The Inkwell Awards, a 501(c)(3) non-profit advocacy group, elected artists Mark Sinnott and Joe Prado as new Special Ambassadors to help further the group‘s mission of public promotion, education, and recognition of the art form of inking and ink artists in the US comic book industry.

Mark Sinnott is the son of legendary Marvel Comics artist and inker Joe Sinnott. He is his late father’s historian, librarian, and former liaison. Also an artist, the younger Sinnott has been published in several alternative press titles and at times filled in for his father, inking various panels on the Spider-Man Sunday syndicated comic strip. Sinnott has been an Inkwell Awards Senior Contributor since 2008 and was awarded an Above & Beyond Award in 2018 for his service as a liaison.

Joe Prado began his career back in the early 1990s as a comic-book artist and illustrator in the Brazilian market. During that time he produced hundreds of fantasy, horror, superhero and science fiction illustrations and comics for myriad publishers, books and magazines. In 2004 he started producing comics for the US market.

His credits include Action Comics, Justice League and other major titles from DC as well as other publishers. In 2009, he began his current partnership with artist Ivan Reis and collaborations with writer/TV and film producer Geoff Johns on several high-profile comics. For the past two years, Joe has inked Ivan Reis on the Superman relaunch. Prado has also been Co-Owner/Talent Manager of Chiaroscuro Studios, representing dozens of comic-book artists, since 2002. He has received two Inkwell Awards, “Favorite Inker” in 2016 and “Props – Talent deserving of more attention” in 2018.

Since the Inkwell organization was formed in 2008, the roster of Ambassadors has included (in chronological order) Adam Hughes, Mark Brooks, Sal Velluto, Cully Hamner, Eric Basuldua, Phil Jimenez, Jim Shooter and Brian Pulido, along with the late Joe Kubert and Rich Buckler. The more-involved Special Ambassadors include (besides the late Joe Sinnott) J. David Spurlock, Mike McKone, Clifford Meth, Aldrin Aw, aka “Buzz”, Dan Parsons, Rags Morales, Jim Starlin and Laura Martin. (Ambassadors are not always ink artists and are chosen from all creative landscapes in order to show industry solidarity.)

Additional details of each Ambassador along with their complete quotes can be found at the non-profit’s website.