Comments on: It’s Award Time! Submit Isotope Minis, Vote Women (My FoL Award Suggestions)

By: Friends of Lulu Award Winners Announced, New Website, Organization Followup » Comics Worth Reading

Sat, 30 Oct 2010 12:17:33 +0000

[...] a good, well-recognized slate, with many of the odder choices I feared not winning, thankfully. The only one I got right was Kathryn Immonen — I’m not a very [...]

By: 2010 Isotope Minicomics Award Winner » Comics Worth Reading

2010 Isotope Minicomics Award Winner » Comics Worth Reading — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 12:26:50 +0000

[...] 2010 Isotope Award for Excellence in Mini-Comics was announced last night at Isotope Comic’s APE Aftermath [...]

By: Friends of Lulu Future Uncertain as President Resigns Publicly » Comics Worth Reading

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:34:40 +0000

[...] up on yesterday’s news that voting was open for the Friends of Lulu Awards, the current organization President, Valerie D’Orazio, has announced on her blog that [...]

By: Johanna

Johanna — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:00:02 +0000

Raina, thanks for the reminder. It’s so tough to keep the calendar straight with these things!

James, how neat! I just picked up Fingerprints at SPX and I look forward to writing about it. Now I’m wishing I’d seen such a trophy in person — I never have.

By: James Sime

James Sime — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:14:37 +0000

Talk about *perfect* timing, on new arrivals shelves today is FINGERPRINTS by Will Dinski (2009′s Isotope Award winner) from Top Shelf Books. I think you all will really love Will’s work. More info here:
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog/fingerprints/654

Thanks again for the very kind words Johanna, and Mister Sizemore too. When we got together with our trophy designer our goal was an award that would be striking and elegant for creators to put on their tables, and (hopefully) help them sell more comics. I get tremendously envious each year when I give one away!

Creators: 15 days left to submit your minis for consideration. Best of luck to you all!

By: Raina Telgemeier

Raina Telgemeier — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 16:21:00 +0000

I’d also like to suggest Hope Larson for Lulu of the year. (But not for her survey, which happened earlier this year, as this particular awards covers 2009 only.) Hope created and orchestrated Drink and Draw Like A Lady in 2009, and was generally a great vocal advocate for women and girls in comics.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 15:00:03 +0000

Thanks so much for sharing your picks, Stephen! I wasn’t previously familiar with Mirror Mind, and I’m glad to hear more about it.

These things do risk becoming popularity contests (or even familiarity contests, with people voting for what they’ve heard of). That’s why I hoped to get a dialogue with people sharing who they want to vote for and why.

By: Stephen Geigen-Miller

Stephen Geigen-Miller — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:35:18 +0000

True. Although the Ignatz at least has good reason for being unlovely. :)

By: Ed Sizemore

Ed Sizemore — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:23:24 +0000

Forgive my shallowness, but that is one nice looking award. One of the few comic awards that is aesthetically pleasing.

By: Stephen Geigen-Miller

Stephen Geigen-Miller — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:20:00 +0000

I am, of course, pretty biased with regards to voting for the Lulu Awards; both Tara Tallan and Tory Woollcott (with five nominations between them!) are friends of mine, and both, I think, are very deserving.

For the Leah Adezio Award for Best Kid-Friendly Work, my vote goes to Tory Woollcott for Mirror Mind. A graphic memoir of her experiences in the public school system after being diagnosed with dyslexia, and her search for an identity for herself outside of the label that the system hangs on her, it’s a great work for younger readers in every respect — honest and powerful while still being entertaining and accessible. You can see a sample of it at http://www.maybemumkin.com/

For the Best Female Character Award, it’s no contest. I’m voting for Fusella Mierter, of course! Sadly, with Ramona Flowers and Hannelore on the ballot, I think it’s a long shot, but…

The Kim Yale Award for Most Talented Newcomer is obviously going to be contentious this year, yeah. My vote goes to Tory Woollcott, who knocked it out of the park with Mirror Mind – her debut project! – in 2009.

For Lulu of the Year, Tara and Tory both ended up on the ballot. I’m taking the 5th on this one. :)

For Woman of Distinction… unlike the other categories, I have no personal horse in this race. I lean towards Francoise Mouly.

And yes, the Female Cartoonists Hall of Fame is another odd one. I have another friend on the ballot here – Carla Speed McNeil – but Carla’s career is still in such an active phase, and I think of Hall of Fame awards as being a late-career honour. Alison Bechdel perhaps deserves some recognition, especially now that the Bechdel Test has gone mainstream in a big way.

But like I said, I’m biased. :)

And all that aside, almost all the nominees are very worthy – although in many cases, I suspect that you’re right, Johanna, and the highest-profile work or creator will win in a number of categories. That’s why I’m not shy about getting out there and stumping for Tory and Tara. :)