The EXPO, North America’s premier showcase for alternative and small-press cartoonists and publishers, was scheduled this year for Sept. 14-15 in Bethesda, Md., but was cancelled due to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.
After much deliberation, The EXPO steering committee has decided that the best course was to not seek outside venues for the Ignatzes. The Ignatz is a festival prize determined by a ballot of attendees and exhibitors, and, as such, the results of the voting are unique to the environment found at The EXPO. To hold the Ignatzes without a way to ensure similar results would not be fair to the recipients nor in keeping with the spirit of the award.
The organizers thank our Ignatz jurors and everyone who submitted their books for the 2001 Ignatzes. A complete list of this year’s nominees and jurors is listed below.
2001 Ignatz Award Nominees
The Ignatz is a festival prize awarded at The Expo to recognize outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning. A panel of five cartoonists developed the ballot listed below, which is voted on by Expo attendees.
THE 2001 IGNATZ AWARDS JURY
- Matt Feazell
- Roberta Gregory
- Jon “Bean” Hastings
- Sam Henderson
- James Sturm
Outstanding Artist
- Donna Barr, The Desert Peach, A Fine Line Press
- Jason Lutes, Berlin, Drawn & Quarterly
- Carla Speed McNeil, Finder, Lightspeed Press
- Tony Millionaire, Maakies, Fantagraphics Books, Sock Monkey, Dark Horse
- Jim Woodring, Frank, Fantagraphics Books
Outstanding Graphic Novel or Collection
- Box Office Poison, Alex Robinson, Top Shelf Productions
- Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid On Earth, Chris Ware, Pantheon Books
- Mail Order Bride, Mark Kalesniko, Fantagraphics Books
- Safe Area Gorazde: The War in Eastern Bosnia, 1992-1995, Joe Sacco, Fantagraphics Books
- Snake ‘n’ Bacon’s Cartoon Cabaret, Michael Kupperman, Avon Books
Outstanding Story
- “Bygone”, Flipper Vol. 2, Rutu Modan, Actus Tragicus/Top Shelf Productions
- Herobear and the Kid No. 2, Mike Kunkel, Astonish Comics
- The Nimrod No. 5, Louis Trondheim, Fantagraphics Books
- “Popeye the Savior Man”, Jumbo Jape, Sean Bieri, self-published
- “Stocks Are Surging”, The Collected Hutch Owen, Tom Hart, Top Shelf Productions
Promising New Talent
- Tomer and Assaf Hanuka, Bipolar, self-published
- Mike Kunkel, Herobear and the Kid, Astonish Comics
- Metaphrog, Louis: Red Letter Day, Metaphrog
- Rutu Modan, Flipper Vol. 2, Actus Tragicus/Top Shelf Productions
- Ben Steckler, Get BenT, self-published
Outstanding Series
- Berlin, Jason Lutes, Drawn and Quarterly
- Finder, Carla Speed McNeil, Lightspeed Press
- Herobear and the Kid, Mike Kunkel, Astonish Comics
- Magic Whistle, Sam Henderson, Alternative Comics
- Mjau Mjau, Jason, Jippi Forlag
Outstanding Comic
- Frank No. 4, Jim Woodring, Fantagraphics Books
- Herobear and the Kid No. 2, Mike Kunkel, Astonish Comics
- James Kochalka’s Sketchbook Diaries, James Kochalka, Top Shelf Productions
- Mjau Mjau No. 7, Jason, Jippi Forlag
- Sequential No. 6, Paul Hornschemeier, I Don’t Get It Press
Outstanding Minicomic
- Amy Unbounded No. 12, Rachel Hartman, Pug House Press
- Democracy: Mime Complaint No. 5, Jesse Reklaw, self-published
- Jumbo Jape, Sean Bieri, self-published
- Low Jinx 3: The Big Rip-Off, various, edited by Kurt Wolfgang, Noe-Fie Mono-Media
- Tepid Spring 2001, John Hankiewicz, self-published
Outstanding Online Comic
- Future Genies of Mush Past Ben Jones
- I Can’t Stop Thinking, Scott McCloud
- Jeremy, Jonathan Morris
- When I Am King, Demian 5
- Zot! Hearts and Minds, Scott McCloud
