2025 talent search winners announced

Four more creatives are being added to the Summit Comics umbrella as a result of the publisher’s first-ever talent search. Just weeks after the company unveiled two winners of the writer’s portion of the contest, two artists and two colorists have also been crowned from a field of over 50 submissions.

Andres Esparza and Jay Zi have been named as the victors for the artist’s portion, each submitting their vision for Grymstone, a short written by fellow talent search winner Scott Alan Gregory. Zi will be finishing the Grymstone story while Esparza will work with Summit Editor-in-Chief Devin Arscott on a new Noir short for Summit: Pinnacle #1, which heads to Kickstarter in January.

“I must have reread the winner notification e-mail five times. Having the opportunity to continue making comics is a privilege that means a great deal to me,” Esparza said.

“I’m very happy to have participated and even more so to have won! Joining the Summit Comics team is an opportunity to demonstrate what I can offer, alongside a great team of creatives. Whatever comes next will be incredible,” Zi offered. “Opening the doors to new talent is a great move by Summit Comics for artists like me who are new to this and want to show what we’re capable of and what we can offer.”

For the colorists portion, Daniele Caramanico and Diego Souza were selected as the winners for the category.

“I am very happy to be part of the team and full of great expectations,” Souza said of winning. “I thank God and Team Summit for this privilege. I wish everyone the best!”

Caramanico added, “Personally, I really appreciate this type of initiative because it gives everyone the opportunity to participate and demonstrate their worth. Winning this contest means proving something to yourself first. Having the opportunity to join the Summit team and participate in their narrative universe is a great fortune because it gives you the chance to be part of something bigger.”

Esparza, Zi, Caramanico, and Souza join Gregory and Jimmy Gaspero as the first class to join Summit through its annual talent search.