Ringo Awards announcement

 

The Comics Industry Celebrates the 2025 Ringo Awards

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - October 19, 2025 - Comic creative professionals, publishers, retailers, and fans came together Saturday night, October 18, 2025 to experience the comic book industry celebrating recognition of their peers, co-workers, and competitors at the 2025 Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards.

This year's Ringo Awards was sponsored by Cards, Comics & Collectibles, the Baltimore Comic-Con, as well as A Wave Blue World, Comix Well Spring, Hard Rock Cafe, IDW Publishing, Ignition Press, Illuminous Ideas, Key Collector, The Lab Press, Metal Ninja Studios, Oni Press, NC Comicon, Prana: Direct Market Solutions, Rocketship Entertainment, Shopping for Superman, and Ultimate Comics.

The Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards is an annual celebration of the creativity, skill, and fun of comics. The nomination ballot is determined by fans and pros alike.

Mike Pellerito is currently the President and Editor in Chief of Archie Comics. During his tenure at Archie, he has held several varied roles across the company, including expanding Archie’s distribution in the direct, bookstore, newsstand, and digital markets. His most notable achievement is leading the editorial team in a bold revitalization of the Archie universe. The massive project boasted Archie by Mark Waid and Fiona Staples, Betty & Veronica by Adam Hughes, and Jughead by Chip Zdarsky and Erica Henderson, Ryan North, and Derek Charm. Pellerito was also a producer of the live-action movie The Archies from Netflix and instrumental in the deal for the upcoming live-action Archie movie from Universal, written by Tom King with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller directing. Additionally, he is a co-owner of Aw Yeah Comics in Harrison, New York, chosen as “Best Comic Shop” by the prestigious Best of Westchester magazine.

A very special thanks go to the sponsors who donated items to the 2025 Ringo Awards Gift Bags, including A Wave Blue World, Abrams Books, AMP Comics, Archie Comics, AWA Studios, Bad Idea, Dark Horse Comics, Definitely Comics! The Magazine, Ignition Press, Keenspot Entertainment, The Lab Press, Levine Querido, Lifeline Comics, Mad Cave Studios, Oni Press, RECKAH! Publishing, Rocketship Entertainment, Scholastic/Graphix, Source Point Press, Vee Friend Comics, and WEBTOON Entertainment, as well as Michael Adams and Rob Potchak.

Winners of the 2025 Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards are:

Fan Favorites:

Sponsored by Rocketship Entertainment: Favorite Villain: Mr. Barnaby - Warm Fusion (DSTLRY) Favorite New Series: The Pedestrian (Magma Comix) Favorite New Talent: Annie Wright Favorite Publisher: Mad Cave Studios Favorite Hero: Alex - Señorita Cometa (WEBTOON)

Jury and Fan Winners:

Sponsored by Key Collector: Best Series: The Pedestrian, Magma Comix

Sponsored by Shopping for Superman: Best Cover Artist: Bilquis Evely

Sponsored by NC Comicon: Best Letterer: Richard Starkings

Sponsored by Ignition Press: Best Humor Webcomic: Nothing Butt Nightwing, DC Go!/DC Comics (https://www.dcuniverseinfinite.com/comics/series/nothing-butt-nightwing-2024/edc9baff-d342-43af-9bb1-9cf0a966779f)

Sponsored by Oni Press: Best Original Graphic Novel: Jane American, self-published

Sponsored by Metal Ninja Studios: Best Artist or Penciller/Inker Team: Chris Samnee

Sponsored by Ultimate Comics: Best Writer: Kelly Thompson

Sponsored by Illuminous: Best Presentation in Design: David Mazzucchelli's Batman Year One Artist's Edition, IDW Publishing (Designer: Chip Kidd)

Sponsored by Prana Direct Market Solutions: Best Anthology: Transphoria, Lifeline Comics

Sponsored by The Lab Press: Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel: Hilda and Twig Hide from the Rain, Flying Eye Books

Sponsored by A Wave Blue World: Best Non-fiction Comic Work: In the Shadows of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones, Oni Press

Sponsored by Oni Press: Best Cartoonist (Writer/Artist): Eric Powell

Sponsored by Rocketship Entertainment: Best Webcomic: Renaissance of Raven, DC Go!/DC Comics (https://www.dcuniverseinfinite.com/comics/series/renaissance-of-raven-2024/8cd9b062-bc93-4575-810c-5e05ffee1ede)

Sponsored by Hard Rock Cafe: Best Colorist: Jordie Bellaire

Sponsored by Ignition Press: Best Humor Comic: Smut #1, self-published

Sponsored by IDW: Best Single Issue or Story: Batman and Robin Year One #1, DC Comics

Mike Wieringo Spirit Award: Welcome to the Maynard, Dark Horse Comics

Hero Initiative Awards:

Dick Giordano Humanitarian of the Year Award: Stan Sakai Hero Initiative Lifetime Achievement Award: Kevin Nowlan

Brogan Fidelity Award:

Mike McKone

In addition, the Baltimore Comic-Con would like to thank those individuals who presented at this year's award ceremony, including: Keynote speaker Mike Pellerito; Becky Cloonan and Tula Lotay, Michael Finn, Joseph Illidge and James Robinson, Keith Champagne, Jeff Smith and Charles Vess, Todd Dezago, Craig Rousseau, Mark Waid, and Matt Wieringo, Tom Akel and Megan Grey, and Michael Cho, Chip Kidd, and Charles Kochman. We would also like to thank Rich Woodall and Dan Hills from Comix Wellspring for their contributions to our awards ceremony program and presentation, as well as Joe Carabeo of Astray Productions for audio/video support.

Please join us next year for the ninth annual Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards taking place at the 27th annual Baltimore Comic-Con on September 26, 2026, and keep an eye on our website and social media accounts below for 2026 ballot information.