With the nomination process in full swing, the Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards – aka the Ringo Awards – have announced their judging panel for the 2024 gala event.
The five-member judging panel for the 2024 Ringo Awards includes retailer and event organiser Alan Gill (Ultimate Comics stores; NCComicon); writer, editor, educator Robert Greenberger; writer, artist, creator, adjunct professor at the School of Visual Arts Jamal Igle (Molly Danger, The Wrong Earth, Black); author, comics and games writer Sam Maggs (Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins, Tell No Tales: Pirates of the Southern Seas); and writer-artist Annie Wu (Two Graves, Dead Guy Fan Club). Notably Greenberger, Igle, Maggs and Wu have some experience working for the Big Two.
In a press release the Ringo Awards said,
“An esteemed jury of comics professionals will participate in the nomination process, selecting favorite works in over 20 categories. The 2024 jury was chosen as a representative cross-section of the comic book industry, with members representing seasoned and venerated retailers, educators, and creators across numerous genres.”
Speaking about this year’s juror lineup, Baltimore Comic-Con promotor Marc Nathan added:
“Representation is a critical element of our jury. Having people who have worked for the Big Two or mid-size publishers or micro-press or self-published, who have worked in different mediums, who have written or created art or edited, who have taught or written about the medium, who have worked as a retailer or with the retailing community, who have different personal backgrounds — these all contribute to what makes for a solid final ballot. We are thrilled to have these individuals working together this year, and look forward to seeing the results of their work!”
Nominations in each of the twenty categories that comprise the Ringo Awards opened on March 8. Creators, industry professionals and fans are able to make their recommendations for the final ballot up until May 23. The final ballot aims to take place – exclusively to industry professionals – between July 24 and August 21, with the winners declared at a special ceremony on Saturday, September 21, during Baltimore Comic-Con weekend.
The 2024 Ringo Awards have seen a slight realignment for their eighth year – with it being announced that the ‘Best Inker’ category has been integrated into the ‘Best Artist or Penciller’, forming the ‘Best Artist or Penciller/Inker Team’ category. According to a press release on March 8, this change “reflects the changing way comics are being created, with more artists working digitally and going directly to inks”. All team recipients will each receive separate awards.
The current category lineup:
- Best Cartoonist (Writer/Artist)
- Best Writer
- Best Artist or Penciller/Inker Team [NEW CATEGORY]
- Best Letterer
- Best Colorist
- Best Cover Artist
- Best Series
- Best Single Issue or Story
- Best Original Graphic Novel
- Best Anthology
- Best Humor Comic
- Best Webcomic
- Best Humor Webcomic
- Best Non-fiction Comic Work
- Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel
- Best Presentation in Design
