With thanks to our team for putting together our most excellent list of nominees for the best (and not so best) of comics in 2018, and to our Patreon patrons for their votes, we now present to you the winners of the 2019 WWAC Awesome Awards!
Worst Editorial Decision
Marvel’s claims of embracing diversity continue to be marred by the Continuing Adventures of Akira Yoshida. Despite editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski confirming that he violated Marvel’s company policy when he wrote under the Yoshida pseudonym while in the role of editor, the company has just shrugged and continued on their merry way.
Best Discourse
Though it didn’t take first place, I want to note that the Universal Fan Con discourse, fueled by the detailed investigative report from Jaz Joyner and Rosie Knight, was the first runner up in this category. But the topic that held our interest was Batman’s Dick. Bruce’s Lil Wayne appeared in Batman: Damned, under DC Comics’ new Black Label imprint intended for more adult audiences. Penises in DC’s adult imprints are not a new thing, but male nudity happens so rarely that audiences tend to react dramatically. The reaction caused DC to remove the Bat Penis and rethink their plans for nudity in the future. On the plus side, that means that female bodies might be treated with a bit more respect by DC in the process. Oh wait, nevermind.
Least Problematic Industry Darling
Creators are people too, and sometimes they say things online that they ought to regret, but sometimes instead they just double-down on the questionable content. Thankfully, there are a few men in comics who aren’t out there fighting with their readers on social media, and trying hard not to be infuriating and ridiculous. The votes are in! Scott Snyder is our least problematic industry darling.
Best Gay
The news about young Iceman being forced back into the closet was heartbreaking. Respectable LGBTQ+ representation is hard to come by, especially in mainstream media, and especially when mainstream media does stuff like this. Thankfully, all is not lost. We still have America Chavez waving that flag loud and proud. Let us cling to our dreams of this coming true:
🇺🇸🗽⭐️ pic.twitter.com/s1ZGr72ZEl
— Stephanie Beatriz (@iamstephbeatz) October 29, 2017
Best Actually Worth-it Variant Cover
The votes were pretty close in this category, but in the end, Kris Anka’s cover of Dream Daddy #1 from Oni Press ended up on top.
Most Mediocre White Man with the Most Comics Released in 2018
Brian Michael Bendis has his name on lots of titles and characters that we love, but it’s Tom King who takes first place, with Tom King coming in third. Clearly, CIA connections can get you places in the comics world!
There’s a post going around questioning whether I served in the CIA. Which is odd, cause I did, and there’s a way for employers (like DC) to check. Anyway, here’s a picture of me in Iraq in ‘04 and an email from when I was getting Sheriff reviewed by the agency. pic.twitter.com/agvztmTJrn
— Tom King (@TomKingTK) January 2, 2019
Most Forgettable Event
DC’s “Doomsday Clock,” which started in 2017 and ran through the last year, wins this category. The series, which follows up on Alan Moore’s Watchmen should have been great, but alas … *yawn*
Best Webcomic We’ve all Been Reading Since Forever Ago
All of these webcomics are deserving of praise, but the one that voters have been happily reading forever is Ngozi Ukazu’s Check, Please!
Best Webcomic You’ve Added to Your Rotation
If you aren’t reading Bill Walko’s The Hero Business yet, then you darn well should be!
Best Monthly/Serial Book That Actually Gives Us Hope for the Future
Sometimes comics are a trash fire. Sometimes, you read a comic that is just so wonderful that it leaves you feeling fresh and renewed. Oni Press’ Dream Daddy, based on the video game, is that comic. Don’t believe us? Check out our roundtable reviews of the series.
Best Graphic Novel That Actually Gives Us Hope For the Future
Graphic novels, by nature of their format, give us that much more joy to chew on and our voters absolutely loved chewing on Jen Wang’s The Princess and the Dressmaker. Well, not actually chewing on it, I hope.
Best Series That Doesn’t Exist
The people have spoken, Gail Simone and Stjepan Šejić. Make Tomb Raider/Wonder Woman happen, please!
dynamic duo XD pic.twitter.com/Ue2z8pdhwp
— stjepan sejic/ nebezial/ shiniez (@stjepansejic) November 12, 2018
Most Surprising Fave Comic
Who’d have thought a giant puppy, often drawn by people who seem to have never seen a dog before, would win our hearts, but here we are. Thank you, Marvel, for giving us the Lockjaw miniseries.
Best Lovably Mundane Zine Topic
Zines cover so many topics, but sometimes its the simple, everyday things that win our hearts. In this case, it’s all about the botany, baby, with The Queer Language of Flowers.
Best Indie Comics Curation
Others may try to duplicate it, but nothing beats Short Box when it comes to best indie comics curation.
Best Anthro Book
While it might not help you find your inner fursona, The Pervert, written by former WWACer Michelle Perez, drawn and painted by Remy Boydell, and published by Image, wins for best anthro book. The Pervert tells the honest and emotional account of a trans girl surviving through sex work in Seattle.
Thanks all for playing. See you again next year when we do this all again!
