The 2026 Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards were presented on the evening of Saturday, September 26, 2026 as part of The Baltimore Comic-Con. While you can check out the winners, the Ringo Awards have released the full live-streamed ceremony as well as highlights from some of the speeches that you can watch on demand.
Check out Terry Moore’s keynote speech along with Jim Lee’s lifetime achievement speech and more!
The Ringo Awards have announced the 2026 winners! The 2026 Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awardswere 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.
The winners below are noted in bold with “winner” next to them. Congrats to everyone!
Fan and Pro Nomination Categories
Best Cartoonist (Writer and Artist)
Caroline Cash
Scott Chantler
Anders Nilsen
Ben Passmore
Tiffany Petitt
Mimi Pond
Craig Thompson – Winner
Paige Walshe
Ben Wickey
Best Writer
Deniz Camp – Winner
Joseph Schmalke
James Tynion IV
Robert Venditti
Mark Waid
Best Artist or Penciller/Inker Team
Becky Cloonan
Werther Dell’Eera
Jay Fosgitt
Javier Rodriguez – Winner
Liam Sharp
Hayden Sherman
Stefan Tosheff
Best Letterer
Taylor Esposito
Rob Leigh
Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou – Winner
Troy Peteri
Nate Piekos
Ben Wickey
Best Colorist
Jordie Bellaire
John Kalisz
Javier Rodriguez
Alejandro Sanchez
Stefano Simeone
Dave Stewart – Winner
Best Cover Artist
Gabriele Dell’Otto
Colm Griffin
Tula Lotay
Daniel Parent
Javier Rodriguez – Winner
Riley Rossmo
Best Series
Absolute Batman, DC Comics – Winner
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 – Winner
“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 – Winner
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 – Winner
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 – Winner
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 – Winner
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 – Winner
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 – Winner
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! – Winner
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 – Winner
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 – Winner
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 – Winner
The Smurfs Archives Vol. 1, Papercutz
Tongues, Vol. 1, Pantheon Books
Hero Initiative Lifetime Achievement Award: Jim Lee The Dick Giordano Humanitarian Award: Jeffrey Brown Brogan Fidelity Award: Jim Calafiore Mike Weiringo Spirit Award: Chip Kidd and Michael Cho
Fan Favorite New Talent: Reese Hannigan Fan Favorite New Series: Excavator Fan Favorite Publisher: Etan Comics Fan Favorite Hero: Batman Fan Favorite Villain: Doctor Doom
The 2026 Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards will be presented at the Ringo Awards Banquet and Ceremony in conjunction with the 2026 Baltimore Comic-Con. The Banquet and Award Ceremony are a fun way to spend an evening, share a drink, and enjoy a meal with the comic book professional community. This is a unique opportunity to meet and network with industry creators, publishers, and professionals.
The Ringo Awards Committee has announced the addition of cartoonist and publisher Terry Moore to the 2026 Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards ceremony as the Keynote Address speaker!
Indy powerhouse Terry Moore began his career in comics with the critically acclaimed epic series, Strangers in Paradise, the compelling love story between three unlikely friends who find themselves bound together by their pasts. The long-running series garnered many awards, including the coveted Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story and the National Cartoonists Society Comic Book Division Reuben Award. Strangers in Paradise has been translated into twenty-one languages and is as popular today as when it was first published in 1993.
Moore has created many award winning series, including Motor Girl, the story of a wounded warrior and her imaginary best friend, Rachel Rising, a horror comic with a ten-year-old serial killer named Zoe, ECHO, a science fiction thriller, FIVE YEARS, the series that brings together characters from all of his series in one heart stopping story, and Parker Girls, the Tambi story you’ve been waiting for. Terry has also published a How to Draw book detailing techniques and tools to create comics which he updated and expanded in 2026.
Terry’s work has won numerous international awards and continues to entertain readers worldwide. In addition to publishing work under his own label, Abstract Studio, Moore has worked with major publishers on titles including Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, Birds of Prey, Fables, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Star Wars Tales throughout his thirty three year career. Beginning in October 2026, Terry will team with Dark Horse Comics to reissue his catalog of legacy series.
Oni Press is coming to Charm City this September, and we’re bringing a cast of Riverdale’s biggest comic book icons along for the ride! From Friday, September 25th through Sunday, September 27th, join Oni Press live at the Baltimore Convention Center for Baltimore Comic-Con 2026 for a weekend packed with panels, exclusives, and truly special surprises!
First: Oni is proud to reveal not one, but two never-before seen Archie #1 exclusives debuting at Baltimore Comic-Con, spotlighting the brand-new beginning for America’s favorite teenager – the one and only Archie Andrews – in the pages of Oni Press’ all-new ongoing series from New York Times bestselling writer Ben H. Winters and multiple Eisner Award-winning artist Fábio Moon.
Featuring brand-new art by cover artist Shawn Kuruneru, pick up this stunning rendition of Riverdale’s most famous faces in this Baltimore-exclusive variant edition, available for purchase at the Baltimore Comic-Con Exclusives Booth at the entrance to the convention floor.
In partnership with Baltimore Comic-Con’s signature awards show, the Ringo Awards, Oni Press also has revealed another extremely special Archie #1 exclusive that will serve as the first-ever, dedicated Ringo Awards variant cover and feature the late Mike Wieringo’s rarely seen 2007 character redesign for Archie and Jughead for the first time in print. This extremely rare Archie #1 variant cover will only be made available in gift bags for attendees of the 2026 Ringo Awards and will never be sold at commercial retail. Mike Wieringo’s artwork appears courtesy of the Wieringo family.
Plus: Join Oni Press on Saturday, September 26th for two major panels, exclusively at Baltimore Comic-Con!
ARCHIE COMICS: AMERICA’S FAVORITE TEENAGER LOOKS TO THE FUTURE
Saturday, September 26th 2 pm | Room 343 – 344 Archie Andrews doesn’t look his age – but this year marks 85 years of fun with Archie and the gang! Join Archie Comics President and Editor-in-Chief Mike Pellerito, Oni Press President and Publisher Hunter Gorinson, and Archie artist Dan Parent for this panel that looks at what’s coming up for America’s Favorite Teenager! With moderators Brad Gullickson and Lisa Gullickson.
ONI PRESS: THE LOUDEST THING IN COLOR
Saturday, September 26th 5 pm | Room 337 As Oni Press closes in on three decades of publishing groundbreaking comic books and graphic novels, they show no sign of slowing down! President & Publisher Hunter Gorinson will walk through a slate of upcoming books and recent critical favorites with creators Rodney Barnes (Crownsville), Shawn Kuruneru (Cave Grave), Oliver Mertz (A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts), and Ryan O’Sullivan(Judge Dredd / Biker Mice From Mars).
The Ringo Awards have announced the 2026 nominees! The 2026 Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awardsare 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.
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 Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards is an annual celebration of the creativity, skill, and fun of comics. The awards will be presented on Saturday, September 26, 2026 as part of The Baltimore Comic-Con. The Ringo Awards is currently in the midst of the 2026 nomination process, which is inclusive of fans and comic book professionals alike. Submit your nominations before voting closes at midnight on May 28, 2026.
The Jury
An esteemed jury of comics professionals will participate in the nomination process, selecting favorite works across 18 categories. The 2026 jury was chosen as a representative cross-section of the comic book industry, with members representing seasoned and venerated retailers, distributors, and creators across numerous genres.
Cliff Chiang’s artwork has been hailed for its “fluid and confident storytelling” and “sweeping linework and nuanced style.” Graduating from Harvard University with a joint degree in English Literature and Visual Arts, he worked in editorial at Disney Adventures Magazine and Vertigo/DC Comics before making the leap into freelance illustration. Best known as the artist of the New York Times best-selling Wonder Woman (with writer Brian Azzarello) and Eisner Award-winning Paper Girls (with writer Brian K. Vaughan), his most recent work is the acclaimed Catwoman: Lonely City which he both wrote and drew.
Colleen Doran is a New York Times bestselling cartoonist. From her first work with on The Sandman, she also adapted the short stories Troll Bridge, Snow Glass Apples, and Chivalry, winning two Eisners, The Bram Stoker, Locus, and Ringo Awards, and nominations for Best Penciler/Inker Eisners, Reubens, the Excelsior, Rondo, and Tripwire Awards.
Other works include American Gods, Norse Mythology, and the adaptation of Good Omens with Terry Pratchett, at that time, the most successful comics crowdfund in Kickstarter history at over $3.1 million.
She taught Syrian refugees for the US Embassy and the Athens, Greece National Library, and contributed to Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds to benefit Ukrainian refugees. The project is an Eisner winner.
She’s illustrated works by Alan Moore, Margaret Atwood, Anne Rice, J Michael Straczynski, Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, Amazing Fantastic Incredible Stan Lee, and graphic novels for The Doors, Blondie, Melissa Etheridge, and Tori Amos. In Balmain Dreams 10R, she created an original story for the French fashion house Balmain for designer Oliver Rousteing.
She’s had multiple solo shows at the Society of Illustrators, The Museum of Cartoon Art, and the San Diego Comic Con Museum. She’s also exhibited at shows in Milan, Rome, Portugal, and Germany.
Other credits: Action Comics, Conan, Detective Comics, Amazing Spider-Man, Captain America, Guardians of the Galaxy, Jessica Jones for Netflix, Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, The Vampire Diaries, and Wonder Woman.
Zander Fajertag is the Comic Department Purchaser and Customer Service Representative at Universal Distribution. With eight years of experience, they have worked in every stage of the distribution process, from picking comics to managing purchasing and claims. Zander also supports the gaming purchasing side of the business and has contributed to booth designs for past conventions, bringing a well-rounded perspective and deep industry knowledge to their role.
Sarahti Gassmalla has about a decade of working in comics retail. Starting as an intern, she is now a part owner and co-manager at Fantom Comics. She is involved in inventory ordering, event coordination, and representing the store at events such as Baltimore Comic-Con, ComicsPro, New York Comic-Con, and Small Press Expo. She runs the Fantom Comics’ recurring Queer Book Club, occasionally interviews creators for author events, and manages the weekly Final Order Cutoff.
Her relationship with sequential art began at a young age as a regular reader of Pearls Before Swine, Mutts, and other Washington Post Sunday comic strips. These days, reading the “Sunday comics” means reading the newest chapter updates of her favorite Shonen Jump titles — Akane Banashi, Blue Box, Ichi The Witch, and One Piece to name just a few. Her western comics journey started with reading the original Runaways at the library and borrowing a friend’s copy of Young Avengers. Visiting Fantom Comics the first time before she worked there is what introduced her to single issue comics, collecting titles like 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank, Joyride, and Monstress. If she is not reading, she’s doodling, finding new ways to get at least ten friends in a room together, or binging crime thriller TV. Sarahti was born and raised in Washington, DC where she still resides.
Award-winning cartoonist, writer, and illustrator Bill Morrison began his career in Detroit, Michigan as a technical illustrator, but his dream was to be a cartoonist. When Bill decided that he had rendered his last diesel fuel pump, he moved to Southern California with his wife, Kayre. He began working immediately in motion picture advertising where he painted dozens of movie posters, including many for Walt Disney Pictures such as The Little Mermaid, Bambi, Peter Pan, Cinderella, and The Jungle Book. For several years, Bill spent most of his waking hours on various projects related to The Simpsons. For that iconic property, he has created thousands of drawings for t-shirts, video games, posters, toy packaging, books, calendars, limited edition prints, etc. When The Simpsons creator Matt Groening founded Bongo Comics, Bill was hired on as art director and realized his cartoonist dreams when he drew the very first Simpsons comic. He quickly took on the role of Creative Director, editing Bongo’s entire output, and writing and drawing stories and covers as time permitted. Bill also worked with Groening on early character designs for the TV show Futurama and served as the series art director. He also recently served as Artist and Designer on Groening’s Netflix series, Disenchantment. In addition to his work on The Simpsons and Futurama comics, Bill has written and drawn his own comic book series, the four-time Eisner Award-nominated Roswell, Little Green Man, and co-created three other comic book series: Heroes Anonymous, Dead Vengeance, and Lady Robotika (the latter with Jane Wiedlin of the legendary all-girl rock band, The Go-Go’s). Morrison also created a 96-page graphic novel adaptation of The Beatles Yellow Submarine for Titan Comics. Most recently, Bill was the Executive Editor of the relaunched MAD Magazine, and also served as Art Director for Seriously’s “Best Fiends” animated shorts.
Fan and Pro Nomination Categories
Best Cartoonist (Writer/Artist)
Best Writer
Best Artist or Penciller/Inker Team
Best Letterer
Best Colorist
Best Cover Artist
Best Series
Best Short Story
Best Original Graphic Novel
Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel — Ages 11 and Under
Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel — Ages 12 and Up
Best Anthology
Best Humor Comic
Best Webcomic
Best Humor Webcomic
Best Non-fiction Comic Work
Best Comics-Related Publication
Best Presentation in Design
Perennial Jury-Only Nomination
The Mike Wieringo Spirit Award
Fan-Only Favorite Categories
Favorite Hero
Favorite Villain
Favorite New Series
Favorite New Talent
Favorite Publisher
Hero Initiative Award (selected by the Hero Initiative)
The Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards is an annual celebration of the creativity, skill, and fun of comics. The awards return for their ninth year on Saturday, September 26, 2026 as part of the fan- and pro-favorite convention, Baltimore Comic-Con.
Unlike other professional industry awards, the Ringo Awards include fan participation in the nomination process along with an esteemed jury of comics professionals.
More than 20 categories will be celebrated with top honors being given at the awards ceremony in October.
Fan and Pro Nominations
Fan and pro-jury voting are tallied independently, and the combined nomination ballot is compiled by the Ringo Awards Committee. The top two fan choices become nominees, and the jury’s selections fill the remaining three slots for five total nominees per category. Ties may result in more than five nominees in a single category. Nominees will be listed on the ballot alphabetically. Nomination ballot voting is open to the public (fans and pros) between March 13, 2026 and May 28, 2026.
Final Ballot Voting
After processing by the Ringo Awards Committee and Jury, the Final Ballots are targeted to be available to comic creative professionals for voting on July 29, 2026 and will be due by August 26, 2026 for final tallying. Presentation of the winners will occur at the Baltimore Comic-Con on the evening of Saturday, September 26, 2026.
Nomination Eligibility
Eligibility for creators and creative works is determined by publication in the preceding calendar year (January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025) – print publication date takes precedence over electronic publication date. For electronic works, the date of publication is time-stamped with most publications and at least 3 episodes/installments of continuing works must have appeared during the eligibility period.
Updated Categories
New in 2026, we have mad a number of updates based on juror, publisher, and voter submissions:
Best Single Issue or Story is renamed Best Short Story
Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel is now divided into subcategories for Ages 11 and Under and Ages 12 and Up
Added the Best Comics-Related Publication category, recognizing outstanding non-comic works that explore, analyze, or document the art, history, and/or culture of comics
These updates reflect clarity of category intent, rationalizes the dichotomy between early reader and young adult titles within the kids’ category, and supports publications found at your local comic shop or bookseller about comics but not presented as a comic.
Fan and Pro Nomination Categories
Best Cartoonist (Writer/Artist)
Best Writer
Best Artist or Penciller/Inker Team
Best Letterer
Best Colorist
Best Cover Artist
Best Series
Best Short Story
Best Original Graphic Novel
Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel — Ages 11 and Under
Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel — Ages 12 and Up
Best Anthology
Best Humor Comic
Best Webcomic
Best Humor Webcomic
Best Non-fiction Comic Work
Best Comics-Related Publication
Best Presentation in Design
Perennial Jury-Only Nomination
The Mike Wieringo Spirit Award
Fan-Only Favorite Categories
Favorite Hero
Favorite Villain
Favorite New Series
Favorite New Talent
Favorite Publisher
Hero Initiative Award (selected by the Hero Initiative)
The Ringo Awards nomination features the participation a 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 2025 Final Ballot was restricted to comic book industry creative community — anyone involved in and credited with creating comics professionally.
Stan Sakai was recipient of this year’s Dick Giordano Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Spirit Award was awarded to Welcome to Maynard by written by James Robinson, art by J. Bone, color by Ian Herring, lettering by Jim Campbell, and published by Dark Horse.
Kevin Nowlan received the The Lifetime Achievement Award.
The winners below are marked in bold with “winner” noted and you can watch the event. Congrats to everyone!
Fan and Pro Nomination Categories
Best Cartoonist (Writer and Artist)
Arechan
Megan Grey
Patrick Horvath
Mikaël
Eric Powell – WINNER
Best Writer
Jason Douglas
Tom King
Oscar Osorio
Scott Snyder
Kelly Thompson – WINNER
James Tynion IV
David F. Walker
Best Artist or Penciller/Inker Team
Bilquis Evely
Kate Flynn
Daniel HDR
Eduardo Risso
Chris Samnee – WINNER
Best Letterer
Aditya Bidikar
Clayton Cowles
Amal Desai
DC Hopkins
Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Richard Starkings – WINNER
Best Colorist
Michael Adams
Jordie Bellaire – WINNER
Lee Loughridge
Sabine Rich
Dave Stewart
Best Cover Artist
Oliver Barrett
Evan Cagle
Francine Delgado
Bilquis Evely – WINNER
Francesca Fantini
Greg Smallwood
Best Series
Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, IDW Publishing
The Blood Brothers Mother, DSTLRY
Helen of Wyndhorn, Dark Horse Comics
Masters of the Universe: Revolution, Dark Horse Comics
The Pedestrian, Magma Comix – WINNER
Best Single Issue or Story
Batman and Robin Year One #1, DC Comics – WINNER
“A Blue Flame” in Second Hand Love, Drawn & Quarterly
The Crying Boy, Keenspot Entertainment
Death Ratio’d, AWA Studios
FML #1, Dark Horse Comics
Helen of Wyndhorn, Dark Horse Comics
Navigating with You, Maverick
A Never-Ending Adventure, Oscar Osorio
Trinity Special: World’s Finest #1, DC Comics
Best Original Graphic Novel
Big Jim and the White Boy, Ten Speed Graphic
The Deep Dark, Scholastic/Graphix
ERASED: An Actor of Color’s Journey Through the Heyday of Hollywood, NBM Grpahic Novels
Homestead, Source Point Press
Jane American, self-published – WINNER
Best Anthology
DC Power 2024, DC Comics
EC Cruel Universe, Oni Press
Hello Darkness, BOOM! Studios
The Savage Sword of Conan, Titan Comics
Tales from the New World, Oscar Osorio
Transphoria, Lifeline Comics – WINNER
Best Humor Comic
Action Philosophers: Omnipotence for Dummies, Rocketship Entertainment
Archie: The Decision, Archie Comics
Forces of Nature, Drawn & Quarterly
Kids Are Still Weird: And More Observations from Parenthood, NBM Graphic Novels
Smut #1, self-published – WINNER
Space Circus, Dark Horse Comics
Best Webcomic
The Croaking, WEBTOON Entertainment
Daughter of a Thousand Faces, Tapas Entertainment
The Mafia Nanny, WEBTOON Entertainment
Novae, WEBTOON Entertainment
Renaissance of Raven, DC Go!/DC Comics – WINNER
Under the Oak Tree, Manta
Vampire Family, WEBTOON Entertainment
Best Humor Webcomic
Dealing with Demons, Manta
Harley Quinn in Paradise, DC Go!/DC Comics
High Class Homos, WEBTOON Entertainment
Nothing Butt Nightwing, DC Go!/DC Comics – WINNER
Rosebuds, Comics Kingdom
Wanna Be Friends?, WEBTOON Entertainment
Best Non-fiction Comic Work
Adrift on a Painted Sea, Avery Hill
Brittle Joints, Street Noise Books
Djuna, Street Noise Books
Feeding Ghosts, MCD
In the Shadows of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones, Oni Press – WINNER
Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel
Double Booking, Papercutz/Mad Cave Studios
Dudley Datson and the Forever Machine, Dark Horse Comics
Hilda and Twig Hide from the Rain, Flying Eye Books – WINNER
The Legend of Tiger and Tail-Flower, Levine Querido
The New Girl, Scholastic/Graphix
Night Stories, Astra Books for Young Readers
ZOR, Keenspot Entertainment
Best Presentation in Design
Coins of Judas, Orange Cone Productions/Band of Bards
David Mazzucchelli’s Batman Year One Artist’s Edition, IDW Publishing – WINNER
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein starring Boris Karloff and Bram Stoker’s Dracula starring Bela Lugosi Casket Edition, Rocketship Entertainment
One Bite at a Time: The First 20 Years of Elephant Eater Comics, Elephant Eater Comics
Scott Pilgrim 20th Anniversary Hardcover Box Set, Oni Press
Warm Fusion, DSTLRY
Fan Favorite Awards
Fan Favorite Villain – Mister Barnaby – Warn Fusion (DSTLRY)
Fan Favorite Hero – Alex – Senorita Cometa (Webtoons Entertainment)
Fan Favorite New Series – The Pedestrian (Magma Comix)
Fan Favorite New Talent – Annie Wright – Jane American
The 2025 Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards will be presented at the Ringo Awards Banquet and Ceremony in conjunction with the 2025 Baltimore Comic-Con. A limited number of tickets are available to the public to attend the Banquet and Award Ceremony and spend a fun evening, share a drink, and enjoy a meal with the comic book professional community. This is a unique opportunity to meet and network with industry creators, publishers, and professionals.
Ringo Awards tickets include a full cocktail hour (cash bar), a full service dinner (featuring a Baltimore crab cake), the awards ceremony, and a gift bag, and are now available for $154.48. You can purchase a ticket now.
The Ringo Awards Committee has announced the addition of industry veteran executive Mike Pellerito to the 2025 Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards ceremony as the Keynote Address speaker!
Mike Pellerito is currently the President and Editor in Chief of Archie Comics. During his tenure at Archie, he has held several varied roles across the company, including expanding Archie’s distribution in the direct, bookstore, newsstand, and digital markets. His most notable achievement is leading the editorial team in a bold revitalization of the Archie universe. The massive project boasted Archie by Mark Waid and Fiona Staples, Betty & Veronica by Adam Hughes, and Jughead by Chip Zdarsky and Erica Henderson, Ryan North, and Derek Charm. Pellerito was also a producer of the live-action movie The Archies from Netflix and instrumental in the deal for the upcoming live-action Archie movie from Universal, written by Tom King with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller directing. Additionally, he is a co-owner of Aw Yeah Comics in Harrison, New York, chosen as “Best Comic Shop” by the prestigious Best of Westchester magazine.
The Ringo Awards are thrilled to announce the 2025 nominees. The nomination process was completed with the participation of our esteemed 2025 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 2025 Final Ballot is restricted to comic book industry creative community — anyone involved in and credited with creating comics professionally.
We now present the 2025 Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards Final Ballot. Congrats to all of the nominees and good luck!
Fan and Pro Nomination Categories
Best Cartoonist (Writer and Artist)
Arechan
Megan Grey
Patrick Horvath
Mikaël
Eric Powell
Best Writer
Jason Douglas
Tom King
Oscar Osorio
Scott Snyder
Kelly Thompson
James Tynion IV
David F. Walker
Best Artist or Penciller/Inker Team
Bilquis Evely
Kate Flynn
Daniel HDR
Eduardo Risso
Chris Samnee
Best Letterer
Aditya Bidikar
Clayton Cowles
Amal Desai
DC Hopkins
Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Richard Starkings
Best Colorist
Michael Adams
Jordie Bellaire
Lee Loughridge
Sabine Rich
Dave Stewart
Best Cover Artist
Oliver Barrett
Evan Cagle
Francine Delgado
Bilquis Evely
Francesca Fantini
Greg Smallwood
Best Series
Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, IDW Publishing
The Blood Brothers Mother, DSTLRY
Helen of Wyndhorn, Dark Horse Comics
Masters of the Universe: Revolution, Dark Horse Comics
The Pedestrian, Magma Comix
Best Single Issue or Story
Batman and Robin Year One #1, DC Comics
“A Blue Flame” in Second Hand Love, Drawn & Quarterly
The Crying Boy, Keenspot Entertainment
Death Ratio’d, AWA Studios
FML #1, Dark Horse Comics
Helen of Wyndhorn, Dark Horse Comics
Navigating with You, Maverick
A Never-Ending Adventure, Oscar Osorio
Trinity Special: World’s Finest #1, DC Comics
Best Original Graphic Novel
Big Jim and the White Boy, Ten Speed Graphic
The Deep Dark, Scholastic/Graphix
ERASED: An Actor of Color’s Journey Through the Heyday of Hollywood, NBM Grpahic Novels
Homestead, Source Point Press
Jane American, self-published
Best Anthology
DC Power 2024, DC Comics
EC Cruel Universe, Oni Press
Hello Darkness, BOOM! Studios
The Savage Sword of Conan, Titan Comics
Tales from the New World, Oscar Osorio
Transphoria, Lifeline Comics
Best Humor Comic
Action Philosophers: Omnipotence for Dummies, Rocketship Entertainment
Archie: The Decision, Archie Comics
Forces of Nature, Drawn & Quarterly
Kids Are Still Weird: And More Observations from Parenthood, NBM Graphic Novels
Smut #1, self-published
Space Circus, Dark Horse Comics
Best Webcomic
The Croaking, WEBTOON Entertainment
Daughter of a Thousand Faces, Tapas Entertainment
The Mafia Nanny, WEBTOON Entertainment
Novae, WEBTOON Entertainment
Renaissance of Raven, DC Go!/DC Comics
Under the Oak Tree, Manta
Vampire Family, WEBTOON Entertainment
Best Humor Webcomic
Dealing with Demons, Manta
Harley Quinn in Paradise, DC Go!/DC Comics
High Class Homos, WEBTOON Entertainment
Nothing Butt Nightwing, DC Go!/DC Comics
Rosebuds, Comics Kingdom
Wanna Be Friends?, WEBTOON Entertainment
Best Non-fiction Comic Work
Adrift on a Painted Sea, Avery Hill
Brittle Joints, Street Noise Books
Djuna, Street Noise Books
Feeding Ghosts, MCD
In the Shadows of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones, Oni Press
Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel
Double Booking, Papercutz/Mad Cave Studios
Dudley Datson and the Forever Machine, Dark Horse Comics
Hilda and Twig Hide from the Rain, Flying Eye Books
The Legend of Tiger and Tail-Flower, Levine Querido
The New Girl, Scholastic/Graphix
Night Stories, Astra Books for Young Readers
ZOR, Keenspot Entertainment
Best Presentation in Design
Coins of Judas, Orange Cone Productions/Band of Bards
David Mazzucchelli’s Batman Year One Artist’s Edition, IDW Publishing
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein starring Boris Karloff and Bram Stoker’s Dracula starring Bela Lugosi Casket Edition, Rocketship Entertainment
One Bite at a Time: The First 20 Years of Elephant Eater Comics, Elephant Eater Comics
Scott Pilgrim 20th Anniversary Hardcover Box Set, Oni Press
Warm Fusion, DSTLRY
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 October 18, 2025.
