Tag Archives: awards

Bulgilhan Press’ Slices of Life Wins the Massachusetts Book Award for Notable Contribution to Publishing

The Massachusetts Book Awards are annual awards given by the Massachusetts Center for the Book. The ‘Notable Contribution to Publishing‘ award considers the quality of the book as object—including production standards, design, and printing and goes to a Massachusetts publisher creating works of a high caliber. 

The second annual Notable Contribution to Publishing Prize went to Somerville-based Bulgilhan Press Slices of Life: A Comic Montage, by Qu. This graphic novel is a masterful collection of silent comics reveling in the quiet beauty of the small moments in life.

It’s been a real surprise and honor to see that Qu’s Slices of Life: A Comic Montage has not only received amazing widespread recognition, but also gained a much broader readership than we could have imagined. As an independent publisher, each release only occurs due to the monumental effort of very few people; the artists I have the privilege of publishing and I are forever intertwined by our shared love of comics and our labor. We’re over the moon for Qu’s work to be recognized with the second Notable Contribution to Publishing prize from the Massachusetts Book Awards, proving that one should approach their life with an open and curious mind.

-Zachary Clemente, publisher and founder of Bulgilhan.

Zachary Clemente contributes to the Massachusetts comics ecosystem in so many ways — as the past Co-Director of the MICE, as the publisher of Bulgilhan, and as the Chair of the Board for the Boston Comic Arts Foundation. We’re lucky to have him here, championing our comics community. 

-Shelli Paroline, BCAF Executive Director

Slices of Life: A Comic Montage, by Qu

The Lab Press Scoops Summer Book Awards Season with Debut Releases

Following its debut in 2025, The Lab Press is building on that momentum with a new slate of 2026 releases and a remarkable collection of awards recognizing its first year of publishing original graphic novels.

Built around fearless storytelling, human moments in untethered worlds, and beautifully designed books intended to feel like literary artifacts, The Lab Press released four hardcover graphic novels during its inaugural year: Essentials Volume 1 by Luke Arnold, Chris “Doc”Wyatt, and a host of artistic talents; Super Science Volume 1 by N. Alessandro K .and M.K.Perker; Hunger by Nihaarika Negi, Joe Bocardo, and José Villarrubia; and Creatures &Corridors by Brandon Auman and Andrea Mutti.

At the prestigious IPPY Awards, honoring the best independent publishers and creators from around the world, The Lab Press received a Gold Medal recognizing all four of its 2025 releases in the Outstanding Books of the Year category. The honor capped an already exceptional awards season that included numerous wins and finalist placements across publishing, storytelling, and design.

Alongside this major recognition from the IPPY Awards, The Lab Press received honorsacross a wide range of publishing and design categories, including:

  • Best Horror Graphic Novel for Hunger at the Zelda Awards;
  • Book Cover Design and Comics & Graphic Novels for Essentials Volume 1, and Best Interior Design for Hunger at the National Indie Excellence Awards;
  • Science Fiction Gold Medal for Essentials Volume 1, Graphic Novels & Comics Silver Medal for Hunger, and Fantasy Bronze Medal for Creatures & Corridors at the Foreword INDIES Awards;
  • Best Overall Design for Hunger at the Next Generation Indie Book Awards;
  • Graphic Novel Gold Medal and the Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book for Essentials Volume 1; Fiction: Horror Gold Medal and Graphic Novel Silver Medal for Creatures & Corridors; and Graphic Novel Bronze Medal for Super Science Volume 1 at the Independent Book Publishers Association Awards;
  • Cover: Large Format Gold Medal for Creatures & Corridors, and Cover: Large Format Silver Medal and Cover: Graphic Novel/Manga Bronze Medal for Hunger at the IBPA PubWest Book Design Awards.
  • Book Cover Design: Fiction and Comics & Graphic Novels winner for Essentials Volume 1, and Book Interior Design: Fiction winner for Hunger at the National Indie Excellence Awards.
  • Graphic Novel winner for Essentials Volume 1, and Regional: World Fiction winner for Hunger at the Storytrade Awards

The recognition also reflects the work of the in-house team responsible for shaping The Lab Press’s distinct editorial and visual identity, including Editor-in-Chief Dagen Walker and designers John J. Hill and Emma Price, alongside the extraordinary creators who brought each of these books to life.

SPX Announces the 2026 Ignatz Award Nominees and The Ignatz Archive

Ignatz Award

The Small Press Expo (SPX) has announced the 2026 nominees for the annual presentation of the Ignatz Awards, a celebration of outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning.

Ignatz Awards nominees are determined by a panel of comics professionals. This year’s team of jurors included:

  • Maria Hoey
  • Joel Christian Gill
  • Nick Bertozzi
  • Maggie McCready
  • Vik Alexander
  • Meg Lentz
  • Michael Albrecht
  • Sofia Lesage

Voting for the Ignatz Awards will be opened to anybody on the SPX email lists and anyone requesting a ballot. There will be no in-person voting at the show, as voting for the prestigious Ignatz Awards is open to all fans of indie comics. 

The Ignatz Awards ceremony will be held at 9:30PM on Saturday September 12 in the White Oak Room of the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.

BALLOT & VOTING INFORMATION

  • Voting for the 2026 Ignatz Awards will be by email ballot only, there will be no on-site voting.
  • Ballots will be emailed everyone on SPX’s email lists at the same time as this announcement.
  • If you wish to vote for the Ignatz Awards and are not on our email lists, sign up for a ballot and get added to our email lists at the SPX website.
  • Please check your spam folder if you do not see your ballot.
  • Voting ends on Friday September 11 at 8:00PM (EDT).

2026 IGNATZ NOMINEES

OUTSTANDING ARTIST

  • Colin Lidston, Move-In Day (Paper Rocket Minicomics)
  • Ben Passmore, Black Arms To Hold You Up (Pantheon Books)
  • J. Marshall Smith, Testament (Bulgilhan Press)
  • Carol Tyler, The Ephemerata: Shaping the Exquisite Nature of Grief (Fantagraphics)
  • Rob Woods, Barbecue Block Party (Self-Published)

OUTSTANDING ANTHOLOGY

  • A Queer Prisoner’s Anthology Vol. 9: Beautiful Regrets ed. Casper Cendre, Oliver Mills, Brett Thomas Gonzalez (A.B.O. Comix)
  • Goof #2 ed. Marc Jackson (Self-Published)
  • LAAB: A Comics Anthology No. 3 ed. Ronald Wimberly (Beehive Books)
  • Revenge #2 ed. Samandal (Beehive Books)
  • So Buttons #15 ed. Jonathan Baylis (So Buttons Comix)

OUTSTANDING COLLECTION

  • A Strong Woman and Other Stories by Valentine Gallardo (Fieldmouse Press)
  • All the Cameras in My Room by Michael DeForge (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Box Garden Beetle by Akino Kondoh (Glacier Bay Books)
  • The Past is a Grotesque Animal by Tommi Parrish (Fantagraphics)
  • Wisps by Amanda Baeza (kuš!)

OUTSTANDING COMIC

  • Antimatter #1 by Dean Haspiel (Self-Published)
  • Fizzle #6 by Whit Taylor (Radiator Comics)
  • Girls Gone Wild by Katie Lane (2dcloud)
  • Utzy and Dusty by Josh Bayer (Domino Books)
  • Zoo #5 by Anand Shenoy (Self-Published)

OUTSTANDING GRAPHIC NOVEL

  • Black Arms to Hold You Up by Ben Passmore (Pantheon Books)
  • Cannon by Lee Lai (Giramondo Publishing)
  • Do Admit! The Mitford Sisters and Me by Mimi Pond (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • More Weight: A Salem Story by Ben Wickey (Top Shelf Productions)
  • The Weight by Melissa Mendes (Drawn & Quarterly)

OUTSTANDING MINICOMIC

  • If She Was Beholden, Could She Ever Be the Beholder? by Erika Rier (Self-Published)
  • Secret Black Woman: American Virtues by Ingrid Pierre (Self-Published)
  • To Bleed Stone Dry by R. D. “Reyookah” Yoon (Self-Published)
  • Two Snakes by Suerynn Lee (Alright Editions)
  • Uncoiling: A Japanese-American Family History by Yoko O.K. (Self-Published)

OUTSTANDING ONLINE COMIC

OUTSTANDING SERIES

  • Coin-Op no 10: Wet Cement by Peter and Maria Hoey (Coin-Op Books)
  • Fizzle #6 by Whit Taylor (Radiator Comics)
  • Hacienda by Dave Ortega (Self-Published)
  • My Pockets are Juicy! by Lonnie Milsap (Self-Published)
  • Wedding Juice and Other Melodramas by Sanika Phawde (Self-Published)

OUTSTANDING STORY

  • Before We Wake by Sophia Glock (Little, Brown Ink)
  • Drome by Jesse Lonergan (23rd Street)
  • Mudhouse by Glynnis Fawkes (Paper Rocket Minicomics)
  • Suicidals by Michael R. Barton (Self-Published)
  • While We Wait by Sorina Vazelina (Self-Published)

PROMISING NEW TALENT:

  • A Scientific Study Of Transsexuality by Oscar Woodiwiss (Fieldmouse Press)
  • Creamthing In His Golden Year by Sam Hensley (Self-Published)
  • Electric Cowboy by Ansel Kite (Silver Sprocket)
  • The Witch’s Egg by Donya Todd (Avery Hill Publishing)
  • Upwards Incursion by Padraig Campbell (Driftwood Press)

The 2026 Dragon Awards Nominees announced

DragonCon

The nominees for the 2026 Dragon Awards have been announced. The awards highlight the best releases from roughly labor day to labor day of the past year.

The awards are handed out each year during DragonCon which takes place in Atlanta, Georgia. These are intended as more fan awards, so voting is open to everyone.

Voting is now open until Friday, September 4th. You can register to vote here.

Congrats to all of this year’s nominees.

Best Science Fiction Novel

  • The Faith of Beasts by James S.A. Corey
  • Radiant Star by Ann Leckie
  • Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman
  • Slow Gods by Claire North
  • The Shattering Peace by John Scalzi
  • God’s Junk Drawer by Peter Clines

Best Fantasy Novel (Including Paranormal)

  • Red City by Marie Lu
  • Queen Demon by Martha Wells
  • Academy of Outcasts by Larry Correia
  • Hell to Pay by Sherrilyn Kenyon
  • The Lost Reliquary by Lyndsay Ely
  • Twelve Months by Jim Butcher

Best Young Adult / Middle Grade Novel

  • Make Me a Monster by Kalynn Bayron
  • The Executioners Three by Susan Dennard
  • Hazelthorn by CG Drews
  • Ride or Die by Delilah S. Dawson
  • Sky on Fire by E.K. Johnston
  • Queen of Faces by Petra Lord

Best Alternate History Novel

  • Powerless by Harry Turtledove
  • World War 3.2 by John Birmingham
  • The Winds of Fate by S.M. Stirling
  • The Unnecessary War by Brian C. Thompson
  • A Resistance of Witches by Morgan Ryan
  • No Man’s Land by Richard K. Morgan

Best Horror Novel

  • It Was Her House First by Cherie Priest
  • Play Nice by Rachel Harrison
  • Girl in the Creek by Wendy N. Wagner
  • The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
  • King Sorrow by Joe Hill
  • The Possession of Alba Díaz by Isabel Cañas

Best Illustrative Book Cover

  • Brigands & Breadknives, by Carson Lowmiller
  • The Ishtar Deception, by Dominic Harman
  • The Sapphire Heart, by Jeff Brown
  • Hemlock & Silver, by T. Kingfisher
  • Pretenders to the Throne of God, by Joe Wilson
  • The Second Death of Locke, by Anna Moshak

Best Comic Book / Graphic Novel

  • Absolute Batman by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta
  • Absolute Wonder Woman, by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman
  • Something is Killing the Children, by James Tynion IV, Werther Dell’Edera
  • Daredevil, by Stephanie Phillips, Lee Garbett
  • X-Men: Elsewhen, by John Byrne
  • Absolute Superman, by Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy TV Series, TV or Internet

  • Strange New Worlds Season 3, Paramount+
  • Foundation Season 3, Apple TV
  • A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, HBO
  • Alien: Earth, FX
  • Fallout Season 2, Amazon
  • Plur1bus, Apple TV
  • The Boys Season 5, Amazon
  • Widow’s Bay, Apple TV

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Movie

  • Superman, by James Gunn
  • Project Hail Mary, by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
  • Disclosure Day, by Steven Spielberg
  • Predator: Badlands, by Dan Trachtenberg
  • Frankenstein, by Guillermo del Toro
  • Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, by Jon Favreau
  • Toy Story 5, by Andrew Stanton
  • The Sheep Detectives, by Kyle Balda

Best Digital Game

  • Hades II, Supergiant Games
  • Hollow Knight: Silksong, Team Cherry
  • Silent Hill f, NeoBards Entertainment
  • Ghost of Yōtei, Sucker Punch Productions
  • Forza Horizon 6, Playground Games
  • Battlefield 6, Battlefield Studios

Best Tabletop Game

  • Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûn, Wizards of the Coast
  • ACKS II Revised Rulebook, Autarch
  • Magic: the Gathering – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Wizards of the Coast
  • 7 Wonders Dice, Repos Production
  • Warhammer 40,000 The Maelstrom, Games Workshop
  • Wingspan Americas Expansion, Stonemaier Games

Gen Con 2026: And the ENNIE Award Goes to…

Ennies

During Gen Con, the winners of the 2026 Ennie Awards were announced. The awards highlights some of the best in tabletop gaming over the past year.

The winners are in bold below and denoted what received “Gold” and what received “Silver.” Congrats to all of the winners.

Judges’ Spotlight Winners

  • William Beeson – Girl Frame, Anxious Mimic RPGs
    Author: Isabelle M. Ruebsaat
  • Hans Cummings– Trash to Treasure, Bright Bard Games
    Authors: Jon Boyle and Bri De Danann
  • Christopher Gath – RPG Zine Club: Year 2, Plus One Exp/Alchemical Ink
  • Fiona Katherine Taylor Howat – Tacklebox, Possible Worlds Games
    Authors: J. Walton and James Tadd Adcox
  • Tom King – Draconis: The Call of Adventure, Studio Agate
    Authors: Charlène ‘Chane’ Tabary and Yoan Rigot

Best Adventure – Long Form

  • SILVER – Historica Arcanum: Serenade for the Damned, Metis Creative
    Authors: Metis Creative Studio
  • Terra Antarctica, Edge Studio
    Authors: Leah Hawthorne, Keith Ryan Kappel, Brandon Perdue, Sam Stewart
  • The Spark Devil, H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society
    Author: Sean Branney
  • Tomb of a Thousand Doors, ManaDawn Tabletop Games and Plus One Exp
    Authors: Matthew Morris, Lux Taggert, Sky Svard, Antonio Buch, FriggingFrogs, Derek Mayne, Yar0d, Pulpee, Phybe, Kelly Bean, Kapithan, William Lambert, Owen McGauley, and Isaac Williams, Ellohir, Hugh Lashbrooke, Lancraft, Liam McCrickard, TabletobRPG, BohemiaSpielkunst, Relic913, Flindermouse, Rat’s Nest Games, Lesueur Benoit, Xenio, tim zee, Tumultous Tabletop, and Marcos_BM
  • GOLD – Vaesen – City of My Nightmares, Free League Publishing
    Author: Kiku Pukk Harenstam

Best Adventure – Short Form

  • Camp Snallygaster, Pandion Games
  • SILVER – The Bride of Pendle, Miskatonic Repository
    Author: Jayson Green
  • The White Horse of Lowvale
    Author: Tania Herrero
  • Tragedy at Zaya’s Theatre
    Author: Munkao
  • GOLD – Whispers of the Woods, Heltung Storytelling
    Author: Paweł Kicman

Best Aid/Accessory – Digital

  • Castle of the Vampire Lord, Axolote Gaming
  • SILVER – Pathfinder 2e and Starfinder 2e on Foundry VTT
  • Pocket Bard 3.0 , Pocket Bard Inc.
  • GOLD – The Crooked Moon Alchemy VTT, Avantris Entertainment
  • WestMarches.games, Grimoire AB

Best Aid/Accessory – Non – Digital

  • Game Master Screen, Peter Pauper Press
  • SILVER – Handouts – Ryoko’s lost notes, Loot Tavern Publishing
  • Making Enemies: Monster Design Inspiration for Tabletop Roleplaying Games, Gallery Books
  • Author: Keith Ammann
  • GOLD – The Crooked Moon Tarot Card Set, Avantris Entertainment
  • The Field Guide To Floral Dragons: Dragon Miniature Sets – Botanist, Florist and Gardener , Hit Point Press

Best Art, Cover

  • Book of Spirits, Beyond the Screen
    Artists: Aldo Domínguez, Fen Inkwright
  • SILVER – Historica Arcanum: Echoes of Renaissance, Metis Creative
    Artists: Belgin Kaya, Yağmur Kıyak, Beliz Baytok, Usame Bakar, Alper Bıçaklar, Taha Hakan Arslan, İshak Can Altun, Celia Tang, İlker Serdar Yıldız, Ege Satırcı
  • Mappa Mundi – An Exploration + Ecology RPG, Three Sails Studios
    Artist: Joel Kilpatrick
  • GOLD – The Crooked Moon Standard Edition Hardcover, Avantris Entertainment
    Artist: Xavier Collette
  • Totem – The Spirits’ RPG, Officina Meningi
    Artists: Francesco Biagini & Voidface

Best Art, Interior

  • Ecryme: Player’s Guide, Open Sesame Games, LLC
    Artists: Camille Durand-Kriegel, Émile Denis, Nicolas Fructus, Remton, Francois Schuiten, Sabrina Tobal
  • Household Volume II, Two Little Mice
    Artists: Daniela Giubellini, Antonia De Luca, Federica Costantini, Alessandro Paviolo, Ivana Abbate, Alessandro Cancian, Andrea Tentori Montalto, Arrigo Verderosa
  • GOLD – Legend In The Mist – Core Book, Son of Oak Game Studio
    Artists: Alejandra Pinal, Mariusz Szulc, Mark Hretskyi, Zach Causey
  • Mappa Mundi – An Exploration + Ecology RPG, Three Sails Studios
    Artist: Joel Kilpatrick
  • SILVER – The Field Guide to Floral Dragons Box Set, Hit Point Press
    Artist: Kin Wald

Best Cartography

  • SILVER – Collection of Fantasy Maps II, Open Sesame Games
    Guillaume Tavernier
  • GOLD – Dolmenwood Maps Book, Exalted Funeral Press
    Jonathan Newell, Glynn Seal, Arlin Ortiz
  • Pendragon Gamemaster Screen Pack, Chaosium Inc.
    Francesca Baerald
  • Pilgrims of the Murk Dome, Hollow Press
    Plastiboo
  • Tomb of a Thousand Doors, ManaDawn Tabletop Games and Plus One Exp
    Fernando Salvaterra, Felipe de Faria, Bruno Prosaiko, Alex Damaceno, Josiah Moore, QBR, Lux, and Sky Svard, Oddgob Games

Best Community Content

  • A Patch of Unfurled Green, West Coast Adventurers Guild
    Author: Marc “DM Mythall” Kassouf
  • Sprigs & Kindling Volumes 4:1
    Author: Amanda Mullins
  • SILVER – The Bride of Pendle, Miskatonic Repository
    Author: Jayson Green
  • The Severed Vault
    Author: Jeremy Cheong
  • GOLD – Triangle Agency Fan Zine

Best Family Game / Product

  • Crescent 2e, Mythworks
    Authors: Ema Acosta
  • SILVER – Dragon Town and the Darkness Below
    Author: JP Coovert
  • GOLD – Dungeons & Kittens Starter Set, Edge Studio
    Authors: Clement de Ruyter, Trickytophe, Francois Cedelle, and John Grumph
  • Mushie Missions, Bright Bard Games
    Author: Jon Boyle
  • PiCO, Mythworks
    Author: Felix Isaacs

Best Free Game / Product

  • GOLD – Daggerheart Quickstart Adventure: The Sablewood Messengers, Darrington Press
    Authors: Spenser Starke, Rowan Hall and Mike Underwood
  • SILVER – Legend In the Mist Learn-To-Play Comic Book Adventure, Son of Oak Game Studio LLC
    Author: Amit Moshe, Eran Aviram, Itamar Karbian, Kelly Black
  • SHIFT: Roleplaying Game Basic Rules (FREE RPG DAY), Hit Point Press
    Author: Graeme Fotheringham, Jordan Richer, and Carlos Cisco
  • Sprigs & Kindling Volumes 3-5
    Authors: Arrianna Abraham, Russell Anderson, Bjorn Ove Asprem (Boa), Hank Belanger, Irving Benitez, Justen Bennett, Ben Bisogno, Scott C. Bourgeois, Brendan (Khatyra), Devin R Bruce, J Carter, Tess Chappell, Alexander Thomas Guy Coursolle, Jim Crocker, Kirk Damato, Peter DeCraene, dión // isle in the heavens, Michael Dürr, Leigh Eldridge, Charlie Etheridge-Nunn, Pat Eyler, Mike Ferdinando, Rob Fletcher, Tess Fowler, Wes Franks, Jeremy Gaines, G F Greco, Cassidy Hadlock, Rebecca Hall, Jack Hargreaves, Sydney Hawkins, Lisa Imbryk, Chaotic Jamgochian, Rachael Jamison, Rhyme Jansen, Jazy, Igor Juraszewski, Andrea Klassen, Lukas Kristjanson, Bran Lavigne, MW Lindberg, Billy Lingar, Kevin Macku, Mags Maenad, Marc Majcher, Ben Mansky, Gabe McCormick, Brian Miranda, Amanda Mullins, Scout Munroe, Dori Murdock, Bartosz N (bartosso), J Evan Parks, Levi Phipps, Daniel Qualls, Mike Raichelson, Raymond Rich, Kim Riek, Gabriel Robinson, Nicolas Ronvel, Jesse Ross, Blake Ryan, Alex Rybitski, Brian Sago, salty, shaed, Aaron Sinner, James Smith, Clint Smith, Arkadiusz Stefański, Steph Infection, AJ Summers, Cameron L. Summers, Thwalee, Sean Tibbitts, Mads C Turley, Michael Van Vleet, Alton W, Arthur Wells, Nova Wurmson
  • Triangle Agency Fan Zine
    Authors: Kodasea, Corinna “Jude” Maria Liptáková, MarimoSelkie, Haasio, Sporadic Dialogue, L.S. Moon, fizzyware, DelcanRiven (Onion), Nathan Joseph, Pan, Me_ikko, VoiceoftheOoze, natanco, Nitroserum, Ro_drawzzz, Ash Yggdrasill, MegasomaMars, Wyllora, Ghost of Inks, Doomslug, the_pencil_head, Sleipnir, mntacuyan, iris lemony, Rhodocros, Zoe Traub, Yiu113, AlchemicalClown, SylkWeaver, Pidgeothy, Jack?, Koopstrooper, MGM_101, Robobuilder, Simon da Silva, Copper_KaBell, Boc, iCodeghost, Carbsta, Cinnabar, Totodile, Jazz Fox-Canning

Best Game

  • Coriolis: The Great Dark Core Rulebook, Free League Publishing
    Author: Kosta Kostulas, Nils Karlén, Martin Grip, Svante Landgraf, Shawn Tomkin, Matt Click
    Art: Martin Grip
    Editing: Tomas Harenstam, Mattiaas Johnsson Haake
    Layout/Design: Christian Granath
  • GOLD – Daggerheart Core Set, Darrington Press
    Author: Spenser Starke, Carlos Cisco, Rowan Hall, John Harper, Matthew Mercer, Alex Uboldi, Mike Underwood, Layla Adelman, Meguey Baker, Banana Chan, Chris Davidson, Rue Dickey, Felix Isaacs, Erin Roberts, Deven Rue, Rogan Shannon, Mark Thompson, Eugenio Vargas, Chris Willett
    Art: Nick Acuna, Juan Salvador Almencion, Mauro Alocci, Ana Amaral, Anthony Avon, Mike Azevedo, Zoe Badini, Diana Bakieva, Adam Barker, Eliot Baum, Paul Scott Canavan, Carlos Cardona, Edgar Cardona, Kristina Carroll, Stephanie Cost, Luísa Costa, Katya Cyan, Cybercatbug, Daarken, Nikki Dawes, Carlos C. Díaz, Benjamin Ee, Geoffrey Ernault, Letícia Freitas, Bear Frymire, Gaboleps, Laura Galli, Kristina Gehrmann, James Green, Grant Griffin, Arturo Gutiérrez González, Juan Gutierrez, Leesha Hannigan, Rick Hefner, Suzanne Helmigh, Hendry Iwanaga, Jessketchin, Anthony Jones, Jack Jones, KarrahE, Sam Key, Ivan Koltovich, Alex Konstad, Samantha Kung, Linda Lithén, Samantha B. Lucas, Danil Luzin, Dominik Mayer, Julia Metzger, Maxime Minard, Andrea Tentori Montalto, José Muñoz, Reiko Murakami, Laura Marie Neal, Irina Nordsol, Tamara Osborn, Mike Pape, Jen Estirdalin Pattison, Mila Pesic, Henry Peters, Rafater, Andreas Rocha, Ryan Christian Rodero, Joshua Rodriguez, Henrik Rosenborg, Ilya Royz, Allan Santos, Stanislav Sherbakov, Ernanda Souza, Fernanda Suarez, Jenny Tan, Mat Wilma, Maciej Wojtala
    Editing: Laura Hirsbrunner, Amber Litke, Sadie Lowry, Ashley Michaela “Navigator” Lawson, Scott Gray, Sebastian Yūe

    Layout/Design: Matt Paquette & Co., John Harper, Vee Hendro
  • SILVER – Legend In The Mist – Core Book, Son of Oak Game Studio
    Author: Amit Moshe, Eran Aviram, Itamar Karbian, Kelly Black
    Art: Alejandra Pinal, Marius Zszulc, Mark Hretskyi, Zach Causey
    Editing: Eran Aviram
    Layout/Design: Manuel Serrasáez
  • Sickest Witch Core Rulebook, Severed Books
    Author: Justin Sirois
    Art: Justin Sirois
    Editing: Spencer Ellsworth, Michael Hughes
    Layout/Design: Justin Sirois
  • Thieves of the Tome, First Pancake Studios
    Author: George Philbrick
    Art : Tom Lowell
    Layout/Design: George Philbrick

Best Layout and Design

  • SILVER – Berserkr, Slightly Reckless Games
  • Deadline: A Clockwork Press, The Wanderer’s Tome
  • Midnight Muscadines, Pandion Games
  • Voidheart Symphony (Revised Edition), Rowan Rook & Decard
  • GOLD – Warhammer: the Old World Roleplaying Game, Player’s Guide, Cubicle 7 Entertainment

Best Monster/Adversary

  • SILVER – Dolmenwood Monster Book, Exalted Funeral Press
    Authors: Gavin Norman with Kyle Hettinger, Amelia Luke, James Spahn, Brian Yaksha
    Art: Bianca Canoza, Pauliina Hannuniemi, Jana Heidersdorf, Aaron Howdle, Chris Huth, Tom Kilian, Jethro Lentle, Ellie Livingston, Kyle Patterson, Mish Scott, Ulla Thynell, Andrew Walter, Letty Wilson
  • GOLD – Monsters of Drakkenheim Ghostfire Gaming
    Authors: Monty Martin, Kelly McLaughlin
    Art: Maria Arteta, Mauro Alocci, Andreea Barbu, Clément Blum, Cristina Birtea, Isabell Bartnicki, Marius Bota, Augusto Costa, Alberto dal Lago, Andrei Dragoș Poițelea, Giuseppe De iure, Rafael Dantanna, Sorina Dana Ştefan, Anastassia Grigorieva, Andre Garcia, Isabela Homitchi, Suzanne Helmigh, Will Hallett, Andrei Iacob, Kurt Jakobi, Ona Kristensen, Cristiana Leone, Danil Luzin, Alina Magherusan, Derek Murphy, Fajri Muhammad, Giovana Marion, Guilherme Motta, Laura Marie Neal, Renan Maurilio, Toni Munteanu, Marzena Nereida Piwowar, Olha Nykytiuk, Elizabeth Peiró, Felipe Pérez, Vincenzo Pratticò, Mihai Radu, Oana Roxana Birtea, Renan Ribeiro, George Stratulat, Stephen Sykes, Gaga Turmanishvili, Andreia Ugrai, Rebeca Ungurean, Bianca Vrinceanu, Karin Wittig
  • Starfinder Alien Core, Paizo Inc.
    Author: Kate Baker, Lau Bannenberg, Rigby Bendele,Vishesh Bhartiya, Joseph Blomquist, Jeremy
    Blum, Tineke Bolleman, Brent Bowser, Michael Bramnik, Patrick Brennan, Charlie Brooks, Jessica Catalan, Brite Cheney, Jeremy Corff, Caryn
    DiMarco, Anthony Dollinger, Steve Fidler, Kim Frandsen, Andrew D. Geels, Basheer Ghouse, Sen H.H.S., Katrina Hennessy, Thurston Hillman,
    Joan Hong, Jenny Jarzabski, Sara Jeffers, Mikko Kallio, Lysle Kapp, Mike Kimmel, Dustin Knight, Cole Kronewitter, Mahpiya, Letterio Mammoliti,
    Randal Meyer, Jacob W. Michaels, Matt Morris, Dennis Muldoon, Quinn Murphy, Elizabeth V Nold, Chesley Oxendine, Emily Parks, Glen Parnell,
    Randy Price, Kyle T. Raes, Jessica Redekop, Erin Roberts, James Rodehaver, David N. Ross, Pidj Sorensen, Joel Southall, Kendra Leigh Speedling,
    Drew Taylor, Sam W Tennyson, Jalen Todd, Ruvaid Virk, Viditya Voleti, Christopher Wasko, Nicholas Wasko, Jackson Wery, Shan Wolf, and Basil
    Wright
    Art: János Brumár, Sol Devia, Daniele DiParma, Anna Duma-Baranowska, Miguel Regodón Harkness,
    Ivan Koritarev, Renan Maurilio, Sophie Medvedeva, Guilherme Motta, Guilherme Olivieri, Nikolai Ostertag, Pixoloid Studios (Mark Molnar, Gaspar
    Gombos, Zsolt “Mike” Szabados, Janos Gardos, Peter Lerner, and Almos Balogh), Jino Rufino, Alberto Saraiva, Arthur Enrique Olivera Silva,
    Melissa Spandri, and Veto Zomer
  • The Field Guide to Floral Dragons Box Set, Hit Point Press
    Author: Verity Lane, Chris Pinch, Jordan Richer, Sebastian Yue
    Art: Kin Wald
  • Wrath of the Kaiju, Loot Tavern Publishing
    Authors: Joao Araujo, William Earl, Dai Jia Rong He, Max Wartelle
    Art: Mohammed Bellafquih, Kwanpo “Ari” Cheng, Phan Tuan Dat, Aleksa Drageljevic, Tyler Grayson, Martin Kirby-Jackson, Roman Kuzmin, Rastislav Le, Michelle Mueller, Richard Nguyen, Mukhlis “Sinlaire” Nur, Ognjen Sporin, Rajaa Al-Subairi, Chaouki “Ciao” Titouhi, Souhaib Zekri

Best Online Content

  • GOLD – Designing Dungeons Course: Or, How to Kill a Party in 30 Rooms or Less, Joshua McCrowell & Warren D
  • Explorers Design
  • Golarion Mapping Project, Tabletop RPG Historical Society
  • Molten Sulfur Blog, Molten Sulfur Press
  • SILVER – Solo RPG List

Best Production Values

  • SILVER – Legend In the Mist – Ravenhome Slipcase, Son of Oak Game Studio LLC
  • Mappa Mundi – An Exploration + Ecology RPG, Three Sails Studios
  • Terra Antarctica, Edge Studio
  • GOLD – The Crooked Moon Ultimate Edition, Avantris Entertainment
  • The Spark Devil, H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society

Best RPG Related Product

  • Advent-ure Calendar 20: The Lost Labyrinth, Only Games, Black Oak Workshop
  • GOLD – Beyond the Witching Ring: Dolmenwood Soundtrack Album — 12″” Vinyl LP, Exalted Funeral Press
    Music: Tales Under The Oak
  • Dolmenwood Noble House Enamel Pins Set, Exalted Funeral Press
  • SILVER – Menagerie of Unbearable Things, Tania Herrero
  • Sickest Witch Belt Buckle, Severed Books

Best Rules

  • A Land Once Magic, moreblueberries
    Author: Viditya Voleti
  • GOLD – Daggerheart, Darrington Press
    Authors: Spenser Starke, Carlos Cisco, Rowan Hall, John Harper, Matthew Mercer, Alex Uboldi, Mike Underwood, Layla Adelman, Meguey Baker, Banana Chan, Chris Davidson, Rue Dickey, Felix Isaacs, Erin Roberts, Deven Rue, Rogan Shannon, Mark Thompson, Eugenio Vargas, Chris Willett
  • SILVER – Legend In The Mist – Core Book, Son of Oak Game Studio
    Authors: Amit Moshe, Eran Aviram, Itamar Karbian, Kelly Black
  • Sickest Witch Core Rulebook, Severed Books
    Author: Justin Sirois
  • Thieves of the Tome, First Pancake Studios
    Author: George Philbrick

Best Setting

  • GOLD – Dolmenwood Campaign Book, Exalted Funeral Press
    Authors: Gavin Norman, Chance Dudinack, Luke Gearing, Yves Geens, Noah Green, Greg Gorgonmilk, Kyle Hettinger, Clint Krause, Amelia Luke, Scott Malthouse, Jonathan Newell, Frances Northcutt Green, Amanda P., Doyle Wayne Ramos-Tavener, Glynn Seal, James Spahn, Andrew Walter, Brian Yaksha.
  • Ecryme: Player’s Guide, Open Sesame Games, LLC
    Authors: Alexandre Clavvel, Mathieu Gaborit, Samuel Metzener
  • Grim Hollow: Campaign Guide, Ghostfire Gaming
    Authors: Ben Byrne, Shawn Merwin, Jenn E. Adams, Andrew Bishkinskyi, Jacob Davis, Jackson DiCarlo, Benjamin Evans, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Benjamin Huffman, Chris Lindsay, Ginny Loveday, Pan Lyons, Greg Marks, Elliott Randall, Joe Raso, Kienna Shaw, Anne Smith, Marcello De Velazquez, Christopher Walz, Graham Ward, Ethan Yen
  • Household Volume II, Two Little Mice
    Authors: Ricardo “Rico” Sirignano and Simone Formicola
  • SILVER – Ryokos Guide to the Yokai Realms, Loot Tavern Publishing
    Authors: Joao Araujo, William Earl, Dai Jia Rong He, Max Wartelle

Best Solo Game

  • Odyssey of the Giant, Heltung Storytelling
  • Pirouette, InnocentGoblin TTRPGs
    Author: Michael Sweeney
  • Song of the Scryptwyrm, Almost Bedtime Theater
    Author: Dan Bronson-Lowe
  • GOLD – SPINE: A Dark Solo TTRPG About Losing Yourself in a Book, Backwards Tabletop
    Contributors: Asa Donald, Furt the Goblin, Nala J. Wu, Holly Freiberg
  • SILVER – The Bonsai Diary, Sticky Doodler
    Author: Gene Koo

Best Streaming Content

  • SILVER – Cozy RPG Reviews
  • GOLD – Get Your Sheet Together, Darrington Press
  • How’s My Driving?, The Panic Table & DNGN CLUB GAMES
  • One Shot: Last Train to Bremen, One Shot
  • The Good Friends of Jackson Elias podcast, Blasphemous Tomes

Best Supplement

  • GOLD – Legend In The Mist – Action Grimoire, Son of Oak Game Studio
    Authors: Amit Moshe, Eran Aviram, Itamar Karbian, Kelly Black
  • Mystified!, The Wanderer’s Tome
    Authors: Chelsea Sciortino and Fleur Sciortino
  • No Place Like Homebrew, Roll & Play Press
    Authors: Sam Barlett, Beth Davies
  • The Creative Game Master’s Guide to Extraordinary Locations (& How To Design Them), Bluestone Books
    Author: Duncan Rhodes
  • SILVER – The Painted Wastelands Player’s Guide, Agamemnon Press
    Authors: Tim Molloy, Christopher Willett

Best Writing

  • GOLD – Making Enemies: Monster Design Inspiration for Tabletop Roleplaying Games, Gallery Books
    Author: Keith Ammann
  • Piaga 1348, NEED GAMES!
    Author: Helios Pu
  • Pirouette, InnocentGoblin TTRPGs
    Author: Michael Sweeney
  • SILVER – Rapscallion, Magpie Games
    Author: Whistler, Elizabeth Chaipraditkul, Brendan G. Conway, Mark Diaz Truman
  • StoryBake, Tiny Ghost Chef Games
    Author: Dan Walter

Product of the Year

  • Coriolis: The Great Dark Core Rulebook, Free League Publishing
  • SILVER – Daggerheart, Darrington Press
  • Dolmenwood Campaign Book, Exalted Funeral Press
  • Legend In The Mist – Core Book, Son of Oak Game Studio
  • Menagerie of Unbearable Things Tania Herrero
  • The Bonsai Diary, Gene Koo
  • GOLD – The Crooked Moon Ultimate Edition, Avantris Entertainment
  • The Field Guide to Floral Dragons Box Set, Hit Point Press
  • The Spark Devil, H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society
  • The White Horse of Lowvale, Tania Herrero

The 2026 Ringo Awards Final Ballot Revealed

Ringo Award Nominee

The Ringo Awards have announced the 2026 nominees! The 2026 Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards are to be presented on the evening of Saturday, September 26, 2026 as part of The Baltimore Comic-Con.

The nomination process was completed with the participation of our esteemed 2026 jury as well as the voting public. Fans and comic book professionals alike showed strong support in promoting the voting process on their websites and social media feeds.

Voting on the 2026 Final Ballot is restricted to comic book industry creative community — anyone involved in and credited with creating comics professionally. We now present the 2026 Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards Final Ballot.

Check out the full list of nominations below and congrats to everyone! Head to the Ringo website to vote!

Fan and Pro Nomination Categories

Best Cartoonist (Writer and Artist)

  • Caroline Cash
  • Scott Chantler
  • Anders Nilsen
  • Ben Passmore
  • Tiffany Petitt
  • Mimi Pond
  • Craig Thompson
  • Paige Walshe
  • Ben Wickey

Best Writer

  • Deniz Camp
  • Joseph Schmalke
  • James Tynion IV
  • Robert Venditti
  • Mark Waid

Best Artist or Penciller/Inker Team

  • Becky Cloonan
  • Werther Dell’Eera
  • Jay Fosgitt
  • Javier Rodriguez
  • Liam Sharp
  • Hayden Sherman
  • Stefan Tosheff

Best Letterer

  • Taylor Esposito
  • Rob Leigh
  • Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
  • Troy Peteri
  • Nate Piekos
  • Ben Wickey

Best Colorist

  • Jordie Bellaire
  • John Kalisz
  • Javier Rodriguez
  • Alejandro Sanchez
  • Stefano Simeone
  • Dave Stewart

Best Cover Artist

  • Gabriele Dell’Otto
  • Colm Griffin
  • Tula Lotay
  • Daniel Parent
  • Javier Rodriguez
  • Riley Rossmo

Best Series

  • Absolute Batman, DC Comics
  • Absolute Martian Manhunter, DC Comics
  • Coexistence, self-published
  • FML, Dark Horse Comics
  • Granite State Punk, Orange Cone Productions
  • Murder Podcast, Ignition Press

Best Short Story

  • Chest Face, self-published
  • “Pied Piper” in Cthulhu Invades Fairy Tales, Orange Cone Productions
  • “The Knife and Gun Club” in Detective Comics #1100, DC Comics
  • The Fire Breathing Duckling, Astra Books for Young Readers
  • “Red Snapper in the Rea” in Milk White Steed, Drawn & Quarterly
  • Model Five Murder, Silver Sprocket

Best Original Graphic Novel

  • Black Arms To Hold You Up, Pantheon Books
  • The Corus Wave, Avery Hill Publishing
  • David Dastmachian’s Through, Z2 Comics
  • Do Admit: The Mitford Sisters and Me, Drawn & Quarterly
  • Drome, Macmillan – First Second and 23rd Street
  • The Ephemerata: Shaping the Exquisite Nature of Grief, Fantagraphics
  • Gamemasters: The Comic Book History of Roleplaying Games, Clover Press
  • Herobear and the Kid Vol. 1 – The Inheritance, Papercutz

Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel – Ages 11 and Under

  • Brume Vol. 1, Astra Books for Young Readers
  • The Fire Breathing Duckling, Astra Books for Young Readers,
  • The Lost Sunday, Oni Press
  • Magda, Intergalactic Chef: The Big Tournament, Lerner Publishing Group
  • Max, A Little Axolotl, Scholastics Inc.
  • The Mighty Bite #3: Hog Rocket Ruckus, ABRAMS
  • The Patchwork Girl of Oz Volume 1, Image Comics
  • Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse and the Amazing Lost Ocean, Fantagraphics

Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel – Ages 12 and Up

  • Angelica and the Bear Prince, Penguin Random House/Random House Children’s Books
  • Dracula’s Brunch Club, Oni Press
  • Hello Sunshine, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
  • Hunger’s Bite, Union Square & Co.
  • Raised by Ghosts, Fantagraphics
  • Wynd Book Four: The Power of the Blood, BOOM! Studios

Best Anthology

  • Bowling with Corpses and Other Strange Tales From Lands Unknown, Dark Horse Comics
  • Flash Gordon Adventures Vol. 2, Papercutz
  • Jim Henson Presents, BOOM! Studios
  • Knapsack Magazine Volume 2: Butter, Lucky Pocket Press
  • unSEEN/unHEARD: Disability & Neurodivergence Comic Anthology, self-published
  • Young Men in Love: New Romance, A Wave Blue World

Best Humor Comic

  • The Blues Brothers – The Escape of Joliet Jake, Z2 Comics
  • Everything Sucks: Kings of Nothing, Silver Sprocket
  • The Goon: Them That Don’t Stay Dead, Albatross Funnybooks/Dark Horse Comics
  • How to Survive an Affair, self-published
  • Physics for Cats, Drawn & Quarterly

Best Webcomic

  • Battle Mage Farmer. Tapas Entertainment Inc.
  • Before We Sail, Aces Weekly
  • Daughter of a Thousand Faces. Tapas Entertainment Inc.
  • The Mafia Nanny, WEBTOON Entertainment
  • Marionetta, WEBTOON Entertainment
  • Neon Pantheon, neonpantheoncomic.com

Best Humor Webcomic

  • The Bathroom Ghost, WEBTOON Entertainment
  • Evil Inc., evil-inc.com
  • Harley Quinn in Paradise, DC Comics / DC Go!
  • I Am the Chief, iamthechiefcat.com
  • My Little Warlord, DC Comics / DC Go!
  • Nothing Butt Nightwing, DC Comics / DC Go!
  • Taste of Justice, DC Comics / DC Go!

Best Non-fiction Comic Work

  • Fela: Music is the Weapon, Amistad
  • Ginseng Roots, Pantheon Books
  • Love Letters Every Day, Background Noise
  • Lucas Wars, Macmillan – First Second and 23rd Street
  • Muybridge, Drawn & Quarterly
  • Surrounded: America’s First School for Black Girls, 1832, Ablaze Publishing/NBM Graphic Novels

Best Comics-Related Publication

  • Becoming Frazetta – The Early Years of a Fantasy Art Master, Thrilling Nostalgia Comics
  • COMICS! The Magazine #0, Prana Publishers
  • Facing Feelings: Inside the World of Raina Telgemeier, Scholastic Inc.
  • Graphic Samurai: The Art of Denys Cowan, Gizmoe Press
  • Making Your First Comic, self-published
  • Messiahs, Meshugganahs, Misanthropes, and Mysteries, Fantagraphics

Best Presentation in Design

  • Beasts of the Four Nations: Creatures From Avatar: The Last Airbender, Dark Horse Comics
  • Becoming Frazetta – The Early Years of a Fantasy Art Master, Thrilling Nostalgia Comics
  • Cry Wolf Girl, Silver Sprocket
  • Ginseng Roots, Pantheon Books
  • The Hero Trade: Hero for Sale TPB, Bad Idea
  • Land of Mirrors, Drawn & Quarterly
  • Lone Wolf and Cub Deluxe Edition Volume 1, Dark Horse Comics
  • The Smurfs Archives Vol. 1, Papercutz
  • Tongues, Vol. 1, Pantheon Books

In addition to Final Ballot categories, both Fan-Only Favorites from the nomination ballot and Hero Initiative Awards (The Hero Initiative Lifetime Achievement Award and The Dick Giordano Humanitarian Award) will be presented at the Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards ceremony the evening of September 26, 2026.

The 2026 Eisner Award Winners are…

Eisner Awards Nominee

The winners of the 2026 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards have been announced during a ceremony that took place during San Diego Comic-Con 2026. This year’s awards cover works published between January 1 and December 31, 2025 and was chosen by a panel of judges.

This year’s nominees cover 32 categories, with over 170 print and online titles, from around 75 publishers.

DC was the most decorated publisher with 16 nominations plus 10 shared, Image Comics received 12 nominations and 9 shared, and Fantagraphics received 14 nominations.

Deniz Camp was the most nominated creator with 5 nominations. James Tynion IV received 4 nominations.

Winners are denoted in bold below. Congrats to all of the winners…

Best Short Story

  • “Blood Harvest,” in Brain Damage, by Shintaro Kago, translated by Zack Davisson (Fantagraphics)
  • “The Curse Room,” in Brain Damage, by Shintaro Kago, translated by Zack Davisson (Fantagraphics)
  • “Football Is Not War,” by R. K. Russell and Wilfred Santiago, in Come Out and Play: The Queer Sports Project (Stacked Deck Press)
  • “Red Snapper in the Rea,” by Michael D. Kennedy, in Milk White Steed (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • “trAPPed by Anand RK, Suparna Sharma, and Natalie Obiko Pearson (Bloomberg News)

Best One-Shot/Single Issue

  • Absolute Batman 2025 Annual #1, by Daniel Warren Johnson, James Harren, and Meredith McClaren (DC)
  • Absolute Martian Manhunter #1, by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodriguez (DC)
  • Assorted Crisis Events #4, by Deniz Camp and Eric Zawadski (Image)
  • Coin-Op no. 10: Wet Cement, by Peter and Maria Hoey (Coin-Op Books)
  • Ice Cream Man #43: “One Page Horror Stories,” by W. Maxwell Prince and others (Image)
  • Something Is Killing the Children: A Monster Hunter Walks into a Bar #1, by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera (BOOM! Studios)

Best Continuing Series

  • Absolute Batman, by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, and others (DC)
  • Absolute Wonder Woman, by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, and Mattia De Iulis (DC)
  • The Department of Truth, by James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds (Image)
  • FML, by Kelly Sue DeConnick and David Lopez (Dark Horse)
  • The Power Fantasy, by Kieron Gillen and Caspar Wijngaard (Image)
  • Storm, by Murewa Ayodele, Lucas Werneck, and others (Marvel)

Best Limited Series

  • Absolute Martian Manhunter, by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodriguez (DC)
  • Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring, by Patrick Horvath (IDW)
  • Bronze Faces, by Shobo, Shof, and Alexandre Tefenkgi (BOOM! Studios)
  • Crownsville, by Rodney Barnes and Elia Bonetti (Oni Press)
  • Everything Dead and Dying, by Tate Brombal and Jacob Phillips (Image)
  • Out of Alcatraz, by Christopher Cantwell & Tyler Crook (Oni Press)

Best New Series

  • Assorted Crisis Events, by Deniz Camp and Eric Zawadski (Image)
  • Batman Vol. 4, by Matt Fraction and Jorge Jiménez (DC)
  • Black Cat, by G. Willow Wilson and Gleb Melnikov (Marvel)
  • Exquisite Corpses, by James Tynion IV, Michael Walsh, Pornsak Pichetshote, and others (Image)
  • Ghost Pepper, by Ludo Lullabi (Image)
  • Temporal, by Stephanie Williams and Asiah Fulmore (Mad Cave)

Best Publication for Early Readers

  • All the Hulk Feels, by Dan Santat (Abrams Fanfare/Marvel)
  • The Faraway Forest: Wally’s Route, by Debbie Fong (Chronicle Books)
  • The Fire-Breathing Duckling, by Frank Cammuso (TOON Books)
  • Night Light, by Michael Emberley (Holiday House)
  • Steve, A Rare Egg, by Kelly Collier (Kids Can Press)

Best Publication for Kids

  • The Cartoonists Club, by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud (Scholastic Graphix)
  • Chickenpox, by Remy Lai (Henry Holt Books for Young Readers)
  • Creature Clinic, by Gavin Aung Than (First Second)
  • Night Chef: An Epic Tale of Friendship with a Side of Deliciousness! By Mika Song (Random House Graphic)
  • Oasis, by Guojing (Godwin Books/Henry Holt Books for Young Readers)
  • A Song for You and I, by K. O’Neill (Random House Graphic)

Best Publication for Teens

  • Angelica and the Bear Prince, by Trung Le Nguyen (Random House Graphic)
  • Clementine: Book Three, by Tillie Walden (Image Skybound)
  • Everyone Sux But You, by K. Wroten (Henry Holt Books for Young Readers)
  • Hello Sunshine, by Keezy Young (Little, Brown Ink)
  • This Place Kills Me, by Mariko Tamaki and Nicole Goux (Abrams Fanfare)
  • Trumpets of Death, by Simon Bournel-Bosson, translated by Edward Gauvin (Graphic Universe/Lerner)

Best Humor Publication

  • And to Think We Started as a Book Club, by Tom Toro (Andrews McMeel Universal)
  • Ew, It’s Beautiful: A False Knees Comics Collection, by Joshua Barkman (Andrews McMeel Universal)
  • The Great British Bump-Off: Kill or Be Quilt, by John Allison and Max Sarin (Dark Horse)
  • Jeff the Land Shark, by Kelly Thompson and Tokitokoro (Marvel)
  • Physics for Cats, by Tom Gauld (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Spent: A Comic Novel, by Alison Bechdel (Mariner Books)

Best Anthology

  • Come Out and Play: The Queer Sports Project, edited by Meghan Kemp-Gee and Megan Praz (Stacked Deck Press)
  • DC Pride 2025, edited by Andrea Shea and Jillian Grant (DC)
  • Noir Is the New Black Season 2 (FairSquare Graphics)
  • Stardust the Super Wizard Anthology, edited by Van Jensen (Blue Creek Creative)
  • 2000AD 2026 Annual Featuring Judge Dredd, edited by Oliver Pickles (Rebellion)

Best Reality-Based Work

  • Black Arms to Hold You Up: A History of Black Resistance, by Ben Passmore (Pantheon)
  • Do Admit: The Mitford Sisters and Me, by Mimi Pond (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Fela: Music Is the Weapon, by Jibola Fagbamiye and Conor McCreery (Amistad)
  • Globetrotters: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland’s World Tour, by Julian Voloj and Julie Rocheleau (Abrams ComicArts)
  • Muybridge, by Guy Delisle, translated by Helge Daschert and Rob Aspinal (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Surrounded: America’s First School for Black Girls, 1832, by Wilfrid Lupano and Stéphane Fert (ABLAZE)

Best Graphic Memoir

  • The Ephemerata: Shaping the Exquisite Nature of Grief, by Carol Tyler (Fantagraphics)
  • My Life in 24 Frames Per Second, by Rintaro (Kana Manga US)
  • It Rhymes with Takei, by George Takei, Harmony Becker, Steven Scott, and Justin Eisinger (Top Shelf)
  • Precious Rubbish, by Kayla E. (Fantagraphics)
  • Raised by Ghosts, by Briana Loewinsohn (Fantagraphics)
  • Talking to My Father’s Ghost: An Almost True Story, by Alex Krokus (Chronicle)

Best Graphic Album–New

  • Cannon, by Lee Lai (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Drome, by Jesse Lonergan (23rd St. Books)
  • The Fable of Erkling Woods, by Juni Ba (Goats Flying Press)
  • A Garden of Spheres, by Linnea Sterte (Peow2)
  • More Weight: A Salem Story, by Ben Wickey (Top Shelf)
  • Shadows of the Sea, by Cathy Malkasian (Fantagraphics)

Best Graphic Album–Reprint

  • Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Storybook Edition, by Patrick Horvath (IDW)
  • Ginseng Roots: A Memoir, by Craig Thompson (Pantheon)
  • Goes Like This, by Jordan Crane (Fantagraphics)
  • Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen: The Deluxe Editionby Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber (DC)
  • Tongues, by Anders Nilsen (Pantheon)

Best Adaptation from Another Medium

  • Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, Book 1), by Tamora Pierce, adapted by Vita Ayala and Sama Beck (Abrams Fanfare)
  • The Compleat Angler: A Graphic Adaptation, by Izaak Walton, adapted by Gareth Brookes (SelfMadeHero)
  • Dead Man Walking: Graphic Edition, by Sister Helen Prejean, adapted by Rose Vines and Catherine Anyango Grünewald (Random House)
  • Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel, by Jewell Parker Rhodes and Setor Fiadzigbey (Little, Brown Ink)
  • Lord of the Flies: The Graphic Novel, by William Golding, adapted by Aimée De Jongh (Penguin Classics)
  • A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel, by Ursula K. Le Guin, adapted by Fred Fordham (Clarion Books)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material

  • Buff Soul, by Moa Romanova, translated by Melissa Bowers (Fantagraphics)
  • Cornelius: The Merry Life of a Wretched Dog, by Marc Torices, translated by Andrea Rosenberg (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • In the End We All Die, by Tobias Aeschbacher, translated by Andrew Shields (Helvetiq)
  • Nocturnos, by Laura Perez, translated by Andrea Rosenberg (Fantagraphics)
  • Raging Clouds, by Yudori (Fantagraphics)
  • Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, by Anaïs Flogny, translated by Dan Christensen (Abrams ComicArts)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material–Asia

  • Hirayasumi, vols. 4–7, by Keigo Shinzo, translated by Jan Mitsuko Cash (VIZ Media)
  • Land, vol. 1, by Kazumi Yamashita, translated by Kevin Gifford (Yen Press)
  • Purgatory Funeral Cakes, by Sanho, translated by Danny Lim (Dark Horse)
  • Tokyo Alien Bros., vols. 1–3, by Keigo Shinzo, translated by Casey Loe (VIZ Media)
  • Yan, vols. 1–2, by Chang Sheng, translated by Vanessa Liu (Titan Manga)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips

  • Arthur Ferrier’s Pin-Up Parade Box Set, edited by Rian Hughes (Korero Press)
  • Barnaby, vol. 5: 1950–1952, by Crockett Johnson, edited by Eric Reynolds and Philip Nel (Fantagraphics)
  • The George Herriman Library: Krazy & Ignatz 1928–1930, edited by J. Michael Catron and Bill Blackbeard (Fantagraphics)
  • Rea Irvin’s The Smythes, edited by R. Kikuo Johnson and Dash Shaw (NYRC)
  • Terminal Exposure: Comics, Sculpture, and Risky Behavior, by Michael McMillan, edited by Lucas Adams (NYRC)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books

  • AKIRA Volumes 1–5 Hardcover Collection, by Katsuhiro Otomo, edited by Haruko Hashimoto, Ajani Oloye, and Lauren Scanlan (Kodansha USA Publishing)
  • The Atlas Comics Library No. 7: Girl Comics, edited by Dr. Michael J. Vassallo (Fantagraphics)
  • Comics of the Movement #1by Courtland Cox, Jennifer Lawson, Alfred Hassler, and Benton Resnik (Good Trouble Comics)
  • Hothead Paisan, by Diane DiMassa, organized by Anika Banister (NYRC)
  • Scream! The Specials 1985–2024, edited by Chiara Mestieri (Rebellion)
  • Weird Science Vol. 1 XXL, edited by Grant Geissman (TASCHEN)

Best Academic/Scholarly Work

  • Comic Art in Korea, by John A. Lent (University Press of Mississippi)
  • Comics of the Anthropocene: Graphic Narrative at the End of Nature, by José Alaniz (University Press of Mississippi)
  • Graphic Narratives of Resistance, by Jennifer Boum Make and Charly Verstraet (Edinburgh University Press)
  • Latinx Comics Studies: Critical and Creative Crossings, edited by Fernanda Díaz-Basteris and Maite Urcaregui (Rutgers University Press)
  • Manga’s First Century: How Creators and Fans Made Japanese Comics, 1905–1989, by Andrea Horbinski (University of California Press)

Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism

  • CANON, by Colin Blanchette and Alex Eklund
  • Comic Book Creator, edited by Jon B. Cooke (TwoMorrows)
  • Dummy, edited by John Kelly (The Dummy Corporation)
  • Shelfdust, edited by Steve Morris, http://www.shelfdust.com
  • SKTCHD, by David Harper, http://www.sktchd.com
  • SOLRAD: The Online Literary Magazine for Comics, edited by Daniel Elkin, http://www.solrad.co (Fieldmouse Press)

Best Comics-Related Book

  • Crumb: A Cartoonist’s Life, by Dan Nadel (Scribner)
  • Facing Feelings: Inside the World of Raina Telgemeier, by Raina Telgemeier (Scholastic)
  • How Comics Are Made, by Glenn Fleishman (Andrews McMeel)
  • Making Nonfiction Comics: A Guide to Graphic Narrative, by Eleri Harris and Shay Mirk (Abrams ComicArts)
  • Only What’s Necessary: Charles M. Schulz and the Art of Peanuts, by Chip Kidd (Abrams ComicArts)
  • Ooops…I Just Catharted!: Fifty Years of Cathartic Comics, by Rupert Kinnard, edited by William O. Tyler (Stacked Deck Press)

Best Publication Design

  • The Art of Manga, designed by Tessa Lee (Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco/VIZ Media)
  • The Essential Peanuts, designed by Shawn Dahl with Chip Kidd (Abrams ComicArts)
  • Fruits Basket: The Complete Box Set (Collector’s Edition #13), designed by Wendy Chan (Yen Press)
  • Red Light Properties: Unfinished Business, designed by Dan Goldman (Kinjin Storylab)
  • The Marvel Art of Michael Allred Slipcase Edition, designed by Kurtis Findlay (Clover Press)
  • Weird Science Vol. 1 XXL, designed by Anna-Tina Kessler (TASCHEN)

Best Webcomic

  • The Accidental Undergrad by Christian Giroux (Fieldmouse Press)  
  • Keeping Time by Kody Okamoto (keepingtimecomic.com) 
  • The Legend of Parvaterra by Raúl Arnáiz (WEBTOON)
  • Sable: A Ghost Story, by Ethan M. Aldridge (sablecomic.com) 
  • Superfish, by Peglo (WEBTOON) 
  • Terran Omega: The Ghosts of War, by PJ Holden (pauljholden.com) 
  • Tiger, Tiger by Petra Erika Nordlund (tigertigercomic.com) 

Best Digital Comic

  • DeadAss, by hakei (VIZ Media)
  • In the Real Dark Night, by Jimmy Gownley (G-Ville Comics)
  • The Lycan, by Mike Carey, Thomas Jane, David James Kelly, and Diego Yapur (Comixology Originals)
  • Overwatch 2: Against the Tide, by Brandon Chen and Velinxi (Blizzard Entertainment)
  • Practical Defense Against Piracy, by Tony Cliff (delilahdirk.com)
  • The World of Lublu, by Charbak Dipta (The Charbax Store)

Best Writer

  • Deniz Camp, Absolute Martian Manhunter (DC); Assorted Crisis Events (Image); The Ultimates (Marvel)
  • Scott Snyder, Absolute Batman, Batman/Deadpool (DC); By a Thread: Book 2 (Comixology Originals), You Won’t Feel a Thing (DSTLRY)
  • Mariko Tamaki, This Place Kills Me (Abrams Fanfare)
  • Kelly Thompson, Absolute Wonder Woman, Birds of Prey (DC); Jeff the Land Shark (Marvel)
  • James Tynion IV, Something Is Killing the Children, Wynd: The Power of the Blood (BOOM! Studios); Let This One Be a Devil, Red Book (Dark Horse); The City Beneath Her Feet (DSTLRY); The Department of Truth, Exquisite Corpses, W0RLDTR33 (Image); Universal Monsters: The Invisible Man (Image Skybound)
  • Stephanie Williams, Street Sharks (IDW); Roots of Madness (Ignition Press); Temporal (Mad Cave)

Best Writer/Artist

  • Juni Ba, The Boy Wonder (DC); The Fable of Erkling Woods (Goats Flying Press); Monkey Meat Summer Batch (Image)
  • Jamal Campbell, Zatanna (DC)
  • Jesse Lonergan, Drome (23rd St. Books)
  • Chang Sheng, Yan, vols. 1–2 (Titan Manga)
  • Linnea Sterte, A Garden of Spheres (Peow2)
  • Kazumi Yamashita, Land, vol. 1 (Yen Press)

Best Penciller/Inker

  • Elsa Charetier, The City Beneath Her Feet (DSTLRY)
  • Sean Phillips, Giant Size Criminal #1, The Knives: A Criminal Book (Image)
  • Javier Rodriguez, Absolute Martian Manhunter (DC)
  • Chris Samnee, Batman and Robin: Year One (DC)
  • Hayden Sherman, Absolute Wonder Woman, Batman: Dark Patterns (DC)
  • Eric Zawadzki, Assorted Crisis Events (Image)

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist

  • Teddy Kristiansen, Black Hammer: Spiral City (Dark Horse)
  • Cathy Malkasian, Shadows of the Sea (Fantagraphics)
  • Qu, Slices of Life: A Comic Montage (Bulgilhan Press)
  • Martin Simmonds, The Department of Truth (Image)
  • Mika Song, Night Chef: An Epic Tale of Friendship with a Side of Deliciousness! (Random House Graphic)
  • Linnea Sterte, A Garden of Spheres (Peow)

Best Cover Artist

  • Juni Ba, The Boy Wonder (DC); The Fable of Erkling Woods (Goats Flying Press); TMNT Nightwatcher, TMNT Godzilla (IDW); Monkey Meat Summer Batch (Image)
  • Nick Dragotta, Absolute Batman, Absolute Batman 2025 Annual, Batman #1, Batman/Deadpool (DC)
  • Francesco Francavilla, Cyberpunk 2077, Star Wars: Tales from the Nightlands (Dark Horse); Absolute Batman, Absolute Martian Manhunter, Batman: Full Moon, Nightwing variants (DC); Green Hornet/Miss Fury (Dynamite); Star Trek: The Last Starship, Twilight Zone (IDW); Dick Tracy (Mad Cave)
  • Mateus Manhanini, Absolute SupermanAbsolute Wonder Woman, Mr. Terrific: Year One variants (DC); Doctor Strange, Ironheart: Bad Chemistry, Miles Morales: Spider-Man, Phases of the Moon Knight, Star Wars: The High Republic, Storm, The Ultimates (Marvel)
  • Javier Rodriguez, Absolute Martian Manhunter, Batman & Robin: Year One #7, The New Gods #8 (DC)
  • Hayden Sherman, Absolute Wonder Woman, Batman: Dark Patterns #3-12 (DC)

Best Coloring

  • Jordie Bellaire, Absolute Wonder Woman, The Nice House by the Sea (DC); The Exorcism at 1600 Penn (IDW); Assorted Crisis Events, The Department of Truth, Exquisite Corpses, W0RLDTR33 (Image); GI Joe (Image/Skybound); EC Catacomb of Torment, EC Epitaphs from the Abyss (Oni Press)
  • Ninakupenda Gaillard, Chickenpox (Henry Holt Books for Young Readers)
  • Jesse Lonergan, Drome (23rd St. Books)
  • Matheus Lopes, Batman and Robin Year One (DC); The Seasons (Image)
  • Javier Rodriguez, Absolute Martian Manhunter (DC)
  • José Villarrubia, This Ink Runs Cold (Alan Spiegel Fine Arts); Ghostbox (Comixology Originals); Dracula Book 2: The Brides, The Witcher: The Bear and the Butterfly (Dark Horse); Hunger (The Lab Press); It Rhymes with Takei (Top Shelf)

Best Lettering

  • Janice Chiang, Acro and the Cat, All Upon a Time, Beyond the Aural Vault, Republica, Solarblader (Sandstorm); John Carpenter’s Blood of the Taken: Next of Kin, Pause, Tales of Science Fiction (Storm King)
  • Clayton Cowles, Absolute Batman, Batman, Batman & Robin: Year One, Birds of Prey, Black Canary: Best of the Best, Trinity: Daughter of Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman, (DC); Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1-3 (Marvel)
  • Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, Ill Vacation, Stillman (Comixology Originals); Absolute Martian Manhunter, Challengers of the Unknown, DC K.O., The Flash, Green Arrow, Poison Ivy (DC); Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, The Exorcism at 1600 Penn, Starship Godzilla, (IDW); Author Immortal (Image); Our-Soot-Stained Heart (Mad Cave)
  • Nate Piekos, American Caper #1, Archie Vs. Minor Threats, Black Hammer: Spiral City, The Brood, Minor Threats: The Last Devil Left Alive, Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons, The Umbrella Academy Plan B, Welcome to Twilight (Dark Horse); I Hate Fairyland (Image)
  • Ben Wickey, More Weight: A Salem Story (Top Shelf)

Other awards presented:

  • Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award: Wendy and Richard Pini
  • Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Award: Books with Pictures in Eugene Oregon
  • Hall of Fame winners: Colleen Doran, Jeff Smith, Akira Toriyama, Chris Ware
  • Russ Manning Award for Best Newcomer: Stipan Morian
  • Finger Award: Jenny Blake Isabella

Jeff Smith, The Berndt Toast Gang, and Ed Steckley to be honored by the National Cartoonists Society

National Cartoonists Society

The National Cartoonists Society will hold the 80th Annual Reuben Awards on August 7 in Columbus during its conference running that weekend. Not only will the winners be announced for this year’s awards, numerous individuals will be honored at the event for their contributions.

Jeff Smith will receive the Milton Caniff Lifetime Achievement Award, It celebrates his extraordinary and lasting impact on the art of cartooning. Named for Terry and the Pirates creator Milton Caniff, this award is bestowed by unanimous vote of the NCS Board to recognize a lifetime of outstanding and accomplished work.

Smith grew up on comic strips, comic books, and animation and in 1991 founded Cartoon Books to self-publish Bone. That series would turn into a 55-issue epic fantasy considered a modern classic. The series follows three cousins exiled from Boneville and set off on adventure full of danger. It’s a beloved all-ages series that has gone on to win numerous awards and is considered a “gateway” graphic novel that is an entry point for kids to discover the wonderful world of comics.

Smith co-founded Columbus’ Cartoon Crossroads Columbus Festival and has served on the board of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

The Berndt Toast Gang (aka NCS Long Island Chapter) will be honored with the Gold Key award. It’s awarded by a unanimous vote of the NCS Board of Directors.

Instead of one individual, this years award goes to the Berndt Toast Gang will celebrates 60 years of cartoonists gathering every month on Long Island. The award highlights the group’s sense of community, energy, and spirit that makes it special. The award will be accepted by Chapter Chair Adrian Sinnott on behalf of the chapter and passed along to future leadership.

Finally, Ed Steckley will receive the Silver T-Square Award. Steckley is a longtime member of the National Cartoonists Society and the award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding service to the NCS and a deep dedication to the profession of cartooning.

Steckley has helped guide the NCS through organizational changes, bylaws revisions, NCS Fest, the pandemic, and implementing new technology. He has been a National Representative as well as Vice President and helped the organization numerous ways behind the scenes. He’s also a sought-after illustrator specializing in children’s books, magazines, and advertising.

Ed exemplifies the spirit of the award with outstanding service delivered with humility, reliability, and genuine care for the cartooning community.

The 2026 Eisner Awards Nominees Have Been Revealed

Eisner Awards Nominee

Comic-Con has announced the nominees for the 2026 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards. The nominations cover works published between January 1 and December 31, 2025 and was chosen by a panel of judges.

This year’s nominees cover 32 categories, with over 170 print and online titles, from around 75 publishers.

DC was the most decorated publisher with 16 nominations plus 10 shared, Image Comics received 12 nominations and 9 shared, and Fantagraphics received 14 nominations.

Deniz Camp was the most nominated creator with 5 nominations. James Tynion IV received 4 nominations.

The Eisner Award trophies will be presented in an awards ceremony to be held at the San Diego Hilton Bayfront Hotel during Comic-Con on the evening of July 24.

Below is the full list of this year’s nominees:

Best Short Story

  • “Blood Harvest,” in Brain Damage, by Shintaro Kago, translated by Zack Davisson (Fantagraphics)
  • “The Curse Room,” in Brain Damage, by Shintaro Kago, translated by Zack Davisson (Fantagraphics)
  • “Football Is Not War,” by R. K. Russell and Wilfred Santiago, in Come Out and Play: The Queer Sports Project (Stacked Deck Press)
  • “Red Snapper in the Rea,” by Michael D. Kennedy, in Milk White Steed (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • “trAPPed” by Anand RK, Suparna Sharma, and Natalie Obiko Pearson (Bloomberg News)

Best One-Shot/Single Issue

  • Absolute Batman 2025 Annual #1, by Daniel Warren Johnson, James Harren, and Meredith McClaren (DC)
  • Absolute Martian Manhunter #1, by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodriguez (DC)
  • Assorted Crisis Events #4, by Deniz Camp and Eric Zawadski (Image)
  • Coin-Op no. 10: Wet Cementby Peter and Maria Hoey (Coin-Op Books)
  • Ice Cream Man #43: “One Page Horror Stories,” by W. Maxwell Prince and others (Image)
  • Something Is Killing the Children: A Monster Hunter Walks into a Bar #1, by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera (BOOM! Studios)

Best Continuing Series

  • Absolute Batman, by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, and others (DC)
  • Absolute Wonder Woman, by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, and Mattia De Iulis (DC)
  • The Department of Truthby James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds (Image)
  • FMLby Kelly Sue DeConnick and David Lopez (Dark Horse)
  • The Power Fantasy, by Kieron Gillen and Caspar Wijngaard (Image)
  • Storm, by Murewa Ayodele, Lucas Werneck, and others (Marvel)

Best Limited Series

  • Absolute Martian Manhunter, by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodriguez (DC)
  • Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring, by Patrick Horvath (IDW)
  • Bronze Faces, by Shobo, Shof, and Alexandre Tefenkgi (BOOM! Studios)
  • Crownsville, by Rodney Barnes and Elia Bonetti (Oni Press)
  • Everything Dead and Dying, by Tate Brombal and Jacob Phillips (Image)
  • Out of Alcatraz, by Christopher Cantwell & Tyler Crook (Oni Press)

Best New Series

  • Assorted Crisis Events, by Deniz Camp and Eric Zawadski (Image)
  • Batman Vol. 4by Matt Fraction and Jorge Jiménez (DC)
  • Black Catby G. Willow Wilson and Gleb Melnikov (Marvel)
  • Exquisite Corpses, by James Tynion IV, Michael Walsh, Pornsak Pichetshote, and others (Image)
  • Ghost Pepperby Ludo Lullabi (Image)
  • Temporal, by Stephanie Williams and Asiah Fulmore (Mad Cave)

Best Publication for Early Readers

  • All the Hulk Feels, by Dan Santat (Abrams Fanfare/Marvel)
  • The Faraway Forest: Wally’s Route, by Debbie Fong (Chronicle Books)
  • The Fire-Breathing Duckling, by Frank Cammuso (TOON Books)
  • Night Lightby Michael Emberley (Holiday House)
  • Steve, A Rare Egg, by Kelly Collier (Kids Can Press)

Best Publication for Kids

  • The Cartoonists Club, by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud (Scholastic Graphix)
  • Chickenpox, by Remy Lai (Henry Holt Books for Young Readers)
  • Creature Clinic, by Gavin Aung Than (First Second)
  • Night Chef: An Epic Tale of Friendship with a Side of Deliciousness! By Mika Song (Random House Graphic)
  • Oasis, by Guojing (Godwin Books/Henry Holt Books for Young Readers)
  • A Song for You and I, by K. O’Neill (Random House Graphic)

Best Publication for Teens

  • Angelica and the Bear Prince, by Trung Le Nguyen (Random House Graphic)
  • Clementine: Book Three, by Tillie Walden (Image Skybound)
  • Everyone Sux But You, by K. Wroten (Henry Holt Books for Young Readers)
  • Hello Sunshine, by Keezy Young (Little, Brown Ink)
  • This Place Kills Me, by Mariko Tamaki and Nicole Goux (Abrams Fanfare)
  • Trumpets of Death, by Simon Bournel-Bosson, translated by Edward Gauvin (Graphic Universe/Lerner)

Best Humor Publication

  • And to Think We Started as a Book Clubby Tom Toro (Andrews McMeel Universal)
  • Ew, It’s Beautiful: A False Knees Comics Collection, by Joshua Barkman (Andrews McMeel Universal)
  • The Great British Bump-Off: Kill or Be Quilt, by John Allison and Max Sarin (Dark Horse)
  • Jeff the Land Shark, by Kelly Thompson and Tokitokoro (Marvel)
  • Physics for Cats, by Tom Gauld (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Spent: A Comic Novel, by Alison Bechdel (Mariner Books)

Best Anthology

  • Come Out and Play: The Queer Sports Project, edited by Meghan Kemp-Gee and Megan Praz (Stacked Deck Press)
  • DC Pride 2025, edited by Andrea Shea and Jillian Grant (DC)
  • Noir Is the New Black Season 2 (FairSquare Graphics)
  • Stardust the Super Wizard Anthologyedited by Van Jensen (Blue Creek Creative)
  • 2000AD 2026 Annual Featuring Judge Dreddedited by Oliver Pickles (Rebellion)

Best Reality-Based Work

  • Black Arms to Hold You Up: A History of Black Resistance, by Ben Passmore (Pantheon)
  • Do Admit: The Mitford Sisters and Me, by Mimi Pond (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Fela: Music Is the Weapon, by Jibola Fagbamiye and Conor McCreery (Amistad)
  • Globetrotters: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland’s World Tourby Julian Voloj and Julie Rocheleau (Abrams ComicArts)
  • Muybridge, by Guy Delisle, translated by Helge Daschert and Rob Aspinal (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Surrounded: America’s First School for Black Girls, 1832, by Wilfrid Lupano and Stéphane Fert (ABLAZE)

Best Graphic Memoir

  • The Ephemerata: Shaping the Exquisite Nature of Grief, by Carol Tyler (Fantagraphics)
  • My Life in 24 Frames Per Second, by Rintaro (Kana Manga US)
  • It Rhymes with Takei, by George Takei, Harmony Becker, Steven Scott, and Justin Eisinger (Top Shelf)
  • Precious Rubbish, by Kayla E. (Fantagraphics)
  • Raised by Ghosts, by Briana Loewinsohn (Fantagraphics)
  • Talking to My Father’s Ghost: An Almost True Story, by Alex Krokus (Chronicle)

Best Graphic Album–New

  • Cannon, by Lee Lai (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Drome, by Jesse Lonergan (23rd St. Books)
  • The Fable of Erkling Woods, by Juni Ba (Goats Flying Press)
  • A Garden of Spheres, by Linnea Sterte (Peow2)
  • More Weight: A Salem Story, by Ben Wickey (Top Shelf)
  • Shadows of the Sea, by Cathy Malkasian (Fantagraphics)

Best Graphic Album–Reprint

  • Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Storybook Edition, by Patrick Horvath (IDW)
  • Ginseng Roots: A Memoir, by Craig Thompson (Pantheon)
  • Goes Like Thisby Jordan Crane (Fantagraphics)
  • Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen: The Deluxe Editionby Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber (DC)
  • Tongues, by Anders Nilsen (Pantheon)

Best Adaptation from Another Medium

  • Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, Book 1), by Tamora Pierce, adapted by Vita Ayala and Sama Beck (Abrams Fanfare)
  • The Compleat Angler: A Graphic Adaptation, by Izaak Walton, adapted by Gareth Brookes (SelfMadeHero)
  • Dead Man Walking: Graphic Edition, by Sister Helen Prejean, adapted by Rose Vines and Catherine Anyango Grünewald (Random House)
  • Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel, by Jewell Parker Rhodes and Setor Fiadzigbey (Little, Brown Ink)
  • Lord of the Flies: The Graphic Novel, by William Golding, adapted by Aimée De Jongh (Penguin Classics)
  • A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel, by Ursula K. Le Guin, adapted by Fred Fordham (Clarion Books)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material

  • Buff Soul, by Moa Romanova, translated by Melissa Bowers (Fantagraphics)
  • Cornelius: The Merry Life of a Wretched Dog, by Marc Torices, translated by Andrea Rosenberg (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • In the End We All Dieby Tobias Aeschbacher, translated by Andrew Shields (Helvetiq)
  • Nocturnos, by Laura Perez, translated by Andrea Rosenberg (Fantagraphics)
  • Raging Cloudsby Yudori (Fantagraphics)
  • Smoke Gets in Your Eyesby Anaïs Flogny, translated by Dan Christensen (Abrams ComicArts)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material–Asia

  • Hirayasumi, vols. 4–7, by Keigo Shinzo, translated by Jan Mitsuko Cash (VIZ Media)
  • Land, vol. 1, by Kazumi Yamashita, translated by Kevin Gifford (Yen Press)
  • Purgatory Funeral Cakes, by Sanho, translated by Danny Lim (Dark Horse)
  • Tokyo Alien Bros., vols. 1–3, by Keigo Shinzo, translated by Casey Loe (VIZ Media)
  • Yan, vols. 1–2, by Chang Sheng, translated by Vanessa Liu (Titan Manga)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips

  • Arthur Ferrier’s Pin-Up Parade Box Set, edited by Rian Hughes (Korero Press)
  • Barnaby, vol. 5: 1950–1952, by Crockett Johnson, edited by Eric Reynolds and Philip Nel (Fantagraphics)
  • The George Herriman Library: Krazy & Ignatz 1928–1930, edited by J. Michael Catron and Bill Blackbeard (Fantagraphics)
  • Rea Irvin’s The Smythes, edited by R. Kikuo Johnson and Dash Shaw (NYRC)
  • Terminal Exposure: Comics, Sculpture, and Risky Behaviorby Michael McMillan, edited by Lucas Adams (NYRC)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books

  • AKIRA Volumes 1–5 Hardcover Collection, by Katsuhiro Otomo, edited by Haruko Hashimoto, Ajani Oloye, and Lauren Scanlan (Kodansha USA Publishing)
  • The Atlas Comics Library No. 7: Girl Comicsedited by Dr. Michael J. Vassallo (Fantagraphics)
  • Comics of the Movement #1by Courtland Cox, Jennifer Lawson, Alfred Hassler, and Benton Resnik (Good Trouble Comics)
  • Hothead Paisan, by Diane DiMassa, organized by Anika Banister (NYRC)
  • Scream! The Specials 1985–2024, edited by Chiara Mestieri (Rebellion)
  • Weird Science Vol. 1 XXLedited by Grant Geissman (TASCHEN)

Best Academic/Scholarly Work

  • Comic Art in Korea, by John A. Lent (University Press of Mississippi)
  • Comics of the Anthropocene: Graphic Narrative at the End of Nature, by José Alaniz (University Press of Mississippi)
  • Graphic Narratives of Resistanceby Jennifer Boum Make and Charly Verstraet (Edinburgh University Press)
  • Latinx Comics Studies: Critical and Creative Crossings, edited by Fernanda Díaz-Basteris and Maite Urcaregui (Rutgers University Press)
  • Manga’s First Century: How Creators and Fans Made Japanese Comics, 1905–1989, by Andrea Horbinski (University of California Press)

Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism

  • CANONby Colin Blanchette and Alex Eklund
  • Comic Book Creator, edited by Jon B. Cooke (TwoMorrows)
  • Dummy, edited by John Kelly (The Dummy Corporation)
  • Shelfdust, edited by Steve Morris, http://www.shelfdust.com
  • SKTCHD, by David Harper, http://www.sktchd.com
  • SOLRAD: The Online Literary Magazine for Comics, edited by Daniel Elkin, http://www.solrad.co (Fieldmouse Press)

Best Comics-Related Book

  • Crumb: A Cartoonist’s Life, by Dan Nadel (Scribner)
  • Facing Feelings: Inside the World of Raina Telgemeierby Raina Telgemeier (Scholastic)
  • How Comics Are Madeby Glenn Fleishman (Andrews McMeel)
  • Making Nonfiction Comics: A Guide to Graphic Narrative, by Eleri Harris and Shay Mirk (Abrams ComicArts)
  • Only What’s Necessary: Charles M. Schulz and the Art of Peanuts, by Chip Kidd (Abrams ComicArts)
  • Ooops…I Just Catharted!: Fifty Years of Cathartic Comics, by Rupert Kinnard, edited by William O. Tyler (Stacked Deck Press)

Best Publication Design

  • The Art of Manga, designed by Tessa Lee (Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco/VIZ Media)
  • The Essential Peanutsdesigned by Shawn Dahl with Chip Kidd (Abrams ComicArts)
  • Fruits Basket: The Complete Box Set (Collector’s Edition #13), designed by Wendy Chan (Yen Press)
  • Red Light Properties: Unfinished Business, designed by Dan Goldman (Kinjin Storylab)
  • The Marvel Art of Michael Allred Slipcase Edition, designed by Kurtis Findlay (Clover Press)
  • Weird Science Vol. 1 XXLdesigned by Anna-Tina Kessler (TASCHEN)

Best Webcomic

  • The Accidental Undergrad by Christian Giroux (Fieldmouse Press)  
  • Keeping Time by Kody Okamoto (keepingtimecomic.com) 
  • The Legend of Parvaterra by Raúl Arnáiz (WEBTOON)
  • Sable: A Ghost Story, by Ethan M. Aldridge (sablecomic.com) 
  • Superfish, by Peglo (WEBTOON) 
  • Terran Omega: The Ghosts of War, by PJ Holden (pauljholden.com) 
  • Tiger, Tiger by Petra Erika Nordlund (tigertigercomic.com) 

Best Digital Comic

  • DeadAssby hakei (VIZ Media)
  • In the Real Dark Night, by Jimmy Gownley (G-Ville Comics)
  • The Lycan, by Mike Carey, Thomas Jane, David James Kelly, and Diego Yapur (Comixology Originals)
  • Overwatch 2: Against the Tideby Brandon Chen and Velinxi (Blizzard Entertainment)
  • Practical Defense Against Piracy, by Tony Cliff (delilahdirk.com)
  • The World of Lublu, by Charbak Dipta (The Charbax Store)

Best Writer

  • Deniz CampAbsolute Martian Manhunter (DC); Assorted Crisis Events (Image); The Ultimates (Marvel)
  • Scott SnyderAbsolute Batman, Batman/Deadpool (DC); By a Thread: Book 2 (Comixology Originals), You Won’t Feel a Thing (DSTLRY)
  • Mariko TamakiThis Place Kills Me (Abrams Fanfare)
  • Kelly ThompsonAbsolute Wonder Woman, Birds of Prey (DC); Jeff the Land Shark (Marvel)
  • James Tynion IVSomething Is Killing the Children, Wynd: The Power of the Blood (BOOM! Studios); Let This One Be a Devil, Red Book (Dark Horse); The City Beneath Her Feet (DSTLRY); The Department of Truth, Exquisite Corpses, W0RLDTR33 (Image); Universal Monsters: The Invisible Man (Image Skybound)
  • Stephanie WilliamsStreet Sharks (IDW); Roots of Madness (Ignition Press); Temporal (Mad Cave)

Best Writer/Artist

  • Juni Ba, The Boy Wonder (DC); The Fable of Erkling Woods (Goats Flying Press); Monkey Meat Summer Batch (Image)
  • Jamal CampbellZatanna (DC)
  • Jesse LonerganDrome (23rd St. Books)
  • Chang ShengYan, vols. 1–2 (Titan Manga)
  • Linnea Sterte, A Garden of Spheres (Peow2)
  • Kazumi YamashitaLand, vol. 1 (Yen Press)

Best Penciller/Inker

  • Elsa CharetierThe City Beneath Her Feet (DSTLRY)
  • Sean PhillipsGiant Size Criminal #1, The Knives: A Criminal Book (Image)
  • Javier RodriguezAbsolute Martian Manhunter (DC)
  • Chris SamneeBatman and Robin: Year One (DC)
  • Hayden ShermanAbsolute Wonder Woman, Batman: Dark Patterns (DC)
  • Eric ZawadzkiAssorted Crisis Events (Image)

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist

  • Teddy KristiansenBlack Hammer: Spiral City (Dark Horse)
  • Cathy Malkasian, Shadows of the Sea (Fantagraphics)
  • QuSlices of Life: A Comic Montage (Bulgilhan Press)
  • Martin SimmondsThe Department of Truth (Image)
  • Mika SongNight Chef: An Epic Tale of Friendship with a Side of Deliciousness! (Random House Graphic)
  • Linnea Sterte, A Garden of Spheres (Peow)

Best Cover Artist

  • Juni BaThe Boy Wonder (DC); The Fable of Erkling Woods (Goats Flying Press); TMNT Nightwatcher, TMNT Godzilla (IDW); Monkey Meat Summer Batch (Image)
  • Nick DragottaAbsolute Batman, Absolute Batman 2025 Annual, Batman #1, Batman/Deadpool (DC)
  • Francesco FrancavillaCyberpunk 2077, Star Wars: Tales from the Nightlands (Dark Horse); Absolute Batman, Absolute Martian Manhunter, Batman: Full Moon, Nightwing variants (DC); Green Hornet/Miss Fury (Dynamite); Star Trek: The Last Starship, Twilight Zone (IDW); Dick Tracy (Mad Cave)
  • Mateus ManhaniniAbsolute SupermanAbsolute Wonder Woman, Mr. Terrific: Year One variants (DC); Doctor Strange, Ironheart: Bad Chemistry, Miles Morales: Spider-Man, Phases of the Moon Knight, Star Wars: The High Republic, Storm, The Ultimates (Marvel)
  • Javier RodriguezAbsolute Martian Manhunter, Batman & Robin: Year One #7, The New Gods #8 (DC)
  • Hayden ShermanAbsolute Wonder Woman, Batman: Dark Patterns #3-12 (DC)

Best Coloring

  • Jordie BellaireAbsolute Wonder Woman, The Nice House by the Sea (DC); The Exorcism at 1600 Penn (IDW); Assorted Crisis Events, The Department of Truth, Exquisite Corpses, W0RLDTR33 (Image); GI Joe (Image/Skybound); EC Catacomb of Torment, EC Epitaphs from the Abyss (Oni Press)
  • Ninakupenda GaillardChickenpox (Henry Holt Books for Young Readers)
  • Jesse LonerganDrome (23rd St. Books)
  • Matheus LopesBatman and Robin Year One (DC); The Seasons (Image)
  • Javier RodriguezAbsolute Martian Manhunter (DC)
  • José VillarrubiaThis Ink Runs Cold (Alan Spiegel Fine Arts); Ghostbox (Comixology Originals); Dracula Book 2: The Brides, The Witcher: The Bear and the Butterfly (Dark Horse); Hunger (The Lab Press); It Rhymes with Takei (Top Shelf)

Best Lettering

  • Janice ChiangAcro and the Cat, All Upon a Time, Beyond the Aural Vault, Republica, Solarblader (Sandstorm); John Carpenter’s Blood of the Taken: Next of Kin, Pause, Tales of Science Fiction (Storm King)
  • Clayton Cowles, Absolute Batman, Batman, Batman & Robin: Year One, Birds of Prey, Black Canary: Best of the Best, Trinity: Daughter of Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman, (DC); Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1-3 (Marvel)
  • Hassan Otsmane-ElhaouIll Vacation, Stillman (Comixology Originals); Absolute Martian Manhunter, Challengers of the Unknown, DC K.O., The Flash, Green Arrow, Poison Ivy (DC); Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, The Exorcism at 1600 Penn, Starship Godzilla, (IDW); Author Immortal (Image); Our-Soot-Stained Heart (Mad Cave)
  • Nate PiekosAmerican Caper #1, Archie Vs. Minor Threats, Black Hammer: Spiral City, The Brood, Minor Threats: The Last Devil Left Alive, Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons, The Umbrella Academy Plan B, Welcome to Twilight (Dark Horse); I Hate Fairyland (Image)
  • Ben WickeyMore Weight: A Salem Story (Top Shelf)

Comics Represent! Anand RK and Daniel Kraus are Pulitzer Prize Winners

Pulitzer Prize

The winners of the 2026 Pulitzer Prizes have been announced and comics were well represented with two comic community members receiving recognition. The Pulitzer is an award recognizing the best in journalism, literature, music, and drama. You can find the full list of winners here.

Anand RK, Suparna Sharma, and Natalie Obiko have been recognized for traPPed in “Illustrated Reporting and Commentary.”

traPPed is a riveting account of a neurologist in India held under “digital arrest” by her phone, reporting that uses visuals and words to cast light on the growing global challenges of surveillance and digital scams.

Anand RK has previously won an Eisner and worked for Image, BOOM!, Dark Horse, 200AD, Heavy Metal, DC Comics, Vault, and more.

Daniel Kraus was recognized in the “Books, Drama, & Music” category and “Fiction” for Angel Down published by Atria Books. The book is a breathless novel of World War I, a stylistic tour-de-force that blends such genres as allegory, magical realism and science fiction into a cohesive whole, told in a single sentence.

Kraus is a New York Times bestselling writer of novels, TV, and film. His novel Whalefall received a front-cover review in The New York Times Book Review, won the Alex Award, was an LA Times Book Prize Finalist, and was a Best Book of 2023 from NPR, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and more. With Guillermo del Toro, he coauthored The Shape of Water, based on the same idea the two created for the Oscar–winning film. Also with del Toro, Kraus coauthored Trollhunters, which was adapted into the Emmy-winning Netflix series. His also cowrote The Living Dead and Pay the Piper with legendary filmmaker George A. Romero. Kraus’s The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch was named one of Entertainment Weekly’s Top 10 Books of the Year. Kraus has won the Bram Stoker Award, Scribe Award, two Odyssey Awards (for both Rotters and Scowler), and has appeared multiple times as Library Guild selections, YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, and more. His work has been translated into over twenty languages. He lives with his wife in Chicago.

In comics, he’s written for Vault, AWA, Skybound and Image.

Congrats to all of the winners and those recognized for their amazing work.

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