Prism Comics is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) creators, stories, characters, and readers in the comics industry. It does this through informational booths and programming at comic conventions, print and online guides to LGBT creators and comics, and the annual Queer Press Grant to assist publication of new LGBT-themed work.
Prism Comics incorporated in April 2003 in the state of Georgia, and received its 501(c)(3) charitable status shortly thereafter. The organization was initially composed of a small number of comics fans and professionals from across the United States who had volunteered on an annual publication called Out in Comics, which was a listing of LGBT creators in comics that ran for three issues. Following incorporation, it expanded activities, publishing feature articles, interviews, original, art and content; expanding convention appearances and programming; and (until late 2014) a web forum.
Points of interest Maintains a comprehensive website, PrismComics.org, that posts LGBT-related comics news, reviews, and profiles of nearly 300 LGBT comics professionals. Produces weekly articles featured on the Prism website. Works with comics convention organizers to include LGBT content in their programming schedules, helping them to procure panelists, and promoting the panels in fan venues and in the LGBT and comics media. Purchases booth space at major comics conventions each year as an outreach effort to the industry to promote the work of LGBT creators in comics who are not having their work promoted sufficiently elsewhere.
Queer Press Grant Prism awards one-time financial grants to comics creators who are self-publishing a work of interest to an LGBT audience. In 2005 and 2006, the value of the grant was $1000, in 2007 it was raised to $1500, and later to $2000. The grant is announced annually at Wondercon comic convention in Anaheim, California. In 2020, the Prism Awards was held virtually as a two-day livestream.
Recipients are: 2005: Steve MacIsaac for Shirtlifter 2006: Megan Rose Gedris for YU+ME:dream 2007: Justin Hall for A Sacred Text, True Travel Tales, Hard to Swallow 2007: Tommy Roddy for Pride High 2008: Pam Harrison for House of Muses 2009: Ed Luce for Wuvable Oaf 2009: Eric Orner for Storybox 2010: Jon Macy for Fearful Hunter 2010: Tana Ford for Duck 2011: Robert Kirby for THREE 2012: Christine Smith for The Princess 2012: Blue Delliquanti for O Human Star 2013: Hazel Newlevant for If This Be Sin 2014: Calvin Gimpelevich for Wolfmen 2015: Dave Davenport for Stray Bullet 2016: Elizabeth Beier for Bisexual Trials and Errors 2016: Catherine Esguerra for Eighty Days 2017: Tee Franklin for Bingo Love 2018: Eric Kostiuk Williams
Prism Awards The Prism Awards were created as a joint venture between Prism Comics, the Cartoon Art Museum, and the Queer Comics Expo, given to LGBTQ comic creators. A category for Young Readers was added in 2021. The latest awards were given out in 2021.
Best Short Form Comic +Best Short Form ComicYearWorkAuthorRef2017 Nothing Wrong With Me Dylan Edwards, originally published on The NibFluxE JacksonLiarHari ConnerThe Kiss of the DemonessGillian Pascasio2018 To Measure Noella WhitneyContact High James F Wright and Josh EckertFigurinhaThere’s More Than One!Justin HubbellIt Was 1973, and Tiffany Banks Was Totally Winning at GenderAjuan Mance2019 see meE JacksonYou Don’t Have to Be Afraid of MeVictor MartinsFazenda De Sangue Azul H. Pueyo and 2020One Day Out Ina BestariIn Search of Absent Pigments Alex Assan and Lin DarrowPseudo Slut Transmission Emma Jayne2021 God Sees Me Crying in the Bathroom Stall Vincy LimQAT Person Number 3Dylan EdwardsThe Unfading Flower Hari Conner
Best Webcomic +Best WebcomicYearWorkAuthorRef2017 Villainette Scout Tran-CaffeWith Great Abandon EH MacMillianFailing Sky: Ghost StoryScout Tran-Caffee2018 O Human Star Blue DelliquantiCans of Beans, chapter 9 Tamara GoSuperButch Issue 1Becky Hawkins and Barry DeutschMonster Pop!Maya KernSuperpose Ciaran and Anka C2019 SuperButchBecky Hawkins and Barry DeutschAfter the FogH-P LehkonenNull Point Amara Sherm2020Magical Boy The KaoThe Girl that Can’t Get a Girlfriend Mieri HiranishiCafe Suada Jade Sarson2021 Superpose Seosamh and AnkaShaderunners Alex Assan and Lin DarrowA Guide To A Healthy Relationship Copper
Best Comic from a Small to Midsize Press +Best Comic from a Small to Midsize PressYearWorkAuthorRef2017 Short Gay Stories H-P LehkonenDestiny, NY Volume One: Who I Used to Be Pat Shand (Writer), Manuel Preitano (Artist), Jim Campbell (Letterer), and Shannon Lee (Editor)Active Voice The Comic CollectionP. Kristen Enos (writer), Heidi Ho (contributing writer), Casandra Grullon (artist), Derek Chua (artist), Leesamarie Croal (artist), Beth Varni (artist), and Dan Parent (cover art)2018 The Boys Who Became Hummingbirds Daniel Heath Justice and Weshoyot AlvitreSteam Clean Laura ĶeniņšMy Favorite Thing Is MonstersEmil Ferris2019 MealBlue Delliquanti and Soleil HoThe Lie and How We Told ItTommy ParishIt Will Be Hard Hien Pham2020Trans Girls Hit The Town Emma JayneLemonade Summer Gabi MendezStage Dreams Melanie Gillman2021 To Cut Noella WhitneSasha From The GymOtava HeikkiläHow To Be Ace: A Memoir of Growing Up Asexual Rebecca Burgess
Best Comic from a Mainstream Publisher +Best Comic from a Mainstream PublisherYearWorkAuthorRef2017 The Backstagers #1 James Tynion IV (writer), and Rian Sygh (artist),Supergirl: Being Super #1 Mariko Tamaki (writer), Joëlle Jones (pencils), Sandu Florea (inks), Kelly Fitzpatrick (colorist), Saida Temofonte (letters), Jones and Fitzpatrick (cover art), Lumberjanes #17ND Stevenson (writer), Shannon Watters (writer), and Gus Allen (artist)2018 The Witch Boy Lee Knox OstertagIcemanSina Grace (writer), Alessandro Vitti (artist), Kevin Wada (artist)Heavy VinylCarly Usdin (Writer), Nina Vakueva (Pencils), Irene Flores (Inker), Rebecca Nalty (Colorist), Jim Campbell (Letterer)2019 Lumberjanes: The Infernal Compass Lilah Sturges, polterink, and Jim CampbellRunaways #12Rainbow Rowell, Kris Anka, Matthew Wilson, and Joe CarmagnaExit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles #6 Mark Russel, Brandee Stilwell, Paul Mounts, Jeremy Lawson, Rose Campbell, Ben Caldwell, Mike Morales, Gus Vazquez, Sean Parsons, and Mike Feehand2020Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’ConnellBloom Kevin Panetta and Savanna GanucheauKiss Number 8Colleen AF Venable and Ellen T. Crenshaw2021 The Low Low Woods Carmen Maria Machado (writer), Joe Hill (writer), Dan McDaid (artist) and Dani Strips (artist) Juliet Takes a BreathGabby Rivera (writer) and Celia Moscote (artist) The Deep & Dark Blue Niki Smith
Best Comic Anthology +Best Comic AnthologyYearWorkEditorRef2017 POWER & MAGIC:The Queer Witch Comics Anthology Joamette GilBeyond: The Queer Sci-Fi & Fantasy Comic AnthologySfé R. Monster and Taneka StottsFood Porn Gina Biggs Chainmail Bikini: The Anthology of Women GamersHazel Newlevant2018 Dates: An Anthology of Queer Historical Fiction Volume 2 Zora Gilbert and Cat ParraPower & Magic: IMMORTAL SOULS Joamette GilOh Joy Sex Toy, Volume 4 Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan2019 ABO Comix Vol. 2: A Comic Anthology by LGBTQ PrisonersCasper CendreBeing True: LGBTQ+ Comics From The Boston Comics RoundtableRenie Jesanis, Kyri Lorenz, and Steph Rose GlassGroup Chat Carolynn Calabrese, Jenny Mott, Ashley Gallagher, and Rachel Weiss2020Heartwood Joamette GilCome Together Tab Kimpton and Alex AssanShout Out Steven Andrews2021 A.B.O. Comix: A Queer Prisoners Anthology Vol 4 Casper CendreAmbrosia: Trans Masc & Non Binary Erotic ComicsTab Kimpton and Jade SarsonConfined Before COVID19: A Pandemic Anthology by LGBTQ PrisonersCasper Cendre
Young Readers +Young Readers YearWorkEditorRef2021 The Deep & Dark Blue Niki SmithThe Magic FishTrung Le NguyenSpace Battle Lunchtime Vol. 3: A Dish Best Served Cold Natalie Riess
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