FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New Bedford, MA–July 15, 2026) The Inkwell Awards has announced the winners of its 19thannual awards for excellence in the comic-book inking art form at their new host-show, the Hershey Comic Con, on July 11, 2026. Nominees were chosen by a separate and independent nomination committee based on their own research as well as from artist submissions. Voting by professionals and fans took place for two weeks in March and April on the official ballot at the non-profit advocacy’s website. After 3086 ballots were tallied, one winner was chosen in each of five categories for 2025 release-dated interior American published comic-book material.
The 2026 INKWELL AWARDS VOTING RESULTS were circulated July 12 and more recently the INKWELL AWARDS’ 2026 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT WINNERS (were) ANNOUNCED. Now we present the expanded “Racehorse” version like those that were posted in our annual Sinnott Inking Challenge Books and were inspired by the past Comic Buyer’s Guide/CBG Fan Awards results. This one supplies all of the nominees’ votes, race observations and winners’ statements (those who sent in typed statements).
Favorite Inker Award: Favorite ink artist over the pencil work of another artist. (NOTE: Cannot be nominated for the PROPS award.)
1. Elisabetta D’Amico: Kill All Immortals II, Star Wars: The Bad Batch- Ghost Agents [Dark Horse]; Echo: Seeker of Truth, New Champions, NYX, Scarlet Witch [Marvel]
2. Wayne Faucher: Batgirl [DC]; Imperial War: Imperial Guardians, Longshots, Fantastic Four, Star Wars: Beyond Victory one-shot, Star Wars: Ahsoka [Marvel]
3. Scott Hanna: Amazing Spider-Man, Daredevil, FCBD 2025 Ultimate Universe/Amazing Spider-man, Godzilla Vs. Fantastic Four [Marvel]
4. Scott Williams: Batman [DC]
And the winner, with 434 votes and 46%, is SCOTT WILLIAMS! Elisabetta was runner-up. This is Scott’s first ballot win after winning the lifetime achievement Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame Award in 2012. Scott was not able to attend this year so his trophy will be shipped to him. He sent in his acceptance statement video which will later wind up on the Inkwell YouTube account since the event was not recorded.
Most-Adaptable Award: Artist showing exceptional ink style versatility over other pencil artists. (NOTE: Every nominee must have at least two sources cited.)
1. Elisabetta D’Amico: Kill All Immortals II, Star Wars: The Bad Batch- Ghost Agents [Dark Horse]; Echo: Seeker of Truth, New Champions, NYX, Scarlet Witch [Marvel]
2. Oren Junior: Avengers Assemble, Conquest 2099, Daredevil, Fantastic Four, Predator: Badlands, Return to Planet Hulk [Marvel]
3. Jay Leisten: 1776, Predator Vs. Spider-Man, Predator Kills the Marvel Universe, Spirits of Vengeance [Marvel]
4. Jonas Trindade: Daredevil: Unleash Hell, Death of the Silver Surfer, Predator Vs. Black Panther, Sam Wilson: Captain America, Spirits of Vengeance [Marvel]
5. LeBeau Underwood: Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories- Tides of Terror [Dark Horse]
With 359 votes and 47%, our winner is ELISABETTA D’AMICO! Jay Leisten was runner-up. This is her third win in a row for this category and sixth overall. Elisabetta is an Italian comic book inker and finisher. She debuted in the U.S. as an inking assistant on Spider-Men II and has since worked for Marvel, Dark Horse and IDW on titles including Scarlet Witch, Spider Gwen Smash, Black Widow, Daredevil, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Kill All Immortals and Star Trek. She wasn’t able to make it here this year, but she did forward an acceptance statement:
ELISABETTA: “I’m here once again in front of you and I honestly don’t even have the words. Thank you for all your support. Thank you for appreciating my work, for seeing the value in it and the love that goes into it. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. This means more to me than I can express.”
Props Award: Ink artist deserving of more attention for their work over other pencil artists. (NOTE: The same inker cannot be nominated for both this award and Favorite Inker; only one or the other. Nor any past Favorite Inker recipients.)
1. Tony Kordos: G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero [Image]
2. Jonas Trindade: Daredevil: Unleash Hell, Death of the Silver Surfer, Predator Vs. Black Panther, Sam Wilson: Captain America, Spirits of Vengeance [Marvel]
3. LeBeau Underwood: Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories- Tides of Terror [Dark Horse]
With 468 votes and 54%, our winner is TONY KORDOS! He was runner-up last year but this year the runner-up was Jonas Trindade. This is Tony’s first time winning in this category.
TONY: “Wow. I’m honestly overwhelmed right now. To be standing here as a multiple Inkwell Award recipient means more than I can fully express. I’ve been in this industry for longer than I care to admit, and I’ve loved every ink-stained minute of it.
First and foremost, I want to thank the Inkwell Awards committee—not just for this honor, but for the work you do to spotlight inkers and the essential role we play in bringing comics to life. Recognition like this makes a difference, and I’m deeply grateful.
To the phenomenal pencillers I’ve had the privilege to work with—Thank you for trusting me to bring your vision across the finish line.
I want to thank my family—Nette, Tyler, and Bailey—thank you for your love and encouragement. You’ve supported me from the beginning and I appreciate it more than words can express.
And to Tricia—my partner in crime & my biggest cheerleader, thank you for believing in me when I struggled to believe in myself. I love you.
Thank you again—this truly means the world.”
The S.P.A.M.I. Award: Favorite Small Press And Mainstream/Independent ink work over another pencil artist or both are the sole artist. (Non-Marvel or DC work; inkers who inked their own pencils are now acceptable in this category.).
1. Pat Binder: Dusk: Unrequited Love [Shonuff Studio/Kickstarter]
2. Elisabetta D’Amico: Kill All Immortals II, Star Wars: The Bad Batch- Ghost Agents [Dark Horse]
3. Karl Kesel: Impossible Jones: Impossible to Love [Kickstarter]
4. Tony Kordos: G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero [Image]
And the winner, with 420 votes and 42%, is TONY KORDOS! After years of nominations in other categories, Tony has now won 3 Inkwells since last year and this is his second Props Awards trophy in a row. Elisabetta was runner-up.
All-in-One Award: Favorite artist known for inking his/her own pencil work.
1. Nick Dragotta: Absolute Batman [DC]
2. Dean Haspiel: Chest Face [Xion Studios/Kickstarter]
3. Daniel Warren Johnson: Absolute Batman Annual [DC]; The Moon is Following Us, Transformers [Image]; Wolverine [Marvel]
4. Dan Panosian: Marvel Knights: The World to Come- Punisher [Marvel]
5. Chris Samnee: Batman & Robin Year One, Batman: The Last Halloween [DC]
6. Liam Sharp: Dark Ages Spawn [Image]; Savage Sword of Conan [Titan Books]
The winner, with 313 votes and 31%, is: LIAM SHARP! This is Liam’s third record win in this category with his previous wins being in 2018 & 2020. Dan Panosian was runner-up with Dean Haspiel just behind him. Unfortunately, Liam, who’s based in Great Britain, was not able to attend this ceremony but he left a typed statement: “They often say, ‘Three times is the charm’. Certainly, winning this award again makes it three times more than I ever hoped or expected! I never take acknowledgement of my efforts lightly. Our job is relentless, and solitary. And it never gets easier! Pushing ourselves to continually achieve growth requires tremendous effort. So the support of our readers is an essential part of that, because comics are a language. They require all of us together to truly matter, and to continue ever onwards as this beautiful medium.
“Thank you for voting for me. I was in the finest company in the business, and each of them deserved to win this. So this award is for them, and also – for you!”
For the Internal Awards/Above & Beyond Awards announced with the Ballot Results on Monday (link above) winner Bob Bretall was awarded for his 15 years of service on the nomination committee. He sent in his acceptance statement video which will later wind up on the Inkwell YouTubeaccount since the event was not recorded.
The Inkwell Awards express CONGRATULATIONS to all award recipients!
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