DINK Creates a Diversity Prize

In Chapter Nine of our book we discuss the ways that the prizes won by certain comics creators - notably by those who are neither male nor white - have tended to be marginalized within the economy of prestige of the comics world. It is interesting to note, therefore, a program intended specifically to combat this perception.

The inaugural DINK: Denver Independent Comic and Art Expo (to be held March 25 and 26, 2016) has launched a new comics award, the charmingly named DINKy Awards. Recognizing work in seven categories, the group is celebrating local work, works in various publishing categories, but has also chosen to award a prize in the category: Outstanding Work - Diversity. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time that such a category has been used within the framework of a slate of comics prizes.

The definition of "diversity" is not spelled out on the DINK website, but some things can probably be gleaned from the five inaugural nominees:

Ikebana by Yumi Sakugawa 

The Immortal Nadia by Jamal Campbell (pictured above)

March: Book 2 by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell

O Human Star v1 by Blue Delliquanti

The Story of My Tits by Jennifer Hayden

Congratulations to the nominees, and to DINK itself for such a forward looking prize!

Angoulême Update

The announcement today of the finalists for the Grand Prix at the Festival International de la Bande Dessinée in Angoulême continued the eyebrow raising. Recall that the FIBD had previously announced an all-male longlist for the most prestigious prize in comics, which led to calls for a boycott of the voting (and the festival itself), and saw a dozen of the nominees reject their place on the ballot. FIBD first attempted to rectify the situation by adding the names of six female cartoonists to the ballot, and then (in the same day) abandoned that plan in favour of an open vote.

The results are in! If you had Hermann, Alan Moore, and Claire Wendling in your pool, you are a winner!

The initial reaction on North American social media can probably be summed up by people asking variations of "Who is Claire Wendling?". She is little-known in North America (she lacks even a Wikipedia page, but has one on French-language Wikipedia). With writer Christophe Gibelin she produced the six volumes of Les Lumières de l'Amalou for Delcourt in the early-1990s. She has not (to my knowledge) produced any book-length comics since 1996, working primarily as an illustrator, as well as in film and gaming. She lives in Angoulême and was the subject of a Facebook campaign led by Jean-David Morvan to place her on the ballot. In an interview she described being nominated for the prize this year as the equivalent of being given an ugly sweater as a Christmas gift.

Hermann (Huppen) is the Belgian cartoonist responsible for literally dozens of books over a more than fifty-year career. Not exceedingly well translated into English, he is at least known for Jeremiah, which was turned into a television series. This is the second year in a row that Hermann has appeared on the final ballot, and he has stated in interviews that he would decline the award were he to receive it.

Alan Moore, of course, is the subject of Chapter Five of our book. This is his third straight year among the final three and he has also indicated that he will not accept the award.

A definite trend among the finalists over the past few years:

2014: Bill Watterson, Katsuiro Otomo, Alan Moore

2015: Katsuhiro Otomo, Alan Moore, Hermann

2016: Alan Moore, Hermann, Claire Wendling

At least the voters are consistent. And possibly sway-able on Facebook.

The Beat's Comic Industry Person of the Year

Continuing on from our post about Gene Luen Yang's appointment as National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, The Beat just announced it's Comics Industry Person of the Year for 2015, and it's … a shark!

No, wait. Sorry, it's Noelle Stevenson!

Stevenson truly had a breakout year, with critical accolades (a National Book Award nomination for Nimona) and commercial successes (including movie options for both Nimona and The Lumberjanes, which she produces with co-writer Grace Ellis, illustrator Brooke Allen, colourist Maarta Laiho, and letterer Aubrey Aiese). Following up on Raina Telgemeier's recognition for 2014, this is the second year in a row that The Beat (and the creators surveyed) have named a woman cartoonist working in the young adult sub-field – a sharp contrast with the continuing debacle that is Angoulême.