2025 Ringo Award Winners announced

The 2025 Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards were handed out over the weekend at Baltimore Comic Con. The nomination ballot is determined both a nominating jury and fan participation. This year’s jury was Becky Cloonan, Steve Leaf, Mark Morales, Amy Reeder and writer Hannibal Tabu. 

The winners are:

Fan Favorites (Sponsored by Rocketship Entertainment)

• Favorite Villain: Mr. Barnaby – Warm Fusion (DSTLRY)
• Favorite New Series: The Pedestrian (Magma Comix)
• Favorite New Talent: Annie Wright
• Favorite Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
• Favorite Hero: Alex – Señorita Cometa (WEBTOON)

Juried and fan voting awards:

• Best Series: The Pedestrian, Magma Comix (Sponsored by Key Collector)
• Best Cover Artist: Bilquis Evely (Sponsored by Shopping for Superman)
• Best Letterer: Richard Starkings (Sponsored by NC Comicon)
• Best Humor Webcomic: Nothing Butt Nightwing, DC Go!/DC Comics (Sponsored by Ignition Press)
• Best Original Graphic Novel: Jane American, self-published (Sponsored by Oni Press)
• Best Artist or Penciller/Inker Team: Chris Samnee (Sponsored by Metal Ninja Studios)
• Best Writer: Kelly Thompson (Sponsored by Ultimate Comics)

• Best Presentation in Design: David Mazzucchelli’s Batman Year One Artist’s Edition, IDW Publishing (Designer: Chip Kidd) Sponsored by Illuminous)
• Best Anthology: Transphoria, Lifeline Comics (Sponsored by Prana Direct Market Solutions)
• Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel: Hilda and Twig Hide from the Rain, Flying Eye Books (Sponsored by The Lab Press)

• Best Non-fiction Comic Work: In the Shadows of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones, Oni Press (Sponsored by A Wave Blue World)
• Best Cartoonist (Writer/Artist): Eric Powell (Sponsored by Oni Press)
• Best Webcomic: Renaissance of Raven, DC Go!/DC Comics (Sponsored by Rocketship Entertainment)
• Best Colorist: Jordie Bellaire (Sponsored by Hard Rock Cafe)
• Best Humor Comic: Smut #1, self-published (Sponsored by Ignition Press)
• Best Single Issue or Story: Batman and Robin Year One #1, DC Comics (Sponsored by IDW)
• Mike Wieringo Spirit Award: Welcome to the Maynard, Dark Horse Comics

Hero Initiative Awards:

• Dick Giordano Humanitarian of the Year Award: Stan Sakai
• Hero Initiative Lifetime Achievement Award: Kevin Nowlan

Brogan Fidelity Award: Mike McKone

The awards ceremony features a keynote speech by President and Editor in Chief of Archie Comics Mike Pellerito; and presenters Becky Cloonan and Tula Lotay, Michael Finn, Joseph Illidge and James Robinson, Keith Champagne, Jeff Smith and Charles Vess, Todd Dezago, Craig Rousseau, Mark Waid, and Matt Wieringo, Tom Akel and Megan Grey, and Michael Cho, Chip Kidd, and Charles Kochman. the Ringo’s also thank Rich Woodall and Dan Hills from Comix Wellspring for their contributions to our awards ceremony program and presentation, as well as Joe Carabeo of Astray Productions for audio/video support.

For those who missed the ceremony, it is available to view on YouTube:

The 2026 Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards will be presented at the 27th annual Baltimore Comic-Con on September 26, 2026.

The Ringo Awards celebrate the legacy of artist Michael Lance “Mike” Wieringo who passed away on August 12, 2007 at the young age of 44 from an apparent heart attack.