The National Cartoonists Society has announced the 2025 NCS Divisional finalists and nominees for the annual Reuben Award, which recognize creators of comic strips, illustrations, comic books and more.
The awards recognize the cartoonist or artists specifically, so you’ll note that the actual comic, the writer and other creators, and the publisher aren’t called out in the nominations. Winners will be selected through a vote open to all NCS members.
This year’s Reuben list includes everyone who was nominated and didn’t win last year: Dave Blazek, Tauhid Bondia, Will Henry and Dana Simpson. Also nominated this year are arguably the two most prominent kids graphic novel creators right now, Raina Telgemeier and Dav Pilkey.
The comic book category features two veterans, The Goon creator Eric Powell and Usagi Yojimbo creator Stan Sakai, along with Jackie Musto, creator of Kay and P. On the graphic novel front, Raised by Ghosts creator Briana Loewinsohn, Sunder creator Pierre-Alexandre Comtois and One Path creator Greg Broadmore were nominated.
The winners will be announced in August. Check out the full list of nominees across all the categories for this year:
80th Annual Reuben Award Nominees
Dave Blazek
Tauhid Bondia
Will Henry
Dav Pilkey
Dana Simpson
Mark Tatulli
Raina Telgemeier
ADVERTISING / PRODUCT ILLUSTRATION
Pat Higgins
Liniers
Pashur
ART FOR ANIMATED MEDIA
GogoPedro
Chari Pere
Mike Salva
BOOK ILLUSTRATION
Jason Chatfield
Mike Deas
Chuck Dillon
COMIC BOOK
Jackie Musto
Eric Powell
Stan Sakai
EDITORIAL
Ruben Bolling
Pedro Molina
Michael Ramirez
GAG CARTOONS
Joe Dator
Amy Hwang
Tom Toro
GRAPHIC NOVELS
Greg Broadmore
Pierre-Alexandre Comtois
Briana Loewinsohn
MAGAZINE AND NEWSPAPER ILLUSTRATION
Tom Chitty
Nick Galifianakis
Johnny Sampson
NEWSPAPER PANEL
Dave Blazek
Wayno ®
Bill Whitehead
NEWSPAPER STRIP
Tauhid Bondia
Liniers
Garry Trudeau
ONLINE COMICS – LONG FORM
Steve Conley
Katie Cook
Brad Guigar
ONLINE COMICS – SHORT FORM
Jim Benton
Dee Fish
Ricardo y Nacho
VARIETY ENTERTAINMENT
Chuck Dillon
Patrick Merrell
Joe Wos