The nominees are chosen by a panel of judges that changes every year; this year’s judges were comics writer/editor Barbara Randall Kesel, author/art historian Kim Munson, writer/editor/journalist Rik Offenberger, librarian Jameson Rohrer, comics journalist/historian Jessica Tseang, and retailer Aaron Trites.
The award winners will be announced in a ceremony on July 22, during Comic-Con International in San Diego.
Best Short Story
- “Funeral in Foam,” by Casey Gilly and Raina Telgemeier, in You Died: An Anthology of the Afterlife (Iron Circus)
- "Generations," by Daniel Warren Johnson, in Superman: Red & Blue #5 (DC)
- "I Wanna Be a Slob," by Michael Kamison and Steven Arnold, in Too Tough to Die (Birdcage Bottom Books)
- “Tap, Tap, Tap,” by Larry O’Neil and Jorge Fornés, in Green Arrow 80th Anniversary (DC)
- “Trickster, Traitor, Dummy, Doll," by Triple Dream (Mel Hilario, Katie Longua, and Lauren Davis), in The Nib Vol 9: Secrets (The Nib)
Best Single Issue/One-Shot (must be able to stand alone)
- Marvel’s Voices: Identity #1, edited by Darren Shan (Marvel)
- Mouse Guard: The Owlhen Caregiver and Other Tales, by David Petersen (BOOM!/Archaia)
- Nightwing #87: “Get Grayson,” by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo (DC)
- Wolvendaughter, by Ver (Quindrie Press)
- Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons, by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Phil Jimenez (DC)
Best Continuing Series
- Bitter Root, by David F. Walker, Chuck Brown, and Sanford Greene (Image)
- The Department of Truth, by James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds (Image)
- Immortal Hulk, by Al Ewing, Joe Bennett, et al. (Marvel)
- Nightwing, by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo (DC)
- Something Is Killing the Children, by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera (BOOM! Studios)
Best Limited Series
- Beta Ray Bill: Argent Star, by Daniel Warren Johnson (Marvel)
- The Good Asian, by Pornsak Pichetshote and Alexandre Tefenkgi (Image)
- Hocus Pocus, by Rik Worth and Jordan Collver, hocuspocuscomic.squarespace.com
- The Many Deaths of Laila Starr, by Ram V and Filipe Andrade (BOOM! Studios)
- Stray Dogs, by Tony Fleecs and Trish Forstner (Image)
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, by Tom King and Bilquis Evely (DC)
Best New Series
- The Human Target, by Tom King and Greg Smallwood (DC)
- The Nice House on the Lake, by James Tynion IV and Álvaro Martínez Bueno (DC Black Label)
- Not All Robots, by Mark Russell and Mike Deodato Jr. (AWA Upshot)
- Radiant Black, by Kyle Higgins and Marcelo Costa (Image)
- Ultramega, by James Harren (Image/Skybound)
Best Publication for Early Readers (up to age 8)
- Arlo & Pips #2: Join the Crow Crowd!, by Elise Gravel (HarperAlley)
- Chibi Usagi: Attack of the Heebie Chibis, by Julie and Stan Sakai (IDW)
- I Am Oprah Winfrey, by Brad Meltzer and Christopher Eliopoulos (Dial Books for Young Readers)
- Monster Friends, by Kaeti Vandorn (Random House Graphic)
- Tiny Tales: Shell Quest, by Steph Waldo (HarperAlley)
Best Publication for Kids (ages 9-12)
- Allergic, by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter (Scholastic)
- Four-Fisted Tales: Animals in Combat, by Ben Towle (Dead Reckoning)
- Rainbow Bridge, by Steve Orlando, Steve Foxe, and Valentina Brancati (AfterShock)
- Salt Magic, by Hope Larson and Rebecca Mock (Margaret Ferguson Books/Holiday House)
- Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear, by Trang Nguyen and Jeet Zdung (Dial Books for Young Readers)
- The Science of Surfing: A Surfside Girls Guide to the Ocean, by Kim Dwinell (Top Shelf)
Best Publication for Teens (ages 13-17)
- Adora and the Distance, by Marc Bernardin and Ariela Kristantina (Comixology Originals)
- Clockwork Curandera, vol. 1: The Witch Owl Parliament, by David Bowles and Raul the Third (Tu Books/Lee & Low Books)
- The Legend of Auntie Po, by Shing Yin Khor (Kokila/Penguin Random House)
- Strange Academy, by Skottie Young and Humberto Ramos (Marvel)
- Wynd, by James Tynion IV and Michael Dialynas (BOOM! Box)
Best Humor Publication
- Bubble, by Jordan Morris, Sarah Morgan, and Tony Cliff (First Second/Macmillan)
- Cyclopedia Exotica, by Aminder Dhaliwal (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Not All Robots, by Mark Russell and Mike Deodato Jr. (AWA Upshot)
- The Scumbag, by Rick Remender and various (Image)
- Thirsty Mermaids, by Kat Leyh (Gallery 13/Simon and Schuster)
- Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, by Haro Aso and Kotaro Takata, translation by Nova Skipper (VIZ Media)
Best Anthology
- Flash Forward: An Illustrated Guide to Possible (And Not So Possible) Tomorrows, by Rose Eveleth and various, edited by Laura Dozier (Abrams ComicArts)
- My Only Child, by Wang Ning and various, edited by Wang Saili, translation by Emma Massara (LICAF/Fanfare Presents)
- The Silver Coin, by Michael Walsh and various (Image)
- Superman: Red & Blue, edited by Jamie S. Rich, Brittany Holzherr, and Diego Lopez (DC)
- You Died: An Anthology of the Afterlife, edited by Kel McDonald and Andrea Purcell (Iron Circus)
Best Reality-Based Work
- The Black Panther Party: A Graphic History, by David F. Walker and Marcus Kwame Anderson (Ten Speed Press)
- Hakim’s Odyssey, Book 1: From Syria to Turkey, by Fabien Toulmé, translation by Hannah Chute (Graphic Mundi/Penn State University Press)
- Lugosi: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood’s Dracula, by Koren Shadmi (Humanoids)
- Orwell, by Pierre Christin and Sébastien Verdier, translation by Edward Gauvin (SelfMadeHero)
- Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness, by Kristen Radtke (Pantheon/Penguin Random House)
- The Strange Death of Alex Raymond, by Dave Sim and Carson Grubaugh (Living the Line)
Best Graphic Memoir
- Factory Summers, by Guy Delisle, translated by Helge Dascher and Rob Aspinall (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Parenthesis, by Élodie Durand, translation by Edward Gauvin (Top Shelf)
- Run: Book One, by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, L. Fury, and Nate Powell (Abrams ComicArts)
- Save It for Later: Promises, Parenthood, and the Urgency of Protest, by Nate Powell (Abrams ComicArts)
- The Secret to Superhuman Strength, by Alison Bechdel (Mariner Books)
Best Graphic Album—New
- Ballad For Sophie, by Filipe Melo and Juan Cavia, translation by Gabriela Soares (Top Shelf)
- Destroy All Monsters (A Reckless Book), by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Image)
- In., by Will McPhail (Mariner Books)
- Meadowlark: A Coming-of-Age Crime Story, by Ethan Hawke and Greg Ruth (Grand Central Publishing)
- Monsters, by Barry Windsor-Smith (Fantagraphics)
Best Graphic Album—Reprint
- The Complete American Gods, by Neil Gaiman, P. Craig Russell, and Scott Hampton (Dark Horse)
- Locke & Key: Keyhouse Compendium, by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez (IDW)
- Middlewest: The Complete Tale, by Skottie Young and Jorge Corona (Image)
- Rick and Morty vs Dungeons and Dragons Deluxe Edition, by Patrick Rothfuss, Jim Zub, and Troy Little (Oni)
- The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys: California Deluxe Edition, by Gerard Way, Shaun Simon, and Becky Cloonan (Dark Horse)
Best Adaptation from Another Medium
- After the Rain, by Nnedi Okorafor, adapted by John Jennings and David Brame (Megascope/Abrams ComicArts)
- Bubble, by Jordan Morris, Sarah Morgan, and Tony Cliff (First Second/Macmillan)
- Disney Cruella, adapted by Hachi Ishie (VIZ Media)
- George Orwell’s 1984: The Graphic Novel, adapted by Fido Nesti (Mariner Books)
- The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, by Robert Tressell, adapted by Sophie and Scarlett Rickard (SelfMadeHero)
Best U.S. Edition of International Material
- Ballad For Sophie, by Filipe Melo and Juan Cavia, translation by Gabriela Soares (Top Shelf)
- Between Snow and Wolf, by Agnes Domergue and Helene Canac, translation by Maria Vahrenhorst (Magnetic)
- Love: The Mastiff, by Frederic Brrémaud and Federico Bertolucci (Magnetic)
- The Parakeet, by Espé, translation by Hannah Chute ((Graphic Mundi/Penn State University Press)
- The Shadow of a Man, by Benoît Peeters and François Schuiten, translation by Stephen D. Smith (IDW)
Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia
- Chainsaw Man, by Tatsuki Fujimoto, translation by Amanda Haley (VIZ Media)
- Kaiju No. 8, by Naoya Matsumoto, translation by David Evelyn (VIZ Media)
- Lovesickness: Junji Ito Story Collection, by Junji Ito, translation by Jocelyne Allen (VIZ Media)
- Robo Sapiens: Tales of Tomorrow (Omnibus), by Toranosuke Shimada, translation by Adrienne Beck (Seven Seas)
- Spy x Family, by Tatsuya Endo, translation by Casey Loe (VIZ Media)
- Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, by Haro Aso and Kotaro Takata, translation by Nova Skipper (VIZ Media)
Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips (at least 20 years old)
- Friday Foster: The Sunday Strips, by Jim Lawrence and Jorge Longarón, edited by Christopher Marlon, Rich Young, and Kevin Ketner (Ablaze)
- Popeye: The E.C. Segar Sundays, vol. 1 by E.C. Segar, edited by Gary Groth and Conrad Groth (Fantagraphics)
- Trots and Bonnie, by Shary Flenniken, edited by Norman Hathaway (New York Review Comics)
- The Way of Zen, adapted and illustrated by C. C. Tsai, translated by Brian Bruya (Princeton University Press)
Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books (at least 20 Years Old)
- EC Covers Artist’s Edition, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW)
- Farewell, Brindavoine, by Tardi, translation by Jenna Allen, edited by Conrad Groth (Fantagraphics)
- Marvel Comics Library: Spider-Man vol. 1: 1962–1964, by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, edited by Steve Korté (TASCHEN)
- Spain Rodriguez: My Life and Times, vol. 3, edited by Patrick Rosenkranz (Fantagraphics)
- Steranko Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Artisan Edition, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW)
- Uncle Scrooge: “Island in the Sky,” by Carl Barks, edited by J. Michael Catron (Fantagraphics)
Best Writer
- Ed Brubaker, Destroy All Monsters, Friend of the Devil (Image)
- Kelly Sue DeConnick, Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons Book One (DC)
- Filipe Melo, Ballad for Sophie (Top Shelf)
- Ram V, The Many Deaths of Laila Starr (BOOM! Studios); The Swamp Thing (DC); Carnage: Black, White & Blood, Venom (Marvel)
- James Tynion IV, House of Slaughter, Something Is Killing the Children, Wynd (BOOM! Studios); The Nice House on the Lake, The Joker, Batman, DC Pride 2021 (DC); The Department of Truth (Image); Blue Book, Razorblades (Tiny Onion Studios)
Best Writer/Artist
- Alison Bechdel, The Secret to Superhuman Strength (Mariner Books)
- Junji Ito, Deserter: Junji Ito Story Collection, Lovesickness: Junji Ito Story Collection, Sensor (VIZ Media)
- Daniel Warren Johnson, Superman: Red & Blue (DC); Beta Ray Bill (Marvel)
- Will McPhail, In: A Graphic Novel (Mariner Books)
- Barry Windsor-Smith, Monsters (Fantagraphics)
Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
- Filipe Andrade, The Many Deaths of Laila Starr (BOOM! Studios)
- Phil Jimenez, Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons (DC)
- Bruno Redondo, Nightwing (DC)
- Esad Ribic, Eternals (Marvel)
- P. Craig Russell, Norse Mythology (Dark Horse)
Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)
- Federico Bertolucci, Brindille, Love: The Mastiff (Magnetic)
- John Bolton, Hell’s Flaw (Renegade Arts Entertainment)
- Juan Cavia, Ballad for Sophie (Top Shelf)
- Frank Pe, Little Nemo (Magnetic)
- Ileana Surducan, The Lost Sunday (Pronoia AB)
- Sana Takeda, Monstress (Image)
Best Cover Artist
- Jen Bartel, Future State Immortal Wonder Woman #1 & 2, Wonder Woman Black & Gold #1, Wonder Woman 80th Anniversary (DC); Women’s History Month variant covers (Marvel)
- David Mack, Norse Mythology (Dark Horse)
- Bruno Redondo, Nightwing (DC)
- Alex Ross, Black Panther, Captain America, Captain America/Iron Man #2, Immortal Hulk, Iron Man, The U.S. of The Marvels (Marvel)
- Julian Totino Tedesco, Just Beyond: Monstrosity (BOOM!/KaBoom!); Dune: House Atreides (BOOM! Studios); Action Comics (DC); The Walking Dead Deluxe (Image Skybound)
- Yoshi Yoshitani, I Am Not Starfire (DC); The Blue Flame, Giga, Witchblood (Vault)
Best Coloring
- Filipe Andrade/Inês Amaro, The Many Deaths of Laila Starr (BOOM! Studios)
- Terry Dodson, Adventureman (Image Comics)
- K. O’Neill, The Tea Dragon Tapestry (Oni)
- Jacob Phillips, Destroy All Monsters, Friend of the Devil (Image)
- Matt Wilson, Undiscovered Country (Image); Fire Power (Image Skybound); Eternals, Thor, Wolverine (Marvel); Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters (Oni)
Best Lettering
- Wes Abbott, Future State, Nightwing, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman Black & Gold (DC)
- Clayton Cowles, The Amazons, Batman, Batman/Catwoman, Strange Adventures, Wonder Woman Historia (DC); Adventureman (Image); Daredevil, Eternals, King in Black, Strange Academy, Venom, X-Men Hickman, X-Men Duggan (Marvel)
- Crank!, Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters, The Tea Dragon Tapestry (Oni); Money Shot (Vault)
- Ed Dukeshire, Once & Future, Seven Secrets (BOOM Studios)
- Barry Windsor-Smith, Monsters (Fantagraphics)
Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism
- Alter Ego, edited by Roy Thomas (TwoMorrows)
- The Columbus Scribbler, edited by Brian Canini, Jack Wallace, and Steve Steiner, columbusscribbler.com
- Fanbase Press, edited by Barbra Dillon, fanbasepress.com
- tcj.com, edited by Tucker Stone and Joe McCulloch (Fantagraphics)
- WomenWriteAboutComics.com, edited by Wendy Browne and Nola Pfau (WWAC)
Best Comics-Related Book
- All of the Marvels, by Douglas Wolk (Penguin Press)
- The Art of Thai Comics: A Century of Strips and Stripes, by Nicolas Verstappen (River Books)
- Fantastic Four No. 1: Panel by Panel, by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Chip Kidd, and Geoff Spear (Abrams ComicArts)
- Old Gods & New: A Companion to Jack Kirby’s Fourth World, by John Morrow, with Jon B. Cooke (TwoMorrows)
- True Believer: The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee, by Abraham Riesman (Crown)
Best Academic/Scholarly Work
- Comics and the Origins of Manga: A Revisionist History, by Eike Exner (Rutgers University Press)
- The Life and Comics of Howard Cruse: Taking Risks in the Service of Truth, by Andrew J. Kunka (Rutgers University Press)
- Mysterious Travelers: Steve Ditko and the Search for a New Liberal Identity, by Zack Kruse (University Press of Mississippi)
- Pulp Empire: The Secret History of Comics Imperialism, by Paul S. Hirsch (University of Chicago Press)
- Rebirth of the English Comic Strip: A Kaleidoscope, 1847–1870, by David Kunzle (University Press of Mississippi)
Best Publication Design
- The Complete American Gods, designed by Ethan Kimberling (Dark Horse)
- The Complete Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck Deluxe Edition, designed by Justin Allan-Spencer (Fantagraphics)
- Crashpad, designed by Gary Panter and Justin Allan-Spencer (Fantagraphics)
- Machine Gun Kelly’s Hotel Diablo, designed by Tyler Boss (Z2)
- Marvel Comics Library: Spider-Man vol. 1: 1962–1964 (TASCHEN)
- Popeye Vol. 1 by E.C. Segar, designed by Jacob Covey (Fantagraphics)
Best Webcomic
- Batman: Wayne Family Adventures, by CRC Payne and StarBrite (DC/WEBTOON), https://www.webtoons.com/en/slice-of-life/batman-wayne-family-adventures/list?title_no=3180&page=1
- Isle of Elsi, by Alec Longstreth, https://www.isleofelsi.com/comics/ioe6/page-259/
- Lore Olympus, by Rachel Smythe (WEBTOON), https://www.webtoons.com/en/romance/lore-olympus/list?title_no=1320&page=1
- Navillera: Like a Butterfly, by Hun and Jimmy, translation by Kristianna Lee (Tapas Medie/Kakao Entertainment), https://tapas.io/series/navillera-like-a-butterfly
- Unmasked, by Breri and Nuitt (WebToon Factory/Europe Comics), https://www.webtoonfactory.com/en/serie/unmasked/
Best Digital Comic
- Days of Sand, by Aimée de Jongh, translation by Christopher Bradley (Europe Comics)
- Everyone Is Tulip, by Dave Baker and Nicole Goux, everyoneistulip.com
- It’s Jeff, by Kelly Thompson and Gurihiru (Marvel)
- Love After World Domination 1-3, by Hiroshi Noda and Takahiro Wakamatsu, translation by Steven LeCroy (Kodansha)
- Snow Angels, by Jeff Lemire and Jock (Comixology Originals)