'We found books that I wouldn't have necessarily loved from the logline, but the execution was fantastic,' Yarwood said. It was a simple process, Yarwood said, 'but the unexpected amount of submissions meant that we spent every Friday for months looking through submissions.' The overall quality of was higher than they expected, the editors said. Pitches that passed that round went to the publisher for approval. Two editors reviewed each pitch, and if they thought it was worth discussing, they shared it with the staff. Oni senior editor Charlie Chu described the open submissions as 'a brute force way of shocking our pool of incoming pitches and creators-we felt that the viable pitches that editorial was evaluating tended to skew heavily toward white creators and white characters.' 'It's important to break out of that circle.' 'It can be too easy to hire people you've worked with previously, or who come recommended by people you know,' said Oni managing editor Ari Yarwood. The purpose of the open submissions was to bring in fresh voices and encourage diversity. In addition, the editors compiled a shortlist of artists and colorists whom they will call on for new projects. Four more projects from the open submissions policy will be announced at a later date. These titles join Natalie Reiss's Space Battle Lunchtime, which was announced in November 2015. Nguyen, a story about a girl who befriends a tree spirit in the woods.

Unplugged & Unpopular, by Mat Heagerty and Tintin Pantoja, a sci-fi graphic novel about a teenager whose parents take away her electronics-leaving her the only person on earth who realizes the aliens are invading.Podi, by Navin Ratnayake, Deshan Tennekoon, and Isuri Merenchi Hewage, a fantasy tale about three children who shrink to the size of ants.

The Searchers, by Jonathan Hill, a story about three Asian-American siblings searching for their mother after a devastating earthquake.Black Mage, by Daniel Barnes and DJ Kirkland, a fantasy action story about the first black student at a school for magicians.

Pilu in the woods