A logline is the super tiny summary like you'd see in TV Guide. The challenge in coming up with a logline is condensing your story pitch down a tiny bite. If you can't do that (they say) it's a sign of a poorly constructed story.

Some loglines from my favorite movies:

Someone
A couple undergo a procedure to erase each other from their memories when their relationship turns sour, but it is only through the process of loss that they discover what they had to begin with.

Someone
In 2027, in a chaotic world in which humans can no longer procreate, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea, where her child's birth may help scientists save the future of humankind.

Someone
A computer hacker learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against the controllers of it.

Someone
Humans of a fascistic, militaristic future do battle with giant alien bugs in a fight for survival.

Someone
A quietly troubled young man returns home for his mother's funeral after being estranged from his family for a decade.

Someone
An office employee and a soap salesman build a global organization to help vent male aggression.

Can you guess what movies these are from?

I'm still working on my own Logline. I'll post it when I've got it down. What's yours?

"Seven heroes rise from the ruins of the dead legends and combat villains as well as their own inner demons."

That's pretty much the best summary for my comic, as that encompasses what the comic (all 11 episodes) is about.

Due East's is pretty simple and to the point:
"God has plans for this family."

The first movie is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Second one is Children of Men.
Third one is The Matrix.
Fourth one is Starship Troopers.
No clue on the fifth one.
The last logline you list is Fight Club.

Uh, my logline/pitch/whatever would be:

"The world's friendliest super hero tries to befriend the world one person at a time."

Mine is so complex that it requires the most simple of lines. I usually use this one:
"Common foes threaten their lives, and dark secrets threaten their friendships."

"The Most Dangerous Game + Survivorman + massive crossover fan comic = FIGHT 1 + FIGHT 2."

The above is the condensed version of what's on my sig banner.

I use TWO log lines for Better Luck Next Time:

"Sixth Grade. It bears repeating."

-AND-

"Sixth Grade is the new...Sixth Grade."

The Path
Lovecraftian Horror meets Arthurian Legend

Shades is, in part, an examination of the shape of the UK psyche in the second half of the Twentieth Century. Recent victors in WW2, the greatest war the world had then seen, and yet no longer the rulers of an empire which, prior to the war, had covered 25% to 30% of the planet. This confusion is reflected in the personalities of the principal characters, a group of UK super heroes, and the issues they have to work through. The logline I use is:

What becomes of a nation's heroes after they've won the war that lost an empire?

Hmmm this is a good excercise. It is similar to book summaries for dust jackets.

I'll give it a shot...


"Once upon a time there was a peaceful World, minding its own business, when there came along a large Dragon with way too much free time."

hmmm I dunno...

how about....

"When Dragons get bored . . . the World will never be the same. . . "

MrRiot
The Path
Lovecraftian Horror meets Arthurian Legend

LOL I just fav'ed your comic (for later reading) based on your tagline alone. I'm a complete sucker for Arthurian legend and the guy on the cover looks like Grunge Arthur.

Of course if you mess with me favorite king I'ma gonna UNfav you. (threat)

This has made me decide to include a tagline paragraph on my author's comments on the 1st pages of my comics. Sometimes ppl just CBA'ed to judge for themselves, and a quick sell is what keeps the fence-sitters from bolting.

A tomboy from a small town meets two hot women from outer space and they have weird B-movie adventures as they go-
- Together Into The Unknown!

"Wake up from your world, from your perfect, controlled society of falseness and materialism, follow me to the depths of the internet, follow me to mankind's greatest enemy." - is the tagline for Miami Sound Machine .

"In a fantasy realm you've probably seen before, a monster sets out to prove to himself that humans aren't the only ones whom can acquire the strength and courage to be a hero."
-Early Game Monster

I guess I'll take a crack at doing these Logline thingys...

The aftermath of the past culminates in a premillenial climax, and a Pokemon Trainer and his Pikachu have no idea that they're in the middle of it all. -Pokemon Yellow Comics

Six heroes who happen to be the worst choices for the job must protect the mysterious island of Dosa Nui. -Bionicle Zeroes

Oh boy... I'm bad at loglines but here's a lame attempt I did...

well I think the short despcription on my mine should work...

Yokai Urufu, Japanese American, cursed wolf demon working as a homicide detective dealing with his own dark legacy that he is trying to change, faces the present struggles in his work as he finds the world around slowly falling apart.

also to SteveMyers22 and Fuzzy..the fifth one is Garden State.

A woman discovers that life after death is much more complicated than she would have imagined. What she finds is an adventure that transcends dimensions- both mentally, physically, and artistically.

Star Cross'd Destiny
"Fate's a Bitch."

"A cranky fugitive who can chunk lightning - What's not to love?"

"In a world where hate is stronger than love and fear is your only weapon, fate may be your only hope."

And I've always been partial to the one a friend used for her fanart once:

"Cajun-spiced, superpowered, hot n' heavy, dark n' deadly science fiction goodness."

Because it encompasses everything in less than 10 words. XD

junoblairb
Star Cross'd Destiny

Ooh yeah, use that last one...

mlai

junoblairb
Star Cross'd Destiny

Ooh yeah, use that last one...

Yes, such a dreary emo title paired with 'WTF?'

I think it works out well. :D

"Old superheroes in a nursing home."

Does not get more simple than that.

"Two guys on an impossible quest to Get A Girl. Yeah, I know, a bit cheesy."

But hopefully not as cheesy as one might think ;)

junoblairb
Star Cross'd Destiny
"Fate's a Bitch."

"A cranky fugitive who can chunk lightning - What's not to love?"

"In a world where hate is stronger than love and fear is your only weapon, fate may be your only hope."

And I've always been partial to the one a friend used for her fanart once:

"Cajun-spiced, superpowered, hot n' heavy, dark n' deadly science fiction goodness."

Because it encompasses everything in less than 10 words. XD

Wait...SCD needs a tag-line? I thought it was just common knowledge that if you're NOT reading it, you're a goddamned idiot.

*spews coffee with cackling goodness*

Oh my god, best first thing to read in the morning EVAR. Thank you Riot. XD

MrRiot
Wait...SCD needs a tag-line? I thought it was just common knowledge that if you're NOT reading it, you're a goddamned idiot.

It's true.

Pinky has had a few over the years because I've never really known how to sum it up in a simple way...

The current one is:
"Sexy war"
-that's the shortest I could think of. Hehehe, I think I'll go even shorter next time and just call it "Sexy", or "War" :P

The old one was something like this:
"1920's War-punk, with battleships and huge explosions"
-Yeeeeeah... That's a bit of a strange one.

Then there's this:
"Action, adventure, and style with Pinky TA!"
-So very, very, very bland.

XD I've always been a fan of Sexy War simply because you're right, it's so fitting and so true. It's what I tell people when I try to describe your comic. :D

Galactic Hub Serreven: Angn D'Lazmuh is now the administrator of the space hub... let's just hope the hub let's him do his job.

Cosmic Dash: Dash Kameku deals with space-pirates, near catastrophy and other cosmic threats, all on the salary of an engineer.

I actually deleted mine a while ago because it sucked and I want to start again when I'm capable of doing it justice. Is it alright if I make a few up anyway?

Stupid question, I'm going to regardless.

"The brightest dark comedy you will ever read"

"He's going on a journey to change the world. He doesn't actually know this, he just thinks the entire universe wants him dead"

"A homicidal priest, a genocidal dictator, and a zealous general walk into a bar. . ."

I think I got it.

"Technology battles against magic on a planet divided between night and day."