Thursday, August 20, 2026

PR: SPX Announces 2026 Ignatz Award Nominees and The Ignatz Archive


 




2026 Ignatz Awards Nominees

2026 Ignatz Awards logo by Vicky Wang

For Immediate Release


Contact: Warren Bernard


Email: ignatzawards@smallpressexpo.com



North Bethesda, Maryland – The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, is pleased to announce the 2026 nominees for the annual presentation of the Ignatz Awards, a celebration of outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning.


Small Press Expo Announces The 2026 Ignatz Nominees


Ignatz Awards nominees are determined by a panel of comics professionals. We are most grateful for the efforts of this year's team of jurors:


  • Maria Hoey
  • Joel Christian Gill
  • Nick Bertozzi
  • Maggie McCready
  • Vik Alexander
  • Meg Lentz
  • Michael Albrecht
  • Sofia Lesage


Voting for the Ignatz Awards will be opened to anybody on the SPX email lists and anyone requesting a ballot. There will be no in-person voting at the show, as voting for the prestigious Ignatz Awards is open to all fans of indie comics. 


The Ignatz Awards ceremony will be held at 9:30PM on Saturday September 12 in the White Oak Room of the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.


Other information about SPX 2026 and the Ignatz Awards, can be found at www.smallpressexpo.com.

BALLOT & VOTING INFORMATION

  • Voting for the 2026 Ignatz Awards will be by email ballot only, there will be no on-site voting.


  • Ballots will be emailed everyone on SPX's email lists at the same time as this announcement.
  • Be sure to check you Spam folder for the ballot.



  • Please check your spam folder if you do not see your ballot.


  • Voting ends on Friday September 11 at 8:00PM (EDT).


2026 IGNATZ NOMINEES

Additional information about this year's nominees can be found here.


OUTSTANDING ARTIST

  • Colin Lidston, Move-In Day (Paper Rocket Minicomics)
  • Ben Passmore, Black Arms To Hold You Up (Pantheon Books)
  • J. Marshall Smith, Testament (Bulgilhan Press)
  • Carol Tyler, The Ephemerata: Shaping the Exquisite Nature of Grief (Fantagraphics)
  • Rob Woods, Barbecue Block Party (Self-Published)


OUTSTANDING ANTHOLOGY

  • A Queer Prisoner's Anthology Vol. 9: Beautiful Regrets ed. Casper Cendre, Oliver Mills, Brett Thomas Gonzalez (A.B.O. Comix)
  • Goof #2 ed. Marc Jackson (Self-Published)
  • LAAB: A Comics Anthology No. 3 ed. Ronald Wimberly (Beehive Books)
  • Revenge #2 ed. Samandal (Beehive Books)
  • So Buttons #15 ed. Jonathan Baylis (So Buttons Comix)


OUTSTANDING COLLECTION

  • A Strong Woman and Other Stories by Valentine Gallardo (Fieldmouse Press)
  • All the Cameras in My Room by Michael DeForge (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Box Garden Beetle by Akino Kondoh (Glacier Bay Books)
  • The Past is a Grotesque Animal by Tommi Parrish (Fantagraphics)
  • Wisps by Amanda Baeza (kuš!)


OUTSTANDING COMIC

  • Antimatter #1 by Dean Haspiel (Self-Published)
  • Fizzle #6 by Whit Taylor (Radiator Comics)
  • Girls Gone Wild by Katie Lane (2dcloud)
  • Utzy and Dusty by Josh Bayer (Domino Books)
  • Zoo #5 by Anand Shenoy (Self-Published)


OUTSTANDING GRAPHIC NOVEL

  • Black Arms to Hold You Up by Ben Passmore (Pantheon Books)
  • Cannon by Lee Lai (Giramondo Publishing)
  • Do Admit! The Mitford Sisters and Me by Mimi Pond (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • More Weight: A Salem Story by Ben Wickey (Top Shelf Productions)
  • The Weight by Melissa Mendes (Drawn & Quarterly)


OUTSTANDING MINICOMIC

  • If She Was Beholden, Could She Ever Be the Beholder? by Erika Rier (Self-Published)
  • Secret Black Woman: American Virtues by Ingrid Pierre (Self-Published)
  • To Bleed Stone Dry by R. D. "Reyookah" Yoon (Self-Published)
  • Two Snakes by Suerynn Lee (Alright Editions)
  • Uncoiling: A Japanese-American Family History by Yoko O.K. (Self-Published)


OUTSTANDING ONLINE COMIC


OUTSTANDING SERIES

  • Coin-Op no 10: Wet Cement by Peter and Maria Hoey (Coin-Op Books)
  • Fizzle #6 by Whit Taylor (Radiator Comics)
  • Hacienda by Dave Ortega (Self-Published)
  • My Pockets are Juicy! by Lonnie Milsap (Self-Published)
  • Wedding Juice and Other Melodramas by Sanika Phawde (Self-Published)

 

OUTSTANDING STORY

  • Before We Wake by Sophia Glock (Little, Brown Ink)
  • Drome by Jesse Lonergan (23rd Street)
  • Mudhouse by Glynnis Fawkes (Paper Rocket Minicomics)
  • Suicidals by Michael R. Barton (Self-Published)
  • While We Wait by Sorina Vazelina (Self-Published)

 

PROMISING NEW TALENT:

  • A Scientific Study Of Transsexuality by Oscar Woodiwiss (Fieldmouse Press)
  • Creamthing In His Golden Year by Sam Hensley (Self-Published)
  • Electric Cowboy by Ansel Kite (Silver Sprocket)
  • The Witch's Egg by Donya Todd (Avery Hill Publishing)
  • Upwards Incursion by Padraig Campbell (Driftwood Press)


Congratulations to all the nominees!

Key Dates for the 2026 Ignatz Awards

  • August 19 - Initial ballots emailed and voting begins
  • September 11 • 8:00 PM (EDT) - Voting for the 2026 Ignatz Awards ends
  • September 12 • 9:30 PM (EDT) - Presentation of Ignatz Award winners, the White Oak Room at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center

Small Press Expo (SPX) is the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels, and alternative political cartoons. SPX is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit that brings together more than 550 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers, and distributors each year. Graphic novels, mini comics, and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators. The expo includes a series of panel discussions and interviews with this year’s guests.


The Ignatz Awards are held every year by SPX, with the awards recognizing outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning.

Small Press Expo
P.O. Box 5704
Bethesda, Maryland
20824
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Small Press Expo | P.O. Box 5704 | Bethesda, MD 20824 US

 

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The $40T Gorilla in the Room by Daniel Boris

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Comics Research Bibliography citations update, 8/19/2026

MacDonald, Heidi. 2026. How about them Lanterns, eh?. The Beat (August 19): https://www.comicsbeat.com/how-about-them-lanterns-eh/

Serrano Denis, Ricardo. 2026. Join Anyone Comics on a Staten Island trip to Hypno-Tronic Comics before it closes down. The Beat (August 19): https://www.comicsbeat.com/anyone-hypno-tronic/

Unknown. 2026. Jason Aaron interview playlist. YouTube. Online at https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxi8EiW3RbIzBZhFuQaZHQM5LQSs_lxzw&si=jI7Ke8-bqOWgmifq

Harper, David. 2026. Chip Zdarsky talks Marvel's big changes, Avengers, San Diego Comic Con, and more on Chip Chat. SKTCHD (August 19): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQX4OzQiMz8

Anton, Chris. 2026. Joseph Illidge talks Static's return, Batman, Milestone and more!. Chris Covers Comics (August 18): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjcW16i9xMQ

Harrison, Bob and Mike Gold. 2026. Pop Culture SquadCast - LIVE with special guest Oliver Mertz. Pop Culture Squad (August 18): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7iCpDUYgDQ

Siuntres, John. 2026. The art of JK Woodward. Word Balloon (August 18): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aUjc-NX_mM

Siuntres, John. 2026. The Loeb Report Terrificon 26 edition. Word Balloon (August 18): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWclJXz_P4k

Siuntres, John. 2026. Scott Larson's new superhero pantheon Sidetracked. Word Balloon (August 17): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ2zxNt2wq8

Mallonee, Dennis. 2026. Ep 89: Gordon Purcell returns to discuss his Inkpot Award and his latest art. The Heroic Voice (August 19): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZOZIsy3u-w

Picolo, Gabriel. 2026. Teen Titans: Together - How to draw Raven with Gabriel Picolo. DC Comics (August 19): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uNvQ6aoYyA

Wonder Maddie and Uncanny Omar. 2026. Terry Moore interview: Strangers in Paradise, Rachel Rising, Pandora's Box, Echo, Motor Girl. Near Mint Condition (August 18): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgPMIle5W0w

Davidson, Keith. 2026. Writer Adriano Ariganello talks Presto Comics' Snip. Prana: Direct Market Solutions' The Final Cut (August 18): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCyeWMAwO3M

Uncanny Omar. 2026. Josh Blaylock interview - Devil's Due - G.I. Joe - Mercy Sparx - Breaking into comics - Arkworld. Near Mint Condition (August 17): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To1MD83UqLc

DeHart, Jason. 2026. Words, Images, & Worlds with Rob Saucedo. Words, Images, & Worlds (August 18): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJxhomyDYYc

DeHart, Jason. 2026. Words, Images, & Worlds with Nick Arganbright. Words, Images, & Worlds (August 15): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it50cLs39j8

McAuley, Eoin. 2026. Chris Ryall. Tasq Art's Creator In Conversation (75; August 18): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eHDpLikUqk

Fajardo, Lex, Mark Evanier, and Charles Kochman. 2026. NCS Book Club – Essential Peanuts. National Cartoonists Society (August 18): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiG2OTiTUN0

Siuntres, John. 2026. Lanzing and Kelly new books and more [The Hivemind, Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly]. Word Balloon (August 18): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osBB2hNVrn0

Swinimer, John. 2026. &rew K gets ready for ‘Chicken Man vol. 2’. True North Country Comics Videos (August 19): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zUJym5Bpzs

Swinimer, John. 2026. Kate Phillips updates about current and future comic book projects. True North Country Comics Videos (August 6): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8APbNyvEmWA

Swinimer, John. 2026. Matt McGrath creates Voyageur comic book with Quebec folktale origin. True North Country Comics Videos (August 6): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPqSzOGGWso

Swinimer, John. 2018. Black Sun Comics creator showcases at MCX 2018 [Kelvin Nyeusi-Mawazo]. True North Country Comics podcast (November 20): https://truenorthcountrycomics.com/2018/11/20/black-sun-comics-creator-showcases-at-mcx-2018/

Swinimer, John. 2026. Kelvin Nyeusi-Mawazo talks up ‘Seymour & Clops’. True North Country Comics Videos (August 12): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbB7Ed5FvAQ

Nicell, Sarah. 2026. After 13 straight nominations, South Jersey’s Mark Tatulli has won the nation’s biggest cartoon award. Philadelphia Inquirer (August 18): https://www.inquirer.com/south-jersey/mark-tatulli-cartoonist-lio-heart-of-the-city-reuben-award-20260818.html

García, Fer. 2026. Book review — Speaking in Pictures: A Vision of Language by Neil Cohn. International Journal of Comic Art blog (August 19): https://ijoca.blogspot.com/2026/08/book-review-speaking-in-pictures-vision.html

Cohn, Neil. 2026. Speaking in Pictures: A Vision of Language. London: Bloomsbury Academic

Sharma, Rashmi. 2026. “After all, I’m just a peasant dog!”: Chronicling the graphic veneration of Karna in Rik Hoskin’s Karna: Victory in Death. International Journal of Comic Art blog (August 19): https://ijoca.blogspot.com/2026/08/after-all-im-just-peasant-dog.html

Viji, M. 2026. Educating environment: A comparative content analysis of Indian, Japanese, and American television cartoon series. International Journal of Comic Art blog (August 19): https://ijoca.blogspot.com/2026/08/educating-environment-comparative.html

Garcia, Fer. 2026. Comics as enterprise: Economic models and creative sustainability. International Journal of Comic Art blog (August 19): https://ijoca.blogspot.com/2026/08/comics-as-enterprise-economic-models.html

Scott, Cord. 2026. Graphic novel review - Godzilla Vs. America: Chicago. International Journal of Comic Art blog (August 19): https://ijoca.blogspot.com/2026/08/graphic-novel-review-godzilla-vs.html

Johnston, Rich. 2026. Diamond bankruptcy update: The final mass mailout to 1301 creditors. Bleeding Cool (August 18): https://bleedingcool.com/comics/diamond-bankruptcy-update-the-final-mass-mailout-to-1301-creditors/

Gardner, Alan. 2026. The 10 cartoonists who influenced Wiley Miller. Daily Cartoonist (August 19): https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2026/08/19/the-10-cartoonists-who-influenced-wiley-miller/

Culwell-Block, Logan. 2026. Full casting set for new Duncan Sheik manga musical Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen: See who's joining lead star Sophia Anne Caruso in the stage adaptation of Moyoco Anno's graphic novel Off-Broadway. Playbill (August 17): https://playbill.com/article/full-casting-set-for-new-duncan-sheik-manga-musical-memoirs-of-amorous-gentlemen

Chik, Kalai. 2026. Husky and His White Cat Shizun (Erha) manga artist, Ayano Yamane, terminated over backlash: Action was swiftly taken after social media posts arose. KComicsBeat (August 19): https://kcomicsbeat.com/2026/08/19/husky-and-his-white-cat-shizun-erha-manga-artist-ayano-yamane-terminated-over-old-tweets/

Kaplan, Avery. 2026. Interview: Alicia Wallace sinks her teeth into Love Bites, Vol. 1: The adaptation of Wallace's novel is available at a local bookstore and/or public library near you now [Webtoons]. KComicsBeat (August 10): https://kcomicsbeat.com/2026/08/10/interview-alicia-wallace-sinks-her-teeth-into-love-bites-vol-1/

Wescott, Adam. 2026. OTAKON ’26 interview: Moon Taeyeon on creating characters: KComicsBeat talks to Moon Taeyeon about webtoons. KComicsBeat (August 12): https://kcomicsbeat.com/2026/08/12/otakon-26-interview-moon-taeyeon-on-creating-characters/

Wescott, Adam. 2026. OTAKON ’26 interview: Park Seulki Rhea on manhwa’s present: "If we don’t change the system now, everything that is currently popular will not exist in the future.". KComicsBeat (August 11): https://kcomicsbeat.com/2026/08/11/otakon-26-interview-park-seulki-rhea-on-manhwas-present/

Walker, Dave. 2026. Bill Maudlin cartoons that entertained WWII soldiers now in display in New Orleans. NOLA.com (August 16): https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/maudlin-exhibit/article_d2d2c2b0-ba20-442e-a2ce-a8a67d7f5dc8.html
 
Walker, Dave, Chase Tomlin, Todd DePastino, and Nat Mauldin. 2026. Drawn To Combat: Bill Mauldin And The Art Of War. Museumgoer Podcast (August 13): https://open.spotify.com/episode/40pW6nQSXobdF6leOrfQ9l?si=wac2fz64SIGJgv_QiMAHTg

Crean, Pete, Chase Tomlin, Todd DePastino, and Nat Mauldin. 2026.
New Exhibit Explores the Life of Cartoonist Bill Mauldin and the Art of War [video of panel]
National World War II Museum’s World War II On Topic (July 16): https://www.nationalww2museum.org/new-exhibit-explores-life-cartoonist-bill-mauldin-and-art-war
 
Unknown. 2026. The National WWII Museum Hosting Special Exhibit Exploring Wartime Work of Cartoonist Bill Mauldin; Drawn to Combat: Bill Mauldin and the Art of War features original drawings, artifacts from iconic artist [press release]. National World War II Museum (July 17): https://www.nationalww2museum.org/media/press-releases/national-wwii-museum-hosting-special-exhibit-exploring-wartime-work-cartoonist

Unknown. 1928. Hoover Pastor Named [father of Feg Murray]. Editor and Publisher and the Fourth Estate 61 (32; December 29): 22. Online at https://archive.org/details/sim_editor-publisher_1928-12-29_61_32/page/22/mode/2up

Unknown. 1928. A. P. Flirting with Comic Strips. Announcement expected after Jan.1; including this type of entertainment among offerings of feature department. Editor and Publisher and the Fourth Estate 61 (32; December 29): 8. Online at https://archive.org/details/sim_editor-publisher_1928-12-29_61_32/page/8/mode/2up

Chicago Tribune Newspapers Syndicate. 1928. A New Year's Resolution for 1929: Let the world's greatest comics build business for your newspaper in 1929! [advertisement]. Editor and Publisher and the Fourth Estate 61 (32; December 29): outer cover. Online at https://archive.org/details/sim_editor-publisher_1928-12-29_61_32

Unknown. 1928. Cartoonist to draw features for syndicate [classified "want" advertisement]. Editor and Publisher and the Fourth Estate 61 (32; December 29): 51. Online at https://archive.org/details/sim_editor-publisher_1928-12-29_61_32/page/50/mode/2up

Unknown. 1928. Details of Cartoon Phoned to Coast and Reproduced by Artist [John T. McCutcheon, Stuart Morris]. Editor and Publisher and the Fourth Estate 61 (32; December 29): 12. Online at https://archive.org/details/sim_editor-publisher_1928-12-29_61_32/page/12/mode/2up

Unknown. 1922. King Features Offers New Herriman Strip [Stumble Inn]. Fourth Estate (November 11): 20. Online at https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=iau.31858034161772&seq=666

Unknown. 1922. Two Pages of Comics [Hearst papers]. Fourth Estate (November 11): 29. Online at https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=iau.31858034161772&seq=666

Unknown. 1922. Cartoonist Displays Skill in Business Places [Gene Carr]. Fourth Estate (November 18): 27. Online at https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=iau.31858034161772&seq=705

Unknown. 1928. Comic Strips Monopolize List of New Kay Features Syndicate. M. Koenigsberg says "Comedy must be put back into comics," in announcing offerings ready Jan. 14. Sims, Walsh, Arnot, Zere, and Forbell on staff. Editor and Publisher and the Fourth Estate 61 (31; December 22): 14. Online at https://archive.org/details/sim_editor-publisher_1928-12-22_61_31/page/14/mode/2up

Unknown. 1922. Cartoonist Initiated by Ames Chapter [J. N. Darling; Sigma Delta Chi]. Fourth Estate (November 11): 26. Online at https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=iau.31858034161772&seq=672

Metropolitan Newspaper Service. 1928. Knute Rockne in a letter to Feg Murray says… [advertisement]. Editor and Publisher and the Fourth Estate 61 (29; December 8): 35. Online at https://archive.org/details/sim_editor-publisher_1928-12-08_61_29/page/34/mode/2up

Talman, John. 1928. Tom Thurlby [letter]. Editor and Publisher and the Fourth Estate 61 (28; December 1): 53. Online at https://archive.org/details/sim_editor-publisher_1928-12-01_61_28/page/52/mode/2up

Unknown. 1928. Starts House Organ. King Features Issues Four-Page Paper, Adds New Features. Editor and Publisher and the Fourth Estate 61 (30; December 15): 38. Online at https://archive.org/details/sim_editor-publisher_1928-12-15_61_30/page/38/mode/2up

Unknown. 1928. Cartoonist "Kidded" [H.E. Larimer drew a cartoonist who never drew a Thanksgiving cartoon with a Turkey labeled ‘Prosperity’; political cartoon tropes]. Editor and Publisher and the Fourth Estate 61 (29; December 8): 54. Online at https://archive.org/details/sim_editor-publisher_1928-12-08_61_29/page/54/mode/2up

Metropolitan Newspaper Service. 1928. The Tarzan books-- the Tarzan movies-- the Tarzan serials-- each has built up the success of the other [advertisement]. Editor and Publisher and the Fourth Estate 61 (30; December 15): 33. Online at https://archive.org/details/sim_editor-publisher_1928-12-15_61_30/page/32/mode/2up

Unknown. 1922. Washington Herald Makes Good Use of Candidacy of Comic Character [The Gumps]. Fourth Estate (November 11): 20. Online at https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=iau.31858034161772&seq=666

Kline, Daniel. 2025. Diamond Comics’ wild bankruptcy ends in Chapter 7 liquidation. After nearly a year in Chapter 11, the company enters Chapter 7. The court will determine vendor payments and what happens to unsold inventory.The Street (December 21): https://www.thestreet.com/retail/top-u-s-comic-brand-liquidating-after-chapter-7-bankruptcy

Floener, Gerard. 2025. Marc Angel writes comic strip to mark 125th anniversary of teachers' federation. Marc Angel has written a comic strip dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the Luxembourgish Federation for Teachers (FGIL).  RTL Today (December 21): https://today.rtl.lu/culture/film-and-books/marc-angel-writes-comic-strip-to-mark-125th-anniversary-of-teachers-federation-1942273567

Voyage Comics & Publishing. 2025. Voyage Comics and Holy Water Books Release ‘Fear Nothing: The Heroic Life of Aloysius Schwartz’. Standard Newswire (December 22): https://standardnewswire.com/voyage-comics-and-holy-water-books-release-fear-nothing-the-heroic-life-of-aloysius-schwartz/

Freund, Jason. 2025. Big Lick Comics To Move Locations [Roanoke, VA store]. WSLS 10 (December 21): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIgGhVghIek

Beirne, Luke. 2025. Montreal cartoonist Pascal Girard's latest comic book combines diary with fiction. CBC (December 22): https://www.cbc.ca/books/pastimes-pascal-girard-aleshia-jensen-diary-and-fiction-9.7002923

Beauchemine, Adam. 2025. These were the Ottawa Public Library’s most sought-after books of the year [children and teen graphic novels]. CTV News (December 20): https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/these-were-the-ottawa-public-librarys-most-sought-after-books-of-the-year/

Hendry, Alan. 2025. New Year TV documentary will celebrate ‘tabloid teuchter’ Angus Òg [Ewen Bain; Great Britain]. [Wick, Scotland] John O'Groat Journal and Caithness Courier (December 21): https://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/new-year-tv-documentary-will-celebrate-tabloid-teuchter-an-422482/

Ayala, Nicolas. 2025. Lobo's Extreme Comic Redesign Overshadows Jason Momoa's DCU Look. Screen Rant (December 20): https://screenrant.com/dc-comics-new-lobo-design-costume-jason-momoa-supergirl-dcu-movie/

Wilding, Josh. 2026. Man of Tomorrow Star Adria Arjona Dodges Wonder Woman Casting Question: "I'm Going To Go Now". Adria Arjona will make her DCU debut in Man of Tomorrow, but will she suit up as Wonder Woman? Appearing at San Diego Comic-Con, the actress danced around the notion of her playing Diana Prince. Comic Book Movie (July 24): https://comicbookmovie.com/superman/man-of-tomorrow/man-of-tomorrow-star-adria-arjona-dodges-wonder-woman-casting-question-im-going-to-go-now-a228997

Wilding, Josh. 2026. Man Of Tomorrow Director James Gunn May Have Just Shared a First Look at Brainiac's DCU Costume. Man of Tomorrow director James Gunn celebrated his 60th birthday with the cast and crew of the Superman sequel, but does it include a glimpse of Brainiac's costume in the DCU? Comic Book Movie (August 6): https://comicbookmovie.com/superman/man-of-tomorrow/man-of-tomorrow-director-james-gunn-may-have-just-shared-a-first-look-at-brainiacs-dcu-costume-a229215

Wilding, Josh. 2025.  Man of Tomorrow: Some Potentially Major Brainiac Spoilers Are Dominating the Rumor Mill Today. Man of Tomorrow is fast approaching, and some potentially major spoilers for the movie have started gaining traction on social media, largely relating to Brainiac's role in the Superman sequel. Comic Book Movie (August 10): https://comicbookmovie.com/superman/man-of-tomorrow/man-of-tomorrow-some-potentially-major-brainiac-spoilers-are-dominating-the-rumor-mill-today-a229274

Wilding, Josh. 2025. Man of Tomorrow: James Gunn Reveals Comic Book Inspiration For Brainiac And Why He Didn't Cast An A-Lister. Comic Book Movie (December 21): https://comicbookmovie.com/superman/man-of-tomorrow/man-of-tomorrow-james-gunn-reveals-comic-book-inspiration-for-brainiac-and-why-he-didnt-cast-an-a-lister-a225652

Cassidy, Mark. 2026. Man of Tomorrow Will Reportedly Feature the DCU Debut of This Obscure '60s Hero - Spoilers. Comic Book Movie (July 27): https://comicbookmovie.com/superman/man-of-tomorrow/man-of-tomorrow-will-reportedly-feature-the-dcu-debut-of-this-obscure-60s-hero---spoilers-a229063

Corley Shaun. 2025. The Most Shocking Horror Hit of 2026 Won’t Go to A24, It’ll Come From DC [Absolute Green Arrow]. Screen Rant (December 20): https://screenrant.com/best-horror-series-dc-comics-absolute-green-arrow-2026/

Odom, Dani Kessei. 2025. Upcoming Horror Show Will Be the Goriest Thing on TV [Something Is Killing the Children]. Screen Rant (December 21): https://screenrant.com/upcoming-horror-show-will-be-the-goriest-thing-on-tv/

Ball, Lane. 2025. Pursuing a dream: Manager of Kentucky comic shop publishes his own comic book [aka Local writer publishes first comic book; Lucas Harbolt]. 13News (December 22, updated December 24): https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/pursuing-a-dream-manager-of-kentucky-comic-shop-publishes-his-own-comic-book/

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Catered Away by Daniel Boris


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PR: Small Press Expo Presents Comics Workshops At Visarts

 

SPX 2026 Spaces Available for Four In-Person Workshops In Partnership with Visarts.


Spaces are still available for a series of four comics-focused workshops organized by Small Press Expo on September 5th and 6th, the weekend before the Expo. These classes are hosted by VisArts, a nonprofit organization and hub for artistic exploration and social impact located in Rockville, MD.


Workshops will showcase local comics creators sharing skills in the areas of zine creation, comics writing, and character design. Please see the full schedule below! Signup links are at the end of each class.


Small Press Expo will be held on September 12 and 13 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. There will be 24 Special Guests, 22 Panels, 18 Workshops and over 450 creators selling the best in indie comics.


Banner by Sanika Phawde.

Workshop Location:

Visarts

155 Gibbs Street

Rockville, MD 20850


Parking is available nearby.

0.5 miles from the Rockville Metro.

Google Map

WORKSHOPS

with Signup Links


Classes cost either $20 or $30

Saturday September 5, 2026


11am - 2pm: Intro to Zine Making


Course Description: In this class, students will engage the art of free expression through self-publishing by exploring a mobile library of zines, minicomics, and DIY publications, learning several book-making techniques. Students will develop a concept from start to print for the creation of their own black and white zine.


Instructor: Adam Griffiths is a cartoonist and arts administrator based in the Washington, DC area. He has exhibited his work at Transformer, Rhizome DC, Strathmore Mansion and Washington Project for the Arts. Griffith runs DwightMess, a comics 'compound' that includes several exhibition galleries, a Riso studio and screen-printing workshop, along with an extensive comics/zine library.


Cost: $30.00


Sign Up: https://canvas.visartscenter.org/classes/418.

Saturday September 5, 2026



3pm - 5pm: Autobio Comics


Course Description: This class will explore how paying attention to the everyday can feed our creativity and comics practice, whether students are interested in making mini comics, diary comics, or any other kind of narrative. The emphasis will be on play and practice as the class looks at exercises relevant to autobiography generally and comics specifically.


Instructor: Athena (she/they) is a cartoonist originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin now living and working in Washington, D.C. Her autobiographical comics have been featured in Nat. Brut and The Washington Post, and in 2021 she received an Honorable Mention for the Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) Cupcake Award. Their self-published comic "Nino" won the 2026 Cartoonist United Minicomics Award in Nonfiction.


Cost: $20.00


Sign Up: https://canvas.visartscenter.org/classes/419 

Sunday September 6th, 2026


11am - 2pm: Character Design


Course Description: This class is for those interested in creating their own characters for writing into stories, comics, or games. In this workshop, you’ll put together your own characters in collage form before drawing your own original character from the front, back, and sides. By the time the workshop is done, you’ll have at least one fully-designed character that you can use in a creative project of your choice.



Instructor: Nami Oshiro, an arts educator and illustrator creating drawings, paintings, and comics that play with everyday absurdities experienced by people with unique relationships to societal constructs.


Cost: $30.00


Sign Up: https://canvas.visartscenter.org/classes/420 

3pm - 5pm: Hometown Histories


Course Description: In this hands-on class, you’ll explore how comics can be used to capture memories and observations from the place you grew up (e.g., small moments, local characters, familiar landmarks, and scenes that reveal something about a time and place.) Through guided exercises, you’ll learn how to distill a bit of hometown history into a four-panel comic.


Instructor: Olivier Ballou works as a creative director in Washington, DC. He creates history comics about his Quebec hometown. His first comic “Val-d’Or Néon” was shortlisted for the 2024 Doug Wright graphic novel award.


Cost: $20.00


Sign Up: https://canvas.visartscenter.org/classes/421

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