2026 Ringo Awards Celebrate Comics’ Best as Absolute Batman, Deniz Camp and More Take Honors

The comics industry came together at Baltimore Comic-Con for the 2026 Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards, celebrating another year of creators, publishers and books that helped move the medium forward. Named in honor of the late Mike Wieringo, the Ringo Awards remain one of the industry’s more fan-connected honors, with nominations shaped by both professionals and readers before final voting by the comic professional community.

This year’s keynote speaker was Terry Moore, the creator behind Strangers in Paradise, Rachel Rising, Motor Girl, Echo and more. Moore’s career has stretched across independent publishing and major-company work, and the timing fits as Dark Horse Comics prepares to begin reissuing his catalog of legacy series in October 2026.

The headline winner was Absolute Batman from DC Comics, which took Best Series. Deniz Camp won Best Writer, Dave Stewart won Best Colorist, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou won Best Letterer, and Javier Rodriguez pulled double duty with wins for Best Cover Artist and Best Artist or Penciller/Inker Team.

Other major jury and fan winners included Craig Thompson for Best Cartoonist, Bowling with Corpses and Other Strange Tales From Lands Unknown for Best Anthology, Herobear and the Kid Vol. 1 – The Inheritance for Best Original Graphic Novel, and Surrounded: America’s First School for Black Girls, 1832 for Best Non-fiction Comic Work.

The fan-favorite categories brought some familiar heavy hitters into the mix. Batman was voted Favorite Hero, Doctor Doom took Favorite Villain, Excavator was named Favorite New Series, Reese Hannigan won Favorite New Talent, and Etan Comics was selected as Favorite Publisher.

The full slate of winners also included Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse and the Amazing Lost Ocean for Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel for ages 11 and under, Raised by Ghosts for ages 12 and up, The Goon: Them That Don’t Stay Dead for Best Humor Comic, Neon Pantheon for Best Webcomic, and Nothing Butt Nightwing for Best Humor Webcomic.

Making Your First Comic won Best Comics-Related Publication, while Lone Wolf and Cub Deluxe Edition Volume 1, designed by May Hijikuro, earned Best Presentation in Design. Chest Face took Best Short Story, and The Avengers in the Veracity Trap received the Mike Wieringo Spirit Award.

The Hero Initiative also presented two major honors during the ceremony. Jeffrey Brown received the Dick Giordano Humanitarian of the Year Award, while Jim Lee received the Hero Initiative Lifetime Achievement Award. Jim Calafiore was honored with the Brogan Fidelity Award.

The 2026 Ringo Awards were held on September 26 during Baltimore Comic-Con, with the ceremony bringing together creators, publishers, retailers and fans for a night centered on the people making comics. The next ceremony is scheduled for September 25, 2027, during the 27th annual Baltimore Comic-Con.