The 8th Annual Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics finalists have been announced. With the slogan “From invisible to inevitable” (McDuffie’s personal phrases), the award is given to a comic book e book that has proven a dedication to range and inclusion. The prize is called in honor of Dwayne McDuffie, a creator identified for writing, enhancing, and producing comics and animation.
The nominees for the 8th Annual Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics are:
Blackward
Writer & Artist: Lawrence Lindell
Clock Striker
Writer: Frederick L. Jones, Artist: Issaka Galadima
The Man within the McIntosh Suit
Writer & Artist: Rina Ayuyang
Ripple Effects by (Writer) and (Artist)
Writer: Jordan Hart, Artist: Bruno Chiroleu
Young Men in Love: A Queer Romance Anthology
Writers: Various, Artists: Various
The committee is led by business legend, Marv Wolfman and consists of 10 outstanding comics and animation professionals who personally knew and labored with McDuffie and/or have demonstrated a dedication to his imaginative and prescient of excellence and inclusiveness each on the web page and behind the scenes.
The committee consists of:
Colleen Doran is a cartoonist, author/artist whose works embody writing/drawing Sensational Wonder Woman, the multi-award successful adaptation Neil Gaiman’s Snow, Glass, Apples, and artwork for The Sandman, The Vampire Diaries, The Clock, Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, The Walking Dead, and lots of of different comics. She additionally illustrated Stan Lee’s New York Times best-selling autobiography Amazing, Fantastic, Incredible Stan Lee. Among her quite a few awards and nominations are Eisner awards, the Harvey Award, The International Horror Guild Award, the Ringo, and the Bram Stoker Award.
Heidi MacDonald is the editor-in-chief of Comicsbeat.com and has edited comics for Disney, DC Comics, Vertigo, HarperCollins, and Z2. She could be heard on Publishers Weekly’s weekly podcast More To Come and located repeatedly on the Beat’s YouTube channel.
Jamal Igle is the author/artist/creator of Molly Danger for Action Lab Entertainment, the co-creator/artist of The Wrong Earth for Ahoy Comics, co-creator of Dudley Datson and the Forever Machine for Comixology, and the penciller of the critically acclaimed collection, BLACK from Black Mask Studios, in addition to many titles for DC, Marvel, and Dark Horse. He’s been a storyboard artist for Sony Animation and can be a preferred visitor lecturer on the themes of comics and animation.
Joseph Illidge is the Executive Editor for Heavy Metal, the main illustrated journal and firm for science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Joseph’s first job within the comedian e book business was at Milestone Media, the groundbreaking writer accountable for the favored teen hero “Static”. The first editor of colour for DC Comics’ Batman franchise, Joseph is the founding father of Illuminous, LLC and is co-producing the movie “Xero” with 50 Cent’s G-Unit Film and Television, author Christopher Priest, and Color Farm Media.
Nilah Magruder is a author/artist and the inaugural winner of the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics for the graphic novel M.F.Okay. She wrote and illustrated the image e book How to Find a Fox, and has additionally written for Marvel Comics, illustrated kids’s books for Disney-Hyperion, Scholastic, and Penguin, and labored as a author and storyboard artist in tv animation. She is presently illustrating Creaky Acres, a middle-grade graphic novel about horseback driving.
Kevin Rubio is a author/producer who has contributed to Justice League Action, Avengers Assemble, Thunderbirds Are Go!, Green Lantern: The Animated Series, and My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. He can be the creator and author of the Star Wars graphic novel, Tag & Bink Were Here, and Red 5 Publication’s Abyss Vol. I & II. He is an inaugural recipient of the George Lucas Film Award for his Star Wars quick movie, TROOPS, is a Promax Award winner, and is an Emmy nominee.
Geoffrey Thorne is the author/creator of Mosaic for Marvel Comics, Prodigal for Genre 19, and author of Green Lantern for DC Comics. He was additionally the top author and showrunner of Marvel’s Avengers: Black Panther’s Quest in addition to a writer-producer on such hit collection as Leverage, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Power: Book II: Ghost, a co-executive producer on Magnum P.I. and govt producer of the podcast sci-fi anthology collection Geoffrey Thorne’s Dreamnasium. He can be the author of the upcoming Blood Syndicate comedian e book reboot for Milestone Media.
Will J. Watkins (Director of the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics) is a freelance TV, movie, and animation author who can be a comic book e book story/world-building marketing consultant on The Protectors graphic novel printed by Athlita Comics. He had a stint as an assistant editor at DC Comics and, earlier than shifting to LA, he co-owned Chicago’s first African-American-owned comedian e book store. He’s presently a author on Freeform’s Motherland: Fort Salem.
Matt Wayne has written for many highly-regarded animation tasks, together with Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles, Cannon Busters, Niko and the Sword of Light, the Emmy-nominated Hellboy Animated: Sword of Storms, and Hello Kitty: Supercute Adventures. His comics work consists of Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, Static/Black Lightning, and writing and enhancing for the unique Milestone Media comics line.
Marv Wolfman is a multi-award-winning author who created Blade for Marvel Comics, The New Teen Titans for DC Comics, and legions of different iconic characters and tales. In addition to comedian books, he’s written for animation, video video games, novels, and extra. It’s been stated that he’s created extra characters who’ve made the soar to films, TV exhibits, toys, video games, and animation than another author save Stan Lee.
Magruder stated in an announcement:
“I’m thrilled to join the judging committee for this year’s Dwayne McDuffie Awards and be a part of elevating underrepresented voices in comics. Being recognized and meeting so many of Dwayne’s friends and colleagues was a huge moment in my career. I’m happy to be a part of bestowing that honor on more creators.”
The winner can be announced in a digital ceremony subsequent week on The Beat‘s YouTube channel by returning MC, actor Phil LaMarr, who voiced both heroes Static/Virgil and John Stewart/Green Lantern in the animated Warner Bros.’ collection Static Shock and Justice League Unlimited. Both have been written and produced by McDuffie.
LaMarr acknowledged:
“It is important right now to acknowledge and reward artists who strive to tell the stories of diverse experiences and points of view. When you know someone’s story, you cannot dehumanize them.”
DMAD Director, Will J. Watkins added:
“This award in (Dwayne’s) name, its significance, and impact, has never been more important. So what might Dwayne say in the midst of such unsettling times? I believe the same thing he’s still saying through this award—he’d encourage diverse creators that their art, their voices, and their lives do matter.”
McDuffie’s widow, Charlotte (Fullerton) McDuffie stated in an announcement:
“It is my honor, through this award in my late husband’s name, to shine a spotlight on outstanding diverse, inclusive content and creators. Dwayne always said he wanted to see ‘all kinds of different stories being told by all kinds of different people.’ Make him proud.”
Past Winners:
2021 – Adora and the Distance, written by Marc Bernadin & illustrated by Ariela Kristantina (Dark Horse Comics)
2020 – They Called Us Enemy, by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott and Harmony Becker.
2019 – Archival Quality, written by Ivy Noelle Weir & illustrated by Christina “Steenz” Stewart (Oni Press)
2018 – Leon: Protector of the Playground, written & illustrated by Jamar Nicholas (Kids Love Comics)
2017 – Upgrade Soul, written & illustrated by Ezra Claytan Daniels
2016 – Ms. Marvel, written by G. Willow Wilson & illustrated by Adrian Alphona (Marvel Entertainment)
2015 – M.F.Okay. written & illustrated by Nilah Magruder (www.mfkcomic.com)
Stay tuned subsequent week for the winner of the 8th Annual Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics.
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