The 2019 Joe Shuster Award Winners!
As mentioned in our earlier posts, this weekend in Guelph Ont a whole bunch of comics stuff was going on, with the eye of the storm being an annual The Guelph Comics Jam, a two day festival in the Quebec Street mall hosted by The Dragon. Some sights of that here! This year, the festival featured the latest Joe Shuster Awards as well.
Since 2004 The Joe Shuster Awards have been recognizing outstanding achievement in the creation of comic books, graphic novels and webcomics by Canadians.
Named after Toronto-born artist Joe Shuster who, along with Jerry Siegel created Superman! The 15th annual Joe Shuster Awards were on Saturday, Sept 14th.
As he often is, intrepid Comics Reporter Jamie Coville was there and has posted his recordings of the proceedings and some photos of the event! He also took a few at the Jam too! So you can virtually visit at your leisure.
OUTSTANDING WRITER: CHIP ZDARSKY! for PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN and MARVEL 2-IN-ONE (Marvel Comics). It’s for more than one book so no blurb to use here, but Steve is having a real run with successful titles, listen to him chat about it here and here!
OUTSTANDING ARTIST: KARL KERSCHL! for ISOLA (image Comics). The captain of the Royal Guard has fled the capital city with the Queen of Maar, suffering under the effects of an evil spell. Captain Rook’s only hope of returning Queen Olwyn to her throne and saving the kingdom from impending war lies on an island half a world away—a place known in myth as Isola, land of the dead.
OUTSTANDING CARTOONIST: EMILY CARROLL!
for BENEATH THE DEAD OAK TREE (Shortbox). Murder, decadence, cowardice, guilt, and aristocratic foxes in wigs all combine in this gorgeously poignant poem/folksong from Emily Carroll, about the futility and heartbreak one can run into when dealing with vengeance.
THE DRAGON AWARD – COMICS FOR YOUNGER READERS : AVENTUROSAURE T.1 par JULIEN PARÉ-SOREL.
Rex, a young blue dinosaur, dreams of becoming the greatest adventurer of all time! In the meantime he works odd jobs in the village of Cretincia while taking care of his father, suffering from a mysterious disease. Then comes a tragic event that sends Rex on an epic quest. With his friends Patchy and Gogo, he travels to the four corners of the great kingdom of Mezoik!
The Dragon Award recognizes works that capture the attention and fascination of young readers, and help to create a passion for life-long reading. Works considered for this award are comic books and graphic novels by Canadian creators that are targeted at readers 14 and under. Nominees for this award are selected by a team of educators led by Jennifer Haines, MA, B.Ed.
THE GENE DAY AWARDS : Two awards are named after the late Howard Eugene Day (1951-1982),
THE GENE DAY AWARD FOR SELF-PUBLISHING : CHRISTIE PITS by JAMIE MICHAELS, DOUG FEDRAU! A gritty ride through Toronto’s immigrant neighbourhoods, Christie Pits tells the incredible true story of when young Jewish and Italian immigrants squared off against Nazi-inspired thugs on the streets of Toronto. This is the history of a gruff and unrecognizable Canada— one of ‘swastika clubs’ and public bigotry. A homemade swastika flag flown at a public baseball game was the spark that found tinder in these untenable and hateful conditions. What followed was the worst race riot in Canadian history. Archival research and first-hand interviews lend historical depth to an unknown story of resistance against hatred in uncertain times.
GENE DAY AWARD FOR ANTHOLOGY COLLECTION : WAYWARD SISTERS: AN ANTHOLOGY OF MONSTROUS WOMEN. ALLISON O’TOOLE, Editor (TO COMIX PRESS). From mermaids hunted for their meat to a ghastly beauty pageant, Wayward Sisters celebrates lady and non-binary monsters who are indelicate, impolite, and irrepressible. Inside you’ll find tales of undead motivational speakers, vengeance demons compelled to hunt family, and a gentle T. Rex who just wants to be loved.
TM MAPLE AWARD (FOR ACHIEVEMENTS OUTSIDE THE CREATIVE) : JENNIFER HAINES!
A leading retailer for 20+ years, Jennifer Haines has been active and vocal in her support of comics. She established the Comics in the Classroom initiative to help educators use comics and graphic novels in their classrooms to improve student literacy. She also established the Dragon Award for Comics for younger readers handed out annually juried by educators. The Joe Shuster Awards themselves benefited from her role as an advisor since their inception in 2004 and in 2019 she served on the jury for the Will Eisner Comic Book Industry Awards.
HARRY KREMER AWARD for Outstanding Comic Book Retailer : VARIANT EDITION COMICS of EDMONTON, ALBERTA!
Located in west Edmonton, Variant Edition prides themselves on their inclusive environment and innovative recommendation system, which will help you find books you didn’t even know you loved. Customer reports rave about the friendly, knowledgeable, personal staff, the attention to providing quality service, the store’s cozy and welcoming atmosphere, and their great and wide selection of comics and graphic novels.
Full post for the awards here on the JSA site.