Nominees announced for the 2026 Ignatz Awards

Winners will be announced at the Small Press Expo in September.


The Small Press Expo has revealed the nominees for the 2026 Ignatz Awards, which recognize alternative comics, graphic novels and more, and are given out during the SPX every Fall.

Named for the mouse that appears in the Krazy Kat comics by George Herriman, the logo changes each year as a new artist draws the mouse and his weapon of choice, the brick. The logo for this year was drawn by Léa Murawiec, who won the Most Promising New Talent award last year.

The nominees were chosen by a team of jurors that included Maria Hoey, Joel Christian Gill, Nick Bertozzi, Maggie McCready, Vik Alexander, Meg Lentz, Michael Albrecht and Sofia Lesage. The winners are chosen through open voting; you can request a ballot here. Voting ends on Sept. 11, and the winners will be announced Sept. 12 during SPX in Bethesda, Maryland.

Congrats to this year’s nominees:

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Paul Jenkins returns to ‘Wolverine: Origin’ for new miniseries ‘The Dark Age’

Jenkins returns with artist CAFU for a five-issue series exploring a previously untold chapter of Wolverine’s past.

A quarter of a century after Marvel finally revealed the origins of Wolverine, the publisher is headed back to the character’s early days for Wolverine: Origin III – The Dark Age. The five-issue miniseries will be written by Paul Jenkins, writer of the original 2001 Wolverine: Origin miniseries, with art by CAFU.

When Wolverine: Origin arrived in 2001, it was one of those rare Marvel stories that actually answered a question readers had been asking for decades. Wolverine’s past had been deliberately kept mysterious for most of his existence, but Jenkins and artist Andy Kubert finally introduced readers to James Howlett and revealed the traumatic events that transformed him into Wolverine.

“Wolverine: Origin was foundational. It did not simply tell us how, why and where a young, frail Canadian named James Howlett became the super hero we know as Wolverine, it also showed his loss of innocence and his understanding of a cruel and difficult world,” Jenkins said. “Now, after 25 years, I’m privileged to present this story I have waited over a quarter of a century to tell. Where did Logan go? Which parts of his story were lost to history? What led to the events of Weapon X? The answers are not going to be what you expect.”

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Benjamin Percy + Raúl Fernández go on an ‘Egg Hunt’

The four-issue sf horror series from Mad Cave Studios tells the story from the alien’s perspective.

Ever wonder what an alien invasion is like from the perspective of the alien? You can find out this November in Benjamin Percy and Raúl Fernández’s Egg Hunt.

Mad Cave Studios has announced the new four-issue science fiction/horror series from the duo, along with colorist Giada Marchisio and letterer Micah Myers. The story starts on Easter Sunday when something falls from the sky — and it’s not the Easter Bunny or the second coming.

Percy said the series grew out of his desire to approach the alien-invasion story from an unusual direction.

“I’ve always loved stories that find a fresh way into a genre by experimenting with form,” Percy said. “In Egg Hunt, we’re reinventing the alien invasion story by changing the standard point of view: we’re always the alien. From the first page, when we observe an egg hatching from the inside, everything we learn about the characters, setting and story comes from what the alien witnesses. There’s a lot of Spielberg and Carpenter in this story, the influences ranging from E.T. to Halloween, as an uncanny force trespasses on a suburban environment. Raúl Fernández took this visual constraint and ran with it. He brought this world and its characters to life, especially Piper, and can make your heart hurt in one panel and race in the next. I loved working with him.”

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Marvel revisits the road to ‘Secret Wars’ with 5 ‘Incursions’ one-shots

Alternate Marvel universes collide in a new series of one-shots, beginning with ‘X-Men: Incursions’ and a battle between the worlds of ‘House of M’ and ‘Days of Future Past.’

When two universes enter the octagon, only one can survive! Marvel is going back to the end of the Multiverse this November with five new Incursions one-shots that will revisit the cataclysmic events leading into Jonathan Hickman’s Secret Wars.

The whole concept of “incursions” was central to Hickman’s Avengers and New Avengers stories in the lead-up to 2015’s Secret Wars event, as the Marvel Universe, the Ultimate Universe and countless other alternate realities collided when an all-powerful Doctor Doom brought them together to form his own Battleworld. The new one-shots will explore some of the battles that took place during those final days but weren’t previously told.

The series begins with X-Men: Incursions #1 by Alex Paknadel and Jim Towe, which pits two familiar alternate realities against one another: the mutant-dominated world of House of M and the dystopian future of Days of Future Past:

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Tom Mandrake return to ‘Vampire: The Masquerade’ for new Titan Comics series

The ‘Spectre’ and ‘Swamp Thing’ artist joins writer John Lees for ‘Vampire: The Masquerade: Wake in Hate.’

Veteran comic book artist Tom Mandrake has a long history with supernatural comics, from The Spectre to Swamp Thing, but his next project is bringing him back to a franchise he hasn’t worked on in more than two decades: Vampire: The Masquerade.

Titan Comics and White Wolf have announced Vampire: The Masquerade: Wake in Hate, a four-issue miniseries written by John Lees and drawn by Mandrake that’ll debut in November.

Mandrake isn’t new to the Vampire: The Masquerade universe. As he explains, he previously contributed individual illustrations to the tabletop RPG’s books more than 20 years ago.

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Smash Pages Playlist | Yudori shares the songs that helped inspire ‘Lovers of the Empire’

From early K-Pop pioneers Sobangcha to the 1950s pop of The Chordettes, check out the songs the artist listened to while creating this romantic coming-of-age story.

Raging Clouds creator Yudori returns this week with Lovers of the Empire, the first book from Takumigraphics, Fantagraphics’ new imprint dedicated to East Asian comics. The romantic coming-of-age story is set in 1920s Korea, where a budding relationship unfolds against the complicated backdrop of Japanese occupation, social upheaval and a rapidly changing society.

To accompany the book, Yudori has shared with us a playlist of songs that connect to the characters, themes and atmosphere of the story. Below, she explains the thinking behind her selections, and we’ve embedded the playlist so you can listen along as she takes you into the world of the graphic novel. Enjoy some tunes, and check out Lovers of the Empire, which is in stores today.

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Jean Grey returns to Earth in new series by Jed MacKay + Rogê Antônio

The Phoenix spins out of DNX into a five-issue miniseries in November.

Jean Grey is coming back to Earth, and she’s bringing the Phoenix with her. Marvel has announced Jean Grey, a new five-issue miniseries from Jed MacKay and Rogê Antônio that will land in November.

The series picks up directly from the events of the upcoming DNX crossover, which MacKay is writing with artist Federico Vicentini. MacKay will also bring Jean Grey back to the X-Men.

“More than anything, it felt like it was time—Jean coming into X-Men was largely precluded by the Phoenix series that was running when we launched, and even after that wrapped, I continued to hold off on it until the time seemed right,” MacKay told AIPT. “After all, adding the Phoenix to your team book throws off the balance in a pretty dramatic way. Now, post-DNX, we’re going to see the X-Men in a position to need Jean Grey—and Jean Grey in a position to need the X-Men. Dovetailing that into this moment being one where Jean is in the public consciousness more than she has previously just worked.”

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Can’t Wait for Wednesday | Jason Aaron + Mahmud Asrar return with more ‘Bug Wars’

It’s Monday, which means it’s time to look at this week’s new comics and graphic novels. Check out new stuff coming from Al Ewing, Pasqual Ferry, Tate Brombal, Sami Basri, Rainbow Rowell and more.

Welcome to Can’t Wait for Wednesday, your guide to what’s coming to your local comic shop this week.

I’ve pulled out some of the highlights for this week below, but for the complete list of everything you might find at your local comic shop and on digital this week, you’ll want to check out one or more of the following:

As a reminder, things can change and what you find on the above lists may differ from what’s actually arriving in your local shop. So check with your retailer to see what’s arriving at their shop this week.

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Lady Baltimore returns in new series by Mike Mignola, Christopher Golden + Bridgit Connell

‘Lady Baltimore: The Constant Death of Dr. Rose’ sends Sofia Valk into a supernatural battle involving ghosts, Nazis, witches and her deceased friend.

Dark Horse Comics has announced Lady Baltimore: The Constant Death of Dr. Rose, a new three-issue series from Baltimore co-creators Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden, with art by Bridgit Connell. The series, which also features colors by Michele Madsen, lettering by Clem Robins and covers by Abigail Larson, kicks off in December.

The new series continues the story of Sofia Valk, the widow and confidant of Lord Baltimore who took up his mantle in 2021’s Lady Baltimore: The Witch Queens. Following the events of 2025’s Lady Baltimore: The Daughters of Medusa, Sofia travels to a remote town that has reportedly been devastated by a terrifying monster — who is also Lady Baltimore’s friend, the deceased Dr. Rose.

“From the first issue of Baltimore until we don’t tell these stories anymore, this is all one world—one story,” Golden said. “To us, Dr. Rose was a courageous ally and stalwart friend to Lord Baltimore, who met a horrifying end. But to the Nazis and the evil witches they’ve teamed up with, Dr. Rose’s terrifying transformation makes for a devastating weapon. Sofia—Lady Baltimore—can’t let her old friend be used that way, no matter what it costs her to put a stop to it.”

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‘Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus’ continues in ‘Die With Honor’ miniseries

Titan Comics returns to the world of the classic film in another series by Nancy Collins and Mariano Taibo.

Titan Comics has announced Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus: Die With Honor, a four-issue miniseries written by Nancy A. Collins and drawn by Mariano Taibo that continues the story they started in Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus — To Lose Is to Win.

The new series picks up the story of Stix, Mead and the dangerous world of bootleg replicants. After discovering that Stix and Mead are still alive, the head of Kalanthia’s bootleg replicant program orders Alura to kill them. Instead, she brings Stix into the fold, introducing him to a team of replicants who are clones of a team he worked with in the past.

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Oni announces midnight launch parties for ‘Sabrina’ #1

The new title joins the Marvel Midnight Universe for a nighttime drop on Oct. 7.

Sabrina #1, the upcoming title from Oni Press’ Archie line-up, is joining Marvel’s Midnight Universe titles for their big midnight release party. Retailers can start selling the title at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 7, alongside Midnight X-Men, Midnight Fantastic Four and Midnight Spider-Man.

Marvel announced their midnight release party initiative to retailers earlier this month, along with other promotional efforts for retailers like posters, ashcan editions, glow-in-the-dark stickers and a light-up “Midnight” LED sign. Oni followed today with their own promotional offers, like an open-order variant cover available to retailers hosting a midnight party, featuring art by Chloe Brailsford:

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Joe Harris + Riley Brown will bring ‘The X-Files’ back to comics

The writer behind the franchise’s Season 10 + 11 comic stories returns for all-new cases at Dynamite.

Dynamite Entertainment has announced that The X-Files will return to comics with an all-new ongoing series, featuring a familiar name behind the typewriter: Joe Harris, the writer who previously brought Mulder and Scully back to comics for The X-Files: Season 10 and Season 11.

Harris has written more X-Files comic scripts than any other creator, and he’ll return to the franchise alongside artist Riley Brown, artist of Vault’s Dead Acre: Black Badge.

“The X-Files has always been sacred to me,” Harris said. “I am beyond honored to write them and I am absolutely over the moon to work with Dynamite on this new series.”

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