Edmonton Oil Kings
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Hello,
My name is Jeff Martin, and I am a cartoonist from Edmonton. I am writing to pitch the idea of having a serialized comic strip be a part of the Oil Kings website media output.
With much of the Oil Kings’ advertising directed towards families and children, I believe that a comic with a serial narrative and comedic elements would give users a solid reason to spend more time on the site, thus increasing their exposure to ticket advertisements (which could be placed alongside the comic) as well as the sponsor ads. It has been shown that comics are a great way to encourage reading among youth demographics, which could be used for charitable purposes (such as a tie-in with the organization’s various reading-based programs), as well as to promote interest in the team and, by extension, ticket and merchandise sales. I have done a similar project with Renegade Arts Entertainment to help promote their book “The Loxleys and the War of 1812,” which has proven successful.
One major advantage of this type of content is that, if staggered appropriately, the site will never lack for new material during periods when there are few hockey developments (such as during the off-season, when there are no games and significantly less news to report on). Even when there is nothing happening in the WHL, new comic pages can provide fans with a reason to spend time on the site and thus provide another opportunity for fans to engage with the Oil Kings’ brand. Another significant factor with this type of marketing is its cost-effectiveness, as it serves the purpose of marketing while also creating content that can be further monetized through merchandising (printed comic books, trading cards, clothing, etc.).
The premise of the comic is following the misadventures of a fictional junior hockey team, the Edmonton Oil Barons. To avoid licencing issues, the WHL would become fictionalized in a similar fashion, with hints at the real league without making overt reference to it. The comic included in this pitch would be the first strip, which begins a story of the struggling team. This narrative establishes the characters as plucky underdogs and gives them room to grow as the story develops and progresses. Themes explored include teamwork and community, the role of athletics in society, and rivalry. The story is presented in a manner which is appropriate for children but also engaging to adults.
If you are interested and would like to discuss the project further, please email me back at jeff@rentathugcomics.com. I look forward to hearing from you.
– Jeff
About Me: I am currently working on “Jeff Martin’s The War of 1812” for Renegade Arts Entertainment (found here: http://www.renegadeartsentertainment.com/jeff-martins-war-of-1812) as well as developing a mini-series with Red 5 Comics. I worked for five years (2005-2010) with the University of Alberta Gateway, primarily drawing comics but also producing cartoons to accompany articles on occasion. I have managed my own comic website and self-published five books.
