MOM’S CANCER wins BLOOKER

A comic book telling the true story of a dying woman’s battle with incurable lung cancer has won the comics prize in the world’s first literary contest for “blooks” or books based on blogs or other web content.

“Mom’s Cancer” by Brian Fies has been named winner of the comics category of the Lulu Blooker Prize (www.lulublookerprize.com) – sponsored by Lulu (www.lulu.com), the self-publishing website and marketplace for digital content, which is used by many comics folks to publish their work. Fies receives $2,500.

The judges – who this year included Arianna Huffington, the noted writer, columnist, broadcaster and blogger – are independent of Lulu.

“The story”, says Fies, 46, from Santa Rosa, California, “describes how a serious illness affects patient and family, both practically and emotionally, in ways that I’ve discovered are very common. Many readers wrote to tell me how surprised and relieved they were to learn they weren’t alone.”
“Mom’s Cancer” began as a serialized Internet comic, with new installments added throughout 2004. Readership grew by word-of-mouth. People who needed the story found it and told their friends about it.

“Mom’s Cancer” had previously won the comic industry’s Eisner Award for Best Digital Comic.

Zach Miller, who won the Lulu Blooker Prize (comics category) last year, with his last comic book, “Totally Boned: A Joe And Monkey Collection, was nominated again this year, for his latest book, “The Definition of Awesome: Another Joe and Monkey Collection”.

The other beaten finalist was Pete Abrams with his comic book, “Born of Nifty: Sluggy Freelance Megatome 01”.

” ‘Mom’s Cancer’ takes web comics beyond science fiction parodies and fan-boy remixes of superhero comics”, says Paul Jones, the academic, Internet pioneer and chair of this year’s Blooker judges, who has also taught a calls on the post-modern comic. “The story-telling is engaging. The story is important, as well as fun, surprising and rewarding to read. Well-drawn and a real winner.”