The EAST COAST BLACK AGE OF COMICS CONVENTION ANNOUNCES
2026 GLYPH COMICS AWARDS (GCA) NOMINEES
Fan Voting Now Open Through April 29, 2026; Virtual Ceremony Set for Friday, May 9, 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PA — The East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention, Incorporated (ECBACC, Inc.) is proud to announce the nominees for the 2026 Glyph Comics Awards, recognizing outstanding achievement in Black comics storytelling, Artistry, and creative vision.
The Glyph Comics Awards are the premier recognition for comic books and graphic novels made by, for, and/or about people of the African Diaspora. Now in their third decade, the Glyphs celebrate the depth, diversity, and impact of Black voices in the comics medium. This year’s nominees represent an extraordinary class of creators working across a wide range of genres, formats, and storytelling traditions.
“These nominations represent outstanding achievement in storytelling, Artistic excellence, and creative vision across the comics medium,” said ECBACC. “Each nominated work reflects the depth, diversity, and impact of voices contributing to the art form, and we extend our congratulations to all nominees for this well-earned recognition.”
The 2026 Glyph Comics Awards virtual ceremony will be held on Friday, May 9, 2026. Fan voting for the Fan Award for Best Work is open now and closes Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 11:59 PM. Fans may cast their votes and view the full nominees list on the ECBACC website.
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2026 GLYPH COMICS AWARDS NOMINEES
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STORY OF THE YEAR
CELESTIAL EYES VOLUME 2: THE SECOND CYCLE; John Uche, Writer, Francis Goodluck, Artist
CODE VULCAN: CHAPTER ZERO; Tyrel Jackson, Writer, Rafy Odita, Artist
CRASH CART; Ebony Toussaint, Writer, Robert Aultman, Artist
THE DIARY OF THE STRAY DOGS VOLUME 1; Nigel Lynch, Writer, Juan Carlos Francisco, Artist
DISTURBIN’ THE PEACE; Michael Sales, Writer, Randolph Williams, Kenjji Jumanne-Marshall, Vivian Williams, Daniel Strickland, Artists
FUMES #1; M’Shai Dash, Greg Burnham, Writers, Tiah Ankum, Tahilla Ankum, Artists
HAMMER: JOHN HENRY VS THE ROBOT APOCALYPSE; Greg Anderson Elysée, Writer, David Brame, Artist
HOUNDS AND JACKALS; Owoade Ifeoluwa, Writer and Artist
MAIL ORDER MONSTER; Orlando Harding, Greg Erb, Jason Oremland, Writers, James ‘Doodle’ Lyle, Artist
NINJA EMPIRE ISSUE #1; Bryan ‘Kaiser’ Tillman, Writer and Artist
NINJANIKO #1; Nekoe Smith, Writer, Michael Magallanes, Artist
ORÍ: HOLDER OF THE HEADS – THE YAM AND THE WHITE CLOTH; Oludare Oredipe, Writer and Artist
ORISHA VOL. 1; Huzayfa Umar (Zayf), Writer and Artist
PAWNSHOP; LindoYes, Writer, Jaz Malone, Javon McKoy, Artists
RISE OF THE MAFU; Gerald Vreden, Writer, Hakim Rafai, Artist
SPIRIT THE WOMAN OF HOPE #2; H.W. Peete, Writer, Dino Agor, Artist
SPOOF STREETZ (BIG MA AND WILDIN OUT ZOMBIES); Jeff Carroll, Writer, Jorge Luis Gabotto, Artist
TEZRA #3: TOXIC PART 2; CJ McWillis, Writer and Artist
WORLDS: A ONE-SHOT ANTHOLOGY; John Uche, Lord Blue, Cuisel Peach, Writers, Stone Otor, Francis Goodluck, Lord Blue, Jeremiah Abah, Gabriel Onche, Artists
BEST COVER
CODE VULCAN: CHAPTER ZERO; Tyrel Jackson, Writer, Rafy Odita, Artist
THE DIARY OF THE STRAY DOGS VOLUME 1; Nigel Lynch, Writer, Matthew Clarke, Artist
FUMES #1; M’Shai Dash, Greg Burnham, Writers, Tiah Ankum, Tahilla Ankum, Canaan White, DeyVision, Artists
HAMMER: JOHN HENRY VS THE ROBOT APOCALYPSE; Greg Anderson Elysée, Writer, David Brame, Artist
HOUNDS AND JACKALS; Owoade Ifeoluwa, Writer and Artist
MAIL ORDER MONSTER; Orlando Harding, Greg Erb, Jason Oremland, Writers, Rafael Lanhellas, Artist
NINJA EMPIRE ISSUE 1; Bryan ‘Kaiser’ Tillman, Writer and Artist
NINJANIKO #1; Nekoe Smith, Writer, Michael Magallanes, Artist
ORÍ: HOLDER OF THE HEADS – THE YAM AND THE WHITE CLOTH; Oludare Oredipe, Writer and Artist
ORISHA VOL. 1; Huzayfa Umar (Zayf), Writer and Artist
PAWNSHOP; LindoYes, Writer, James E Walker, Artist
RISE OF THE MAFU; Gerald Vreden, Writer, Hakim Rafai, Artist
SPOOF STREETZ; Jeff Carroll, Writer, Jorge Luis Gabotto, Artist
WORLDS: A ONE-SHOT ANTHOLOGY; John Uche, Lord Blue, Cuisel Peach, Writers, Erivic Adedayo, Artist
BEST WRITER
Jeff Carroll, Writer; SPOOF STREETZ
M’Shai Dash, Greg Burnham, Writers; FUMES #1
Greg Anderson Elysée, Writer; HAMMER: JOHN HENRY VS THE ROBOT APOCALYPSE
George Gant, Writer; BEWARE OF TODDLER
Orlando Harding, Greg Erb, Jason Oremland, Writers; MAIL ORDER MONSTER
Owoade Ifeoluwa, Writer; HOUNDS AND JACKALS
Tyrel Jackson, Writer; CODE VULCAN: CHAPTER ZERO
LindoYes, Writer; PAWNSHOP
Nigel Lynch, Writer; THE DIARY OF THE STRAY DOGS VOLUME 1
Oludare Oredipe, Writer; ORÍ: HOLDER OF THE HEADS – THE YAM AND THE WHITE CLOTH
W. Peete, Writer; SPIRIT THE WOMAN OF HOPE #2
Michael Sales, Writer; DISTURBIN’ THE PEACE
Jared Sams, Writer; SPACE NEGRO – THE LAST NEGRO: THE BIG BLACK CLIMAX
Nekoe Smith, Writer; NINJANIKO #1
Bryan ‘Kaiser’ Tillman, Writer; NINJA EMPIRE ISSUE 1
Ebony Toussaint, Writer; CRASH CART
John Uche, Lord Blue, Cuisel Peach, Writers; WORLDS: A ONE-SHOT ANTHOLOGY
John Uche, Writer; CELESTIAL EYES VOLUME 2: THE SECOND CYCLE
Huzayfa Umar (Zayf), Writer; ORISHA VOL. 1
Gerald Vreden, Writer; RISE OF THE MAFU
BEST ARTIST
Erivic Adedayo, Stone Otor, Francis Goodluck, Lord Blue, Jeremiah Abah, Gabriel Onche, Artists; WORLDS: A ONE-SHOT ANTHOLOGY
Dino Agor, Artist; SPIRIT THE WOMAN OF HOPE #2
Tiah Ankum, Tahilla Ankum, Canaan White, DeyVision, Artists; FUMES #1
David Brame, Artist; HAMMER: JOHN HENRY VS THE ROBOT APOCALYPSE
Matthew Clarke, Juan Carlos Francisco, Artists; THE DIARY OF THE STRAY DOGS VOLUME 1
Jorge Luis Gabotto, Artist; SPOOF STREETZ (BIG MA AND WILDIN OUT ZOMBIES)
George Gant, Artist; BEWARE OF TODDLER
Owoade Ifeoluwa, Artist; HOUNDS AND JACKALS
Michael Magallanes, Artist; NINJANIKO #1
CJ McWillis, Artist; TEZRA #3: TOXIC PART 2
Odunze Oguguo, Eddy Frye, Morganne Walker, Jey Odin, Raymond Brown, Oscar Fong, Issaka Galadima, Artists; SATURDAY WARS: THE MANGA MULTIVERSE CROSSOVER
Ricardo Oliver, Artist; KYLE FLEX MYTHICAL VENOM
Oludare Oredipe, Artist; ORÍ: HOLDER OF THE HEADS – THE YAM AND THE WHITE CLOTH
Hakim Rafai, Artist; RISE OF THE MAFU
Bryan ‘Kaiser’ Tillman, Artist; NINJA EMPIRE ISSUE 1
Ese Tuggen, Randolph Williams, Kenjji Jumanne-Marshall, Vivian Williams, Daniel Strickland, Artists; DISTURBIN’ THE PEACE
Huzayfa Umar (Zayf), Artist; ORISHA VOL. 1
BEST MALE CHARACTER
Reuben Abiola (also known as “SP” ); HOUNDS AND JACKALS; Owoade Ifeoluwa, Writer and Artist
Aboki; ORISHA VOL. 1; Huzayfa Umar (Zayf), Writer and Artist
Mupha Bawen; WORLDS: A ONE-SHOT ANTHOLOGY; John Uche, Lord Blue, Cuisel Peach, Writers, Stone Otor, Francis Goodluck, Lord Blue, Jeremiah Abah, Gabriel Onche, Artists
Jake/Captain Cold; THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN COLD; Leo J. Neal (son), Chris Neal (dad), Writers, Leo J. Neal, Artist
Dwayne “Dady” Glover; BEWARE OF TODDLER; George Gant, Writer and Artist
Kyrie Jackson (Black Recluse); KYLE FLEX MYTHICAL VENOM; KJ FROM CALI, Writer, Ricardo Oliver, Artist
John Henry of Root; HAMMER: JOHN HENRY VS THE ROBOT APOCALYPSE; Greg Anderson Elysée, Writer, David Brame, Artist
Xander Schwarz aka the Black Dragon; NINJA EMPIRE ISSUE 1; Bryan ‘Kaiser’ Tillman, Writer and Artist
Niko Smith aka NinjaNiko; NINJANIKO #1; Nekoe Smith, Writer, Michael Magallanes, Artist
Sotunde: The Wanderer of the White Cloth; ORÍ: HOLDER OF THE HEADS – THE YAM AND THE WHITE CLOTH; Oludare Oredipe, Writer and Artist
Gerald Vreden; RISE OF THE MAFU; Gerald Vreden, Writer, Hakim Rafai, Artist
BEST FEMALE CHARACTER
Shani Belcourt; THE DIARY OF THE STRAY DOGS VOLUME 1; Nigel Lynch, Writer, Juan Carlos Francisco, Artist
Big Sis; ORÍ: HOLDER OF THE HEADS – THE YAM AND THE WHITE CLOTH; Oludare Oredipe, Writer and Artist
Ava “The Toddler” Glover; BEWARE OF TODDLER; George Gant, Writer and Artist
Onnwanuju; CELESTIAL EYES VOLUME 2: THE SECOND CYCLE; John Uche, Writer, Francis Goodluck, Artist
Nefertiti Raynes; DISTURBIN’ THE PEACE; Michael Sales, Writer, Randolph Williams, Kenjji Jumanne-Marshall, Vivian Williams, Daniel Strickland, Artists
Spirit; SPIRIT THE WOMAN OF HOPE #2; H.W. Peete, Writer, Dino Agor, Artist
Yeulah Sumpter; FUMES #1; M’Shai Dash, Greg Burnham, Writers, Tiah Ankum, Tahilla Ankum, Artists
Sydney; MAIL ORDER MONSTER; Orlando Harding, Greg Erb, Jason Oremland, Writers, James ‘Doodle’ Lyle, Artist
Wanda Vreden; RISE OF THE MAFU; Gerald Vreden, Writer, Hakim Rafai, Artist
RISING STAR AWARD
M’Shai Dash, Greg Burnham, Writers, Tiah Ankum, Tahilla Ankum, Artists; FUMES #1
Owoade Ifeoluwa, Writer and Artist; HOUNDS AND JACKALS
Tyrel Jackson, Writer, Rafy Odita, Artist; CODE VULCAN: CHAPTER ZERO
LindoYes, Writer, Jaz Malone, Javon McKoy, Artists; PAWNSHOP
Nigel Lynch, Writer, Juan Carlos Francisco, Artist; THE DIARY OF THE STRAY DOGS VOLUME 1
CJ McWillis, Writer and Artist; TEZRA #3: TOXIC PART 2
Leo J. Neal (son), Chris Neal (dad), Writers, Leo J. Neal, Artist; THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN COLD
Oludare Oredipe, Writer and Artist; ORÍ: HOLDER OF THE HEADS – THE YAM AND THE WHITE CLOTH
W. Peete, Writer, Dino Agor, Artist; SPIRIT THE WOMAN OF HOPE #2
Michael Sales, Writer, Randolph Williams, Kenjji Jumanne-Marshall, Vivian Williams, Daniel Strickland, Artists; DISTURBIN’ THE PEACE
Jared Sams, Writer and Artist; SPACE NEGRO – THE LAST NEGRO: THE BIG BLACK CLIMAX
Nekoe Smith, Writer, Michael Magallanes, Artist; NINJANIKO #1
Ebony Toussaint, Writer, Robert Aultman, Artist; CRASH CART
John Uche, Lord Blue, Cuisel Peach, Writers, Stone Otor, Francis Goodluck, Lord Blue, Jeremiah Abah, Gabriel Onche, Artists; WORLDS: A ONE-SHOT ANTHOLOGY
Huzayfa Umar (Zayf), Writer and Artist; ORISHA VOL. 1
Gerald Vreden, Writer, Hakim Rafai, Artist; RISE OF THE MAFU
BEST COMIC STRIP OR WEBCOMIC
THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN COLD; Leo J. Neal (son), Chris Neal (dad), Writers, Leo J. Neal, Artist
BEWARE OF TODDLER; George Gant, Writer and Artist
CRASH CART; Ebony Toussaint, Writer, Robert Aultman, Artist
HAMMER: JOHN HENRY VS THE ROBOT APOCALYPSE; Greg Anderson Elysée, Writer, David Brame, Artist
KYLE FLEX MYTHICAL VENOM; KJ FROM CALI, Writer, Ricardo Oliver, Artist
RISE OF THE MAFU; Gerald Vreden, Writer, Hakim Rafai, Artist
FAN AWARD FOR BEST WORK
THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN COLD; Leo J. Neal (son), Chris Neal (dad), Writers, Leo J. Neal, Artist
BEWARE OF TODDLER; George Gant, Writer and Artist
CELESTIAL EYES VOLUME 2: THE SECOND CYCLE; John Uche, Writer, Cuisel Peach, Emmanuel Udofia, Francis Goodluck, Artists
CODE VULCAN: CHAPTER ZERO; Tyrel Jackson, Writer, Rafy Odita, Artist
CRASH CART; Ebony Toussaint, Writer, Josh Jones, Robert Aultman, Artists
HAMMER: JOHN HENRY VS THE ROBOT APOCALYPSE; Greg Anderson Elysée, Writer, David Brame, Artist
HOUNDS AND JACKALS; Owoade Ifeoluwa, Writer and Artist
MAIL ORDER MONSTER; Orlando Harding, Greg Erb, Jason Oremland, Writers, Rafael Lanhellas, James ‘Doodle’ Lyle, Artists
NINJA EMPIRE ISSUE 1; Bryan ‘Kaiser’ Tillman, Writer and Artist
NINJANIKO #1; Nekoe Smith, Writer, Michael Magallanes, Artist
ORÍ: HOLDER OF THE HEADS – THE YAM AND THE WHITE CLOTH; Oludare Oredipe, Writer and Artist
ORISHA VOL. 1; Huzayfa Umar (Zayf), Writer and Artist
PAWNSHOP; LindoYes, Writer, James E Walker, Jaz Malone, Javon McKoy, Artists
RISE OF THE MAFU; Gerald Vreden, Writer, Hakim Rafai, Artist
SATURDAY WARS: THE MANGA MULTIVERSE CROSSOVER; Frederick L. Jones, Writer, Odunze Oguguo, Eddy Frye, Morganne Walker, Jey Odin, Raymond Brown, Oscar Fong, Issaka Galadima, Artists
SPACE NEGRO – THE LAST NEGRO: THE BIG BLACK CLIMAX; Jared Sams, Writer and Artist
SPIRIT THE WOMAN OF HOPE #2; H.W. Peete, Writer, Dino Agor, Artist
SPOOF STREETZ (BIG MA AND WILDIN OUT ZOMBIES); Jeff Carroll, Writer, Jorge Luis Gabotto, Artist
WORLDS: A ONE-SHOT ANTHOLOGY; John Uche, Lord Blue, Cuisel Peach, Writers, Erivic Adedayo, Stone Otor, Francis Goodluck, Lord Blue, Jeremiah Abah, Gabriel Onche, Artists
ABOUT THE GLYPH COMICS AWARDS
The Glyph Comics Awards are the premier award for comic books and graphic novels made by, for, and/or about people of the African Diaspora. Named for the basic unit of written language, the Glyphs are presented annually by The East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention and recognize excellence across all categories of comic book creation, from writing and art to character development and overall storytelling.
ABOUT THE EAST COAST BLACK AGE OF COMICS CONVENTION
The East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention, Incorporated (ECBACC, Inc.) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Black comics and the creators who produce them. ECBACC hosts an annual convention, administers the Glyph Comics Awards, and works year-round to support literacy, arts education, and the development of creative talent in the comics industry and beyond.
IMPORTANT DATES
Fan Voting Deadline: Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 11:59 PM
Virtual Ceremony: Saturday, May 9, 2026
All-day Convention: Saturday, May 16, 2026 / 11a.m. – 7p.m.
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