The Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Ringo Awards, are prizes given for achievement in comic books. They are named in honor of artist Mike Wieringo and they were founded by the Reisterstown, Maryland–based Cards, Comics, & Collectibles shop alongside the Ringo Awards Committee in 2017, their ceremony meant to succeed the Harvey Awards which left the Baltimore Comic-Con as its venue in 2016.Draper Carlson, Johanna. "Harvey Awards Leaving Baltimore, New Home Not Disclosed" Comics Worth Reading (October 14, 2016).
The Ringo Awards are nominated by an open vote among comic-book professionals and fans. The winners are selected from the top two fan choices as the first two nominees and the professional jury selects the remaining three nominees in each category.
History The Ringo Awards were created as an industry award voted by comics professionals and its fans. The first Ringo Awards were presented at the Baltimore Comic-Con on September 23, 2017. The 2018 awards took place at the Baltimore Comic-Con on September 29, 2018. The 2019 awards were held October 19, 2019 at the Baltimore Comic-Con. The 2020 awards were held October 24, 2020 at Baltimore Comic-Con Live, the Baltimore Comic-Con's virtual live-streaming event held during COVID-19.
Categories The Ringo Awards are awarded in the following categories:
Current , awards are presented in 23 categories for works published in 2020.
Perennial Jury Nomination: The Mike Wieringo Spirit Award (2017–present)
Fan-Only Nominations: Favorite Hero (2017–present) Favorite Villain (2017–present) Favorite New Series (2017–present) Favorite New Talent (2017–present) Favorite Publisher (2018–present)
Fan and Pro Nomination Categories: Best Cartoonist (Writer/Artist) (2017–present) Best Writer (2017–present) Best Artist or Penciller (2017–present) Best Inker (2017–present) Best Letterer (2017–present) Best Colorist (2017–present) Best Cover Artist (2017–present) Best Series (2017–present) Best Single Issue or Story (2017–present) Best Original Graphic Novel (2017–present) Best Anthology (2017–present) Best Humor Comic (2017–present) Best Webcomic (2017–present) Best Humor Webcomic (2021–present) Best Non-fiction Comic Work (2017–present) Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel (2018–present) Best Presentation in Design (2017–present)
Past awards Fan and Pro Nomination Categories: Best Comic Strip or Panel (2017–2020)
Award winners
Characters [Fan] Favorite Hero +YearCharacterSeriesPublisherRef2017Cash WayneSpectrumWEBTOON2018MagsAssassin RoommateWEBTOON2019Toaster DudeToaster DudeWEBTOON2020CloveSubZeroWEBTOON2021PersphoneLore OlympusWEBTOON2022SylasSyphonImage Comics2023Sam YoungLet’s PlayWEBTOON2024LenoreNevermoreWEBTOON2025AlexSeñorita CometaWEBTOON2026BatmanBatman/Detective ComicsDC Comics
[Fan] Favorite Villain +YearCharacterSeriesPublisherRef2017ArlounOrdinaryWEBTOON20182019Lance CordreyAberrantAction Lab Entertainment2020JohnunOrdinaryWEBTOON2021EmmaMy Deepest SecretWEBTOON2022Captain MartellBlowbackSelf-published2023AdamThe Guy UpstairsWEBTOON2024MontresorNevermoreWEBTOON2025Mr. BarnabyWarm FusionDSTLRY2026Doctor DoomFantastic FourMarvel Comics
Companies [Fan] Favorite Publisher YearPublisherRef2018Line Webtoon2019Dynamite Entertainment2020Tapas2021Rocketship Entertainment2022Image Comics2023Dark Horse Comics2024Image Comics2025Mad Cave Studios2026Etan Comics
People [Fan] Favorite New Talent
YearWinnerRef2017InstantMiso2018Quimchee2019Enjelicious2020Sinran2021Lilydusk2022Vincent Kings2023Ellie Wright2024Danny Earls2025Annie Wright2026Reese Hannigan
Best Cartoonist (Writer/Artist)
YearWinnerRef2017Skottie Young2018Joëlle Jones2019Terry Moore2020Stan Sakai20212022Jeff Lemire2023Kate Beaton2024Jeff Smith2025Eric Powell2026Craig Thompson
Best Writer
YearWinnerRef2017Tom King20182019Brian K. Vaughan2020Mariko Tamaki2021James Tynion IV20222023Ed Brubaker2024James Tynion IV2025Kelly Thompson2026Deniz Camp
Best Artist or Penciller YearWinnerRef2017Fiona Staples2018Lee Weeks2019Sean Philips2020Sanford Greene2021Jamal Campell2022Filipe Andrade 2023Evan “Doc” Shaner2024Elsa Charretier 2025Chris Samnee2026Javier Rodriguez
Best Inker YearWinnerRef2017Sean Murphy2018Mark Morales2019Fiona Staples2020Sandra Hope2021Sanford Greene2022Sal Buscema2023Klaus Janson Best Letterer YearWinnerRef2017Todd Klein201820192020Nate Piekos2021Aditya Bidikar2022Taylor Esposito2023Stan Sakai (co-winner)Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (co-winner)2024Stan Sakai 2025Richard Starkings2026Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Best Colorist YearWinnerRef2017Laura Martin2018Dave Stewart2019Tamra Bonvillain2020Jordie Bellaire2021Tamra Bonvillain2022Dave McCaig 2023Jordie Bellaire2024Tamra Bonvillain 2025Jordie Bellaire2026Dave Stewart
Best Cover Artist YearWinnerRef2017Frank Cho2018Michael Cho2019Fiona Staples2020Sana Takeda2021Peach Momoko2022Simone Di Meo2023Greg Smallwood2024Chris Samnee 2025Bilquis Evely2026Javier Rodriguez Works Mike Wieringo Spirit Award YearWinnerPublisherRef2017Future Quest #1DC Comics2018Mech Cadet YuBOOM! Studios2019IsolaImage Comics2020Superman Smashes the KlanDC Comics2021FolklordsBOOM! Studios2022Jonna and the Unpossible MonstersOni Press2023World’s FinestDC Comics2024The Hunger and the DuskIDW Publishing2025Welcome to the MaynardDark Horse Comics2026The Avengers in the Veracity TrapAbrams ComicArts
[Fan] Favorite New Series YearWinnerPublisherRef2017Spectrum2018I Love Yoo2019Luff2020FangsTapas2021Midnight Poppy Land2022Clinic of HorrosWEBTOON2023NevermoreWEBTOON2024City of BlankWEBTOON2025The PedestrianMagma Comix2026ExcavatorD4K Studios
Best Series YearWinnerPublisherRef2017VisionMarvel ComicsFaithValiant EntertainmentPaper GirlsImage ComicsSagaImage ComicsSpectrumAutomatic Pictures2018Mister MiracleDC ComicsBatmanDC ComicsLady KillerDark Horse ComicsSpencer & LockeAction Lab EntertainmentSunstoneImage Comics2019Black Hammer: Age of DoomDark Horse ComicsThe Immortal HulkMarvel ComicsBitter RootImage ComicsBlammoKilgore BooksThe Highest HouseIDW PublishingVenomMarvel Comics2020Bitter RootImage ComicsBanjaxDanger Zone (Action Lab Entertainment)Black Hammer: Age of DoomDark Horse ComicsForgotten HomeVices Press/comiXology OriginalsSomething is Killing the ChildrenBOOM! Studios2021Usagi YojimboIDW PublishingThe Department of TruthImage ComicsFar SectorDCLore OlympusWEBTOONMy Deepest SecretWEBTOONWonder Woman: Dead EarthDC2022 Something is Killing the Children BOOM! StudiosLocke & Key/The Sandman Universe: Hell & GoneIDW PublishingThe Many Deaths of Laila StarrBOOM! StudiosStray DogsImage ComicsSyphonImage Comics2023 Something is Killing the ChildrenBOOM! StudiosFractured ShardsComics2MoviesParker GirlsAbstract StudiosSagaImage ComicsSeason of the BrujaOni Press2024 Geiger: Ground Zero Image ComicsThe Night EatersAbrams ComicArtsPhantom RoadImage ComicsRare FlavoursBOOM! StudiosSirens of the CityBOOM! StudiosTowerA Wave Blue World2025The Pedestrian Magma ComixBeneath the Trees Where Nobody SeesIDW PublishingThe Blood Brothers MotherDSTLRYHelen of WyndhornDark Horse ComicsMasters of the Universe: RevolutionDark Horse Comics2026Absolute BatmanDC ComicsAbsolute Martian ManhunterDC ComicsCoexistenceSelf-publishedFMLDark Horse ComicsGranite State PunkOrange Cone ProductionsMurder PodcastIgnition Press
Best Single Issue or Story Also referred to as Best Short Story YearWinnerPublisherRef2017 Emancipation Day www.redistrictedcomics.comDeadly Hands of CriminalImage ComicsDC Universe Rebirth #1DC ComicsFaith #1Valiant EntertainmentLocke & Key: Small WorldIDW Publishing2018 Batman/Elmer Fudd Special DC ComicsBatman Annual #2DC ComicsDoomsday Clock #1DC ComicsI Am GrootMarvel ComicsMister Miracle #5DC Comics 2019 Swamp Thing Winter Special DC ComicsAberrant #4Danger ZoneBlack Hammer: Cthu-LouiseDark Horse ComicsChampions #24Marvel ComicsKlaus and the Crying SnowmanBOOM! Studios2020 Usagi Yojimbo #6| style="background:#FAEB86 " | IDW Publishing| rowspan="5" | |- |Bitter Root Red Summer Special |Image Comics |- |“Hot Comb” in Hot Comb |Drawn & Quarterly |- |Second Coming #1 |Danger Zone (Action Lab Entertainment) |- |Tales of the Night Watchman: The Steam Banshee |So What? Press |- ! rowspan="5" |2021 | style="background:#FAEB86 " | The O.Z. Self-publishedAll-America Comix #1Image ComicsFirefly: The Outlaw Ma ReynoldsBOOM! StudiosMarcy and the Riddle of the SphinxFlying Eye Books"Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin” in Ice Cream Man Presents Quarantine Comix Special #1Image Comics2022 Something Is Killing the Children #20 BOOM! Studios Commander RAO #1Scout ComicsMamo #1BOOM! StudiosThe Many Deaths of Laila StarrBOOM! StudiosTales of the Night Watchman: Under the SurfaceSo What? Press2023 Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters Oni Press88 Days of Hell: One Ukrainian Man’s Experience in the Russian FiltrationInsiderA Hunter’s TaleElephant Eater Comics“Finding Batman” in DC Pride 2022DC ComicsPunisher #1Marvel ComicsThievesNobrowYou Were My Joker That NightAnatola Howard2024 Animal Pound #1 BOOM! Studios By The Horns: Dark Earth #7Scout ComicsEtheresSource Point PressRare Flavours #1BOOM! StudiosSomnaDSTLRYStar Trek: Day of Blood – Shaxs’ Best DayIDW Publishing2025Batman and Robin Year One #1DC ComicsA Blue Flame” in Second Hand LoveDrawn & QuarterlyThe Crying BoyKeenspot EntertainmentDeath Ratio’dAWA StudiosFML #1Dark Horse ComicsHelen of WyndhornDark Horse ComicsNavigating with YouMaverickA Never-Ending AdventureOscar OsorioTrinity Special: World’s Finest #1DC Comics2026Chest Faceself-published“Pied Piper” in Cthulhu Invades Fairy TalesOrange Cone Productions“The Knife and Gun Club” in Detective Comics #1100DC ComicsThe Fire Breathing DucklingAstra Books for Young Readers“Red Snapper in the Rea” in Milk White SteedDrawn & QuarterlyModel Five MurderSilver Sprocket
Best Original Graphic Novel