Howdy there!

As our interest check has finally come to a close, the mods have deliberated on what should happen with this zine moving forward. We had received a total of 123 responses on our interest check, and while that is a lot, it’s not enough for us to confidently proceed with a product and full team behind us.

Because of this, we’ll be taking a brief hiatus for about a month or so. During that time, we’ll sort out the reasoning behind our lack of sufficient interest check responses- whether it be due to the BNHA fandom currently being oversaturated with zines, our project’s timing, or Ojiro content in general, etc.

We will return with a more concrete answer on which direction to take for this zine. We may, in fact, end up switching the zine’s theme to something like an underrated BNHA boys theme to broaden our audience. But that has to be decided.

All in all, we would love for this zine to have as much of a turn out as our Cellophane Zine and give it the proper audience, involvement, research, and management as we did the last. 

Hi there, and thanks for your interest! If you’re asking how we will be deciding which artists will be chosen during our application period, we have compiled a list of things we will be looking for in people’s artworks:

https://tailman-zine.tumblr.com/post/190085945313/artistmerch-requirements

Hi all! Here is the interest check for our Ojiro Mashirao-centric zine: Tailman. The survey will end on January 20th, 2020.

This zine is for-profit and will be available in both a physical and digital copy with merch and bundle options. Filling this out will help give us an idea of what’s wanted and and the direction in which we should go. Spreading the word is much appreciated!

Hey everyone! In addition to our main tumblr blog, we’ve set up a Twitter for those of you who prefer that platform.

https://twitter.com/TailmanZine

Here’s the layout for our Tailman Zine schedule! This page will be updated regularly to check off each milestone as it’s passed. Stop by periodically to see which phase we’re at!

Interest Check: January 6th - 20th

Contributor Apps: January 27th - March 1st

Contributor Emails sent out: March 6th

Creation Period Begins: March 13th

First Check-In: April 13th

Second Check-In: May 13th

Final Check-In: June 13th

Creation Period Ends: June 20th

Preorders Open: June 22nd

Preorders Close: July 26th

Writer Application Requirements:

A name for you that would go on our contributor list. This does not have to be your actual name; it can be any name/handle with which you are comfortable and/or by which you are known. (e.g. Justalittlebitartsy)

A link to your Tumblr/Twitter that would go on the contributor list.

A paragraph of one of your works to be associated with you on our contributor list. If you have any featuring Ojiro, great! But if not, that’s okay - we will gladly accept any BNHA piece, or if you’d like, your favorite piece you’ve ever published (any/all fandoms and original content accepted).

Links to 3 published (or unpublished) works of fiction for us to review, with each work being between 2.5k and 4.5k words. If you do not have a piece(s) that fits those constraints, choose a portion of one of your existing longer works to send us as a submission. Works can be NSFW, but keep in mind that the zine itself will be SFW. Your examples should contain at least one BNHA work, but including Ojiro is not a requirement. Submissions should be placed in a Google Drive or Dropbox folder

What we will be looking for in your works:

Flow: Does the story move smoothly from plot point to plot point? Are there cliffhangers that feel unnecessary or out-of-place? Flow is what makes a piece readable, and will be essential in working within the zine’s page limit.

Voice: Does your story have a point of view? Does your narrator have an opinion? Or does it evoke “purple prose” to sound deep and meaningful without actually saying anything? Voice is what makes readers dedicate themselves to your piece, and will be essential in capturing readers’ attention within a zine.

Characterization: Are your characters true to the original work? Will readers scoff if Character A does something more suited to Character B’s personality? Characterization is what makes a piece a recognizable, and will be essential in a zine that is dedicated to only one character.

Motivation: Does your story have drive? Are there high stakes involved which guide the decisions of each character? Motivation is what gives life to your piece, and will be essential in an action-packed zine revolving around a hero’s world.

Grammar: Is your story riddled with typos? Are “its” and “it’s” used interchangeably? (They should not be!) Grammar and its companion, spelling, are the building blocks of your piece, and will be essential in creating a good foundation upon which the zine can comfortably rest.

Artist/Merch Application Requirements:

A name for you that would go on our contributor list. This does not have to be your actual name; it can be any name/handle with which you are comfortable and/or by which you are known. (e.g. Justalittlebitartsy)

A link to your Tumblr/Twitter that would go on the contributor list.

A piece that will be used with your name & username on our contributor sheet. If you have artwork of Ojiro, great! It would be neat to have all the contributors showing Ojiro in their style. If not, that’s okay. We will settle for any BNHA art, or if you would really like, you can provide your favorite piece from any fandom/original work. (it can be one of your 3 best pieces, if you’d like.)

Links to 3 pieces for us to review. These do not have to be recent. These can be NSFW, but keep in mind that the zine is SFW. At least one of these pieces must be BNHA related, one must include background work, and all must include work with humans (in case you typically draw anthro). Merch artists do not need to submit background art.

A link to a tumblr, twitter, deviantart, etc that has more examples of your work. If your blog is a mix of reblogs and your art, please either provide us with a tag to look up your work, or a link to view all of your work on a site such as dropbox/google drive.

What we will be looking for in your works:

Anatomy: A grasp of anatomy is a must. Of course there is wiggle room varying from style to style, but a good style, no matter how cartoony, comes from an understanding of the human form.

Composition/Perspective: How you treat a canvas is what brings a piece to life. One should use all characters and background elements to reel in a viewer and keep their eye flowing around the canvas. Perspective is what gives a piece depth and reality, and it is what we will look for in each piece.

Lighting/Color: An understanding of color and lighting is vital for the overall mood of a piece. It is important that artists have a good grasp of this to evoke emotions.

Background Work: We would love to see some finished background work, as our zine will be comprised of fully finished works with backgrounds. We don’t want Ojiro against a simple color-filled backdrop or vague, blurred shapes. Each piece should be finished with in a full composition and include all of the mentioned art fundamentals to create exciting and fun work for Ojiro.

Style: Realism isn’t a requirement for this zine. We aren’t expecting full Renaissance paintings from our contributors, and they don’t need to be oozing with hyper realistic painterly skills. Style can come into play and give a more bubbly and lighthearted feel to a piece, or a more serious and striking one depending on the style. We will be reviewing all styles just the same, as long as they are aesthetically pleasing, fully finished, and eye catching.

“Is this for profit or for charity?”

This zine will be for-profit. All sales are split between contributors (artists/merch/writers) and mods.

“Do contributors get a free physical copy of the zine?”

Yes they do! Shipping will be free for both domestic and international contributors. However, international contributors are responsible for paying for their own customs/duty fees.

“What is the rating of this zine?”

This is a sfw zine that will be on par with the manga/show. Canon-level violence can be expected. However, we strive to make this a positive and fun zine filled with action, adventure, thrill, and Ojiro appreciation!

“What are the specs to this zine?”

The book will be 5.5″ x 8.5″ with about 75 pages. It will be both physical and digital. We plan to have about 5-10 pieces of merch to pair with it (to be chosen as we get further in the creation process and work with merch artists).

“When do applications open? / What is the zine’s schedule?”

You can find our regularly updated schedule here. 

“How many artists/merch/writers do you plan on accepting?”

We are looking to have about 25 artists, 5 merch artists, and 5 writers. We will need about 5 artist pinch hitters and 3 writer pinch hitters in case of drop outs.

“Is there a theme to this zine?”

To not restrict anyone’s pieces, we are refraining from sticking to any themes. AU pieces are allowed but they will be in the minority.

“Will there be ships in the zine?”

No, this is an Ojiro-centric zine, and we would like to focus solely on him!

“How old do you have to be to apply?”

There are no age restrictions for contributors. Anyone may apply! 

“Can I apply for more than one position (writer/merch/artist/etc)?”

Yes, you will have the option to apply to more than one position. If you’re accepted, based on your portfolio, we’ll decide what position we think will work best for the zine.

“What if I’ve never done a zine before?”

Contributors do not need prior experience to apply or participate!

“What if I don’t have a portfolio?”

A professional portfolio is not needed to apply as a contributor. Instead, you may provide us a link to a tumblr, twitter, deviantart, ao3, etc. that has examples of your artwork/writing. If your blog is a mix of reblogs and your art/writing, please either provide us with a tag to look up your work, or a link to view all of your work on a site such as dropbox/google drive. Having a professional portfolio does not give you a higher chance of getting in than someone without. We will judge everyone equally and fairly, based on skill sets.

“What do I need to apply?”

We have compiled info for prospective artists and writers:

Artists/Merch Artists

Writers

“What if I don’t have any Ojiro art/writing?”

You do not have to have examples of Ojiro in your style/writing to apply. It would help us see how he translates into your style, and we would greatly appreciate it, but it is not required to apply.

“What if I don’t have any writing samples that are 2.5k-4k?/What if I only have unfinished drawings with backgrounds/BNHA characters?”

Name: Jack

Age: 25

Role: Head Mod; Social Media, Emails (General Zine Overseer)

Prior Experience: I created and completed The Cellophane Zine. As for being a contributor, I was an artist in the BNHA 3MZine, BNHA Zodiac Zine, BNHA Wedding Zine, the BNHA Nexus Code Zine, and the Long Exposure Zine. I have a degree in Illustration and Character Design. I’m the admin for two consistently active BNHA servers for the past two years, so contacting and dealing with the public is my bread and butter.

Social Media: http://justalittlebitartsy.tumblr.com/, https://twitter.com/alittlebitartsy

Name: Jane

Age: 26

Role: Production/Finances Mod

Prior Experience: I was the Production & Finances Mod for The Cellophane Zine. As a contributor, I've written for Shinobiyoru Zine. My career involves the management of workflow enhancement projects from conception to deployment, and I find that applying that logic to zines is a fun and exciting challenge.

Social Media: https://twitter.com/JaneBuzJane; https://archiveofourown.org/users/JaneBuzJane

Name: Sib

Age: 30

Role: Promotional Mod; Graphics, Spotlights

Prior Experience: Promotional Mod of the Cellophane Zine Team; was both a writer and artist for the Blackguard Villain Zine. I’m currently a mod for multiple discord servers and I’m an art graduate with a Bachelors in Illustration and an eye for Graphic Design. My work experience includes comic illustration, website management and designing advertisements for numerous non-profit organizations.

Social Media: https://twitter.com/SibylWhisp , https://sibilantwhisper.tumblr.com/

Name: Ang

Age: 20

Role: Graphics and Layout Mod

Prior Experience: I was previously the Layout Mod for the Cellophane Zine and as a contributor, I was a graphic designer on the first run of Arise: BNHA Fashion Zine. I am currently in art school as a graphic design major and love exploring publication design. As for moderation, I've been modding a community of nearly 5k members for almost 3 years now.

Welcome Ojiro Mashirao fans! Tailman will be a for-profit zine focusing on our beloved Ojiro from Boku No Hero Academia.

It will be available as a 5.5” x 8.5” physical copy and a digital PDF. To bundle with the main zine, we will be creating original Ojiro merch. All contributors (international as well) will receive a free physical and digital copy of the zine at no cost to them (contributors will be responsible for their own customs/duty fees if applicable).