Hello faithful readers! Kate here, yet again, to provide the news highlights from this past week in the comics industry, but there honestly does not seem to be a lot going on right now. NYCC was last weekend, and I know I’m still catching up on all the announcements and coverage. My go to places are The Beat and Popverse, so I will direct you to their news pages so you can catch up too. My task this week is a little different.
Dwayne McDuffie passed away a little over 10 years ago, and four years after his death, in 2015, the Dwayne McDuffie Diversity Award was created. The last time the award was given out was in 2020, but this past week, the finalists for the award were announced. The Beat has a detailed post about the announcement and ceremony details, but I’m going to pull two quotes from the announcement:
The first is from Charlotte (Fullerton) McDuffie, Dwayne’s window.
“It is my honor, through this award in my late husband’s name, to shine a spotlight on outstanding diverse, inclusive content and creators. Dwayne always said he wanted to see ‘all kinds of different stories being told by all kinds of different people.’ Make him proud.”
The second is from the Dwane McDuffie Diversity Award Director, Will J. Watkins.
“This award in (Dwayne’s) name, its significance, and impact, has never been more important. So what might Dwayne say in the midst of such unsettling times? I believe the same thing he’s still saying through this award—he’d encourage diverse creators that their art, their voices, and their lives do matter.”
I was in the audience for the first McDuffie at Long Beach Comic Con in 2015. I’m glad to see that the award is coming back. And there’s so much to love about this list.
Adora and the Distance, by Marc Bernadin (W) and Ariela Kristantina (A)
Himiwari House, by Harmony Becker
Swim Team, by Johnnie Christmas
Nuclear Power, by Desirée Proctor (W), Erica Harrell (W), and Lynne Yoshii (A)
Girl Haven, by Lilah Sturges (W) and Meaghan Carter (A)
I haven’t read all these titles, but I have read work by almost all of these creators before. I was touched to see this tweet from the Adora and the Distance writer Marc Bernardin.
Thrilled to see #AdoraAndTheDistance—from me and @ARIELAkris—among the finalists. Dwayne McDuffie was a hero of mine, the kind of comic book writer I wanted to be. To have my name anywhere close to his is a dream come true. https://t.co/N8TENCwdae
— Marc "Horror Wuss" Bernardin (@marcbernardin) October 13, 2022
I usually try to end my posts with something humorous, but I want to end this week with hope, and purpose.
