PRISM AWARDS

THE PRISM AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN LGBTQ+ COMICS

The PRISM AWARDS are presented annually to comic works by queer authors and works that promote the growing body of diverse, powerful, innovative, positive or challenging representations of LGBTQAI+ characters in fiction or nonfiction comics. Founded and managed by Prism Comics, The Queer Press Expo and The Cartoon Art Museum, the goal of the Awards is to recognize, promote, and celebrate diversity and excellence in the field of queer comics.

The Nominees and Awards are voted on by diverse panels of comics professionals, educators, librarians, journalists and writers. The voting process takes place in the first quarter of each year, and the nominees are announced at the annual Queer Comics Expo in San Francisco each spring. The Prism Awards and the Prism Award Finalist Honors are presented each summer at Comic-Con International: San Diego at the San Diego Convention Center. The dates and times of the Awards Presentations are announced when Comic-Con releases their annual programming schedule.

For more information or inquiries:

Gladys Ochoa, Prism Awards Chairperson – agladysochoa@gmail.com

Nina Kester, Founder, Queer Comics Expo and Prorgam Coordinator, Cartoon Art Museum – education@cartoonart.org

Ted Abenheim, President, Prism Comics – ted@prismcomics.org.

PRISM COMICS – Founded in 2003, Prism Comics is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that supports LGBTQ+ and LGBTQ+ friendly comics, comics professionals and readers.  Prism fosters diversity in comics and popular geek culture and is one of the only comics organizations that provides an annual financial grant to emerging comics creators – The Prism Comics Queer Press Grant.  Learn more at prismcomics.org.

QUEER COMICS EXPO – The Queer Comics Expo (QCE) is an event to celebrate queer culture and promote diverse queer representation in comics, animation and other great ways to tell stories. QCE is also a fundraiser for the Cartoon Art Museum, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preserving, documenting, and exhibiting the unique and accessible art form of cartooning in all its forms for over 30 years. For more information please visit https://www.cartoonart.org/event/2019-qce

THE CARTOON ART MUSEUM – The Cartoon Art Museum’s mission is to ignite imaginations and foster the next generation of visual storytellers by celebrating the history of cartoon art, its role in society, and its universal appeal. The museum’s vision is to be the premier destination to experience cartoon art in all its many forms from around the world, and a leader in providing insight into the process of creating it. The Cartoon Art museum can be visited online at cartoonart.org and at its new location 781 Beach St, San Francisco, CA 94109.

2021 PRISM AWARDS

FIFTH ANNUAL PRISM AWARDS - 2021

Prism Comics, The Queer Comics Expo and The Cartoon Art Museum present the Fifth Annual Prism Awards honoring excellence in LGBTQ+ comics and graphic novels. The 2021 Prism Awards recognizes works in 6 categories: webcomics; short form comics; small to midsize press; mainstream press; anthology; and a new category this year - young readers (13 and under).

WATCH THE 2021 PRISM AWARDS PRESENTATION

SHORT FORM

WINNER: God Sees Me Crying in the Bathroom Stall by Vincy Lim

FINALIST: QAT Person Number 3 by Dylan Edwards)

FINALIST: The Unfading Flower by Hari Conner

WEBCOMICS

WINNER: Superpose by Seosamh & Anka

FINALIST: Shaderunners by Alex Assan & Lin Darrow

FINALIST: A Guide To A Healthy Relationship by Copper

SMALL TO MIDSIZE PRESS

WINNER: To Cut by Noella Whitney

FINALIST: Sasha From The Gym by Otava Heikkilä

FINALIST: How To Be Ace: A Memoir of Growing Up Asexual by Rebecca Burgess 

MAINSTREAM PUBLISHER 

WINNER: The Low Low Woods (DC Comics). Written by: Carmen Maria Machado & Joe Hill, Art by: Dan McDaid & Dani Strips

FINALIST: Juliet Takes a Breath (Boom Studios) by Gabby Rivera & Celia Moscote

FINALIST: The Deep & Dark Blue (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) by Niki Smith

ANTHOLOGY

WINNER: A.B.O. Comix: A Queer Prisoners Anthology Vol 4  Edited by Casper Cendre

FINALIST: Ambrosia: Trans Masc & Non Binary Erotic Comics Edited by Tab Kimpton and Jade Sarson

FINALIST: Confined Before COVID19: A Pandemic Anthology by LGBTQ Prisoners Edited by Casper Cendre

Honorable Mention: Stories for a Cause: A Queer Malaysian Comic Anthology Edited by Ann Li Khaw

YOUNG READER

WINNER: The Deep & Dark Blue by Niki Smith

FINALIST: The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

FINALIST: Space Battle Lunchtime Vol. 3: A Dish Best Served Cold by Natalie Riess

2021 PRISM AWARD JUDGES

Short Form Judges:

  • Remus Jackson (Flux)
  • William O Tyleer (Cinephilia)
  • Trinidad Escobar

Webcomic Judges:

  • Becky Hawkins (Super Butch)
  • Noella Whitney (To Measure)
  • Lawrence Lindell (From Truth with Truth)
  • Viktor Kerney (MEGASheen podcast)
  • Ajuan Mance

Small to Midsize Press Comic Judges:

  • Hari Conner (Ha-rie, Finding Home)
  • Nicky Rodriguez
  • Jasmine Simone
  • Blue Delliquanti
  • Rob McMonigal (Site Editor at Panel Patter)

Mainstream Publisher Comic Judges:

  • Shannon Lee
  • Nick Porter (MEGASheen podcast)

Anthology Judges:

  • Malach Lily (The Boar King)
  • Gillian Pas-casio (Alphabet Arthro-poda)
  • Alex Hoffman
  • Hunter Rook

Young Readers Category:

  • Avery Kaplan
  • Rhonetta Robertson (Hair Story)
  • Josh Trujillo
  • Greg A. Elysée (Is’nana)
  • AJ Real

2020 PRISM AWARDS

2020 Prism Awards Presentation

The Cartoon Art Museum, Prism Comics and The Queer Comics Expo present the The 2020 Prism Awards. The Prism Awards are presented annually to works by queer creators promoting diverse, powerful, innovative, positive or challenging representations of LGBTQAI+ characters and stories.

WATCH THE 2020 PRISM AWARDS PRESENTATION AND PANELS ON EACH CATEGORY

2020 Prism Awards Panel - Short Form In A Nut Shell

Judges and nominees for the 2020 Prism Award for Short Form Comics discuss the power of LGBTQ+ short form works. Panelists include With Anna Assan (Short Form nominee, In Search of Absent Pigments), Ina Putri Bestari (Short Form nominee, One Day Out), Lin Darrow (Short Form nominee, In Search of Absent Pigments), Lawrence Lindell (judge, From Truth with Truth), Breena Nuñez (judge, I, Exist).

SHORT FORM FINALISTS & WINNER

WINNER: One Day Out by Ina Bestari

FINALIST: In Search of Absent Pigments by Alex Assan & Lin Darrow

FINALIST: Pseudo Slut Transmission by Emma Jayne

2020 Prism Awards Panel - Webcomics of The Future

Judges and nominees for the 2020 Prism Award for Webcomics discuss the growth and diversity of LGBTQ+ comics on the internet. Panelists include The Kao (Webcomics nominee, Magical Boy), Becky Hawkins (judge, Super Butch), Brooke Huang (judge, Tapas Media) and Jade Sarson (Webcomics nominee, Café Suada).

WEBCOMICS FINALISTS & WINNER

WINNER: Magical Boy by The Kao

FINALIST: The Girl that Can’t Get a Girlfriend by Mieri Hiranishi

FINALIST: Cafe Suada by Jade Sarson

SMALL TO MIDSIZE PRESS FINALISTS & WINNER

WINNER: Trans Girls Hit The Town by Emma Jayne 

FINALIST: Stage Dreams by Melanie Gillman 

FINALIST: Lemonade Summer by Gabi Mendez 

2020 Prism Awards Panel - Mainstreams' Next Steps

William O. Tyler (judge, Theatre of Terror, Revenge of the Queers) and Colleen AF Venable (Mainstream nominee, Kiss Number 8) discuss the growing number of LGBTQ+ graphic novels being released by mainstream publishers. Moderated by Nina Kester from The Cartoon Art Museum and Queer Comics Expo. First airing - Saturday, October 17, 2020.

MAINSTREAM PUBLISHER FINALISTS & WINNER

WINNER: Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki & Rosemary Valero-O’Connell

FINALIST: Kiss Number #8 by Colleen AF Venable & Ellen T. Crenshaw

FINALIST: Bloom by Kevin Panetta & Savanna Ganucheau 

2020 Prism Awards Panel - Anthology in Community

Nominees and judges in the Anthology category talk about bringing queer creators together to publish an LGBTQ+ anthology. Panelists include Viktor Kerney (judge, Strangelore), Tab Kimpton (Anthology nominee, Come Together), Malachi Lily (judge, The Boar King), Netta R (judge, Hair Story) and Andrew Wheeler (Anthology nominee, Shout Out).

ANTHOLOGY FINALISTS & WINNER

WINNER: Heartwood by Joamette Gil 

FINALIST: Shout Out edited by Steven Andrews

FINALIST: Come Together edited by Tab Kimpton and Alex Assan

2020 PRISM AWARD JUDGES

Short Form Judges:

  • Mey Rude (Journalist)
  • E Jackson (Flux)
  • Sfé R. Monster (The Beyond Anthologies)
  • Heidi MacDonald (editor-in-chief, The Beat)
  • Breena Nuñez (I, Exist)
  • Lawrence Lindell (From Truth with Truth)

Webcomic Judges:

  • Gillian Pas-casio (Alphabet, Arthro-poda)
  • Rob McMonigal (Site Editor, Panel Patter)
  • Sean Cohea (Reviewer, Panel Patter)
  • Becky Hawkins (Super Butch)
  • Rhandi Fisher (The Pride of Life)
  • Nick Porter (MEGASheen podcast)

Small to Midsize Press Comic Judges:

  • Hari Conner (Ha-rie, Finding Home)
  • Emma Houxbois (Transcription)
  • Barry Deutsch (Ampersand)
  • Noella Whitney (To Measure)
  • Amanda Castillo (Mapmakers)  

Mainstream Publisher Comic Judges:

  • Brian Andersen (Stripling Warrior)
  • Jack Baur (Librarian, Berkeley Public Library)
  • William O Tyler (Theatre of Terror, Cinephilia)
  • Kayden Phoenix (Jalisco)
  • Greg A. Elysée (Is’nana)

Anthology Judges:

  • Malach Lily (The Boar King)
  • Rhonetta Robertson (Hair Story)
  • Nilah Magruder (Creaky Acres)
  • Viktor Kerney (MEGASheen podcast)
  • Michelle Zhuang (Permanent Alien: An Asian-American Comics Anthology)

The Prism Awards Organizing Team:

  • Ted Abenheim (Prism Comics)
  • Nina Taylor Kester (Queer Comics Expo, Cartoon Art Museum)
  • Maia Kobabe (Gender Queer: A Memoir)

2019 PRISM AWARDS

SHORT FORM FINALISTS & WINNER

WINNER: see me by e Jackson

FINALIST: You Don’t Have To Be Afraid of Me by Victor Martins

FINALIST: Fazenda De Sangue Azul by H. Pueyo and Dante Luiz

WEBCOMICS FINALISTS & WINNER

WINNER: SuperButch by Barry Deutsch & Becky Hawkins

FINALIST: After the Fog by H-P Lehkonen

FINALIST: Null Point by Amara Sherm

SMALL TO MIDSIZE PRESS FINALISTS & WINNER

WINNER: Meal by Blue Delliquanti and Soleil Ho (Iron Circus)

FINALIST: It Will Be Hard by Hien Pham(self published)

FINALIST: The Lie and How We Told It by Tommi Parrish (Fantagraphics)

MAINSTREAM PUBLISHER FINALISTS & WINNER

WINNER: Lumberjanes: The Infernal Compass by Lilah Sturges, Polterink, and Jim Campbell (Boom! Studios)

FINALIST: Runaways #12 by Rainbow Rowell, Kris Anka, Matthew Wilson and Joe Carmagna (Marvel)

FINALIST: Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles #6 by Mark Russell, Brandee Stilwell, Paul Mounts, Jeremy Lawson, Rose Campbell, Ben Caldwell, Mark Morales, Gus Vazquez, Sean Parsons and Mike Feehan (DC)

ANTHOLOGY FINALISTS & WINNER

WINNER: ABO Comix Vol 2: A Comic Anthology by LGBTQ Prisoners edited by Casper Cendre

FINALIST: Group Chat edited by Carolynn Calabrese, Jenny Mott, Ashley Gallagher, Rachel Weiss

FINALIST: Being True: LGBTQ+ Comics From The Boston Comics Roundtable edited by Renie Jesanis, Kyri Lorenz, and Steph Rose Glass

2019 PRISM AWARD JUDGES

Short Form Judges:

  • Mey Valdivia Rude (writer at them, Autostraddle)
  • Joamette Gil (Heartwood: Non-binary Tales of Sylvan Fantasy)
  • Sfé R. Monster (The Beyond Anthologies)

Webcomic Judges:

  • Matt Lubchansky (The Nib)
  • Ajuan Mance (Gender Studies)
  • Zora Gilbert (Dates: An Anthology of Queer Historical Fiction Stories, Books 1 and 2)

Small to Midsize Press Comic Judges:

  • Juliette Capra (Crowded)
  • Noella Whitney (Dates: An Anthology of Queer Historical Fiction Stories, Book 2)
  • Heidi MacDonald (editor-in-chief of Comics Beat)

Mainstream Publisher Comic Judges:

  • Brian Andersen (Stripling Warrior)
  • AJ Real (writer, Advanced Death Saves)
  • Jack Baur (Librarian, Berkeley Public Library)

Anthology Judges:

  • e jackson (Flux)
  • Hazel Newlevant (Sugar Town)
  • Rob McMonigal (founder and head writer at Panel Patter)

The Prism Awards Organizing Team:

  • Ted Abenheim (Prism Comics)
  • Nina Taylor Kester (Queer Comics Expo, Cartoon Art Museum)
  • Maia Kobabe (Gender Queer: A Memoir)

2018 PRISM AWARDS

SHORT FORM FINALISTS & WINNER

WINNER: To Measure by Noella Whitney, 2017 

FINALIST: Contact High by James F Wright and Josh Eckert, August 2017 

FINALIST: Figurinha by Dante Luiz, May 2017

FINALIST: There’s More Than One! by Justin Hubbell, June 2017 

FINALIST: It Was 1973, and Tiffany Banks Was Totally Winning at Gender by Ajuan Mance, 2017 

WEBCOMICS FINALISTS & WINNER

WINNER: O Human Star by Blue Delliquanti, (excerpts from 2017)

FINALIST: Cans of Beans, chapter 9 by Tamara Go, 2017 

FINALIST: SuperButch Issue 1 by Becky Hawkins and Barry Deutsch, 2017 

FINALIST: Monster Pop! by Maya Kern, (excerpt from 2017) 

FINALIST: Superpose by Ciaran and Anka C, (excerpt from August 2017-November 2017) 

SMALL TO MIDSIZE PRESS FINALISTS & WINNER

WINNER: The Boys Who Became Hummingbirds by Daniel Heath Justice and Weshoyot Alvitre, Alternate History Comics Inc., June 2017 

FINALIST: Steam Clean by Laura Ķeniņš, May 2017 

FINALIST: My Favorite Thing Is Monsters by Emil Ferris, Fantagraphics, February 2017 

MAINSTREAM PUBLISHER FINALISTS & WINNER

WINNER: The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag, Scholastic Graphix, 2017

FINALIST: Iceman by Sina Grace (writer), Alessandro Vitti (artist), Kevin Wada (artist), Marvel Comics, 2017 

FINALIST: Heavy Vinyl by Carly Usdin (Writer), Nina Vakueva (Pencils), Irene Flores (Inker), Rebecca Nalty (Colorist), Jim Campbell (Lettere)r, Boom Studios, 2017

ANTHOLOGY FINALISTS & WINNER

WINNER: Dates: An Anthology of Queer Historical Fiction Volume 2 edited by Zora Gilbert and Cat Parra, August 2017 

FINALIST: Power & Magic: IMMORTAL SOULS edited by Joamette Gil, 2017 

FINALIST: Oh Joy Sex Toy, Volume 4 edited by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan, 2017

2018 PRISM AWARD JUDGES
  • AJ Real (Advanced Death Saves edited by Josh Trujillo) – @darkshifter
  • Ajuan Mance (Gender Studies; Alphabet; We’re Still Here) – http://8-rock.com/  @8_rock
  • Brian Andersen (Stripling Warrior; So Super Duper; The Advocate) – www.sosuperduper.com, @superbrian
  • e jackson (Flux; Drawing a Dialogue podcast) – @ehetja
  • Gillian Pascasio (The Kiss of the Demoness) – @7CLUBS
  • Gina Biggs (Love Not Found) – @ginabiggs
  • Hari Conner (Finding Home) – hari-illustration.com  @haridraws
  • Heidi MacDonald (The Beat, The News Blog of Comics Culture) – https://www.comicsbeat.com/  @comixace
  • H-P Lehkonen (Life Outside the Circle) – webtoons.com. @hplehkonen
  • Jack Baur (Librarian, Berkeley Public Library) – inthelibrarywithacomicbook.org  @kcorstel
  • Mey Valdivia Rude (Autostraddle) – @meyrude
  • Rob McMonigal (Panel Patter) – www.panelpatter.com  @rob_mcmonigal
  • Scout Tran-Caffee (Villainette; Falling Sky) – xo.villainette.com
  • Sfé R. Monster (Beyond: The Queer Sci-Fi & Fantasy Comic Anthology, Vols. 1 and 2; webcomic Eths’ Skin) –  sfemonster.com  @sfemonster
  • William O. Tyler (WoT’s Cinephilia) –  @williamotyler

2017 PRISM AWARDS  

SHORT FORM FINALISTS & WINNER

WINNER: Nothing Wrong With Me, 2016, The Nib, by Dylan Edwards

FINALIST: Flux, 2015, self-published, by E Jackson

FINALIST: The Kiss of the Demoness, 2017, self-published, by Gillian Pascasio

FINALIST: Liar, 2017, self-published, by Hari Conner

WEBCOMICS FINALISTS & WINNER

WINNER: Villainette, 2015, self-published, by Scout Tran-Caffee

FINALIST: Failing Sky: Ghost Story, 2016, self-published, by Scout Tran-Caffee

FINALIST: With Great Abandon, 2017, self-published, by EH MacMillian

SMALL TO MIDSIZE PRESS FINALISTS & WINNER

WINNER: Short Gay Stories, 2017, Team Pärvelö, by H-P Lehkonen

FINALIST: Active Voice The Comic Collection, 2016, Furia Press, by P. Kristen Enos: writer, Heidi Ho: contributing writer, Casandra Grullon: artist, Derek Chua: artist, Leesamarie Croal: artist, Beth Varni: artist, Dan Parent: cover artist

FINALIST: Destiny, NY Volume One: Who I Used to Be, 2017, Continuity Entertainment, by Pat Shand: writer, Manuel Preitano: artist, Jim Campbell: letterer, Shannon Lee: editor

MAINSTREAM PUBLISHER FINALISTS & WINNER

WINNER: The Backstagers #1, 2016, BOOM!Box, by James Tynion IV: writer, Rian Sygh: artist

FINALIST: Lumberjanes #17, 2015, BOOM!Box, by Noelle Stevenson & Shannon Watters: writers, Brooke Allen: artist

FINALIST: Supergirl: Being Super #1, 2016, DC Entertainment, by Mariko Tamaki: writer, Joëlle Jones: pencils, Sandu Florea: inks, Kelly Fitzpatrick: colorist, Saida Temofonte: letters, Jones and Fitzpatrick: cover

ANTHOLOGY FINALISTS  & WINNER

WINNER: Power & Magic: The Queer Witch Comics Anthology, 2016, P&M Press, edited by Joamette Gil

FINALIST: Beyond: The Queer Sci-Fi & Fantasy Comic Anthology, 2015, Beyond Press, edited by Sfé R. Monster & Taneka Stotts

FINALIST: Chainmail Bikini: The Anthology of Women Gamers, 2015, self-published, edited by Hazel Newlevant

FINALIST: Food Porn, 2016, Strawberry Comics, edited by Gina Biggs

2017 PRISM AWARD JUDGES
  • AJ Real (Dominican University Library)
  • Ajuan Mance (1001 Black Men, Gender Studies)
  • Brian Anderson (Stripling Warrior, The Advocate)
  • Heidi McDonald (The Comics Beat)
  • Jack Baur (Berkeley Public Library)
  • Jon Erik Christianson (Comics Alliance, Prismatic Pull)
  • Kirwan McHarry (Border Dwellers in Boys’ Love Manga)
  • Mey Rude (writer and editor at Autostraddle)
  • Mel Rieff Hill (The Gender Book)
  • Nia King (Queer & Trans Artists of Color, We Want the Airwaves podcast)
  • Rob McMonigal (Panel Patter)
  • William O. Tyler (WoT’s Cinephilia)