RINGO AWARDS 2024 Winners

The Ringo Awards, named in honor of the late comic artist Mike Wieringo, have become a beloved celebration of excellence in the comic book industry. Since 2017, the awards have been a staple at Baltimore Comic-Con, recognizing the talents of creators through a blend of fan voting and industry jury selections. Mike Wieringo, fondly remembered for his work on The Flash and Spider-Man, was known not just for his talent but for his generosity and kindness—qualities that the Ringo Awards embody.

On October 21, 2024, comic fans, creators, and publishers gathered once again at Baltimore Comic-Con to honor the best in comics from the past year. With an electric atmosphere, the night was filled with emotional speeches, stunning victories, and an overwhelming sense of camaraderie. Here’s a complete rundown of the nominees and winners from the unforgettable evening.

Fan Favorites

The Fan Favorite categories are driven entirely by the public, reflecting the characters, creators, and series that resonated most with readers.

• Fan Favorite New Talent:
  • Winner: Danny Earls
  • Nominees: John Gallagher, Richard Fairgray, Yoshi Yoshitani, David Peose, Shadia Amin
• Fan Favorite Hero:
  • Winner: Lenore – Nevermore
  • Nominees: Captain Marvel (Marvel), Spider-Man (Marvel), Wonder Woman (DC)
• Fan Favorite Villain:
  • Winner: Montresor – Nevermore
  • Nominees: Thanos (Marvel), The Joker (DC), Carnage (Marvel)
• Fan Favorite Publisher:
  • Winner: Image Comics
  • Nominees: Marvel Comics, DC Comics, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing
• Fan Favorite New Series:
  • Winner: City of Blank
  • Nominees: Dark Ride (Image Comics), Indigo Children (Image Comics), Local Man (Image Comics)

Best Cartoonist (Writer and Artist)

The Best Cartoonist award honors creators who excel at both writing and illustrating their comics.

• Winner: Jeff Smith (Bone, 66 Shark Teeth)
• Nominees: K. O’Neill, Ed Piskor, Jillian Tamaki

Best Writer

Celebrating the storytellers behind the most gripping narratives, Best Writer was hotly contested this year.

• Winner: Mariko Tamaki (This One Summer, Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me)
• Nominees: Dan Abnett, Ed Brubaker, Tom King, Kit Trace

Best Artist or Penciller/Inker Team

This award honors the visual creators who bring stories to life through their masterful linework.

• Winner: Elsa Charretier
• Nominees: Duncan Fegredo, Abdullah Hadia, Vincent Mallié, Sean Phillips, Peter Rostovsky

Best Letterer

Lettering is an art form in itself, and this award recognizes the creators who excel in this often-overlooked skill.

• Winner: Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo)
• Nominees: Clayton Cowles, Taylor Esposito, Lucas Gattoni, Stephen Kok, Micah Myers

Best Colorist

The Best Colorist award celebrates the artists who bring vibrant energy to the page.

• Winner: Tamra Bonvillain
• Nominees: Brad Anderson, Jordie Bellaire, Stephan Franck, Jacob Phillips, Rico Renzi

Best Cover Artist

Covers are the first impression a comic makes, and this award celebrates the artists whose work grabs attention at a glance.

• Winner: Chris Samnee
• Nominees: Colm Griffin, Tula Lotay, Dan Parent, Bill Sienkiewicz, Fiona Staples

Best Series

The Best Series award honors ongoing comic series that have consistently captivated readers.

• Winner: Geiger: Ground Zero (Image Comics)
• Nominees: The Night Eaters (Abrams ComicArts), Phantom Road (Image Comics), Rare Flavours (BOOM! Studios), Sirens of the City (BOOM! Studios), Tower (A Wave Blue World)

Best Single Issue or Story

This award celebrates excellence in standalone comic storytelling.

• Winner: Animal Pound #1 (BOOM! Studios)
• Nominees: By The Horns: Dark Earth #7 (Scout Comics), Etheres (Source Point Press), Rare Flavours #1 (BOOM! Studios), Somna (DSTLRY), Star Trek: Day of Blood – Shaxs’ Best Day (IDW Publishing)

Best Original Graphic Novel

The Best Original Graphic Novel category celebrates long-form storytelling in a single, complete work.

• Winner: Monica by Dan Clowes (Fantagraphics)
• Nominees: Parasocial (Image Comics), Roaming (Drawn & Quarterly), Slightly Exaggerated (Dark Horse Comics), Three Rocks: The Story of Ernie Bushmiller (Abrams ComicArts)

Best Anthology

Anthologies bring together diverse voices and themes. This category recognizes the best collection of stories.

• Winner: The Rocketeer One-Shot (IDW Publishing)
• Nominees: The Devil’s Cut (DSTLRY), Dwellings (Oni Press), Hairology (Lifeline Comics), Ice Cream Man (Image Comics), Swan Songs (Image Comics)

Best Humor Comic

This award celebrates comics that use humor to entertain and captivate readers.

• Winner: Bone: More Tall Tales (Scholastic)
• Nominees: Asterix and the White Iris (Vol. 40) (Papercutz), Betty & Veronica Friends Forever: Game On #1 (Archie Comics), Dwellings (Oni Press), Girl Juice (Drawn & Quarterly), Great British Bump-Off (Dark Horse Comics), Snow White Zombie Apocalypse (Scout Comics)

Best Webcomic

As digital comics continue to grow in popularity, the Best Webcomic award honors the best creators in this space.

• Winner: Lore Olympus (WEBTOON)
• Nominees: Countdown to Love (Manta), The Guy Upstairs (WEBTOON), Hungry Heart (Tapas), I’m Dating a Psychopath (WEBTOON), Nevermore (WEBTOON), Señorita Cometa (WEBTOON)

Best Non-fiction Comic Work

Non-fiction comics merge real-world stories with the visual storytelling power of comics.

• Winner: Miles Davis and the Search for the Sound (Z2 Comics)
• Nominees: Funny Things: A Comic Strip Biography of Charles M. Schulz (Top Shelf Productions), Memento Mori (Oni Press), My Picture Diary (Drawn & Quarterly), The Odyssey of the Adriana (Business Insider), Tasty (Random House Children’s Books)

Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel

The Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel category celebrates works that bring the joy of comics to younger readers.

• Winner: The Batman Scooby-Doo Mysteries (DC Comics)
• Nominees: Archie Horror Presents…Chilling Adventures (Archie Comics), Big Ethel Energy Vol. 2 (Archie Comics), Brownstone’s Mythical Collection: Luna and the Treasure of Tlaloc (Flying Eye Books), Dear Rosie (Random House Children’s Books), The Glopple (Legends Comics), Lights (Oni Press), Squish and Squash (Keenspot Entertainment)

Best Presentation in Design

This award recognizes excellence in the overall design and presentation of a comic collection or graphic novel.

• Winner: Richard Stark’s Parker: The Complete Collection (IDW Publishing)
• Nominees: Complete Klaus Deluxe Edition (BOOM! Studios), Faithless Deluxe Edition with Slipcase (BOOM! Studios), Grendel: Devil by the Deed–Master’s Edition (Dark Horse Comics), Metaphorical HER (Rocketship Entertainment), Palookaville 24 (Drawn & Quarterly), Thalamus: The Art of Dave McKean (Dark Horse Comics), Watership Down (Ten Speed Press)

A Night to Remember

The 2024 Ringo Awards celebrated not just the winners, but the full breadth of talent that makes comics a vital and vibrant medium. With a mix of indie creators and industry giants sharing the stage, it was a night that truly captured the spirit of the comic book world. Whether you’re a fan of the latest webcomic sensation or a devoted reader of superhero sagas, the Ringo Awards showed us once again that comics are for everyone.

Just as we anticipate another round of thrilling comic adventures next year, we look forward to the unmatched excitement that the Ringo Awards will again surely deliver.