Winners
Graphic Novel
2024 WINNERS - GRAPHIC NOVEL
See below for the list of 2024 winners in the GRAPHIC NOVEL category, for books with a copyright date of 2023.
Mary Shelley's School for Monsters: La Llorona in the Machine
2024 Gold Winner
Author/Illustrator: by Jessica Maison, illustrated by Anna Wieszczyk
Publisher: Wicked Tree Press
ISBN: 9798987430101
A young Mary Shelley encounters an occult mad scientist and a living grimoire, Necro, who accidentally split her into two versions of herself-a human who goes on to write Frankenstein, and a supernatural girl, Shel, who spends her immortality rescuing monsters, like La Llorona, from the evil humans exploiting them.
Guardian of Fukushima
2024 Silver Winner
Authors: Ewan Blain & Fabien Grolleau
Publisher: TOKYOPOP
ISBN: 9781427871367
March 11, 2011: a massive earthquake triggered a devastating tsunami which caused a meltdown at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima, Japan. Unwilling to abandon his beloved animals for his own safety, farmer Naoto Matsumura chose to return home to his farm — and to fight for the beauty of life.
Kid Beowulf - Songs & Sagas
2024 Silver Winner
Author: Alexis E. Fajardo
Publisher: Kid Beowulf Comics
ISBN: 9798985999907
Dragons, knights, monsters, and more! Kid Beowulf – Songs & Sagas collects five original stories from the world of Kid Beowulf. Join twin brothers Beowulf and Grendel on a series of side quests from the award-winning graphic novel series Kid Beowulf! Written and drawn by series creator, Alexis E. Fajardo.
2023 WINNERS - GRAPHIC NOVEL
See below for the list of 2023 winners in the GRAPHIC NOVEL category, for books with a copyright date of 2022.
My Cat Hates Me
2023 Gold Winner
Author: Bai Cha
Publisher: Brown Books Publishing Group
ISBN: 978-1-61254-584-4
Some pets adore their owners-and then there's Your Highness. Illustrated in a composite style of simple comics, My Cat Hates Me follows the daily exploits of a petulant "purr-sonality", his canine sidekick, and their long-suffering artist owner. Bestselling author Bai Cha has drawn millions of fans to his comic series "Cat and Dog." Now, the first installment makes its U.S. debut.
Field Expedition
2023 Silver Winner
Author: Ted Rechlin
Publisher: Rextooth Studios
ISBN: 978-1-7371242-2-1
Travel across time and space in this field trip like none other, from award-winning graphic novelist Ted Rechlin. Meet Maximo, the 70-ton sauropod. See the Tsavo Lions in a different light and of course come face-to-face with the tyrant lizard, Sue: The Tyrannosaurus rex.
Peremoha: Victory for Ukraine
2023 Silver Winner
Authors: Various
Publisher: TOKYOPOP
ISBN: 978-1-4278-7322-6
PEREMOHA: Victory for Ukraine is a collection created by Ukrainian artists during the first weeks of the Russian invasion, channeling all their emotions — their anger, courage dreams, and despair into one goal, one manifestation of their nation’s fight for survival!
2022 WINNERS - GRAPHIC NOVEL
See below for the list of 2022 winners in the GRAPHIC NOVEL category, for books with a copyright date of 2021.
Djeliya: A West African Fantasy Epic
2022 Gold Winner
Author: Juni Ba
Publisher: TKO Studios
ISBN: 978-1-952203-24-4
Inspired by West African folklore of creator Juni Ba’s childhood, Djeliya is a fantasy epic that tells the tale of Prince Mansour and his royal storyteller Awa as they journey to reach the mysterious wizard Soumaoro, who guards a fearsome power that he once used to destroy the entire world.
Kid Beowulf - The Tarpeian Rock
2022 Silver Winner
Author: Alexis E. Fajardo
Publisher: Kid Beowulf Comics
ISBN: 978-0-9909505-5-4
In this action-packed graphic novel, twin brothers, Beowulf and Grendel, are lost in ancient Italy and forced to fight for their freedom in the gladiatorial games. In the arena the brothers will battle fearsome warriors, deadly beasts, and meet another pair of twins, Romulus and Remus. It all leads to the founding of the world's most epic city: ROME!
Scales & Scoundrels Book 1: Where Dragons Wander
2022 Silver Winner
Author: by Sebastian Girner, art by Galaad
Publisher: TKO Studios
ISBN: 978-1-952203-22-0
This multicultural fantasy adventure follows treasure hunter Luvander in her search for gold and glory. With her companions – a prince, his stern bodyguard, and a plucky young dwarf – Lu dives into an epic journey and discovers a secret that brings light to a world encroached upon by an ancient darkness.
2021 WINNERS - GRAPHIC NOVEL
See below for the list of 2021 finalists in the GRAPHIC NOVEL category, for books with a copyright date of 2020. Click here to watch the Gold and Silver winner speeches.
Dead Max Comix: Book 1, The Deadening
2021 Gold Winner
Author: Dana Sullivan
Publisher: Red Chair Press
ISBN: 978-1-63440-852-3
Derrick Hollis is a 7th grader and an aspiring cartoonist, too shy to show his work to most people. When his dog Max dies, Derrick is devastated. But then Max returns from the other side to give Derrick advice. Will Dead Max be good for Derrick or lead him astray?
Icarus: The Longest Fall #1
2021 Silver Winner
Author: Gregory A. Wilson, script by Keith R.A. DeCandido, artwork by Áthila Fabbio
Publisher: Atthis Arts
ISBN: 978-1-945009-54-9
Cinematic and adventurous, Icarus tells the story of two unlikely heroes: a flamepetal prospector down on his luck, and the winged young man with no memory who falls across his path. Together, they must discover the secret of Icarus’ past to save their worlds from the grasp of tyranny.
The Saga of Evil Monkey Man!: Season One
2021 Silver Winner
Author: N. Blake Seals, artwork by Butch Mapa
Publisher: Monarch Comics, LLC
ISBN: 9781735836829
It's a mind-altering, time-traveling, reality-bending, criss-cross quest across America in a search for a way to become human once again. It's all fun and games, until someone gets turned into a monkey!
2020 WINNERS - GRAPHIC NOVEL
See below for the list of 2020 winners in the GRAPHIC NOVEL category, for books with a copyright date of 2019.
Chickasaw Adventures: The Complete Collection
2020 Gold Winner
Artwork: Tom Lyle
Publisher: Chickasaw Press
ISBN: 978-1-935684-79-4
Follow Johnny as he journeys into the past, where he discovers the unconquerable spirit of his ancestors and learns what it means to be Chickasaw.
The Invisible Empire: Madge Oberholzer and the Unmasking of the Ku Klux Klan
2020 Silver Winner
Authors: Micky Neilsoin and Todd Warger, illustrated by Marc Borstel
Publisher: Insight Comics
ISBN: 978-1-68383-447-2
Discover the true story of Madge Oberholtzer in this graphic novel retelling of her controversial case, which exposed the political corruption in Indiana and revealed the true face of the infamous Ku Klux Klan.
VEI, Vol. 1
Authors: Sara B. Elfgren and Karl Johnsson
Publisher: Insight Comics
ISBN: 978-1-68383-449-6
VEI weaves together an incredible tale that pits man against God and God against God in an outstanding Hunger Games meets Norse mythology graphic novel.
About the
Independent Book Publishers Association
Founded to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,200 members, IBPA is the largest independent publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry.
For more information, visit www.ibpa-online.org.
