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:

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2022 Doug Wright Awards winners announced

Congratulations to this year’s winners.

The Doug Wright Awards, which honor “the best work and most promising talent in Canadian comics,” presented their 2022 awards over the weekend during the Toronto Comic Arts Festival.

This was their first in-person awards ceremony since the beginning of the COVID pandemic in 2020. The event was hosted by film critic Richard Crouse, and featured appearances by Jenn Woodall, David Collier and Dustin Harbin. The outdoor event was also livestreamed, but unfortunately the wind makes the audio very difficult to hear.

Here are the winners:

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Smash Pages Q&A: Sami Alwani

The creator of the award-winning ‘The Dead Father’ discusses his latest work for Fantagraphics’ ‘Now’ anthology.

Sami Alwani is a Toronto-based cartoonist and illustrator who, by his own admission, works slowly, but in the past few years has produced a number of comics for Vice, Broken Pencil and other publications. He received a 2018 Doug Wright Award for his comic The Dead Father.

Alwani has a new comic in NOW #8, the current issue of the Fantagraphics anthology. The Misfortunes of Virtue isn’t just a good comic, but I would argue it’s Alwani’s best work to date. We spoke recently about life during lockdown, working slowly and where that title comes from.

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Doug Wright Awards honor Jesse Jacobs, Jenn Woodhall, Sami Alwani

Editorial cartoonist Duncan Macpherson was inducted into the Giants of the North Canadian cartoonist hall of fame during TCAF weekend.

A trio of first-time winners took home trophies from the Doug Wright Awards, presented yesterday during the Toronto Comics Arts Festival.

The Doug Wright Awards honor “the best work and most promising talent in Canadian comics.” Check out the winners below:

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