French Critics Association ACBD give Prix Comics 2023 to Williams & Blackman’s ECHOLANDS

The Association of French Comics Critics (ACBD) has declared the primary quantity of J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman’s Echolands the winner of the Prix Comics 2023, the fifth recipient of an award targeted rewarding English-originated materials. First revealed by Image Comics, the French version was revealed by Panini Comics with translation by Laurent Laget.

The ACBD judges stated [translated by DeepL]:

“This collection of six episodes demonstrates narrative creativity in both staging and graphic composition, paying tribute to all facets of popular culture. An inventiveness that perfectly matches the ambitions of the ACBD awards.”

The ACBD Prix Comics might be formally awarded to the French version’s writer, Panini Comics, Saturday October 28, 2023 on the Saint Malo Quai des Bulles competition.

Solicited as a “mythic-fiction epic”, Echolands first quantity was initially revealed by Image Comics as a six subject sequence between August 2021 and February 2022, with the gathering releasing August 2022. It was created by the fan-favourite and award successful Batwoman staff of W. Haden Blackman and J. H. Williams III, with colors by Dave Stewart, and letters by Todd Klein. The French version from Panini Comics was launched in June 2023.

Echolands got here out on high in a very hotly contested class, competing with the French editions of Jim Terry’s Come Home, Indio; Zoe Thorogood’s The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott; Peach Momoko’s Demon Days; and Daniel Warren Johnson’s Do A Powerbomb.

The Prix Comics is a part of a portfolio of awards bestowed by the Association of French Comics Critics [l’Association des Critiques et journalistes de Bande Dessinée, ACBD] recognising comics (or bande dessinée) work within the French-language market. There are at present 4 annual prizes: French-originated materials for youths (Prix Jeunesse) and adults (Prix de la Critique); work originating from Asia (Prix Asie), and work originating from the English-language market (Prix Comics). The Prix Comics 2022 went to the French version of Barry Windsor Smith’s Monsters revealed by Delcourt (English version by Fantagraphics).

Below full record of the nominees with French titles, publishers (French and English) and their translators.

- WINNER: Echolands vol 1, by W. Haden Blackman & John H. Williams III, French translation Laurent Laget (Panini Comics) — English writer Image Comics
- Come Home, Indio, by Jim Terry, French translation Jérôme Wicky (Komics Initiative) – English writer Street Noise Books
- The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott [Dans les yeux de Billie Scott], by Zoe Thorogood, French translation Basile Béguerie (Bubble Éditions) — English writer Avery Hill
- Demon Days, by Peach Momoko, French translation Mathieu Auverdin (Panini Comics) — English writer Marvel Comics
- Do a Powerbomb, by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer, French translation Cédric Calas (Urban Comics) — English writer Image Comics

When the finalists of the ACBD Prix Comics had been introduced, there was additionally a sizeable record of honorary mentions:

- Catwoman: Lonely City, by Cliff Chiang, French translation Jérôme Wicky (Urban Comics) — English writer DC Comics (Black Label)
- Elric, by Roy Thomas, Michael T. Gilbert, Philip Craig Russell, French translation Alex Nikolavitch (Delirium) — English writer Titan Comics
- Miracleman, by Alan Davis, John Totleben, Garry Leach, French translation Mathieu Auverdin (Panini Comics) — English writer Marvel Comics
- Red Room, by Ed Piskor, French translation Nicolas Bertrand (Delcourt) — English writer Fantagraphics
- The Secret to Superhuman Strength [Le Secret de la force surhumaine], by Alison Bechdel, Holly Rae Taylor, French translation Lili Sztajn (Denoël Graphic) — English writer Mariner Books (US)/Jonathan Cape (UK)
- The Nice House on the Lake volumes 1 and a couple of, by James Tynion IV, Alvaro Martinez Bueno, French translation Maxime Le Dain (Urban Comics) — English writer DC Comics (Black Label)
- Ultramega, by James Harren, Dave Stewart, French translation Benjamin Rivière (Delcourt) — English writer Image Comics