The winner of the eighth annual Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics was announced by Phil LaMarr in a presentation on The Beat’s YouTube channel last night. This year’s prize went to Jordan Hart and Bruno Chiroleu’s 2022 miniseries “Ripple Effects” (published by Fanbase Press), which tells the story of a diabetic superhero.
In his acceptance speech, writer Jordan Hart talked about how the series was inspired by his experience of being diagnosed with the blood clot disease thrombophilia, and by talking to other people with invisible disabilities, which made him feel less alone; he hoped the book would in turn remind others with similar conditions that they aren’t alone either. Hart’s win for the book, which was previously nominated for an Eisner and a Harvey Award, comes ahead of the release of his new series “The Cabinet” (created with co-writer David Ebeltoft and artist Chiara Raimondi), which begins at Image in February.
The other four finalists this year were Lawrence Lindell’s YA graphic novel “Blackward,” Rina Ayuyang’s Filipino American noir “The Man in the McIntosh Suit” (both published by Drawn & Quarterly), Frederick L. Jones and Issaka Galadima’s manga-inspired “Clock Striker” (Saturday AM), and A Wave Blue World’s queer romance anthology “Young Men in Love” (edited by Joe Glass and Matt Miner.)
This year’s judges were led by Marv Wolfman, and consisted of Colleen Doran, Heidi MacDonald, Jamal Igle, Joseph Illidge, Nilah Magruder, Kevin Rubio, Geoffrey Thorne, Matt Wayne, and Will J. Watkins, the director of the award. Watkins stated, “This award in (Dwayne’s) name, its significance, and impact, has never been more important. So what might Dwayne say in the midst of such unsettling times? I believe the same thing he’s still saying through this award — he’d encourage diverse creators that their art, their voices, and their lives do matter.”
McDuffie’s widow, Charlotte Fullerton, added, “It is my honor, through this award in my late husband’s name, to shine a spotlight on outstanding diverse, inclusive content and creators. Dwayne always said he wanted to see ‘all kinds of different stories being told by all kinds of different people.’ Make him proud.” You can donate to the Dwayne McDuffie Foundation via the organization’s GoFundMe page, and the newly established McDuffie Genius Grant for his alma mater the Roeper School at the school’s website (donations must be made specifically through the grant’s designation.)
