The Inaugural Zelda Awards – A Slam Dunk

On April 11th, the first ever Zelda Awards took place. Founded by Karla Medrano, The Zelda Awards were created to highlight the amazing contributions of women working to shape the comic book industry. Named after Zelda Jackie Ormes, the first Black woman cartoonist in the United States, the award show hosted by Dr. Angélique Roche showcased the best women working in comics today. Check out the article below for a breakdown of nominees and winners.

Winners and Nominees

Winners are in BOLD

Best Webcomic – All Ages

Kim Riot – Willow and the Family Ace
Cammry Lapka – George Smith
Kaja Foglio – Girl Genius
Jihan Thomas – The Stolen Life of Henrietta Lacks
Dr. Ebony Toussaint – Crash Cart
Ashlee the Cartoonist – Flea Boy and The Weasel

Best Webcomic – Horror

Mary Landon – The Gray
Charlie Ragnarok- The Killer Kiss
Karen Hemmings – Love. Death. Eat. Repeat
Rebecca Coulthart – Cheapjack Gentleman

Best Webcomic – Fantasy

Katie Hodges and Pam Bliss – The Extras
Matta Sorcier – Sacrimony
Feather Mage – Mage and Mimic
Megan Gray – The Croaking
J Hitz – The Barrier Scroll
Tani Andrews – Seeds of Doubt

Best Webcomic – Sci-Fi

Willow White – Friends From The Cosmos
Kaja Foglio – Girl Genius
Hazel and Bell – Electric Bones
Balce Arts and Carrie Linden – Planetarium
Next Jen – Coexistence

Best Manga

Marie Grousette – Pandemonium
Yamawe – Life Lessons From A UFO Catcher
Kaj Kunstmann – Nyakuza Noodle
Mai Matsuda – Hikaru In The Light
C.J. McWillis – Tezra

Best Graphic Novel – Superheroes

Jamie Mcafee – Alexis Wyle
Natosha Jones – The Grey
Ashley Paige Van-de-Cruize – Na’Maksi
Angelique Roche – Life Dream
Shea Fontanta – DC Superheroes
Agnes Garbowska – DC Superheroes (Illustrator)

Best Graphic Novel – Horror

Meredith McClaren – Meat Eaters
Gigi Murakami – Resenter
Amy Chu and Soo Lee – Carmilla
Jazmine Joyner – Devour
Nihaarika Negi – Hunger

Best Graphic Novel – Fantasy

N.S. Kane – Your Highness
Ro Higashi – Half of The Crown
Ariela Kristantina – The Girl Who Draws on Whales
Jasmine Walls – The Last Session
Madelein Holly Rosing – Morgana Pendragon
Deena Mohamed – Your Wish is My Command

Best Graphic Novel – Sci-Fi

Jacqui Venturini – Outer Spaced
M’shai Dash – Fumes
Wendy Xu – The Infinity Particle
Mindy Indy – Aer Head
Stephanie Williams – Roots of Madness

Best Graphic Novel – Non-Fiction

Rachel M. Thomas – Shrink
Emilia Strilchuk – Be Yourself
Lisa Burdige – Love Letters, Everyday
Shayna Jones – Hamer University
Amy Kurzeil – Artificial: A Love Story

Best Children’s Graphic Novel

Shequeta Smith – Young Grandmaster Choi
Meredith McClaren – Crumble
Stephanie Cook – Pillow Talk
Sharee Miller – Curl Friends
Katie Shaw – Dragon Child
Vera Brosgol – Plain Jane and the Mermaid

Best Children’s Horror

Kayden Phoenix – Witchtober
Beatrice Robbins – Ghost Story Saga: Arthur’s Journey
Whitney Gardner – Free Piano (Not Haunted)
Jessica Maison Judd – Mary Shelley’s School For Monsters

Best Pencils/Inks

Chyna Rosemarea – Today is Different
Ryan Oakley- Ride to Acceptance
Asiah Fulmore – Temporal
Lorna Dining – Charlie Sparks: Paranormal Investigator
Yko – Jane Jet
Skylar Partridge – Finders Keeper
Francesca Fantini – Can I Scream
Anna Wieszczyk – Mary Shelley’s School For Monsters

Best Colorist

Xenon Honchar – 30 Days of Night: Falling Sun
Bex Glendining – On Starlight Shores
Hai Kucifer – Chiropetera
Sabine Rich – Fight Girls
Gaby Zermeno – Flesh Fix
Bia Navarro – Disinter

Best Letterer

Ariana Maher – Zatanna and the House of Secret
Saida Temofonte – Press Guardian 1
Lydia Mieses Monette – Fennec
Next Jen – Coexistence
Jodie Troutman – Star Trek: Red Shirts
Becca Carey – Temporal
Shayna Jones – Hamer University

Best Cover

Tahilla and Tiah Ankum – Fumes
Mikayla Moore – The Grey 3
Sana Takeda – Monstress 45
Juliet Nneka – Roots of Madness 4
Luisina Modica – Crystal Clear Pyro
Tarcilia Neeves – Queen Bee
Carla Wzygala – Skull Masquerade
Angela Wu – Sol: The Ballad of Eternity
Jan Apple – Mirrorverse

Best Series

Natosha Jones – The Grey
Madeleine Holly Rosing- Boston Metaphysical Society: Mystery at Pikes Peak
Matta Sorcier – Sacrimony
Jacque Aye – Monster High
N.S. Kane – Queen Bee
Stephanie Williams – Roots of Madness
Rebecca Coulthart – Cheapjack Gentleman

Best Single Issue

Jazmine Joyner – Devour
Madeleine Holly Rosing – Morgana Pendragon 1
Natosha Jones – The Grey 3
Weyoldi Oldbear – The Clock
Janice Dennie – Chalawan Uranus

Best Writer

Stephanie Williams
Matta Sorcier
Madeleine Holly Rosing
N.S. Kane
Natosha Jones
Rebecca Coulthart

Emerging Trailblazer: Less Than 10 Years In The Industry

Emilia Stritchuck
Dr. Ebony Toussaint
Ashley Van de Cruize Lampkin
Angela Wu
Next Jen
Ryan Oakley

Spirit of Zelda: More Than 10 Years In The Industry

Queenie Chan
Kaja Foglio
Nicola Scott
Wendy Pini
Kaj Kunstmann
Francesca Fantini
Rachel Dukes
Tee Franklin

Ink The Future: Founder’s Award

Kayden Phoenix
Stephanie Williams
Shequeta Smith
Regine Sawyer
Stephanie Cooke
Barbra Dillon
Natosha Jones

Congrats to all of the nominees and the winners. The team over at The Zelda Awards put on a really great awards show highlighting the outstanding and amazing work women are doing in comics. As someone who reviews comics, it’s fun to see artist, writers, colorers, and letterers that I love being honored and recognized for the great and creative work they are putting out into the world.

Until next time, may your pulls be magical, and your multiverse remain stable

Did you catch the Zelda Awards? Did any of the winners surprise you? Let me know in the comments below!