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The Inkwell Awards announces its 2023 winners

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Inkwell 2023 Awards

The Inkwell Awards has announced the winners of its 16th annual awards for excellence in the comic-book inking art form.

Nominees were chosen by a separate and independent nomination committee based on their own research as well as from artist submissions. Voting by professionals and fans took place for two weeks in April-May on the official ballot at the non-profit advocacy’s website. After 2748 ballots were tallied, one winner was chosen in each of five categories for 2022 cover-dated interior American published comic-book material.

The winners are listed below in bold with their credits, votes and the percentage of votes received, along with the other nominees in alphabetical order.

FAVORITE INKER (Favorite ink artist over the pencil work of another artist; cannot also be nominated for the “Props” award): Walden Wong (857 votes, 31%): Amazing Spider-Man, Darkhold Omega, Edge of Spider-Verse, Marvel Voices: Community, Miles Morales: Spider-Man, Wakanda, What-if? Miles Morales [Marvel]

Other nominees: Jonathan Glapion, Cam Smith, Dexter Vines

MOST-ADAPTABLE (Artist showing exceptional ink style versatility over other pencilers): Walden Wong (688 votes, 25%): Amazing Spider-Man, Darkhold Omega, Edge of Spider-Verse, Marvel Voices: Community, Miles Morales: Spider-Man, Wakanda, What-if? Miles Morales [Marvel]

Other nominees: Scott Hanna, Matt Santorelli, Cam Smith, LeBeau Underwood

PROPS AWARD (Inker deserving of more attention. The same inker cannot be nominated for this award and Favorite Inker; nor past Favorite Inker recipients): Adriano Di Benedetto (1687 votes, 61%): Batman [DC]

Other nominees: Andrew Hennessy, Matt Santorelli, Le Beau Underwood

The S.P.A.M.I. AWARD (Small Press And Mainstream Independent, non-Marvel or DC work): David Cabeza (866 votes, 32%): Rivers of London [Titan]

Other nominees: Terry Moore, Chuck Morgan, Andrew Pepoy

ALL-IN-ONE AWARD (Favorite artist known for inking his/her own pencils): Nir Levie (1042 votes, 38%): BioRipple [Heavy Metal]

Other nominees: Andrew Pepoy, Greg Smallwood

Full acceptance statements from the award recipients and much more can be found in the EXPANDED 2023 Winners Results article and found in the “Award Recipients” section of the Inkwell Awards’ website in the near future. 

The internal/community Above & Beyond Awards were announced recently. The internally-chosen lifetime achievement accolades, the Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame Award and the Stacey Aragon Special Recognition Award (SASRA), were announced earlier on March 9th.

Since the pandemic the Inkwells have been reporting annual results online (as it originally did from 2008-2010) and will continue to do so until another convention offers to be a new host show for the live ceremony.

Immoral X-Men #1 emphasizes that even the best plans can get out of hand

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Immoral X-Men #1

“Sins of Sinister” continues in Immoral X-Men #1 one of a small number of comics that make up the event. Mr. Sinister has used Moira McTaggert’s time reset powers to slowly infect Krakoa and the X-Men, infusing them with a dash of Sinister. The Earth has been taken over, with mutants reigning and controlling. But, threats still exist in a galaxy that won’t stand to the side and let them do the the same in the stars. There’s also the missing Sinister lab with his ability to reset time.

Written by Kireon Gillen, Immoral X-Men #1 picks up on the story’s emphasis that things have gotten out of hand for Mr. Sinister. His plan has worked a bit too well and while mutants have a bit of Sinister in them, he doesn’t control them. Yes, there’s some failsafe aspects he mentions but overall, things have gotten out of hand. Sinister should be happy, he’s won… but he also hasn’t.

And, if the comic focused just on that, it’d be a solid dive into a new idea for an alternate timeline story. Instead, it splits it time as the Quiet Council goes on a hunt for Sinister who they have figured out isn’t quite on board. So, the comic splits between Sinister’s woe is me and a race/hunt. Focusing on either aspect is worth an entire comic, an entire miniseries, but the split doesn’t quite do justice for either. At times Sinister’s lamenting feels like a recap of the story and the X-Men never quite make the case as to why they should rule, their plan, and they come off as a bit unorganized.

The art by Paco Medina is pretty solid and the comic has a sinister feel about it while also a slight comedic aspect as well. Joined on ink by Walden Wong and Victor Olazaba and color by Jay David Ramos and Chris Sotomayor, the visuals are fun and interesting and keep the comic flowing and entertaining. Clayotn Cowle‘s lettering impressively keeps Sinister’s long rants readable and never clutters the visuals. Overall, the comic does an excellent job of delivering a world that has a dark cloud hanging over it but never feeling gloomy. It keeps the “fun” of Sinister as part of its DNA to deliver a slightly different feel for this type of storyline.

While I generally enjoyed Immoral X-Men #1, there’s a choppiness to the narrative that took me out of it. There was almost too much jumping around between Sinister and the Quiet Council and a focus on one or the other would have been stronger. Still, it highlights that this is an alternate timeline tale that’s a bit different than what has come before.

Story: Kieron Gillen Art: Paco Medina
Ink: Walden Wong, Victor Olazaba Color: Jay David Ramos, Chris Sotomayor
Letterer: Clayton Cowles Design: Jay Bowen
Story: 7.95 Art: 7.95 Overall: 7.95 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle

Review: Wakanda #1

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Wakanda #1

When Chadwick Boseman passed, the world pretty much stopped. As everyone was dealing with fatigue of COVID and the deaths related. Never would anyone think that someone like him would pass. As he was the first actor who played a superhero whom many of us saw ourselves in.

So when the news broke that they would continue on with a sequel to the modern classic, Black Panther, many did not know what to expect. As the world speculated that the role would be recast. To many fans great delight, it was not, and they found a way to carry the story forward in Wakanda Forever. In Wakanda #1, fans get to know more about the world where T’Challa was born and a true history of every Panther before him.

In “ Shuri”,  we find a Wakanda with T’Challa on the run, as his sister looks to use her lab for good, creating a synthetic type of vibranium. As she tries to understand how to navigate her future without her brother, Rhino uses smugglers  infiltrate his way into the nation state, but Shuri is there to stop him in his tracks. By story’s end, we find out Rhino was not operating alone, as an old foe surfaces. In “ History Of The Black Panthers Part One”, we are taken to 1,000,000 BC, in the Wakandan wilderness, where we discover how the first Wakandans survived and how many of their myths came to fruition and how the first Black Panther fought his way to the top to lead his people.

Overall, Wakanda #1 is an excellent debut issue which shows why fans have loved the birthplace of T’Challa, even before the movies. The stories by Williams and Narcisse, are funny, powerful and resonating. The art by the different creators are awesome. Altogether, a must buy for Black Panther fans.

Story: Stephanie Williams, Evan Narcisse Art: Paco Medina, Natacha Bustos
Ink: Walden Wong, Elisabetta D’Amico Color: Bryan Valenza, Jordie Bellaire Letterer: Joe Sabino
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle

Exclusive Preview: What If… Miles Morales #5 (of 5)

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What If… Miles Morales #5 (of 5)

(W) Cody Ziglar (A/CA) Paco Medina (VCA) John Tyler Christopher
(I) Walden Wong (C) Chris Sotomayor (L)
RATED T
In Shops: Jul 06, 2022
SRP: $3.99

HOW MANY MILES DOES IT TAKE… TO SAVE THE UNIVERSE?!
What if…the many Miles of the multiverse assembled to overcome a threat against all realities? The Prowler enacts the final phase of his evil plan alongside LOKI, SABRETOOTH, and CLASSIFIED! SpiderMan’s gonna need some help on this one – good thing CAPTAIN AMERICA, WOLVERINE, HULK, and THOR have his back!

What If… Miles Morales #5 (of 5)

Review: What If… Miles Morales #1

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What If… Miles Morales #1

In a worlds where most of grew up with superheroes not looking like us, this is most definitely an exciting time. As movies are looking more like the real world. As authenticity demands identification, and the movie business has started to look like that, and so has the rest of the entertainment industry. It’s appalling to think that it took almost to the 21st century before we even saw a Black superhero onscreen, the first one of course, being Blade.

Then of course, this all changed when the MCU came into existence. As we eventually got see Falcon, Black Panther, War Machine, Valkyrie and Miles Morales. As these characters brought depth and dimension to the MCU and were even upgraded from their comic versions.  In the return of the classic What If series, we get What If… Miles Morales #1 where the title character shows that he would be a superhero no matter what version of him you get.

We are taken to an alternate universe, where they have restarted the Super Soldier program,  and it just so happens to be on the same military base where Miles’s dad and uncle were stationed. One mishap where his uncle Aaron brought the serum home, leads to Miles unintentionally inhaling the serum,  and becoming a super soldier. As he would train with his uncle , proving his mettle enough to where he goes on his first solo mission, as Captain America, where he would suffer his first loss , his uncle. He used the loss to shape him ,with the help of Falcon and SHIELD as he encounters a deadly foe in the Prowler, and  a new villain called Grey Skull,   who have teamed up to  steal a device which emits immense power. By issue’s end, Miles thwarts Prowler’s and Grey Skull’s plans, but soon finds out someone close ot him has betrayed him.

Overall, What If… Miles Morales #1 is a fun story which that reminds us why What If was such an epic series. The story by Ziglar is astounding. The art by the creative team is awe inspiring. Altogether, a story which shows why Miles Morales is such a powerful protagonist.

Story: Cody Ziglar Art: Paco Medina
Ink: Walden Wong, Victor Olazaba, Sean Parsons Color: Chris Sotomayor Letterer: Cory Petit
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Review: Deadpool: Samurai Vol. 1

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The merc with the mouth heads to Japan to be a part of the Avengers’ Samurai Squad!

Story: Sanshiro Kasama
Art: Hikaru Uesugi
Translation: Amanda Haley
Touch-up art & Lettering: Walden Wong
Design: Francesca Truman

Get your copy in comic shops! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

Amazon
Kindle
comiXology
Bookshop

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

The Inkwell Awards Announces it 12th Annual Award Winners

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The Inkwell Awards has released the list of winners of its 12th annual awards for excellence in the art form of comic-book inking. Normally results are first made public at its live awards ceremony during its host show, The Great Philadelphia Comic Con, but the 2020 event, originally scheduled to take place on April 3-5, was rescheduled for September 4-6 and recently canceled, all due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nominees were submitted by a separate and independent nomination committee both on their own and from artist submissions. Voting by professionals and fans took place in February for one week from the 23rd-29th on the official ballot at the non-profit advocacy’s website. One winner was chosen in each of five categories based on American interior comic-book work printed in and cover-dated 2019.

In addition, the Inkwells’ internal committee this season decided to not limit lifetime achievement awards chosen within a given year. They selected three inductees of the annual Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame and three recipients for the Stacey Aragon Special Recognition Award (SASRA). There were no internal Silver Inkwell Awards recipients this year nor any internal and community-based Above & Beyond Awards. Ballot nominees are listed below with their credits and the percentage of votes received by the winners, along with the other nominees in alphabetical order.

FAVORITE INKER (Favorite ink artist over the pencil work of another artist; cannot also be nominated for the “Props” award):
Walden Wong (43%) (genLOCK, Justice League [DC], Crazy, Incredible Hulk: Last Call, Marvel’s Hero Project Season 1: Mighty Rebekah, X-23 [Marvel])
Other nominees: Mark Morales, Joe Prado, Norm Rapmund.

MOST-ADAPTABLE (Artist showing exceptional ink style versatility over other pencillers):
Walden Wong (41%) (genLOCK, Justice League [DC], Crazy, Incredible Hulk: Last Call, Marvel’s Hero Project Season 1: Mighty Rebekah, Star Wars: Age Of Republic Heroes–Obi-Wan Kenobi, X-23 [Marvel])
Other nominees: Marc Deering, Jonathan Glapion, Scott Hanna, Jay Leisten, Norm Rapmund, J.L. Straw.

PROPS AWARD (Ink artist deserving of more attention):
Eber Ferreira (32%) (Freedom Fighters, Detective Comics, Supergirl [DC])
Other nominees: Jonathan Glapion, Stefano Guadiano, Le Beau Underwood.

S.P.A.M.I. (Favorite Small Press And Mainstream/Independent  (non-Marvel//DC) inking over another penciller):
Stefano Gaudiano (22%) (Walking Dead [Image])
Other nominees: David Cabeza, Adelso Corona, Anthony Fowler, Le Beau Underwood.

ALL-IN-ONE (Favorite artist known for inking his/her own pencil work):
Liam Sharp (34%) (Green Lantern [DC])
Other nominees: Brad Krause, Sean Gordon Murphy, Stan Sakai.

THE STACEY ARAGON SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD (SASRA): 

Allen Bellman, Sal Buscema, and Norman Lee

Other nominees: Jack Abel, Gene Day, Bill Everett, Frank Frazetta, Graham Ingles, Dennis Janke, Michael Kaluta, Pablo Marcos, June Tarpe Mills, Bob Oksner, George Papp, Wendy Pini, Stan Sakai, Bill Sienkiewicz, Dave Simons, Jim Starlin, Art Thibert, Charles Vess, Al Vey, and Bob Wiacek.


THE JOE SINNOTT HALL OF FAME: 

Bob Layton, John Romita Sr., and Bernie Wrightson

Other nominees: Brett Breeding, Johnny Craig, Mike Esposito, George Klein, Steve Leialoha, Pablo Marcos, Terry Moore, Mike Royer, Chic Stone, and Bob Wiacek.

Full acceptance statements from the winners will be found in the “Award Recipients” section of the Inkwell Awards’ website.

The Inkwell Awards is the only official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and educate regarding the art form of comic-book inking, as well as annually recognize the best ink artists and their work. Established in 2008, the Inkwells are overseen by a volunteer committee of industry professionals and assisted by various professional ambassadors and contributors. They sponsor the Dave Simons Inkwell Memorial Scholarship Fund for the Kubert School and host the Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame Award.

Review: Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Blackest Night #1

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Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Blackest Night #1

Blackest Night was one of my first major events reading DC Comics. I was a diehard fan of Green Lantern and the idea of the Black rings and new Corps was something that got me excited to see what would happen. It was a big deal bringing back long-dead characters and delivering some major ones into various Lantern Corps. It was also about hope in many ways. Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Blackest Night #1 takes that ionic story and delivers a much bleaker take.

Writer Tim Seeley delivers an interesting story that expands upon events and has Sinestro keeping the power of the White Lantern to himself. It’s his selfishness that causes the heroes to lose and Nekron’s undead army to spread. With just a few heroes left, things don’t look good.

Seeley does a solid job of delivering a story that isn’t just a twist on something we’ve seen but instead expands upon it. Where he takes it has ups and downs and an ending I didn’t see coming. He mixes hope and despair and leaves us an ending that feels very Planet of the Apes.

The art by Kyle Hotz is where I think the comic lacks. There’s something about the style that doesn’t click for me. Dexter Vines, Walden Wong, and Danny Miki provide ink. David Baron and Allen Passalqua provide color. Tom Napolitano handles the lettering. While some might like the visual style of the comic, it’s just not my cup of tea. At times what’s presented is too much and not clear. At its heart, this is a zombie tale and you need to mix scares with gore and this doesn’t deliver that because at times it’s hard to tell what’s going on. Add in familiar characters who look like boardwalk caricatures of themselves and the final result just doesn’t work.

Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Blackest Night #1 is the weakest of the line of comics released so far. It’s not bad in any way but it also has enough flaws and yawns the comic is a bit forgettable. There was a lot of potential here and while there’s some original concepts the final result is a bit of a letdown.

It does its best to not fall into the zombie tropes but the comic could have used more of it. There’s also some good in Sinestro’s failures. But add in Lobo, Dove, and Mister Miracle and you’ve got a comic that’s not quite sure what it wants to be.

Story: Tim Seeley Art: Kyle Hotz
Ink: Dexter Vines, Walden Wong, Danny Miki
Color: David Baron, Allen Passalqua Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Story: 7.0 Art: 6.0 Overall: 6.75 Recommendation: Read

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

A First Look at Tales From the Dark Multiverse: Blackest Night #1

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TALES FROM THE DARK MULTIVERSE: BLACKEST NIGHT #1

Written by Tim Seeley
Pencils by Kyle Hotz
Inks by Dexter Vines, Danny Miki, Walden Wong
Colors by David Baron and Allen Passaelaqua
Cover by Lee Weeks
On Sale November 13

Blackest Night is the Next DC Event to Feel the Corruption of the Dark Multiverse!

Tales of the Dark Multiverse: Blackest Night retells the tale of the Green Lantern event that changed the DC Universe forever, only this time the Black Lanterns emerge triumphant! Twenty-three days after the cataclysm, Sinestro, trapped between life and death as a White and a Black Lantern, emerges as the world’s last hope—the Limbo Lantern – against the threat of not only a horde of Black Lantern-infected New Gods, but Darkseid himself, also infested with the Black Lantern’s evil power.

In order to save the universe or end his life, Sinestro will need the help of some unlikely survivors—Dove, Lobo, and Mister Miracle—all of whom will put their lives on the line to give their world one final chance!

TALES FROM THE DARK MULTIVERSE: BLACKEST NIGHT #1

Review: The Incredible Hulk: Last Call #1

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Betty Ross is dead and Bruce Banner is suicidal and has an assassin waiting for his signal to end his life. It’s a touching and emotional issue that reunites Peter David and Dale Keown.

Story: Peter David
Art: Dale Keown
Ink: Mark Farmer, Marc Deering, Walden Wong, Scott Hanna
Color: Peter Steigerwald, John Starr
Letterer: Cory Petit

Get your copy in comic shops now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

Amazon
Kindle/comiXology

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

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