Comic Market

THE COMIC MARKET RESERVATIONS FOR ANIME NORTH 2013 ARE NOW CLOSED.

May 09, 2013

Table assignments will be mailed out starting tonight.  For more information, please read this announcement.

March 9, 2013

Lottery tables and waitinglist number results have been posted here.

March 3, 2013

March 2, 2013

February 28, 2013

Some important information and indepth explanation on what's expected for reservation requests tomorrow night.  Please read this information in the new Anime North Forums.

February 08, 2013

Please read the following information carefully before e-mailing Comic Market Staff your questions.  It's highly likely that your question has been addressed in the information below.  If it is not, then please find the contact information at the bottom of the page.

1. What is the Comic Market?

The Comic Market is open for amateur 2D paper media artists only. This area is for artists who wish to sell prints, small paper media merchandise, and do on-the-spot commissions for convention attendees.

What classifies as a registered artist in the Comic Market?

• A registered artist is an individual whose name appears on the Comic Market registration form who has fulfilled the following conditions:
  
  
  1. The individual has signed the Policy Agreement Contract;
     
     
  2. The individual has been confirmed by the Comic Market Coordinator.

Please note that tables cannot be filled by individuals whose names are not registered to the Comic Market.

• Comic Market Artists must be of amateur level, meaning that:

1. 1. The Artist is representing his/her individual body of work without the use of a representative or agent, and excluding any commercially published works or works represented by a commercial publisher.
      
      
   2. The Artist is using the tables to display his/her artwork and skills to the public as a hobby and not as a main source of income/revenue.
      
      
   3. The Artist must be at least 14 years of age by May 24, 2013.

2. Location

 The Comic Market will be located next to the Dealers Room in the Toronto Congress Centre.

3. Table Information

a1. Table Details

Each artist may only apply for one table maximum, no exceptions.

An artist table measures approximately 2’ x 6’ and can have a maximum amount of two (2) chairs and (2) artist ribbons. Please note that the artist ribbons do not count as convention badges and must be attached to the badge in order to be valid.

Table with a convention badge costs:                $135 CAD
Table without a convention badge costs:           $  85 CAD

You may purchase your secondary artist or helper badge if they have not pre-registered yet for an additional $50 CAD.

Convention badge and artist ribbons must be visible at all times when inside the convention. Even if the individual is cosplaying, he/she is required to follow this rule without question.

Tables may ONLY be set up by the primary artist and/or their secondary helper/artists. You may not bring in non-artists to help you set up (i.e. anyone without an artist ribbon). If additional help is needed, volunteers will be available during setup.

a2. Artist Helper/Secondary Artist

You may register only two names to a table. If you require a helper or wish to register a secondary artist to your table, either include this on the original table request, or e-mail their name and contact e-mail so they may receive a helper/secondary artist registration package.

However, if your secondary intends to apply as a primary for another Comic Market table, do not add them to your initial reservation request. This will help avoid confusion during the reservation process.

Please note that a secondary artist or a helper must also have the items listed in section 4. Registration Requirements. Helpers do not need to submit an artwork sample if they are only there to help the primary artist manage their table and sales.

a3. Table Cloth

Comic Market tables do not come with a table cloth. If you require a table cloth to be provided by the Comic Market, you must pay a deposit of $5 during sign-in. You may collect this deposit upon returning your table cloth to the Comic Market Information table.

If you do not return your table cloth, you will not receive your deposit back. If the table cloth is not returned in an acceptable condition (i.e. without any physical damages like tears and cuts from box cutters or scissors, or cosmetic damages like traces of permanent marker) you will not receive your deposit back and you will be required to pay an extra $40 in damages.

If the outstanding fee is not addressed in a timely manner, your application for future Artists Tables will be automatically denied.

You are also welcome to bring in and use your own table cloth.

4. Registration Requirements

Each artist who wishes to apply to the Comic Market must:

1. Have a full weekend membership to the convention. You must note on your initial reservation request if you have already purchased a pre-registration separately or wish to purchase it with your table.
   
   
2. Have read and understood both the Anime North Convention Policy and Comic Market Policy for 2013. Failure to do so will result in the immediate forfeiture of your table application and future applications to the artist areas.
   
   
3. Be at least 14 years of age by May 24, 2013.
   
   
4. Be in possession of a Government-Issued Photo ID (i.e. health card, driver’s license, passport.) on May 24, 2013 for the sign-in process.  This is not an option, but a requirement.  If you do not have this present at sign in, you will NOT be able to sign in for your table or participate in the comic market.
   
   Please be aware that using false identification or lending your ID to someone else during sign-in is a criminal offence. This will result in the immediate forfeiture of your table and the denial of future applications to the Comic Market.
   
   
5. Have two artworks signed and submitted with your reservation request on Friday, March 1, 2013, 10:00pm EST.
   
   
6. Represent their own body of work and not act as a proxy or representative for another artist who will not be present at the convention.

5. Reservation Procedure

Application Requests will be open from March 1, 2013 10:00pm EST to March 2, 2013 10:00 pm EST.

To request an application for Anime North’s Comic Market, send an e-mail to the Comic Market at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with the following information included:

1. Legal Full Name(s) - Maximum of two names. These must match the names on your pre-registration as well as the Government ID you bring during sign-in.
   
   
2. Your pre-registration confirmation - This is a must if you have already pre-registered. If you do not give us this information, you will be charged for the FULL AMOUNT of a table and membership.
   
   
3. Secondary artist e-mail contact - This is only if you are already adding a helper or second artist/partner to your reservation request. Again, be sure to attach their pre-registration confirmation.
   
   
4. Detailed merchandise list - Be as detailed as possible with the types of merchandise you plan to sell. The deadline to make additions to this list is May 3, 2013.
   
   
5. TWO (2) artwork samples with signature per artist (i.e. two sets of samples must be provided if there is a primary artist and a secondary artist) - Each artist is required to send us, along with their reservation (as attachments or direct links), two (2) artwork samples WITH a clear signature.
   
   This is mandatory and allows us to confirm that the person reserving is an artist and not a representative who wishes to make multiple entries to the lottery system. All samples MUST be finished and quality works for us to make a proper judgement.  This applies to all applicants, even those who make the first 50 reservation requests. Helpers are excluded from this rule.

ONLY THE ARTIST may make a reservation request; AGENTS, REPRESENTATIVES, ETC. MAY NOT RESERVE IN YOUR PLACE. Failure to send us samples will delay your entry into the first-come first-serve list and/or the lottery.

The first 50 applications that are approved will be confirmed within 24 hours. The last 50 applications will be picked through a random lottery. Results will be posted on the Anime North Message Boards on March 9, 2013. This post will be linked in the Comic Market section of the Anime North website.

 
Again, application requests will be open from March 1, 2013 10:00pm EST to March 2, 2013 10:00 pm EST.  Any applications that arrive before and after the designated open time will be considered invalid and ignored.

Lottery numbers will be assigned starting from the morning of Saturday, March 2, 2012 to March 7, 2012. If you do not receive a lottery number by the evening of March 6, 2013, contact Comic Market Staff Immediately!

Again, any reservations that are sent before and after the designated open application request dates will be ignored.

6. Art Club

 
The Comic Market is no longer accommodating Artist Groups or Art Groups. Applications are open only to individual artists.

7. Registration and Payment

Details regarding registration and payment will be sent to the artist(s) once they receive a table reservation confirmation from the Comic Market Staff.

8. Refund Policy

If you have registered for a table with the Comic Market and cannot attend Anime North 2013, please contact the Comic Market Coordinator at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by May 10, 2013 to arrange a refund. You cannot apply for a refund after this date. Credit for table payment will not be issued.

Please make note that pre-registration refunds are not handled by the Comic Market. You will have to send a separate refund request to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For more information, please refer to the Anime North Website under the registration menu.

9. Open Hours

Sign-in: Friday, May 24 2013: 3pm - 5pm.

Please advise the Comic Market Coordinator if you will be unable to register during this time.

No-shows after 11am on Saturday will have their tables reassigned. Failure to follow these rules will result in the loss of your table without refund.

Open access to convention attendees: Friday May 24, 2013: 5pm - 10pm
Open access to convention attendees: Saturday May 25, 2013: 10 am - 8pm
Open access to convention attendees: Sunday May 26, 2013: 10am - 5pm

Times are subject to change

10. Sale and Display of Merchandise

a1. Merchandise

Artists may sell and create their art and merchandise in the Comic Market, so long as the content sold at their table does not include copyrighted images that are already licensed by other companies.

Only the artwork of the artists registered to the table may be sold at that table. You may not represent any artist that is NOT present at your table or registered with the Comic Market at any time. The ONLY EXCEPTIONS to this rule are those selling collaborative doujinshis, collaborative art books and collaborative original comics.

a2. Merchandise prohibited for sale

• Craft, 3D merchandise and non-paper media are not allowed to be sold in the Comic Market. Laminated paper magnets and mylar/paper buttons are allowed as they are paper-based items. In case of doubt, please contact the Comic Market Staff for approval of your product(s).
  
  Examples of prohibited items include totebags, shrinky dinks, pillows, t-shirts and other apparel, jewellery, plushies, keychains printed directly on acrylic or plastic, etc. Please refer to the Crafter’s Corner for the sale of craft merchandise.
  
  
• Comic Market Artists may not sell any craft item commissions behind a Comic Market table just as Craft Artists will not be able to sell illustration commissions behind a Crafters Corner table. Please refer to the Crafter’s Corner for the sale of craft merchandise.
  
  
• Text heavy images on buttons or bookmarks or stickers are not allowed for sale in the Comic Market. Buttons must contain at least 50% original artwork, and all text must be handwritten. Proof in the form of a screencap or PDF may be required.
  
  
• Solicitation buttons such as “Will Yuri for Yaoi” and “Free Hugs” are not permitted for sale in the Comic Market.
  
  
• Buttons with emblems, symbols or other copyrighted insignias are not allowed. This includes 'Reboot' buttons and other such illustration-only designs on buttons.
  
  
• Fan works of any Disney, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars and Reboot characters are not allowed to be sold in the Comic Market (e.g. Pirates of the Caribbean, Spiderman, WALL-E, Labyrinth, etc.). Stating that you did not know at the convention despite signing this contract will result in the immediate forfeit of your table.
  
  
• Homestuck fan works are not permitted for sale in the Comic Market in accordance to the wishes of the creator.
  
  
• Replicas of existing artwork and merchandise such as official artwork from other licensed creations, or artworks depicting trademarks or copyrighted logos are not allowed and considered copyright infringement, and is prosecutable by law.
  
  
• The resale of food, used goods or retail items, (like pocky, art books or doujinshi made by non-registered artists) are not allowed. If you wish to do this, you must purchase a Dealer’s Table. Please note that you may be fined by the TCC if you are caught selling food outside of the dealer’s room.
  
  
• The sale of sexual paraphernalia of ANY sort is prohibited in the Comic Market.

a3. Photograph Prints and Photo-manipulations

Photographs/photo-manipulations may only be sold if the model is the artist. Photographs/photo-manipulations of inanimate objects may only be sold if they were taken by the artist and not stock photos or modifications of existing stock photos.

a4. Proxy Selling of Merchandise

The Comic Market emphasizes that an Artist or artists must not sell any artwork or merchandise made by other artists that are not registered to the Comic Market. Failure to comply to this will result in the forfeiture of the participant or participants’ table(s), and future applications by all parties involved will be automatically denied.

If an Artist wishes to sell his/her work through a representative, please refer to Anime North’s Gallery Momiji for more information.

b1. Print Collaborations

Print collaborations are only allowed for sale in the Comic Market if they only involve a maximum total of 2 individual artists. There are no exceptions to this rule.

b2. Doujinshi & Fan Fiction

Doujinshi to be sold in the market must contain 85% art. Fanzines or fanfictions are not allowed to be sold in the Comic Market, although original illustrated novels are.

c. Displays

Artists may set up their reserved space as they see fit as long as it is safe and stable and does not interfere with the areas of other artists or violate any Anime North AND/OR TCC regulations. The reserved space is limited to the area provided by the convention.

If your display falls or harms another participant or attendee, you will be asked to take the display down immediately.

NO displays overhanging into other Artists' tables, doorways, corridors, or any other area outside of the reserved space will be allowed.

d1. Adult Material

Exhibitors may NOT display material depicting nudity or sexual conduct unless it is covered or displayed in such a way that minors cannot view explicit material. Adult material must not be accessible to minors in any way. No adult material may be sold, given, or distributed to a minor. The acceptability of displays of adult material is at the sole discretion of the Comic Market Coordinator. Display content (such as images and signage) must not be derogatory in nature (i.e. racist, sexist, homophobic, or otherwise offensive to the general public).

This rule applies to all artwork on display at your table. Thus, you may NOT display any commission work that violates the above restrictions.

d2. Adult Material Approval

If you are selling any art work in this category, you are required to bring a display copy of your work to the Comic Market Staff table where the Comic Market coordinator will stamp your work with an 18+ or PG13 rating.

If your work receives an 18+ rating, it cannot be openly displayed on the table or be within reach of minors. Such works may only be viewable to individuals over the age of 18 years old and with presentation of a valid photo ID. Please note that selling adult content artwork to minors is punishable by law.

If your work receives a PG13 rating, it will be allowed to be openly displayed on your table.

The stamp allows security and convention attendees to know that your work has been approved for display by the Comic Market Coordinator. Please make use of this procedure to avoid problems during the convention as failing to do so may result in loss of your table.