This article provides a list of notable awards for webcomics and some of the winners from each year.
Webcomics may be eligible for any number of literary awards that recognise achievement in comics or literature generally. As examples, webcomic artists have won Ignatz Awards and Eisner Awards, Gene Luen Yang's graphic novel American Born Chinese (originally published as a webcomic on Modern Tales), was the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book Award,Bosman, Julie. (October 12, 2006). "National Book Award Finalists Chosen". The New York Times, Pg. E2 and Don Hertzfeldt's animated film Everything Will Be OK, which won the 2007 Sundance Film Festival Jury Award in Short Filmmaking, was based on his webcomics.
However, a number of awards have existed that are specifically for webcomics, or which focus mainly on webcomics. This list details these awards, including their source, criteria, and winners.
Awards relating to multiple mediums
Pulitzer Prizes The Pulitzer Prize is an award for achievements in newspaper, magazine, online journalism, literature, and musical composition within the United States. In 2010, Mark Fiore won a Pulitzer Prize, becoming the first cartoonist to win a Pulitzer for an entry of entirely online cartoons. Fiore was later also a finalist for the Pulitzer in 2018. In 2012 and again in 2020, Matt Bors was a finalist for the Pulitzer, for his webcomics that appeared in the online magazine he founded, The Nib. In 2015, Tom Tomorrow was a finalist for the Pulitzer based on his This Modern World comics published by the website Daily Kos.
Ursa Major Awards
The Ursa Major Awards relate to furry media, such as video, written works, and comics. They were first presented in 2001 for works produced in the previous year. In 2004, a category for comic strips that feature anthropomorphic characters was introduced. Despite the category including all forms of comics, all winners have been webcomics. +Ursa Major Awards: Best Anthropomorphic Comic StripYearTitleCreator(s)WebsiteCitation2004Kevin and KellBill Holbrookkevinandkell.com/2005Faux PasRobert and Margaret Carspeckenozfoxes.com/fauxpas.htm2006Faux PasRobert and Margaret Carspeckenozfoxes.com/fauxpas.htm2007Ozy and MillieDana Simpsonozyandmillie.org/2008Ozy and MillieDana Simpsonozyandmillie.org/2009Fur-PiledLeo Magnaliondogworks.com/fur-piled.html (archive)2010Housepets!Rick Griffinhousepetscomic.com/2011Housepets!Rick Griffinhousepetscomic.com/2012Housepets!Rick Griffinhousepetscomic.com/2013Housepets!Rick Griffinhousepetscomic.com/2014Housepets!Rick Griffinhousepetscomic.com/2015Housepets!Rick Griffinhousepetscomic.com/2016Housepets!Rick Griffinhousepetscomic.com/2017Housepets!Rick Griffinhousepetscomic.com/2018Housepets!Rick Griffinhousepetscomic.com/2019Carry OnKathryn Garrison Kellogghirezfox.com/km/2020Housepets!Rick Griffinhousepetscomic.com/2021Housepets!Rick Griffinhousepetscomic.com/2022Carry OnKathryn Garrison Kellogghirezfox.com/km/2023The WhiteboardDoc Nickelthe-whiteboard.com/2024Foxes in LoveToivo Kaartinentwitter.com/foxes_in_love2025Foxes in LoveToivo Kaartinentwitter.com/foxes_in_love
Weblog Awards
The Weblog Awards were held from 2003 to 2008 and featured a Best Comic Strip category starting in 2006.
+ Weblog Awards: Best Comic Strip Year Title Creator(s) WebsiteCitation2006 Least I Could Do Ryan Sohmer (writer) and Lar deSouza (artist) leasticoulddo.com2007 xkcd Randall Munroe xkcd.com2008 xkcd Randall Munroe xkcd.com
Comic awards that include a webcomic category
Cartoonist Studio Prize Presented by the Slate Book Review and the Center for Cartoon Studies, the Cartoonist Studio Prize was first awarded in 2013 for work produced during the previous year. The award has two categories, "Best Print Comic" and "Best Web Comic".
+Cartoonist Studio Prize: Best Web Comic Year Title Creator WebsiteCitation2013NimonaND Stevensongingerhaze.com/nimona (archive)2014Out of SkinE. M. Carrollemcarroll.com/comics/skin/2015Watching (from Subnormality) Winston Rowntreeviruscomix.com/page585.html2016I Want to BelieveBouletenglish.bouletcorp.com/2015/10/21/i-want-to-believe/2017On Beauty Christina Transodelightful.com/comics/beauty/2018Leaving Richard's ValleyMichael DeForgeinstagram.com/richardsvalley/2019Being an Artist and a MotherLauren Weinsteinnewyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/being-an-artist-and-a-mother2020East Street Diners ClubWill Dinskiesdc.substack.com/
DiNKY Awards The Denver Independent Comics & Arts Expo (DINK) gave out comics awards with multiple categories, including the Best Web Comics award.
The category was called "Outstanding Web Comic" in 2016. The following year it was renamed "Best Web Comic". +DiNKy Awards: Best WebcomicYearTitleCreator(s)WebsiteCitation2016Some Did RestNiki Smithniki-smith.com/tag/some-did-rest/2017Mare InternumDer-shing Helmermarecomic.com/2018Finding HomeHari Connertapas.io/series/FindingHome2019Where No One LivesZorika Gaetaakiroteacomics.com/wherenoonegoes/home.html
Eagle Awards
The Eagle Award was a series of awards for comic book titles and creators voted on by UK fans. It ran from 1977 to 2012 but was not presented every year. From 2001 until its conclusion it included an award for Favourite Web-based Comic. The winners of that category are listed below:
+ Eagle Awards: Favourite Web-based Comic Year Title Creator(s) WebsiteCitation2001 Sluggy Freelance Pete Abrams sluggy.com2005 PvP Scott Kurtz pvponline.com2006 Supernatural Law Batton Lash webcomicsnation.com (archive)2007 Penny Arcade Jerry Holkins (writer) and Mike Krahulik (artist) penny-arcade.com2008 The Order of the Stick Rich Burlew giantitp.com2010 FreakAngels Warren Ellis and Paul Duffieldfreakangels.com (archive)2011 Axe Cop Ethan Nicolle and Malachai Nicolle axecop.com2012 FreakAngels Warren Ellis and Paul Duffieldfreakangels.com (archive)
Eisner Award
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Award, commonly shortened to the Eisner Award, is a prize given since 1988 for creative achievement in American comic books. In 2003, Justine Shaw's Nowhere Girl received a nomination for an Eisner award in the "best new series" category, while Shaw was nominated for "talent deserving of wider recognition", making her the first webcomic artist to be nominated for an Eisner.Price, Matthew (April 18, 2003). "DC leads in nominations; Norman artist in race for award". The Daily Oklahoman, p. 21D.
In addition to considering works published online for general categories, the Eisner Awards have included categories only for digital works since 2005. The category Best Digital Comic was awarded each year from 2005 through to 2016, though was renamed Best Webcomic in 2009. Paste Magazine noted in 2016 that the Eisner's conflation of "digital comic" and "webcomic" may cause independent works to be overshadowed by online services such as Marvel Unlimited and DC Comics' "Digital First". In 2017, the category was split into "Best Digital Comic" and "Best Webcomic" and as of 2020 these two categories remain.
The table below shows the winners of Best Digital Comic/Webcomic and of Best Webcomic.
+ Eisner Award: Best Digital Comic (2005–2008) or Best Webcomic (2009 – present) Year Title Creator(s) WebsiteCitation2005Mom's Cancer Brian Fiesmomscancer.com (archive)2006PvPScott Kurtzpvponline.com2007Sam & Max: The Big SleepSteve Purcelltelltalegames.com2008Sugarshock!Joss Whedon (writer) and Fábio Moon (artist) website is offline2009FinderCarla Speed McNeilshadowlinecomics.com2010Sin TituloCameron Stewartsintitulocomic.com2011The Abominable Charles ChristopherKarl Kerschlabominable.cc2012BattlepugMike Nortonbattlepug.com2013BandettePaul Tobin and Colleen CooverComixology2014The Oatmeal Matthew Inmantheoatmeal.com2015The Private EyeBrian K. Vaughan and Marcos Martínpanelsyndicate.com2016BandettePaul Tobin and Colleen Cooveravailable on Comixology2017Bird BoyAnne Szablabird-boy.com2018The Tea Dragon SocietyKatie O'Neillteadragonsociety.com2019The ContradictionsSophie Yanowthecontradictions.com2020Fried Rice ComicErica Engfriedricecomic.tumblr.com2021Crisis ZoneSimon Hanselmanninstagram.com/simon.hanselmann/2022Lore OlympusRachel Smythewebtoons.com/en/romance/lore-olympus/2023Lore OlympusRachel Smythewebtoons.com/en/romance/lore-olympus/
Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards, named for writer and artist Harvey Kurtzman and originally coordinated by the publisher Fantagraphics, are given for achievement in comic books. The Harveys were created in 1988 as part of a successor to the Kirby Awards which were discontinued after 1987.
The Harvey Awards have included a category for online works since 2006. Originally called Best Online Comic Work, it was renamed to Digital Book of the Year following the 2018 revamp of awards and their move to New York Comic Con.
+ Harvey Award: Best Online Comics Work (2006–2016) or Digital Book of the Year (2018 – present) Year Title Creator(s) WebsiteCitation2006 American Elf James Kochalka americanelf.com2007 The Perry Bible Fellowship Nicholas Gurewitch pbfcomics.com2008 The Perry Bible Fellowship Nicholas Gurewitch pbfcomics.com2009 High Moon David Gallaher, Steve Ellis and Scott O. Brown zudacomics.com2010 PvP Scott Kurtz pvponline.com2011 Hark! A Vagrant Kate Beaton harkavagrant.com2012 Hark! A Vagrant Kate Beaton harkavagrant.com2013 Battlepug Mike Norton battlepug.com2014 Battlepug Mike Norton battlepug.com2015 The Private Eye Brian K. Vaughan, Marcos Martin and Muntsa Vicente Panel Syndicate2016 Battlepug Mike Norton battlepug.com2017No awards given2018 Barrier Brian K. Vaughan, Marcos Martin and Muntsa Vicente Panel Syndicate2019 Check, Please Ngozi Ukazu checkpleasecomic.com 2020The NibMatt Bors (editor)thenib.com/2021Lore OlympusRachel Smythewebtoons.com/lore-olympus/2022Lore OlympusRachel Smythewebtoons.com/lore-olympus/
Ignatz Awards
The Ignatz Awards are intended to recognize outstanding achievements in comics and cartooning by small press creators or creator-owned projects published by larger publishers. They have been awarded each year since 1997, except for 2001 as the show was cancelled after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Recipients of the award are determined by the votes of the attendees of the annual Small Press Expo.
Comics published online have won awards in multiple categories, such as Chester 5000 winning Outstanding Series and Hark! A Vagrant for Outstanding Anthology or Collection. As well as these, the Ignatz Awards have presented an award for Outstanding Online Comic since 2002.
+ Ignatz Awards: Outstanding Online Comic Year Title Creator(s) WebsiteCitation2001Category created but no award given due to cancellation of ceremony2002BeeJason Littlebeecomix.com2003American Elf James Kochalkaamericanelf.com2004American ElfJames Kochalkaamericanelf.com2005The Perry Bible Fellowship Nicholas Gurewitchpbfcomics.com2006The Perry Bible Fellowship Nicholas Gurewitchpbfcomics.com2007AchewoodChris Onstadachewood.com2008Achewood Chris Onstadachewood.com2009Year of the RatCayetano Garzamagicinkwell.com2010Troop 142Mike Dawsonmikedawsoncomics.com/troop1422011Hark! A VagrantKate Beatonharkavagrant.com2012SuperMutant Magic AcademyJillian Tamakimutantmagic.com2013SuperMutant Magic AcademyJillian Tamakimutantmagic.com2014VattuEvan Dahmrice-boy.com/vattu2015The Bloody FootprintLilli CarréNew York Times2016Octopus Pie Meredith Granoctopuspie.com2017The Meek Der-Shing Helmermeekcomic.com2018Lara Croft Was My Family Carta Monirmedium.com2019Full Court Crush Hannah Blumenreich2020WitchyAriel Reis2021Birds of MaineMichael DeForge2022Ride or DieMars Heyward2023The God of ArepoReimena Yee
Joe Shuster Awards
The Joe Shuster Awards recognise Canadian comic creators, retailers and publishers. The awards have been handed out since 2005 and are administered by the Canadian Comic Book Creator Awards Association. As of 2024, these awards have not been presented since the "2021" awards, presented in 2022 for works produced in 2020.