Comic creative professionals, publishers, retailers, and fans came together this past Saturday night for the 2017 Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards, the inaugural “Ringo Awards,” at Baltimore Comic Con 2017. The award show brought together fans, creators, and publishers to socialize, dine, and experience the comic book industry celebrating recognition of their peers, co-workers, and competitors.

The inaugural Ringo Awards was sponsored by Presenting Sponsors Cards, Comics & Collectibles and the Baltimore Comic-Con; Gold Sponsors The Amazing Comic Shop, BOOM! Studios, Geppi Family Enterprises, Painted Vision Comics; Silver Sponsors AfterShock Comics, South Carolina Comic-Con, ComicMix, and Valiant Entertainment; and Gift Bag Sponsors Abrams ComicArts, AfterShock Comics, Archie Comic Publications, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, Flesk Publications, IDW Publishing, Scholastic, Source Point Press, ‘Toon Tumblers, and Valiant Entertainment. The banquet and awards ceremony honoring nominees and winners in professional and fan categories was hosted by the Baltimore Comic-Con and Cards, Comics & Collectibles.

The Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards is an annual celebration of the creativity, skill and fun of comics. The nomination ballot is determined by fans and pros alike.

The Ringo Awards featured David Petersen, best known as the multiple award-winning writer and artist of Mouse Guard., as the inaugural keynote presenter at the event.

Winners of the 2017 Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards are:

Fan Favorites:

• Favorite Hero: Cash Wayne (Spectrum)
• Favorite Villain: Arlo (unOrdinary)
• Favorite New Series: Spectrum
• Favorite New Talent: InstantMiso

Jury and Fan Winners:

• Best Cover Artist: Frank Cho
• Best Series: Vision, Marvel Comics
• Best Letterer: Todd Klein
• Best Colorist: Laura Martin
• Best Humor Comic: I Hate Fairyland, Image Comics
• Best Original Graphic Novel: March: Book Three, Top Shelf Productions
• Best Comic Strip or Panel: Bloom County, Berkeley Breathed, Universal Uclick
• Best Single Issue or Story: Emancipation Day
• Mike Wieringo Spirit Award: Future Quest #1, DC Comics
• Best Anthology: Love is Love, DC Comics/IDW Publishing
• Best Non-fiction Comic Work: March: Book Three, Top Shelf Productions
• Best Presentation in Design: Mike Mignola’s Screw-On Head and Other Curious Objects: Artist’s Edition Hardcover, IDW Publishing
• Best Webcomic: The Red Hook, Dean Haspiel
• Best Inker: Sean Murphy
• Best Writer: Tom King
• Best Artist or Penciller: Fiona Staples
• Best Cartoonist (Writer/Artist): Skottie Young

Hero Initiative Awards:

• • Dick Giordano Humanitarian of the Year Award: Joshua Dysart
  • Hero Initiative Lifetime Achievement Award: Marv Wolfman

Presenters at this year’s award ceremony included Keynote speaker David Petersen, Tom Brevoort, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and Amy Chu, Walter and Louise Simonson, Terry and Robyn Moore, Kazu Kibuishi and Charlie Kochman, Lora Innes and Thom Zahler, and Todd Dezago, Craig Rousseau, and Mark Waid. John Gallagher contributed to the program guide for the evening and awards ceremony presentation.