(Winners in bold.)

2024

The Doug Wright Award for best book

  • Val-d’Or Neon, by Olivier Ballou (Self-published)
  • A Guest in the House, by Emily Carroll (First Second)
  • Harvey Knight’s Odyssey, by Nick Maandag (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Naked: The Confessions of a Normal Woman, by Éloïse Marseille (Pow Pow Press)
  • Roaming, by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki (Drawn & Quarterly)   JAJ by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas (Douglas & McIntyre)

The Nipper: The Doug Wright Award for emerging talent

  • James Collier, for The Lonesome Shepherd (Wig Shop)
  • Vincy Lim, for When I was a kid I was taught how to die. Now that I’m an adult I’m learning how to live. (I love you.) and When She Set Fire to My Friends’ Houses (Self-published)
  • Syd Madia, for Syd Madia’s Dracula (Self-published)
  • Christopher Twin, for Bad Medicine (Emanata/Conundrum)
  • Kyle Vingoe-Cram, for Kettle Harbour (Conundrum)

The Pigskin Peters: The Doug Wright Award for best small- or micro-press book

  • Endsickness No. 2, by Sofia Alarcon (Self-published)
  • The Lonesome Shepherd, by James Collier (Wig Shop)
  • Old Caves, by Tyler Landry (Uncivilized)
  • Power 9: Part One, by John Little and David Little (Self-published)
  • Index by Sven, Rachel Evangeline Chiong, Joyce Kim (Self-published)

The Egghead: The Doug Wright Award for best kids’ book

  • ThunderBoom, by Jack Briglio and Claudia Dávila (Kids Can Press)
  • Pluto Rocket: New in Town, by Paul Gilligan (Tundra Books)
  • Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy, by Faith Erin Hicks (First Second)
  • Otis & Peanut, by Naseem Hrab and Kelly Collier (Owlkids Books)
  • Bad Medicine, by Christopher Twin (Emanata/Conundrum)

2023

The Doug Wright Award for best book

  • Ducks, by Kate Beaton (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Time Zone J, by Julie Doucet (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Shelterbelts, by Jonathan Dyck (Conundrum Press)
  • The Flamingo, by Guojing (Random House Studio)
  • Kwändür, by Cole Pauls (Conundrum Press)
  • You Know, Sex, by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth (Triangle Square)

The Nipper: The Doug Wright Award for emerging talent

  • Emily Carrington, for Our Little Secret (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Jonathan Dyck, for Shelterbelts (Conundrum Press)
  • Kiona Callihoo Ligtvoet, for We Were Younger Once (Conundrum Press)
  • Lynette Richards, for Call Me Bill (Conundrum Press/Emanata Imprint)
  • Adam de Souza, for Blind Alley No. 1, and ISH (Self-Published, Silver Sprocket)

The Pigskin Peters: The Doug Wright Award for best small- or micro-press book

  • The Life I Want, by Patrick Allaby (Self-published)
  • Assorted Baggage, by Matthew Daley (Black Eye Books)
  • Where Have You Been?, by Ivana Filipovich (trans: Ivana Filipovich/Andrea Hankinson) (Self-published)
  • Butterfly House, by Troy Little and Brenda Hickey (Pegamoose Press)
  • Thousand Oaks: Machine Mail (Part 3), by Blaise Moritz (Urban Farm Print and Sound)

The Egghead: The Doug Wright Award for best kids’ book

  • Scout is Not a Band Kid, by Jade Armstrong (Random House Graphic)
  • Paws: Mindy Makes Some Space, by Michele Assarasakorn and Nathan Fairbairn (Razorbill)
  • Super Family!: Simon and Chester Book 3, by Cale Atkinson (Tundra Books)
  • The Flamingo, by Guojing (Random House Studio)
  • You Know, Sex, by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth (Triangle Square)

2022

The Doug Wright Award for best book

  • The Shiatsung Project, by Brigitte Archambault (Conundrum Press)
  • Cyclopedia Exotica, by Aminder Dhaliwal (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • The Rock From the Sky, by Jon Klassen (Candlewick Press)
  • Stone Fruit, by Lee Lai (Fantagraphics)
  • Fictional Father, by Joe Ollmann (Drawn & Quarterly)

The Nipper: The Doug Wright Award for emerging talent

  • Sofia Alarcon, for Endsickness  No. 1 (Self-published)
  • Sami Alwani, for The Pleasure of the Text (Conundrum Press)
  • Brigitte Archambault, for The Shiatsung Project (Conundrum Press)
  • Alexander Laird, for Sleemor Gank: Burg Land No. 1 (Self-published)
  • Kyle Simmers and Ryan Danny Owen, for Pass Me By: Gone Fishin’ and Pass Me By: Electric Vice (Renegade Arts Entertainment)

The Pigskin Peters: The Doug Wright Award for best small- or micro-press book

  • Endsickness No. 1, by Sofia Alarcon (Self-published)
  • Fruit/Soil, by Kim Edgar (Moniker Press)
  • The Northern Gaze, by Akeeshoo Chislett, Chris Caldwell, Cole Pauls, Andrew Sharp, Juliann Fraser, Esther Bordet, Alison McCreesh, Keith Verbonac, Princess J; edited by Kim Edgar (Hecate Press)
  • Sleemor Gank: Burg Land No. 1, by Alexander Laird (Self-published)
  • Dwellings No. 2, by Jay Stephens (Black Eye Books)

The Egghead: The Doug Wright Award for best kids’ book

  • Simon and Chester: Super Sleepover!, by Cale Atkinson (Tundra Books)
  • Otter Lagoon, by Mike Deas and Nancy Deas (Orca Book Publishers)
  • Living with Viola, by Rosena Fung (Annick Press)
  • Shirley and Jamila’s Big Fall, by Gillian Goerz (Dial Books for Young Readers)
  • Over the Shop, by JonArno Lawson and Qin Leng (Candlewick Press)
  • Etty Darwin and the Four Pebble Problem, by Lauren Soloy (Tundra Books)

2021

Doug Wright Award for best book

  • Lonely Boys, by S. Bédard (Pow Pow Press)
  • Familiar Face, by Michael DeForge (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Constantly, by GG (Koyama Press)
  • Paul at Home, by Michel Rabagliati (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Wendy, Master of Art, by Walter Scott (Drawn & Quarterly)

The Nipper: The Doug Wright Award for emerging talent

  • Adam de Souza, for A Gleaming No. 2 (Self-published)
  • Kimberly Edgar, for The Space In Between (Self-published)
  • Courtney Loberg, for We Don’t Go Through the Angelgrass I (Self-published)
  • Veronica Post, for Langosh & Peppi: Fugitive Days (Conundrum Press)
  • Shannon M. Reeves, for Restless Bones (Gytha Press)

The Pigskin Peters: The Doug Wright Award for best small- or micro-press book

  • The Noiseless Din, by Scott Carruthers (Popnoir Editions)
  • The Desecration, by Scott Carruthers and Sally McKay (Self-published)
  • A Gleaming No. 2, by Adam de Souza (Self-published)
  • The Space In Between, by Kimberly Edgar (Self-published)
  • Awkward Pause, by Ryan Harby (Renegade Arts Entertainment)

The Egghead: The Doug Wright Award for best kids’ book

  • A Slug Story, by Mandi Kujawa, Hana Kujawa, Claude St. Aubin, and Lovern Kindzierski (Renegade Arts Entertainment)
  • The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt, by Riel Nason and Byron Eggenschwiler (Tundra Books)
  • Okay, Universe: Chronicles of a Woman in Politics, by Valérie Plante and Delphie Côté-Lacroix (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Grandmother School, by Rina Singh and Ellen Rooney (Orca Book Publishers)
  • Swift Fox All Along, by Rebecca Thomas and Maya McKibbin (Annick Press)

2020

Doug Wright Award for best book

  • Bezimena by Nina Bunjevac (Fantagraphics Books)
  • This Place: 150 Years Retold by Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Sonny Assu, Brandon Mitchell, Rachel and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, David A. Robertson, Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair, Jen Storm, Richard Van Camp, Katherena Vermette, Chelsea Vowel, Tara Audibert, Kyle Charles, GMB Chomichuk, Natasha Donovan, Scott A. Ford, Scott B. Henderson, Ryan Howe, Andrew Lodwick, Jen Storm, Donovan Yaciuk, Alicia Elliott (HighWater Press)
  • The Cursed Hermit by Kris Bertin, Alexander Forbes (Conundrum Press)
  • Agnes, Murderess by Sarah Leavitt (Freehand Books)
  • Death Threat by Vivek Shraya, Ness Lee (Arsenal Pulp Press)
  • Bradley of Him by Connor Willumsen (Koyama Press)

The Nipper: The Doug Wright Award for emerging talent

  • Sylvia Nickerson, Creation (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • D. Boyd, Chicken Rising (Conundrum Press)
  • Jason Bradshaw, Things Go Wrong (Paper Rocket)
  • Ben O’Neil, Apologetica (Popnoir Editions)
  • Cole Pauls, Dakwäkãda Warriors (Conundrum Press)

The Pigskin Peters: The Doug Wright Award for best small- or micro-press book

  • Gleem by Freddy Carrasco (Peow Studio)
  • Boumeries, Vol. 9 by Boum (Self-published)
  • Baby in the Boneyard by Jesse Jacobs (Hollow Press)
  • Curb Angels by Lisa Mendis, Christopher Ducharme, Lucas C. Pauls (At Bay Press)
  • Dejects by Jay Stephens (Black Eye Books)

The Egghead: The Doug Wright Award for best kids’ book

  • The Worst Book Ever by Elise Gravel (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Brick Breaks Free by David Craig (Self-published)
  • Lunch Quest by Chris Kuzma (Koyama Press)
  • Dakwäkãda Warriors by Cole Pauls (Conundrum Press)
  • Alma and the Beast by Esme Shapiro (Tundra Books)

2019

Doug Wright Award for Best Book

  • Young Francis by Hartley Lin (Adhouse Books)
  • A Western World by Michael DeForge (Koyama Press)
  • Evie and the Truth About Witches by John Martz (Koyama Press)
  • Somnambulance by Fiona Smyth (Koyama Press)

Doug Wright Spotlight Award (a.k.a. “The Nipper”)

  • Ariane Dénommé, 100 Days in Uranium City (Conundrum Press)
  • Aminder Dhaliwal, Woman World (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Al Gofa, Dark Angels of Darkness (Peow Studio)
  • Victor Martins, Stay and You Don’t Have To be Afraid of Me
  • Sylvia Nickerson, All We Have Left Is This
  • Eric Kostiuk Williams, Our Wretched Town Hall (Retrofit Comics)

Pigskin Peters Award

  • Retomber by Xiaoxiao Li
  • Eggshell 2 by William Dereume (ddogg)
  • Winter’s Cosmos by Michael Comeau (Koyama Press) 
  • Promising Jupiter by Ron Hotz
  • 310, 310 by Mushbuh (Peow Studio)

2018

Doug Wright Award for Best Book

  • Crawl Space by Jesse Jacobs (Koyama Press)
  • Hostage by Guy Delisle (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • I’m Not Here by GG (Koyama Press)
  • The Abominable Mr. Seabrook by Joe Ollmann (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Anti-Gone by Connor Willumsen (Koyama Press)

Doug Wright Spotlight Award (a.k.a. “The Nipper”)

  • Jenn Woodall, Magical Beatdown Vol. 2 and Marie and Worrywart
  • Kris Bertin and Alexander Forbes, The Case of the Missing Men (Conundrum Press)
  • Gillian Blekkenhorst, All-Inclusive Fully Automated Vacation and House of Strays
  • Eric Kostiuk Williams, Condo Heartbreak Disco (Koyama Press)
  • Jason Loo, The Pitiful Human-Lizard Nos. 12, 13 and 14 (Chapterhouse Comics)

Pigskin Peters Award

  • The Dead Father by Sami Alwani
  • The Death of the Master by Patrick Kyle
  • Crohl’s House Nos. 1 & 2 by Alexander Laird, Jamiel Rahi and Robert Laird
  • Creation: The First Three Chapters by Sylvia Nickerson
  • Potluck by Wavering Line Collective

2017

Doug Wright Award for Best Book

  • Bird in a Cage by Rebecca Roher (Conundrum Press)
  • Mary Wept Over the Feet of Jesus by Chester Brown (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Big Kids by Michael DeForge (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Burt’s Way Home by John Martz (Koyama Press)
  • The Envelope Manufacturer by Chris Oliveros

Doug Wright Spotlight Award (a.k.a. “The Nipper”)

  • Steve Wolfhard, Cat Rackham (Koyama Press)
  • Jessica Campbell, Hot or Not: 20th-Century Male Artists (Koyama Press)
  • GG, “These Days,” “Lapse” (both from š! No. 25 [kuš!]), and an untitled story from Altcomics Magazine 3 (2dcloud)
  • Nathan Jurevicius, Birthmark (Koyama Press)
  • Laura Ķeniņš, Alien Beings (kuš!)
  • Brie Moreno, DearestGift Shop 3D (Oireau), Missy, untitled story from š! No. 6 (kuš!), various web comic

Pigskin Peters Award

  • The Palace of Champions by Henriette Valium (Conundrum Press)
  • Carpet Sweeper Tales by Julie Doucet (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Draw Blood by Ron Hotz
  • Garbage by Matthew Reichertz (Conundrum Press)
  • After Land by Chris Taylor (Floating World Comics)

2016

Doug Wright Award for Best Book

  • Dressing by Michael DeForge (Koyama Press)
  • Step Aside, Pops by Kate Beaton (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Stroppy by Marc Bell (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Melody by Sylvie Rancourt (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Palookaville #22 by Seth (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • SuperMutant Magic Academy by Jillian Tamaki (Drawn & Quarterly)

Doug Wright Spotlight Award (a.k.a. “The Nipper”)

  • Dakota McFadzean for Don’t Get Eaten By Anything (Conundrum Press)
  • Ted Gudlat for Funny Ha-Has (Roads Publishing)
  • Rebecca Roher for Mom Body (The Nib)
  • Sabrina Scott for Witchbody
  • Kat Verhoeven for Towerkind (Conundrum Press)

Pigskin Peters Award

  • New Comics Nos. 6 & 7 by Patrick Kyle
  • Leather Vest by Michael Comeau
  • Intelligent Sentient? by Luke Ramsey (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • We Are Going To Bremen To Be Musicians by Tin Can Forest and Geoff Berner
  • Agalma by Stanley Wany (Éditions Trip)

2015

Doug Wright Award for Best Book

Doug Wright Spotlight Award (a.k.a. “The Nipper”)

Pigskin Peters Award

  • Comics Collection 2010-2013 and Less than Dust by Julien Ceccaldi
  • Great Success! 1983-2013 by Henriette Valium (Crna Hronika)
  • New Comics #3-5 by Patrick Kyle (Mother Books)
  • Undocumented: The Architecture of Migrant Detention by Tings Chak (The Architecture Observer)
  • “Swinespritzen” by Connor Willumsen

2014

Doug Wright Award for Best Book

Doug Wright Spotlight Award a.k.a. “The Nipper”, which recognizes Canadian cartooning talents worthy of wider recognition

  • Connor Willumsen for “Calgary: Death Milks a Cow,” “Treasure Island,” “Mooncalf,” and “Passionfruit”
  • Dakota McFadzean for Other Stories and the Horse You Rode in On (Conundrum Press)
  • Patrick Kyle for Distance Mover #7 – 12, New Comics #1 – 2
  • Steven Gilbert for The Journal of the Main Street Secret Lodge
  • Georgia Webber for Dumb # 1 – 3

Pigskin Peters Award, which recognizes the best in experimental, non-traditional or avant-garde comics:

  • “Calgary: Death Milks a Cow” by Connor Willumsen
  • Flexible Tube with Stink Lines by Seth Scriver
  • Journal by Julie Delporte (Koyama Press)
  • “Out of Skin” by Emily Carroll
  • Very Casual by Michael DeForge (Koyama Press)

2013

Doug Wright Award for Best Book

Doug Wright Spotlight Award a.k.a. “The Nipper

2013 Pigskin Peters Award


2012

Best Book Award

  • Hark! A Vagrant, Kate Beaton (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Lose #3, Michael Deforge (Koyama Press)
  • Mid-Life, Joe Ollmann (Conundrum Press)
  • Paying for It, Chester Brown (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Reunion, Pascal Girard (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • The Great Northern Brotherhood of Canadian Cartoonists, Seth (Drawn & Quarterly)

Doug Wright Spotlight Award

Pigskin Peters Award 


2011

Best Book

  • Bigfoot, Pascal Girard (Drawn and Quarterly)
  • Chimo, David Collier (Conundrum Press)
  • Lose #2, Michael DeForge (Koyama Press)
  • Moving Pictures, Kathryn Immonen, Stuart Immonen (Top Shelf)
  • Streakers, Nick Maandag (self-published)

Best Emerging Talent

  • Alex Fellows, Spain and Morocco (self-published)
  • Aaron Costain, Entropy #5 (self-published)
  • Keith Jones, Catland Empire (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • James Stokoe, Orc Stain Volume One (Image Comics)
  • Tin Can Forest (aka Marek Colek and Pat Shewchuk), Baba Yaga and the Wolf (Koyama Press)

The Pigskin Peters Award

  • Spotting Deer, Michael DeForge (Koyama Press)
  • Interior Voice, Jillian Tamaki (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Stooge Pile, Seth Scriver (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • So I’ve Been Told, Maryanna Hardy (Conundrum Press)
  • Wowee Zonk #3, edited by Patrick Kyle, Ginette Lapalme and Chris Kuzma (Koyama Press)

Jury: Sara Quin, Michael Redhill, Anita Kunz, Marc Bell, and Mark Medley


2010

Best Book

Best Emerging Talent

  • Michael DeForge Lose #1 , (Koyama Press)
  • Cold Heat Special #7 (Picturebox)
  • Adam Bourret, I’m Crazy (self-published)
  • Pascal Girard, Nicolas (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • John Martz, It’s Snowing Outside, We Should go for a Walk (self-published)
  • Sully, The Hipless Boy (Conundrum Press)

The Pigskin Peters Award

  • Hot Potatoe, Marc Bell (Drawn and Quarterly)
  • Bebete, Simon Bosse (L’Oie de Cravan)
  • Dirty Dishes, Amy Lockhart (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Never Learn Anything From History, Kate Beaton (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • The Collected Doug Wright Volume One, Doug Wright (Drawn & Quarterly)

Jury: Geoff Pevere, Carl Wilson, Matt Forsythe and Fiona Smyth


2009

Best Book

Best Emerging Talent

  • Kate Beaton, Hark a Vagrant
  • Caitlin Black, Maids in the Mist (self-published)
  • Jesse Jacobs, Blue Winter, Shapes in the Snow (self-published)
  • Jason Kieffer, Kieffer #2 (self-published)
  • Nick Maandag, Jack & Mandy (self-published)

Pigskin Peters’ Award

Jury: Bob Rae, Andrew Coyne, Martin Levin, Joe Ollmann, and Diana Tamblyn


2008

Best Book

Best Emerging Talent

Pigskin Peters’ Award

Jury: Katrina Onstad, Ho Che Anderson, Marc Glassman, Mariko Tamaki and Helena Rickett


2007

Best Book

  • This Will All End in Tears, Joe Ollman (Insomniac Press)
  • Shenzen: A Travelogue From China, Guy Delisle (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Scott Pilgrim & the Infinite Sadness, Bryan Lee O’Malley (Oni Press)
  • Gilded Lilies, Jillian Tamaki (Conundrm Press)
  • Nog-a-dod, Marc Bell & Various (Conundrum Press)

Best Emerging Talent

Jury: Bruce McDonald, Mark Kingwell, Judy MacDonald, Lorenz Peter and Jessica Johnson.


2006

Poster by Chester Brown

Best Book

  • Paul Moves Out, Michel Rabagliati (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea, Guy Delisle (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World, Bryan Lee O’Malley, (Oni)
  • Dragonslippers: This is What an Abusive Relationship Looks Like, Rosalind B. Penfold (Grove Press)
  • Wimbledon Green, Seth (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Emerging Talent

  • Lorenz Peter, Dark Adaptation (Pedlar Press)
  • Scott Chantler, Northwest Passage (Oni)
  • Marc Ngui, The Unexpected Tale of Lordie Jones (Conundrum Press)
  • Mariko and Jillian Tamaki, Skim (Kiss Machine)
  • James Turner, Nil: A Land Beyond Belief (Slave Labor Graphics)

Jury: Justin Peroff, Alan Hunt and Ben Portis


2005

Audio of 1st Annual Doug Wright Awards (courtesy of Jamie Colville).
Audio of Seth’s inaugural speech from the 1st Annual Doug Wright Awards (courtesy of Salgood Sam).

Best Book

  • Clyde Fans Book 1, Seth (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Worn Tuff Elbow #1, Mark Bell (Fantagraphics)
  • Pamplemoussi, Genevieve Castree (L’Oie de Cravan)
  • The Frank Ritza Papers, David Collier (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • The New Frontier, Darwyn Cooke (DC Comics)

Best Emerging Talent

Jury: Chester Brown, Rebecca Caldwell, Nora Young, Jerry Ciccoritti and Don McKellar