"The Revolution Will Be Illustrated"
Artist Call for Submissions
(Open to Youth and Adults)
Deadline: December 1, 2026
Questions? Contact: oaktecheducnter@gmail.com
THE REVOLUTION WILL BE ILLUSTRATED is a powerful visual art and comics anthology by youth and adult creators, inspired by the legendary Gil Scott-Heron. This vibrant collection is a visual exploration of revolution in all its forms—from social justice to inner transformation. This is a manifesto for the illustrated (r)evolution.
ADULT ARTIST GUIDELINES
The Vision: The Revolution WILL Be Illustrated
Inspired by Gil Scott-Heron’s iconic reminder that real change happens in the streets, in communities, and within ourselves—not on a screen for passive consumption—this comic & art anthology reflects the struggles, victories, and ongoing transformations of our life and culture.
We invite creators to explore revolution and transformation in all its forms: personal, political, spiritual, technological, and cultural.
The Full Spectrum of Change
The External Struggle: The fierce, front-line battles for social justice and the roar of a community rising against oppression.
The Internal Work: The deep alchemy inner evolution—letting go of limiting beliefs, practicing forgiveness, leading with love, mastering the Self, and cultivating the sacred stillness required to heal from within.
Whether your art captures the collective movement on the pavement or the profound alchemy of the spirit, we want to see the visions that reshape our world. Let’s draw that evolution into existence.
“When something evolves, everything around that thing evolves as well.” — The Alchemist
The inner evolution is the revolution.
WHO CAN SUBMIT
All are encouraged to apply. Priority given to Black and Indigenous artists. We are accepting various artwork digital mediums, illustrations, graphics, cartoon strips, graphic short stories preferred, fully inked and lettered or colored. Open to artists anywhere in the world.
WHAT WE NEED
- Upload a high resolution 300 dpi, pdf format of your artwork to fit 7.25″ x 10.75″ pages (max 15 pages)
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
- Empowerment-Driven: Stories must uplift and empower marginalized voices.
- No Hate Speech: Content that promotes discrimination, violence, or oppression of any kind will not be accepted.
- Rights Retention: Artists must have ownership over their submitted comics. All rights will be retained by the original owners of the comics.
- Previously Published Work: Previously published comics are okay! You can also create a new comic based on the call-to-action and submit it for consideration.
- A.I. Clause or Policy: We are not accepting works that use AI.
WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE IF SELECTED
$125-$150 Honorarium, per accepted page, contingent upon successful project funding via our upcoming Spring 2027 Kickstarter campaign. If selected, your work will be featured in the final “The Revolution Will Be Illustrated” anthology, published by OTEC/AfroComicCon.
GUIDING QUESTIONS. Choose ONE question to include in YOUR DESCRIPTION:
- What is something your character used to fear that they no longer do? How did they overcome it, shifting their mind to transform that fear into something that feeds the Soul and benefits ALL?
- What do their powers represent to them? Is it carried in their ancestral DNA, a gift they received, or something they are afraid of losing?
- Where does your character go for healing after an intense battle? How do they restore and heal themselves when they are injured?
- What would it look like if your character teamed up with a villain?
- How does your character respond to chaos and injustice in the environment around them? What do they do to maintain their inner peace and fulfill their mission?
- What would your character do if there were no more villains? What becomes of their power when the battle is over?
- How would you illustrate your character’s inner transformation in a physical form?
ADULT ARTIST SUBMISSION FORM
YOUTH ARTIST SUBMISSION FORM
YOUTH ARTIST GUIDELINES (Ages 7–17)
AfroComicCon/OTEC will be featuring a special youth section in our upcoming 2026 comic & art anthology, The Revolution Will Be Illustrated.
We are asking young artists to expand their imaginations and explore the inner evolution of One’s true Self. Think of a character on a journey to remembering who they are as a magical Divine Being after being reborn and forgetting their superpowers—just like Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Tap into the frequency of natural universal love and harmony to create and expand your imagination as you illustrate. TRUE change starts within. Everything around you changes, when you change.
How to Participate
Option 1: Create a NEW superhero, villain, deity, or mystical creature exploring inner transformation. (Or revamp a character you already love!)
Option 2: Create a 1-to-2 page comic strip showing how your character transforms from the inside out.
“Those who are chosen, choose themselves.”
Include a 200-word or less description of this character/story. Illustrations must fit on a 7.25″ x 10.75″ page.
GUIDING QUESTIONS. Choose ONE question to include in YOUR DESCRIPTION:
- What is your character afraid of, and how do they brave through it?
- Where do their powers come from? Is it a gift passed down from their ancestors, something they suddenly discovered, or are they afraid of losing it?
- Where does your character go to rest and heal after a tough battle? What do they do to take care of themselves when they are hurt?
- What would happen if your character had to team up with a villain?
- How does your character react when things around them get chaotic or unfair? What do they do to stay calm and focus on their true mission?
- What would your character do if all the villains disappeared? What do they use their powers for when the fighting stops?
- How does your character change or level up visually when they transform from the inside out?(Think of a visual level-up, a glow, or a shift in their vibe!)
WHO CAN SUBMIT
All are encouraged to apply. Priority given to Black and Indigenous youth artists ages 7-17 years. We are accepting various artwork digital mediums, but illustrations, graphics, cartoon strips, graphic short stories (max 2 pages) preferred, fully inked and lettered or colored. Open to artists anywhere in the world, exploring Inner Transformation.
WHAT WE NEED
- Upload a High Resolution 300 dpi, JPEG or pdf format of your illustration to fit a 7.25″ x 10.75″ page OR on one to two pages of comic strips with your application
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
- Empowerment-Driven: Stories must uplift and empower marginalized voices.
No Hate Speech: Content that promotes discrimination, violence, or oppression of any kind will not be accepted.
Rights Retention: Artists must have ownership over their submitted comics. All rights will be retained by the original owners of the comics.
Previously Published Work: Previously published comics are okay! You can also create a new comic based on the call-to-action and submit it for consideration.
A.I. Clause or Policy: We are accepting works that use A.I.
Submissions should Incorporate Universal Values: peace, love, harmony, yin and yang balance, flow, connection, oneness, reciprocity and promote inclusivity and respect diversity.
WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE IF SELECTED
$75-$100 Honorarium, depending on the artwork chosen per accepted page, contingent upon successful project funding via our upcoming Spring 2027 Kickstarter campaign. If selected, your work will be featured in the final “THE REVOLUTION WILL BE ILLUSTRATED” a visual art & comics anthology, published by OTEC/AfroComicCon.
