THE 2026 HARVEY AWARDS NOMINEES ARE HERE AND COMICS’ BIGGEST NIGHT JUST GOT SERIOUS
From Absolute Batman and Global Manga Standouts to Invincible, One Piece, Spider-Noir, and More, This Year’s Seven Categories Celebrate the Stories Defining Comics Across Print, Digital, Film, Television, and Gaming
The Harvey Awards have officially revealed the nominees for 2026, placing another spotlight on the writers, artists, publishers, and adaptations pushing comics forward across every corner of the medium. Presented during New York Comic Con, the annual awards recognize outstanding work across seven categories: Book of the Year, Digital Book of the Year, Best Children’s Book, Best Young Adult Book, Best Manga, Best International Book, and Best Adaptation from Comic Book/Graphic Novel.
Voting is now open to eligible comics-industry professionals and will continue through August 28, 2026. The winners will be announced during the Harvey Awards ceremony on October 9, 2026, at the Javits Center during New York Comic Con. The live event will be hosted by Brad and Lisa Gullickson of the Comic Book Couples Counseling podcast. Named after legendary writer, artist, editor, and MAD creator Harvey Kurtzman, the Harvey Awards have spent nearly four decades recognizing comics that entertain, challenge expectations, and expand what sequential storytelling can accomplish.
“My father believed early on that comics deserved to be taken seriously as art—art that could change how people see the world,” said Nellie Kurtzman, Harvey Awards Steering Committee Co-Chair. “Every one of these nominees carries that forward. They’re books that entertain you, challenge you, surprise you, and stick with you long after the last page.”
Looking at this year’s lineup? She is not overselling it. The 2026 ballot stretches across superhero reinventions, historical nonfiction, personal reflections on grief, boundary-pushing webcomics, young-reader adventures, internationally acclaimed graphic novels, manga masterworks, and some of the biggest comic-inspired productions in entertainment. In other words, the Harveys did not come to play. Let’s get into the full list.
BOOK OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
The Harvey Awards’ highest honor recognizes the year’s best work while helping readers, retailers, librarians, and educators discover essential comics and graphic novels.
“Book of the Year makes the Harvey Awards unique. If someone asks which comics they absolutely have to read this year—these nominees are the answer,” said John Lind, Harvey Awards Steering Committee Co-Chair.
- Absolute Batman Vol. 1: The Zoo by Scott Snyder & Nick Dragotta (DC)
- Absolute Martian Manhunter Vol. 1: Martian Vision by Deniz Camp & Javier Rodriguez (DC)
- Black Arms to Hold You Up: A History of Black Resistance by Ben Passmore (Pantheon)
- Cannon by Lee Lai (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Drome by Jesse Lonergan (23rd Street Books/Macmillan)
- The Ephemerata: Shaping the Exquisite Nature of Grief by Carol Tyler (Fantagraphics)
- A Garden of Spheres by Linnea Sterte (Peow2)
- More Weight: A Salem Story by Ben Wickey (Top Shelf/IDW)
- The Once and Future Riot by Joe Sacco (Metropolitan/Holt)
- The Weight by Melissa Mendes (Drawn & Quarterly)
This category alone shows how wide the comics landscape has become. You have bold superhero reconstruction standing shoulder-to-shoulder with historical work, intimate autobiography, political storytelling, and ambitious visual experimentation. That is not a weakness. That is the sauce.
DIGITAL BOOK OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
Digital comics continue to reshape how stories are created, distributed, and discovered. This category recognizes creators using digital-first platforms to reach audiences without waiting for traditional publishing to hand them a seat at the table.
“Digital comics continue to establish where and how great stories can be told,” said Nellie Kurtzman. “This category recognizes those pushing the medium into exciting new territory while reaching readers across the globe.”
- In the Real Dark Night by Jimmy Gownley (Webcomic)
- The Keluarga Cable Ship Company by Mereida Fajardo (UK Digital)
- The Lycan by Mike Carey, Thomas Jane, David James Kelly, and Diego Yapur (Comixology Originals)
- Nap Comix by Rachael Smith (WEBTOON)
- Practical Defense Against Piracy by Tony Cliff (Webcomic)
- Terran Omega: The Ghosts of War by PJ Holden (Webcomic)
- The World of Lublu by Charbak Dipta (The Charbax Store)
Digital storytelling is no longer sitting at the kids’ table asking for permission. It is building audiences, experimenting with format, and proving that a powerful comic can begin anywhere—from a major digital platform to a creator-controlled webcomic.
BEST CHILDREN’S BOOK NOMINEES
This category celebrates comics and graphic novels capable of hooking young readers through imagination, humor, emotion, and unforgettable characters.
“Kids who grow up with comics become readers for life,” said Nellie Kurtzman. “There’s something about seeing a story unfold in pictures that pulls a kid in differently than text alone—and these books do exactly that.”
- A Fishboy Named . . . Sashimi by Dan Santat (Roaring Brook Press)
- Inbetweens by Faith Erin Hicks (First Second)
- The New Girl: First Crush by Cassandra Calin (Scholastic)
- Night Chef by Mika Song (Random House Graphic)
- Young Shadow & the Watchdogs by Ben Sears (Fantagraphics)
These books represent the front door for the next generation of comics readers. No pressure, right? But seriously, stories like these matter. They build confidence, encourage curiosity, and remind kids that reading does not have to feel like homework wearing uncomfortable shoes.
BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOK NOMINEES
Young adult comics continue to confront identity, relationships, cultural expectations, fear, belonging, and the complicated emotional chaos of growing up.
“YA graphic novels continue to tackle life’s biggest questions with honesty, sophistication, and artistry,” said Chip Mosher, Harvey Awards Steering Committee Co-Chair. “They’re among the most important books published today.”
- Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen (Random House Graphic)
- Flip by Ngozi Ukazu (First Second)
- Good Old-Fashioned Korean Spirit: A Graphic Novel by Kim Hyun Sook & Ryan Estrada (Penguin Workshop)
- Hello Sunshine by Keezy Young (Little, Brown Ink)
- This Place Kills Me by Mariko Tamaki & Nicole Goux (Abrams Fanfare)
The strongest YA stories never talk down to their audience. They meet readers where they are, respect what they are experiencing, and tell the truth even when the truth gets messy. This lineup appears ready to do exactly that.
BEST MANGA NOMINEES
Manga remains one of the most influential forces in global publishing, shaping the work of creators across comics, animation, film, gaming, and beyond.
“Manga continues to influence creators, readers, and storytellers around the world,” Mosher said. “These nominees represent extraordinary craftsmanship and show why manga remains one of the most dynamic forces in global publishing.”
- Billy Bat by Naoki Urasawa & Takashi Nagasaki (Kana/Abrams)
- He Rolled Me Up Like a Grilled Squid by Yoshiharu Tsuge (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Land by Kazumi Yamashita (Yen Press)
- Miss Ruki by Fumiko Takano (NYR Comics)
- My Gorilla Family by Iijima Ichiro (Living the Line)
- My Life in 24 Frames Per Second by Rintaro (Kana/Abrams ComicArts)
The nominees span different generations, genres, artistic approaches, and storytelling traditions, showing once again that “manga” is not one style or one type of story. It is an entire creative universe. Put some respect on it.
BEST INTERNATIONAL BOOK NOMINEES
The Best International Book category honors comics and graphic novels from around the world, highlighting stories capable of crossing borders, cultures, and languages through the universal power of visual storytelling.
“The five nominees for Best International Book showcase the power of sequential art and its ability to communicate across geography and culture in a way few other art forms can,” said John Lind.
- Animan by Anouk Ricard (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Buff Soul by Moa Romanova (Fantagraphics)
- Mary Pain by Lola Lorente (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Nocturnos by Laura Perez (Fantagraphics)
- Tiodora’s Letters: An Enslaved Woman’s Fight for Family and Freedom by Marcelo D’Salete (Fantagraphics)
- Witchcraft by Sole Otero (Fantagraphics)
Comics do not need a passport to hit somebody in the heart. A page can communicate fear, humor, grief, resistance, history, or wonder before the reader even reaches the dialogue. This category celebrates creators demonstrating just how international the language of comics truly is.
BEST ADAPTATION FROM COMIC BOOK/GRAPHIC NOVEL NOMINEES
Comics continue to power television, streaming, theatrical releases, animation, and gaming. The Best Adaptation category recognizes the productions transforming sequential stories into experiences built for entirely different screens and audiences.
“My father’s work on MAD challenged and changed pop culture, proving comics could shape and influence television, film, and comedy,” said Nellie Kurtzman. “Today’s Best Adaptation category celebrates the remarkable fact that, for decades, comic books have continued to have an outsized influence on mainstream popular culture, because this medium continuously produces extraordinary and unforgettable characters and stories.”
- The Boys — Season 5 (Prime Video). Based on The Boys by Garth Ennis & Darick Robertson (Dynamite)
- Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc (Theatrical — Crunchyroll/Sony). Based on Chainsaw Man by Tatsuki Fujimoto (VIZ Media)
- Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle (Theatrical — Crunchyroll/Sony). Based on Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba by Koyoharu Gotouge (VIZ Media)
- Invincible — Season 4 (Prime Video). Based on Invincible by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker & Ryan Ottley (Image/Skybound)
- LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight (Warner Bros. Games — PS5/Xbox/Switch/PC). Based on Batman (DC Comics), created by Bob Kane & Bill Finger
- My Hero Academia — Final Season (Crunchyroll). Based on My Hero Academia by Kōhei Horikoshi (VIZ Media)
- One Piece — Season 2 (Netflix). Based on One Piece by Eiichiro Oda (VIZ Media)
- Peacemaker — Season 2 (HBO Max). Based on Peacemaker (DC Comics, orig. Charlton), created by Joe Gill & Pat Boyette
- Spider-Noir (Prime Video/MGM+). Based on Spider-Man Noir (Marvel Comics) by David Hine, Fabrice Sapolsky & Carmine Di Giandomenico
- Your Letter (Netflix). Based on Your Letter by Hyeon A. Cho (WEBTOON/Naver)
This category is stacked like somebody entered a cheat code.
Superheroes, manga adaptations, animation, streaming blockbusters, theatrical releases, and even a major video game are all competing under one roof. More importantly, the list demonstrates how thoroughly comics have become embedded in worldwide popular culture.
Hollywood loves calling everything “IP,” but let us keep it real: before the budgets, trailers, premieres, and algorithms, somebody made a comic.
The Harvey Awards nominations committee includes selected creators, publishers, retailers, educators, and librarians. Industry professionals holding Professional or Artist Alley badges from ReedPop comic conventions between 2016 and 2026 are eligible to vote on the final ballot.
Selected professionals have already been registered and will receive personalized voting links by email. Other eligible industry professionals can apply through the Harvey Awards’ official Apply to Vote page before voting closes on August 28, 2026.
The ceremony takes place October 9, 2026, during New York Comic Con at the Javits Center, with announcements regarding the 2026 Harvey Awards Hall of Fame class still to come.
Since 1988, the Harvey Awards have carried forward Harvey Kurtzman’s belief that comics deserve to be treated as serious, influential art. Nearly four decades later, the nominees continue proving that comics are not merely feeding popular culture.
They are shaping it. Congratulations to every creator, publisher, and production represented on the 2026 ballot. The competition is fierce, the range is ridiculous, and now comes the hardest part:
Choosing the winners. 🏆📚
Author Profile
- I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!
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