Applause tracks and background music aside, the 2019 Reuben Awards ceremony was a mostly subdued affair as winners were announced in between panels at the 2020 virtual NCSFest. Lynda Barry took home honors as Cartoonist of the Year in an all-star pool that included Raina Telgemeier (Guts), Terri Libenson (Becoming Brianna), Mark Tatulli (Big Break) and Hilary B. Price (Rhymes With Orange). In her pre-recorded acceptance speech, Barry paid tribute to the artists and students whose works have opened up worlds to readers, stating:

“Whatever may be missing in your life, you may be able to find in comics.”

Barry has been nominated numerous times before, so her win was much awaited and long deserved.

Although Stacy Curtis won the 2019 Reuben in Book Illustration for his work on Karate Kakapo, he deserved extra love on a hilarious skit he executed as part of his acceptance speech. Curtis gave thanks to friends, family, colleagues and peers while lying in bed reading, brushing his teeth,working on his car, mowing the lawn, and driving his wife and child around. Dressed in a tuxedo t-shirt, Curtis ended his speech with a public service announcement on wearing masks. 

Stacy Curtis 2019 Reuben
Stacy Curtis hams it up during his acceptance speech for the 2019 Reuben in Book Illustration.

Stacy Curtis 2019 Reuben

 

And now, here are the division winners of the 2019 Reuben Awards:

NCS Honors, Silver T-Square – John Glynn

NCS Honors, Gold T-Square – Garry Trudeau

Editorial Cartoons – Pat Bagley

Magazine/Newspaper Illustration – Tom Richmond

Newspaper Panels – Dave Blazek for “Loose Parts”

Gag Cartoons – Amy Hwang

Online Comics (Short Form) – Jim Benton

Online Comics (Long Form) – Alec Longstreth

Online Animation – Joe Bluhm for Pinocchio: A Modern Retelling

Advertising/Marketing Illustration – Luke McGarry

Comic Books – Stan Sakai for Usagi Yojimbo

Graphic Novels – Harmony Becker for They Called Us Enemy

Feature Animation – Nelson Lowry, Santiago Montiel, and Trevor Dalmar for Missing Link

Television Animation – Genndy Tartakovsky for Primal

Newspaper Strips – Brian Crane for Pickles

Congratulations to all the 2019 Reuben Award recipients!

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