Howdy Brave Being,
Welcome back, dear readers. I’ve been reading through several comic book anthologies over the last year, which I’ll list out below. But first, there’s this wonderful opportunity every year for fans and pros to nominate their favorite comics in The Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards, a.k.a. the Ringo Awards.
There are all kinds of categories, such as Best Artist or Penciler, Best Colorist, Best Letterer, Best Writer, Best Cover Artist, and the list goes on. I’ve been asking folks to nominate DEAD DREAMS: THE LUCID CHRONICLES #1 and the creators for these prestigious awards as they lift us all up so we can make more comics! I’ve had loads of fun making Dead Dreams memes too. Here’s one featuring both covers, which you may recognize since it was inspired by the Wordle meme that was going around:
In case you missed the Dead Dreams crowdfunding campaign on Zoop, I’m making the digital PDF available for the next week on my Ko-fi at a discounted price! Get it while the gettin’s good.
Nominations close next Thursday, May 11th, so be sure to submit your favorites before then. Here are some suggestions (hint hint wink wink):
Second is the Ringo Awards category for Best Anthology, which is proving to be a tough one because there have been absolutely phenomenal collections published this last year. I’m going to list some of them for your consideration that I’m aware of and supported, often through crowdfunding efforts. After you read through them, you’ll see why I’m having such a hard time picking one. Here goes:
The Color of Always: An LGBTQIA+ Love Anthology
The Color of Always anthology from Brent Fisher and Michele Abounader is beautiful in how it showcases the importance of the self and that everyone has a story. It’s a celebration of LGBTQIA+ love and a vital read that serves to create empathy in a cruel world.
Everything Is Different Now
I loved Everything Is Different Now by Justin Richards and Liana Kangas’s cover is radically rock and roll! This anthology is so honest about the feelings of rage we all feel when the world’s on fire (which is most often). Writing all the stories themselves, Richards brought together creators who executed that fiery feeling in phenomenal ways that had a lasting impact on me. (FYI: I’m not sure this one’s eligible for the Ringos this year since it was shipped to Kickstarter backers in ‘23, but it’s one to check out and remember for sure!)
Fantastic Frights
Fantastic Frights is an all-ages horror anthology from Cloudscape Comics and it’s an utter delight. I loved the spooky stories and adored that each one was introduced in an amusing way by a cat. Fantastic Frights won the Sequential Magazine award for Best Anthology and if you missed it, they’re running their second print run right now on Crowdfundr.
Down Below
The Greek Myth meets Crime Noir anthology Down Below—edited by Paul Carroll and Gary Moloney and published by Limit Break Comics—is not to be missed. Holy Hecate it is gorgeous, okay, take my word for it. I can’t find a link to buy it but follow Paul, Gary, or LBC because they’re always putting out amazing books!
Marvel’s Voices: Identity #1
Have you been reading any of the Marvel’s Voices anthologies? Well, let me tell you Marvel’s Voices: Identity #1 is outstanding. It features one of my favorite writers, Jeremy Holt, and spotlights Asian superheroes with Asian creators telling these important stories. May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, so it’s a perfect time to read it on Marvel Unlimited or get it from your local comic book store.
Shades of Fear
Edited by award-winners Ashanti Fortson and Allison O’Toole, the horror anthology Shades of Fear got me with their limited color palette pitch: “Experience terror in blood red, sickly yellow, and ethereal blue.” Filled with psychological horror comics from award-winning creators, and my favorite Olivia Stephens, it’ll send a chill down your spine.
Young Men In Love
Who doesn’t love love? From GLAAD Award-winners Joe Glass and Matt Miner, Young Men In Love celebrates the love between men and I somehow missed picking it up! Thanks to its letterer, Lucas Gattoni, I know about it now and I’m excited to dig in, especially when I saw that creators Sina Grace and Ned Barnett were part of it (they’re the best!). Hope you’ll check it out too.
That’s it for the anthologies, but please do shout out any that I may have missed from 2022 in the comments. I still have to read Dagger Dagger Vol. 2 by Matt Emmons and Andriy Lukin, which also came out last year. So much to read, so little time! Now excuse me while I go pick one. Don’t forget to submit your nominations before open voting ends next Thursday, May 11th.
Before I go, here’s one last Dead Dreams meme that I loved making:
The Scarlet Witch says to cast your nominations for the Ringo Awards and choose DEAD DREAMS: THE LUCID CHRONICLES #1
Thanks for reading!