IP Packaging Checklist: What Agents Like WME Look For in Comics and Graphic Novel Properties

Hook: Stop wasting meetings — give agents the IP they can sell

Agents and agencies like WME are flooded with submissions. Your time is scarce, and their attention is gold. The difference between a polite pass and a signing meeting in 2026 is not just a great comic or graphic novel — it epends on how well you have packaged it as a transmedia-ready, revenue-minded IP. This checklist turns your creative work into a business-ready asset that agents can evaluate in minutes.

Why this matters now (2026 context)

Late 2025 and early 2026 showed a clear pivot in agency and studio acquisition strategies: they want fully packaged IP that can spawn streaming series, merchandising lines, and gaming tie-ins. Case in point: the European transmedia studio The Orangery signed with WME in January 2026 after presenting graphic-novel properties that already had serialized roadmaps and merchandising hooks. Agencies are investing in turnkey IP — projects that de-risk adaptation and licensing.

At the same time, evolving consumer behaviors (short-form discovery, global fandoms, and hybrid commerce) and AI-driven content tools have raised the bar: agents now expect clarity on rights, audience signals, and transmedia pathways before they take a property through clearance and out to buyers.

How to use this article

This is a practical agent checklist designed for creators, independent publishers, and small studios preparing for agent meetings. Use it as a pre-meeting worksheet, a one-sheet supplement, or a rights-briefing document. Each section ends with immediate actions you can complete within days, not months.

Top-line IP packaging checklist (one-page summary)

• One-sentence hook — the logline that sells the core concept.
• Serialization map — issue / season structure and story arcs for 1–3 seasons.
• Merchandising hooks — 3–5 licensable assets (characters, iconography, vehicles).
• Transmedia roadmap — prioritized media verticals and tentative timelines.
• Rights clarity — a rights spreadsheet showing who holds what.
• Audience & traction — sales, social, crowdfunding, and retailer data.
• Pitch materials — visual bible, sizzle sample, and comparison titles.

Detailed checklist — what agents like WME actually want to see

1. One-sentence hook + 50-word elevator pitch

Make it sharp enough that an executive can understand the core premise in one read. Avoid vague metaphors. Use concrete stakes and a unique element.

• Action: Write one logline and a 50-word pitch. Test it with three non-creator readers; if they can repeat it, you re done.

2. Visual Bible — the creative spine

Agents need to know the tonal and visual identity instantly. Your visual bible should be 8–12 pages and include character sheets, world maps, key locations, color palettes, and tone references (moodboard images and comp art). For graphic novels, include 5–8 fully lettered sample pages that show voice and pacing.

• Action: Create a 10-page PDF and a 1-minute vertical sizzle (Reels/Shorts) highlighting visuals.

3. Serialization potential — map story to formats

Describe how the story scales. Can it be a 6–8 episode prestige series, a 10-issue comic arc, a 3-season show? Agencies prefer IP with clear adaptation blocks.

• Provide: a 1-season outline (6–10 episodes) and an issue-by-issue roadmap for the first graphic-novel arc.
• Action: Draft a 3-season plan with 3–4 beats per season and list where issues end for natural cliffhangers.

4. Merchandising potential — concrete, not aspirational

Merchandising potential is now a primary valuation driver. Agents look for distinct, repeatable assets that can translate to toys, apparel, home goods, or NFTs (carefully: show utility not hype).

• Identify 3–5 licensable assets: lead character(s), emblem/logo, signature vehicle/weapon, catchphrase, or unique creature.
• Provide mockups for at least two SKUs (a toy/figure and an apparel design) and a brief business case estimating market fit (kids, teen streetwear, collectors).
• Action: Create printable mockups and a one-page licensing memo that lists potential licensee categories and first-order SKU ideas.

5. Transmedia roadmap — prioritized & realistic

List the verticals in priority order and explain why. A common high-value roadmap in 2026 is: streaming series -> collectible toys -> AAA or indie game -> global publishing/localized editions -> live events/conventions. But every IP should justify its own sequence.

• Include timelines (12–36 months for first adaptation/licensing milestones) and high-level budgets or financial assumptions if possible.
• Action: Produce a 1-page transmedia timeline with milestones and demo partners (studios, licensees, or platforms) you'd target.

6. Rights clarity — the single most important legal checklist item

Agents will not pitch unclear rights. Have a simple spreadsheet that states who owns:

• Copyright and chain of title
• Film/TV adaptation rights (option/assignment status)
• Merchandising and licensing rights
• Audio, game, and interactive rights
• International rights/translation rights

Include signed contributor agreements, work-for-hire contracts, and any option agreements you already have. If you dont have formal agreements, include signed split sheets with dates and signatures.

• Action: Build a two-tab spreadsheet (ownership + agreements) and attach copies of core documents.

7. Audience and traction metrics

Quantifiable traction is persuasive. Agents will look at pre-sales, comic-shop orders (ICv2/Nielsen ComicScan-type figures), trade paperback units, digital downloads, crowdfunding numbers, and social metrics. Even micro-audiences matter — active, engaged fans are worth more than passive follower counts.

• Include: top-line numbers (sales per month, Kickstarter backers, Patreon subscribers), engagement rates, and community evidence (fan art volume, Discord activity).
• Action: Export key metrics into a one-page dashboard (chart + short commentary).

8. Comparable titles and market positioning

Give two to three comps and explain differences. Avoid lazy comps like "Black Mirror meets X" unless you can justify the creative overlap and audience fit. Use comps to highlight where your IP fits on a buyers slate.

• Action: Prepare a comps slide with three titles, their sales/viewership, and why your IP would sit beside them in a pitch deck.

9. Financials and basic business case

You dont need a full model, but agents appreciate a simple revenue map: projected income streams (book sales, streaming license fee, toy licensing royalties) and a timeline for each. Show conservative and optimistic scenarios.

• Action: Create a one-page revenue projection for three years post-adaptation with conservative estimates and high-level assumptions.

10. Pitch essentials and deliverables

Assemble a clean, downloadable folder: a one-sheet, visual bible PDF, rights spreadsheet, sample pages, 30–60 second sizzle video, and a three-page adaptation synopsis. Keep file sizes web-friendly; agents prefer Dropbox/Google Drive links over large email attachments.

• Action: Package and test the folder download; include a README with contact and availability windows.

Practical templates & quick tools (do these this week)

• One-sheet template: logline + comps + audience + 3 merchandising assets + rights summary.
• Episode/issue map template: 8 rows (episodes/issues) with one-line beats.
• Rights spreadsheet template: columns for right type, holder, effective date, attachments.
• Sizzle checklist: footage/art + music license note + 30–60 seconds + vertical version.

Red flags that make agencies pass

Knowing what will kill interest helps you avoid it. These are common deal-breakers in 2026:

• Unclear or missing chain of title.
• Over-reliance on speculative tech (e.g., NFT drops with no utility, AI-only art with licensing ambiguity).
• No clear lead asset for merchandising (a show with no iconic visual elements).
• Titles with no scalable narrative beyond a single graphic-novel arc.
• Lack of basic audience signals — no sales, no pre-orders, no engaged community.

Case study: The Orangery & WME (what that deal signals)

In January 2026 WME signed The Orangery, a transmedia studio that arrived with graphic-novel IP already framed for multiple media. What matters for creators is the signal: agencies are looking for teams that present IP as a packaged business. The Orangery showed serialization roadmaps and merchandising direction — exactly the items on this checklist.

"Agencies want less work to do on the IP. Bring structure, bring clarity, and demonstrate market-minded thinking." — Editorial synthesis of 2026 agency behavior

Advanced strategies for creators ready to level up

1. Prototype first, then scale

Create a short animated proof-of-concept, a playable demo, or a limited toy run before approaching agents. Small prototypes prove consumer demand and provide materials for pitches.

2. Partner early with product designers

A one-off, well-designed collectible (100–500 units) demonstrates merchandising viability and gives you a case study for licensing talks.

3. Localize for priority markets

Translation-ready scripts and localized art treatments for non-English markets increase agency interest, especially in 2026 when global streamers shop for regionally scalable IP.

4. Data-driven fanproofing

Use A/B social ads or small crowdfunding campaigns to test character appeal and merchandising concepts. Capture email lists and retention metrics; these are gold for agents.

Legal and rights best practices

• Register copyright early and deposit a copy of your work where relevant.
• Use written split sheets for collaborators; never rely on verbal agreements.
• Be explicit about merchandising and adaptation rights in contracts.
• If you used AI tools in production, document licenses and confirm ownership compatibility.

Pitch choreography — what to say in a first meeting

Keep it tight: 3 minutes creative, 3 minutes business, 3 minutes materials walkthrough, remaining time for questions. Send materials 24–48 hours before the meeting and lead with the one-sheet in the first minute.

• Say: "Heres the story, heres how it scales, heres the rights, and heres the evidence of demand."

Checklist recap — downloadable quick list

• Logline + 50-word pitch
• 10-page visual bible + 5–8 sample pages
• Serialization map (issues + seasons)
• 3–5 merchandising assets + two mockups
• 1-page transmedia roadmap with timeline
• Rights spreadsheet + agreements
• Metrics dashboard
• One-sheet, sizzle video, and adaptation synopsis

Actionable takeaways — what to finish in 7 days

1. Create or update your one-sheet and visual bible.
2. Draft a rights spreadsheet and attach signed split sheets.
3. Pick three licensable assets and make mockups for two SKUs.
4. Build a 1-page transmedia timeline and revenue sketch.
5. Prepare a 60-second vertical sizzle for social and pitching.

Final notes: packaging is a creative + commercial craft

In 2026, agencies like WME expect more than a great story. They want an investable product — one that shows how it becomes a show, a toy, a game, and a global franchise. Treat IP packaging as part of your creative work. The more you present a clear, rights-clean, audience-proven package, the faster an agent can champion you.

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Ready to turn your graphic novel into an agent-ready IP packet? Download our free Agent-Ready IP Checklist and Visual Bible Template, or join our weekly workshop where industry editors and rights managers review real creator packages (limited seats). Click to get the checklist and reserve your spot.

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