Edmonton Eskimos Pitch
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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 Edmonton Eskimos website and media output.
With much of the Eskimos’ advertising being directed toward 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, as well as to promote interest in the team and, by extension, ticket and merchandise sales. Additionally, given the growing but still minority female fan base, the comic will feature a female co-lead, which I will discuss more in a moment. 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 football 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 CFL, 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 Eskimos’ 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 follows the misadventure of a literal fantasy football team. I have chosen not to simply replicate football in comic strip form primarily because the Eskimos are already providing a real-world football product, so another would be a tad redundant. Instead, I have set the comic in a fantasy world where dragons rule, and mortals play a sport resembling a rudimentary form of football called Dragon Bowl as a form of ritual to honour (and also feed) the dragons. Another bonus of this setting is that it allows for a female co-lead without having to explain it, which should allow for an easier attachment point to be created with the growing female fanbase. The story explores a fledgeling Dragon Bowl squad as they attempt to break into the big leagues or, at very least, just avoid being eaten by dragons. While such a comic cannot exist without some portrayal of violence, my goal is to portray it in the style of classic Warner Brothers cartoons to keep it appropriate for children but entertaining for adults. 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.
