How specific should a comp title be?

Short answer: Donovan Levine’s advice: A useful comp should make the project easier to picture and narrow its audience or shelf position; a mega-franchise is usually too broad unless the comparison identifies one precise, defensible element.

Answered by Donovan Levine, Associate Literary Agent, Neighborhood Literary.

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The agent’s answer

A high-concept comparison creates an immediate, specific picture, and that is what Donovan is after. The comparison does not need to match every element of the book, but it should clarify rather than expand the possibilities. Huge properties such as Star Wars or Harry Potter often communicate too many tones, audiences and story types to be useful on their own. If a famous title is used, identify the exact shared setting, character arc or other specific feature. Otherwise, aim for a successful, recognizable title or author that is established in the relevant genre without being so broad that the comparison loses meaning.

In Donovan’s words

Star Wars has so much going on that it doesn’t narrow things down. Structurally, a comp should narrow things down.
Donovan Levine, 48:38

Source: Synopsis & Comp Titles.