissions call, Marvel Comics is temporarily suspending acceptance of any

new EPIC submissions.

"The response has simply been incredible, and because of the high volume of

pitches we're still receiving, we're no longer going to be able to evaluate

them and respond to aspiring creators in a fair and reasonable time frame,"

explained EPIC editor Teresa Focarile. "Creators who have taken the time and

energy to go through the submission process are entitled to a timely

response.

"Now that we realize the level of response and the kind of commitment these

projects require, we are going to restructure the EPIC process across all

editorial offices and implement some new procedures that will hopefully have

us back on track before too long."

"Meanwhile, the early results have been extremely positive, and we've

already found new talent whose Epic projects fans will not only see in 2004,

but who are also working on and pitching for projects within the regular

Marvel editorial offices, like John Jackson Miller, writer of his own EPIC

series Crimson Dynamo and premiering this month as the new regular IRON MAN

writer."

While new EPIC Comics submissions are no longer being accepted for now,

Marvel reminds creators that they ARE STILL looking for new writers on an

ongoing basis, and the standard submission options are still in place.

Details can be found at Marvel.com at

http://www.marvel.com/about/submissions_guide.

In addition to getting the opportunity to pitch for new projects, writers

found though this process may also be showcased in two new, ongoing

bimonthly titles premiering in early 2004 - SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED and X-MEN

UNLIMITED. Each title will feature 2 stories debuting new writers teamed

with established artists telling stories about Marvel's biggest icons.

"We're still seeking and developing new talent and have created showcases

just for these new writers, and just for the time being we're scaling down

the EPIC process to give aspiring creators the attention and professional

response they merit," concluded Focarile.