The Ignatz Award for Outstanding Comic, established in 1997 as part of the Ignatz Awards, is an annual literary award that recognizes outstanding achievements in comics and cartooning by small press creators or creator-owned projects published by larger publishers. The award for outstanding comic is presented to a single issue of a comic with excellent art and story; eligible comics must be "professionally published in the traditional floppy comic format familiar to superhero comics".
Recipients +Award winners and finalistsYearCreatorWorkPublicationResult1997Eightball #17FantagraphicsWinnerHey Mister #1Top Shelf ProductionsFinalist and Josh NeufeldKeyhole #2ModernKing of PersiaSelf-published through Accordion PressSethPalookaville #10Drawn & Quarterly1998Acme Novelty Library #9FantagraphicsWinnerCoventry #1FantagraphicsFinalistEightball #19FantagraphicsNowhere #3Drawn & QuarterlyStories from Bosnia #1: SobaDrawn & Quarterly1999Liberty Meadows #1Insight Studio GroupWinner, Joe Sacco, Frank Stack, and Colin WarnefordAmerican SplendorTransatlantic ComicsFinalistHundreds of Feet Below DaylightDrawn & Quarterly and Gary DummOracleAmazing MontagePantheon Books2000Acme Novelty Library #13Fantagraphics BooksWinner and Joan LeidyBoysHighwater BooksFinalistCuckoo #10Green Door StudiosHey Mister, The Trouble With JesusTop Shelf ProductionsRed Ink20012001 Ignatz Awards cancelled after 9-11 AttacksFrank #4Fantagraphics BooksFinalistHerobear and the Kid #2Astonish ComicsSketchbook DiariesTop Shelf ProductionsJasonMjau Mjau #7Jippi ForlagSequential #6I Don't Get It Press2002Eightball #22Fantagraphics BooksWinnerBig Questions #4: AsomatognosiaSelf-publishedFinalistDouble Cross: More or LessTop Shelf ProductionsSketchbook Diaries, Vol. 2Top Shelf ProductionsTrue Swamp: Stoneground and HillboundAlternative Comics2003Rubber Necker #2Alternative ComicsWinnerAprendiz, Book 1Self-publishedFinalistBlack Hole #10Fantagraphics BooksCollier'sm Vol. 2 #2Drawn & Quarterly and Greg StumpUrban Hipster #2Alternative Comics2004Eightball #23Fantagraphics BooksWinnerBlack Hole #11Fantagraphics BooksFinalistKing Cat #62Self-publishedStuff of Dreams #2Fantagraphics BooksTepid Summer 2003Tepid Comics2005Or Else #1Drawn & QuarterlyWinnerDogs & WaterDrawn & QuarterlyFinalistHernández brothersLove & Rockets #12FantagraphicsHernández brothersLove & Rockets #13FantagraphicsWorn Tuff Elbow #1Fantagraphics2006Schizo #4Fantagraphics BooksWinnerBig Questions #7Drawn & QuarterlyFinalistGanges #1Fantagraphics BooksOptic Nerve #10Drawn & QuarterlyStuff of Dreams #3Fantagraphics Books2007Optic Nerve #11Drawn & QuarterlyWinner and Paolo LeandriDoctor IdIndie Ink StudiosFinalistFuzz & Pluck in Splitsville #4Fantagraphics BooksHernández brothersLove & Rockets, vol. 2 #18Fantagraphics BooksMonster Parade #1Fantagraphics Books2008Snake Oil #1Self-publishedWinnerCryptic Wit #2Self-publishedFinalistDepartment of ArtSelf-publishedLucky Vol. 2 #2Drawn & QuarterlySethPalookaville #19Drawn & Quarterly2009Uptight #3FantagraphicsWinnerDanny Dutch #1SparkplugFinalistDead RingerLa ManoInteriorae #3Fantagraphics/CoconinoReich #6Sparkplug2010I Want YouBuenaventura PressWinnerBlammo #6Kilgore BooksFinalistEschew #2Sparkplug Comic BooksFlesh and BoneSparkplug Comic BooksSublife #2Fantagraphics Books2011Lose #3Koyama PressWinnerCrickets #3Self-publishedFinalistDanger Country #1Habitat #22012Pterodactyl HuntersTop ShelfWinnerHot Dog Beach #2Self-publishedFinalistPassageSparkplug BooksPope Hats #2AdHouse Books and Cullen Bunn #17Oni Press2013Pope Hats #3AdHouse BooksWinnerHyperspeed to NowhereSelf-publishedFinalistLooking OutHic & Hoc PublicationsSt. Owl's BaySelf-publishedDrippybone Books2014Wicked Chicken QueenRetrofit Comics/Big Planet ComicsWinnerBlammo #8FinalistCosplayersIt Will All Hurt #2Misliving Amended2015WinnerBorbFinalistPope Hats #4Weeping Flower, Grows in Darkness2016Fantasy Sports #1WinnerAs the Crow FliesFinalistBe GoodPatience, Kramers Ergot 92017Your Black FriendWinnerCanopyFinalistLibby's Dad, Dave Justus, Steve Rolston, and Annie WuPublic Relations #10Sunburning2018Hot to Be AliveWinnerBaopuFinalistHot Summer NightsRecollectionWhatsa Paintoonist2019Check, Please!WinnerEgg CreamFinalistPidgeInfinite Wheat Paste #7Lorna and Matthew Hoddy2020Cry Wolf GirlWinnerCosmoknightsFinalist and Suzanne WalkerMooncakesMy Dog IvyTheth Tomorrow Forever2021Leaf LaceWinnerFinalistFrancis BaconRhapsodie2022I See A KnightShortboxWinnerAre Comic Books Real?Self-publishedFinalistFour Years Collected: Vol 2Czap Books and Trinidad EscobarOde to KeishaBlack Josei PressPeePee PooPoo #69Self-published2023Gordita: Built Like ThisBlack Josei PressWinnerForget Me NotSecret AcresFinalistLemon YellowKus!Live Rock Part 1: Aquarium LifeSecret Room PressA ee miPlatonic LoveParadise Systems2024My Body UnspoolingSilver SprocketWinnerFielder #2Drawn & QuarterlyFinalistFollow the Doll #2Parsifal PressSunflowersSilver SprocketSelf-published2025Tongues Supplement #1NoMiraclesWinnerBelly Full of HeartSilver SprocketFinalistBig Gamble Rainbow HighwayCRAM BooksLucky Cap ScoutsSilver Sprocket and Juliette de WitBistro Books2026Zoo #5Self-publishedWinnerAntimatter #1Self-publishedFinalistFizzle #6Radiator ComicsGirls Gone Wild2dcloudUtzy and DustyDomino Books
Writers with multiple wins The following writers have won the award more than once:
Three
Daniel Clowes
Two
Chris Ware
Writers with multiple nominations The following writers have received two or more nominations:
Five
Daniel Clowes
Four
Anders Nilsen
Three
Two
References
Resources
1997 awards: 1998 awards: 1999 awards: 2000 nominations / awards: 2001 nominations: 2002 awards:
External links Ignatz Awards Official Website