1. Outstanding Artist: Nominations for this category should reflect, in the Jurors’ opinion, the best execution of graphic skill by an individual within the comic medium.
2. Outstanding Anthology: This award recognizes a book or other collection of selected writings by various writers usually in the same literary form, of the same period, or on the same subject. e.g. a book of comics by various cartoonists selected from several books by many cartoonists.
3. Outstanding Collection: This award recognizes a book of selected writings from various sources by an author of the same theme or various themes. e.g. a book of selected short comics from various books by the same cartoonist.
4. Outstanding Graphic Novel: A nomination for this category is for previously unpublished material of substantial length intended to be read as a single work. Graphic novels are distinguished from individual comics by being generally over 48 pages and are usually case or perfect bound. A nomination in this category should represent what the Juror feels is the best overall use of art and story within the format.
5. Outstanding Story: This category is for outstanding storytelling in a comic. This may be an individual issue within a series, a one shot or a single story within an anthology. Nominations for a story within an anthology should also include the story title.
6. Promising New Talent: A person nominated in this category should be someone relatively new to the industry whose work a Juror feels deserves more recognition then it currently receives. Past nominees for the Ignatz Award cannot be nominated in this category (a list of past nominees will be provided to the Jurors). Nominations should include the title of the individual’s latest work.
7. Outstanding Series: A nomination in this category should be for a series that the Juror feels exhibits a consistent level of quality as a whole. A good individual story does not necessarily translate into a nomination for the entire series.
8. Outstanding Comic: A comic nominated in this category should represent what the Juror feels is the best marriage of both art and story in a single issue of a comic.
9. Outstanding Minicomic: This category includes both one-shots and series. Minicomics are best defined as comics that are not “professionally” published. Minicomics are usually printed at the local copy store, hand stapled, and predominantly self-distributed. Minicomics are typically not solicited through major distributors.
10. Outstanding Online Comic: This category is for web based comics. A nominee in this category can be an individual comic, continuing storyline comic or strips. For a work to be eligible in this category it must be published on the web prior to appearing in print format. Nominated sites must also adhere to the same publishing timeline as the categories for print material.
Got an independent, small press comic you’d like to submit for consideration for Small Press Expo’s Ignatz Awards? Well then, hop to it – it’s time to submit y’all!
Atomic Fangirl 