August 10, 2024

The nominees are in for the prestigious Ignatz Awards presented at the annual Small Press Expo, and what a roster it is! 

The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS) is happy to announce several members of the community have been nominated. They include alumni, fellows, visiting artists, and studio prize winners such as Robyn Smith ‘16, Daryl Seitchik ‘17, Ana Two ‘24, and Julie Delporte.

Robyn Smith ’16 is nominated for Outstanding Artist for NIGHT FEVER from Gladiolus Magazine #1 published by Black Josei Press. The comic was inspired by Robyn’s first Hampshire College Halloween. Robyn won an Outstanding Story Ignatz Award last year for WASH DAY DIARIES, also published by Black Josei Press. 

FOLLOW THE DOLL, Issue 2, by Daryl Seitchik ‘18 and Parsifal Press is nominated for Outstanding Comic. It’s an all-painted graphic novel inspired by one of the most beloved Slavic folktales about Vasilisa. Daryl serialized and published the graphic novel with Parsifal, a press they launched with Dan Knott ‘18 in 2021.

HYPER FAWNUS self-published by Ana Two ’24 is nominated for Outstanding Mini-Comic. Ana is a cartoonist and painter who makes thriller and romance comics that explore themes of Americana, religion, and queer desire. They describes their nominated mini-comic as a dark fairytale.

CCS Fellow Julie Delporte is also nominated for Outstanding Artist for her graphic memoir, PORTRAIT OF A BODY, published by Drawn and Quarterly. Kirkus Reviews said it’s, “An artistic confessional of identity, sexual deliverance, and self-acceptance.” Julie is a cartoonist based in Montreal. This is her fourth graphic novel. 

Make sure to cast your vote before the Small Express Expo on 9/14-9/15.

The Ignatz Award was named in honor of the comic strip character Krazy Katz by George Herriman. Since 1997, the Small Press Expo has awarded the prize to take note of outstanding achievements in comics and cartooning. “The Ignatz recognizes exceptional work that challenges popular notions of what comics can achieve, both as an art form and as a means of personal expression.” Click here to see the complete list of nominations!

To request a ballot, visit: smallpressexpo.com/ignatz-ballot-request/