Carol Tyler, Lee Lai, Jesse Lonergan + more win at the 2026 Ignatz Awards

The annual awards were given out at the Small Press Expo in Maryland this weekend.

The 2026 Ignatz Awards, recognizing the best in small press comics, were presented last night during the Small Press Expo. The event featured a keynote by cartoonist Lisa Hannawalt, which you can watch in the replay of their livestream. I’d also recommend checking out Carol Tyler’s heart-felt acceptance speech at the end as well.

The winners list includes some (now) multiple Ignatz Award winners, including Lee Lai, Jesse Lonergan and Michael DeForge. While many of the winners were self-published, Drawn + Quarterly took home two awards, the most of any publisher.

The Ignatz Awards have been presented since 1997 and celebrate the outstanding achievements of independent comics, graphic novels and minicomics. They are named for the brick-throwing mouse that appeared in the Krazy Kat comics by George Herriman.

Congratulations to this year’s winners:

Continue reading “Carol Tyler, Lee Lai, Jesse Lonergan + more win at the 2026 Ignatz Awards”

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:

Continue reading “Nominees announced for the 2026 Ignatz Awards”

Anders Nilsen, ‘Precious Rubbish’ + more win at the 2025 Ignatz Awards

The annual small-press awards were given out at SPX in Maryland this weekend.

The 2025 Ignatz Awards, which recognize the best in small press comics, were presented last night as part of this weekend’s Small Press Expo festivities. The event featured a keynote by cartoonist Mimi Pond, which you can watch in the replay of their livestream.

Creator Anders Nilsen took home two awards for his supplemental comic to his Tongues series, while Kayla E. won the graphic novel category for Precious Rubbish. While most of the winners were self-published, Fantagraphics took home two awards and Silver Sprocket received one.

The Ignatz Awards have been presented since 1997 and celebrate the outstanding achievements of independent comics, graphic novels and minicomics. They are named for the brick-throwing mouse that appeared in the Krazy Kat comics by George Herriman.

Congratulations to this year’s winners:

Continue reading “Anders Nilsen, ‘Precious Rubbish’ + more win at the 2025 Ignatz Awards”

Nominees announced for the 2025 Ignatz Awards

The Ignatz Awards, given out at the Small Press Expo in September, honor outstanding achievement in independent comics and cartooning.

The Small Press Expo, or SPX, has announced the nominees for the 2025 Ignatz Awards.

Ignatz by Léa Murawiec

The Ignatz Awards recognize independent/alternative comics, graphic novels and more, and are typically given out during the Small Press Expo 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 award in 2024 for Most Promising New Talent.

Anyone can vote in the Ignatz Awards, as it is all done over email. Ballots were mailed to the existing SPX mailing list today, and those not on their list can sign up for a ballot and get added to our email lists at the SPX website. Voting ends on Friday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Congrats to all the nominees:

Continue reading “Nominees announced for the 2025 Ignatz Awards”

Robyn Smith, ‘Roaming,’ ‘CosmoKnights’ + more win at the 2024 Ignatz Awards

The annual awards honoring excellence in independent comics, graphic novels and minicomics were presented last night at the Small Press Expo.

The annual Ignatz Awards, which recognizes the best in small press comics with a brick-shaped award, were presented last night as part of this weekend’s Small Press Expo festivities.

The Ignatz Awards have been presented since 1997 and celebrate the outstanding achievements of independent comics, graphic novels and minicomics. They are named for the brick-throwing mouse that appeared in the Krazy Kat comics by George Herriman.

The awards were presented during a live ceremony that included a keynote by cartoonist Jeffrey Brown. A replay of the livestream is available on YouTube:

Continue reading “Robyn Smith, ‘Roaming,’ ‘CosmoKnights’ + more win at the 2024 Ignatz Awards”

Nominees announced for the 2024 Ignatz Awards

The Ignatz Awards, given out annually at SPX, honor outstanding achievement in independent comics and cartooning.

The Small Press Expo, or SPX, has announced the nominees for the 2024 Ignatz Awards.

The Ignatz Awards recognize the outstanding achievements of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons and are typically given out during the Small Press Expo 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 2023 Ignatz Promising New Talent Winner Deb JJ Lee.

This year’s nominees were chosen by a panel of comics professionals that included Caroline Cash, Martha Kuhlman, Dawn Bond, Lawrence Lindell, Kriota Wilberg and Emma Jensen. And here are their choices:

Continue reading “Nominees announced for the 2024 Ignatz Awards”

Olivia Stephens, ‘Ducks,’ ‘The God of Arepo’ and more win at the 2023 Ignatz Awards

The annual awards honoring excellence in independent comics, graphic novels and minicomics were presented last night at the Small Press Expo.

The annual Ignatz Awards, which are shaped like a brick, were handed out last night during a ceremony at the Small Press Expo.

The Ignatz Awards, which have been presented since 1997, celebrate the outstanding achievements of independent comics, graphic novels and minicomics. They are named for the mouse that appears in the Krazy Kat comics by George Herriman.

Nominees were selected by a jury that included Ellen Lindner, Juniper Kim, L. Nichols, Ally Shwed, Jason Little and Kotaline Jones, with the winners being selected via an online ballot.

Congratulations to this year’s winners:

Continue reading “Olivia Stephens, ‘Ducks,’ ‘The God of Arepo’ and more win at the 2023 Ignatz Awards”

Sunday Comics | Looking at the Ignatz Awards nominees for ‘Outstanding Online Comics’

Check out webcomics by Jett Allen, Blue Delliquanti, Mara Ramirez, Reimena Yee and Lonnie Mann.

Here’s a round up of some of the best comics we’ve seen online recently. If we missed something, let us know in the comments below.

The nominees for the 2023 Ignatz Awards were announced earlier this month, with five comics being honored in the “Outstanding Online Comics” category. So let’s take a look at them.

Continue reading “Sunday Comics | Looking at the Ignatz Awards nominees for ‘Outstanding Online Comics’”

Nominees announced for the 2023 Ignatz Awards

The annual awards celebrate outstanding achievement in independent comics and cartooning.

The Small Press Expo, aka SPX, has announced the nominees for the 2023 Ignatz Awards.

The Ignatz Awards, which have been handed out since 1997, celebrate the outstanding achievements of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons. 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 2022 Ignatz Promising New Talent Winner Juni Ba.

The nominees were chosen by a panel of comics professionals that included Ellen Lindner, Juniper Kim, L. Nichols, Ally Shwed, Jason Little and Kotaline Jones.

Continue reading “Nominees announced for the 2023 Ignatz Awards”

‘Laila Starr,’ ‘No One Else’ and more win 2022 Ignatz Awards

The annual awards honoring excellence in independent comics, graphic novels and minicomics returned in person at the Small Press Expo.

For the first time since 2019, the annual Ignatz Awards returned to a live, in-person event at the Small Press Expo last night, presenting awards in 10 categories to small press creators.

The Ignatz Awards, which have been handed out since 1997, celebrate the outstanding achievements of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons. They are named for the mouse that appears in the Krazy Kat comics by George Herriman.

Nominees were determined by a jury that included Cuyler Hedlund, Breena Nunez, Josh O’Neil, Alex Hoffman and Hazel Newlevant. Anyone could vote on the winners, which was done over email rather than in person at the show, like it’s been in previous years.

Congratulations to this year’s winners, marked in bold below:

Continue reading “‘Laila Starr,’ ‘No One Else’ and more win 2022 Ignatz Awards”

Five Count | Ignatz minicomics

Here are five minicomics you can buy, read and vote for in this year’s Ignatz Awards.

Three Count spotlights, as the title suggests, three comic things. Usually it’s three things with links, no more, no less. Today, however, it is more, because it’s Five Things.

(Art up top by Alexander Laird)

To vote for: Your favorite Ignatz-nominated minicomics

On Sunday I ran down the five comics nominated in the “Outstanding Online Comic” category for the 2022 Ignatz Awards. With voting open to anyone on the internet, my assumption is that folks would like to make informed choices on their ballots, and webcomics are the most easily accessible comics out there, right? Just give me a URL and off I go.

But that got me thinking about some of the other categories, and whether it would be easy to read everything nominated. With the graphic novel category, for example, it would be easy enough for the ambitious sort to hunt down all five nominees, whether that’s via a good local book store or comic shop, or, of course, through online ordering. But the minicomics category might be a little more challenging, so here’s a rundown of where you can find all five of the nominees.

Continue reading “Five Count | Ignatz minicomics”

Sunday Comics | A closer look at the Ignatz Awards nominees

Check out some recent award-nominated comics by Adam de Souza, Mars Heyward, Evan Dahm, Reimena Yee and Amy Kurzweil.

Here’s a round up of some of the best comics we’ve seen online recently. If we missed something, let us know in the comments below.

The nominees for the 2022 Ignatz Awards came out a few days ago, with five webcomics being honored in the “Outstanding Online Comics” category. So let’s take a look at them!

Continue reading “Sunday Comics | A closer look at the Ignatz Awards nominees”