For the long form category, the shortlist can be seen here.
In this year’s long form comic winner, Ronan and the Endless Sea of Stars, author Rick Louis shares the story of his son, Ronan, born with Tay-Sach’s, a genetic, terminal neurological disease. This story spans Ronan’s birth, diagnosis, infant milestones made and lost, the impact on Louis’ marriage, and Ronan’s inevitable death. The story has surprising moments of humor and expected moments of sadness, all wrapped in Lara Antal’s wonderful illustrations.
Of this work, the judges agreed, “Ronan and the Endless Sea of Stars is, “a beautiful graphic rendition of a devastating story of loss and grief, told with warmth and humanity. Ronan is a little boy who is discovered to have Tay Sachs disease, at which point his parents know his early death is inevitable. The book captures the tragic dilemma surrounding the inheritance of fatal genetic illnesses. A clear favourite among the judges in a very strong field of nominees. It moved many of the judges to tears. You can listen to an interview with creators Rick and Lara here. They will share $1000 US prize money and each will receive a very special commemorative trophy.
In addition, the judges felt that the submissions were so strong and the decision process so challenging that they requested we also recognize an honorable mention in each category. Headland, the fictional story of Ruth, afflicted with dementia, is based on the author’s grandmother and another woman for whom the author cared. Ruth is hospitalized following a stroke, and this almost wordless tale invites us into Ruth’s inner life or headland. The pencil drawings are sometimes colorfully fabulist and sometimes terrifyingly grey. She lives in her own world, whether manipulated by physical therapists, or homebound TV-watching, or traveling in her mind where color abounds. Her turtle traveling companion symbolizes her walled off memories and her deep connection to nature.
Creator of Headland, Kate Schneider, will receive a commemorative certificate.
For the short form category, the shortlist can also be seen here.
This educational comic describes the use of House Balls (Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ house competitions) as a site for COVID-19 vaccinations. It describes the lack or loss of trust in communities of color due to such mistreatments as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study (1932-1972), and J Marion Sims’ experiments on slave women in the 1840s. The comic quotes BIPOC modern authorities, such as Dr. Lisa A. Cooper of Johns Hopkins University. It concludes with a “trauma-informed approach … [whereby] there’s a big barrier to trust that has to be overcome.”
The judges loved this comic. Josh Neufeld’s graphic journalism is performed with masterful skill. In this piece he manages to create a brilliantly engaging graphic essay that draws the reader into the action, while avoiding excessive narration or resorting to talking heads. The story sets modern-day anxieties about COVID vaccination against historical government malpractice in a way that sympathetically articulates the viewpoint of the vaccine skeptics, while reinforcing the importance of vaccination in combating the pandemic. Josh will receive $1000 USD prize money and a very special commemorative trophy.
Honorable mention in the short form category goes to Emil Wilson for his comic “Introducing Erin Williams,” When in high school the author is asked to stutter for comic relief in a student-produced play. Others might laugh but those afflicted with a stutter will feel only pain. Erin Williams’ story “changed the way [Emil] saw people with this disability.” The cruelty of those without the affliction is sometimes inadvertent but could be intentional; just look at comments about President Biden, a stutterer, having memory problems. This powerful work discusses blocking (having a huge vocabulary to find a substitute word when one word just won’t come out). Erin says, “I order things all the time that I don’t want because often I can’t say what I want.” Artistically, this work creatively uses word bubbles tied in knots. Provides some helpful tips and what not to do. Others’ finishing stutterers’ sentences isn’t helpful; just ask what would be helpful. And don’t laugh.
We at GMIC would like to point out that these awards were not created to champion one or two works of graphic medicine, but many. This award was conceived by our donors and the board to be in service of the mission of GMIC, “to guide and support the use of comics in health.” Our hope is that this annual engagement by the larger GMIC community with a very deliberative, careful award process will result in enthusiasm and awareness, promoting all graphic medicine works of excellence. Emil Wilson will receive a commemorative certificate to recognize the excellence of this work of graphic medicine.
GMIC would like to thank the award committee, the shortlisting committee, the final judges, all of our donors, and Alex Thomas for our logo designs.
For the 2024 GMIC Awards, we are considering adding an additional category. Watch the Graphic Medicine website for an announcement in early 2024 for more details. And to submit your work in progress for consideration!
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