The 9th Annual Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics finalists have been announced. With the slogan “From invisible to inevitable” (McDuffie’s own words), the award is given to a comic book that has shown a commitment to diversity and inclusion. The prize is named in honor of Dwayne McDuffie, a creator known for writing, editing, and producing comics and animation.
The nominees for the 9th Annual Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics are:
Tales of the Orishas
Hugo Canuto (writer and artist)
Queenie: Godmother of Harlem
Elizabeth Colomba (co-creator, artist) & Aurélie Levy (co-creator, writer)
Aya Claws Come Out
Marguerite Abouet (writer) & Clément Oubrerie (artist)
Gleem
Freddy Carrasco (writer and artist)
Mosely
Rob Guillory (writer) & Sam Lotfi (artist)
The Wild Ones
Megan Lacera (writer) & Jorge Lacera (artist)
The winner will be announced, in a virtual ceremony, by returning MC, actor Phil LaMarr, who voiced both heroes Static/Virgil and John Stewart/Green Lantern in the animated Warner Bros.’ series Static Shock and Justice League Unlimited, written and produced by Mr. McDuffie.
Quote from actor, Phil LaMarr:
Such a pleasure to announce the finalists for the DMADs. This group of talented artists and writers stepping into Dwayne’s shoes to create excellent work with diversity and inclusion always becomes my reading list for the year!
Quote from DMAD Director, Will J. Watkins:
With each year that has passed since we launched the DMAD, Dwayne’s commitment to excellence, artistic integrity, and inclusion lives on through the nominees whose work we recognize today. His legacy is a constant reminder of how when we let our lights shine, we encourage those around us to do the same.
Quote from Dwayne’s widow, Charlotte (Fullerton) McDuffie:
I couldn’t be prouder of these 9th year nominees. The variety and outstanding craftsmanship of our finalists embody the spirit of the DMADs. I truly believe these creators will go on to make a difference in the comic book industry at large, both in diversity and in excellence.
Past Winners:
2022 – Ripple Effects, written by Jordan Hart & illustrated by Bruno Chiroleu (Fanbase Press)
2021 – Adora and the Distance, written by Marc Bernardin & illustrated by Ariela Kristantina
2020 – They Called Us Enemy, by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott and Harmony Becker.
2019 – Archival Quality, written by Ivy Noelle Weir & illustrated by Christian “Steenz” Stewart (Oni Press)
2018 – Leon: Protector of the Playground, written & illustrated by Jamar Nicholas (Kids Love Comics)
2017 – Upgrade Soul, written & illustrated by Ezra Claytan Daniels
2016 – Ms. Marvel, written by G. Willow Wilson & illustrated by Adrian Alphona (Marvel Entertainment)
2015 – M.F.K. written & illustrated by Nilah Magruder (www.mfkcomic.com)
The 2023 Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics’ selection committee, led by industry legend, Marv Wolfman, consists of 8 prominent comics and animation professionals who personally knew and worked with Mr. McDuffie and/or have demonstrated a serious commitment to his vision of excellence and inclusiveness on the page and behind the scenes.
The committee consists of:
Colleen Doran is a cartoonist, writer/artist whose works include the multi-award winning adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Snow, Glass, Apples, as well as Gaiman’s Chivalry, Norse Mythology, and American Gods, and art for The Sandman, The Vampire Diaries, multiple Wonder Woman titles, and hundreds of other comics. She also illustrated Stan Lee’s New York Times best-selling autobiography autobiography Amazing, Fantastic, Incredible Stan Lee. She writes and draws the space opera series A Distant Soil. Among her numerous awards and nominations are Eisner awards, the Harvey Award, The International Horror Guild Award, the Ringo and the Bram Stoker Award.
Heidi MacDonald is the editor-in-chief of Comicsbeat.com and has edited comics for Disney, DC Comics, Vertigo, HarperCollins and Z2. She can be heard on Publishers Weekly’s weekly podcast More To Come and found regularly on the Beat’s YouTube channel.
Jamal Igle is the writer/artist/creator of Molly Danger for Action Lab Entertainment, the co-creator/artist of The Wrong Earth for Ahoy Comics, co-creator of Dudley Datson and the Forever Machine for Comixology, and the penciller of the critically acclaimed series, BLACK from Black Mask Studios, as well as many titles for DC, Marvel and Dark Horse. He’s been a storyboard artist for Sony Animation and is also a popular guest lecturer on the subjects of comics and animation.
Geoffrey Thorne is the writer/creator of Mosaic for Marvel Comics and the writer behind the transformation of DC Comics’ John Stewart from Green Lantern to the Emerald Knight. He was also the head writer and showrunner of Marvel’s Avengers: Black Panther’s Quest as well as a writer, producer and co-executive producer on such hit series as Leverage, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Power: Book II: Ghost. He is the executive producer of the hit sci-fi/fantasy audio drama series Dreamnasium and of Redjack: the Animated Shorts on YouTube.
Eric Wallace is a Saturn Award-winning writer/producer/director responsible for projects in almost every media imaginable, including the animated series Ben 10: Omniverse and Duel Masters; helping to revive the gothic soap opera Dark Shadows on audiobooks with the original cast; contributing to the Scribblenauts videogame franchise; and writing for DC Comics on multiple titles, including the award-winning Mr. Terrific. His live-action credits include the Syfy Channel’s Eureka, followed by Z Nation, Teen Wolf—which featured his directorial debut—and most recently as Showrunner and EP of CW’s The Flash.
Matt Wayne has written for many highly-regarded animation projects, including Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles, Cannon Busters, Niko and the Sword of Light, the Emmy-nominated Hellboy Animated: Sword of Storms, Hello Kitty: Supercute Adventures and most recently, Iyanu: Child of Wonder. His comics work includes Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, Static/Black Lightning, and writing and editing for the original Milestone Media comics line.
Will J. Watkins (Director of the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics) is a freelance TV, film and animation writer who is also comic book story/world-building consultant on The Protectors graphic novel published by Athlita Comics. He had a stint as an assistant editor at DC Comics and, before moving to LA, he co-owned Chicago’s first African-American-owned comic book shop. He was a writer on Freeform’s Motherland: Fort Salem and most recently worked on a TV show adapted from a BOOM! Studios comic book.
Marv Wolfman is the multi-award-winning writer who created Blade for Marvel Comics, The New Teen Titans for DC Comics, and legions of other iconic characters and stories. In addition to comic books, he’s written for animation, videogames, novels and more. It’s been said that he’s created more characters who’ve made the jump to movies, TV shows, toys, games and animation than any other writer save Stan Lee.
About Dwayne McDuffie:
Dwayne Glenn McDuffie was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. The middle son of Leroy McDuffie and Edna (Hawkins) McDuffie (now Gardner), Dwayne attended the prestigious Roeper School for gifted children before going on to earn undergraduate degrees in both English & Physics as well as a graduate degree in Physics, all at the University of Michigan. (Go, Blue!) He later also studied filmmaking at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Dwayne first entered the comic book industry as an Editor at Marvel Comics, thanks to his NYU friend, Greg Wright, with whom he recreated the Deathlok character into the one in use today. With artist, Ernie Colón, Dwayne also co-created the comedic Marvel team book, Damage Control, which is currently seeing a resurgence in movies, TV and comics.
Frustrated by the lack of diversity of both characters and creators in comics, Dwayne—together with Derek Dingle, Denys Cowan, and Michael Davis—co-founded Milestone Comics (later Milestone Media), the most successful African American owned comic book company in history, with a mission to provide a wide array of characters, content, and creators that more accurately represent the racial, ethnic, religious, gender, and physical diversity of real life. Now rebranded as Milestone 2.0 and helmed by Reggie Hudlin along with original founders Denys Cowan and Derek Dingle, Milestone continues to thrive.
Static, Icon, Rocket, Hardware—to name just a few. Throughout his career in the comic book industry, Dwayne created or co-created these and more than a dozen other series, in addition to writing stories for too many other titles to list but here are some highlights: Justice League of America, Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, Captain Marvel, Avengers Spotlight, Hellraiser, Ultraman, even The Tick, and Back to The Future. Dwayne also co-created The Road To Hell with fellow writer and Milestone editor, Matt Wayne, the inaugural Director of the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics, established posthumously by Dwayne’s widow, Charlotte (Fullerton) McDuffie, with the invaluable assistance of writer, Neo Edmund.
Dwayne transitioned into the animation industry as a Story Editor and Writer on the Emmy-winning Kids WB series, Static Shock, which he co-created and for which he won a 2003 Humanitas prize. Dwayne was also a Producer, Story Editor, and Writer on Cartoon Network’s Justice League and Justice League Unlimited animated series, for which he received a 2004 Writers Guild of America nomination.
With artist/producer Glen Murakami, Dwayne redeveloped Man of Action’s Ben 10 animated series into Ben 10: Alien Force then Ben 10: Ultimate Alien—98 episodes of what became the global blockbuster franchise for Cartoon Network (now more than 350 episodes and counting!) Dwayne also wrote the animated features Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, All Star Superman, and Justice League: Doom, as well as episodes of What’s New, Scooby Doo? and Teen Titans, all for Warner Bros. For his indelible work in animation, Dwayne was posthumously presented with the Writers Guild of America’s 2011 Animation Writing Award, the first and only African American in history to be so honored.
Winner of 3 Eisner Awards for his work in comic books; 11 Parents’ Choice Awards; 6 “Best Editor” awards; the 2009 Inkpot Award presented by Comic-Con International; a posthumous Harvey Award in 2020; and a “Golden Apple Award” from his alma mater for his “use of popular art to promote and enhance human dignity”–Dwayne McDuffie’s life’s work exemplified both diversity and excellence.
Personal artifacts of Mr. McDuffie’s have been part of the “Afro-Futurism” display at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
He led by example, presciently stating, “From invisible to inevitable”–which has become the motto of the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics.
About CHARLOTTE (FULLERTON) McDUFFIE:
Dwayne’s widow, Charlotte (Fullerton) McDuffie, is a twice Emmy-nominated animation writer, best known by fans for her work on Hasbro’s My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic; Cartoon Network’s Ben 10 franchise (its multiple TV series incarnations and accompanying videogames, chapter books, and comics); and the Star Wars’ parody short film, Troops, aka the internet’s very first viral video before there even was such a term! She is committed to continuing her late husband’s legacy through this award and other endeavors made possible in part by The Dwayne McDuffie Fund gofundme.com/DwayneMcDuffieFund and non-profit Dwayne McDuffie Foundation which established “The McDuffie Genius Grant” at Dwayne’s beloved Roeper School https://www.roeper.org/giving/your-gift-matters.
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