There was another full house for the Doug Wright Awards, Canada’s version of the Eisners, as a crowd of pros and enthusiasts gathered Saturday to celebrate the best in the country’s comics.
Now in its 22nd year, and once again heavily featuring founders Brad Mackay and mononymous cartoonist Seth, it was a joyful occasion in the fancy surroundings of the Arts & Letters Club, in Toronto, as noted by awards presenter and graphic novelist Michael Deforge, who drew laughter with a story from his youth: he lasted two days in a dishwashing job in the same building before he was told not to come back.
Seth, Ho Che Anderson, and Brad Mackay. Photo by Jeff Speed.
Held the Saturday night of the annual Toronto Comic Arts Festival, the Doug Wright Awards are named after cartoonist Doug Wright (1917–1983) and retain strong links to his family. This year, the founders introduced a new award named after his widow, Phyllis Wright Thomas, who was a stalwart supporter of the event and passed away in 2023, and heard comments from the family at the event.
The Doug Wright Awards are deeply meaningful to fans and creators seeking greater recognition for Canadian storytelling in comics , and that was shown in the emotional comments of presenters, award-winners and first-time host, the Toronto artist and cartoonist Ho Che Anderson. All the winners heard enthusiastic support from the crowd, including Lee Lai, a popular choice for the Best Book award with Cannon.
The audience included legendary comics artist Ken Steacy, many other Canadian creators such as Michael Cho and Chester Brown, while award presenters included writer and artist Jay Odjick, who hosted last year, multiple Doug Wright Award winner Michael DeForge, producer, writer, and interviewer Mark Askwith, and last year’s Best Book winner, Maurice Vellekoop.
Photo by Jeff Speed.
Doug Wright Award Winners
Best Book – Cannon, by Lee Lai (Drawn & Quarterly)
Sponsored by the Beguiling
Lee Lai, who lives in Montreal, Quebec, bubbled with delight during an acceptance speech that drew cheers. The room loved the win, too, and many had picked up signed copies from her at the convention that day. In Cannon, the eponymous character is a cook who suddenly trashes her workplace, and it takes her friend Trish to help her make sense of what’s happening.
The same creator was shortlisted for the same award four years ago for Stone Fruit, another courageous graphic novel in Lai’s refreshing style. In accepting, she spoke about TCAF and how the event provided her with a chance to meet other creators and be inspired.
The Pigskin Peters (Best Small- or Micro-press Book) – Pass Me By: Lily, by Kat Simmers and Ryan Danny Owen (Renegade Arts Entertainment)
With an important message about identity, this latest book in a series brought lots of emotion to the room. It’s a story about ageing with dementia, and threads in thoughts of gender and sexual identity.
Publisher Alexander Finbow delivered a speech on behalf of the creators:
“When we wrote Lily, trans youth in Alberta were able to receive life saving gender affirming care, children could use nicknames at school without parental consent, and girls could play sports without a form testifying to their gender at birth… We regret to inform you, thanks to Bills 27, 28, and 29, that is no longer the case.
“As more books are banned from the shelves of schools in Alberta, stories like Pass Me By: Lily feel critical and important reminders to our 2SLBGTQIAP+ community and beyond, that our stories matter and never stop making work that challenges people to see new perspectives, and brings us together.”
The Nipper (Emerging Talent) – Lis Xu, for Layover & Mad (Self-published) and Raccoon Rescue (Gytha Press)
Sponsored by Koyama Provides and Valleyview Artist Retreat
Newcomer Lis Xu, whose work is just getting out there in small ways, talked about the great boost for new talent from an event like the Doug Wright Awards.
She said: “Thank you for doing this and highlighting me and comics and Canadian creators. It’s super-nice to be a part of the awards this year. I’ve been nominated before but it’s such a great honour.”
The Egghead (Best Kids’ Book) – Howler Reef, by Mike Deas and Nancy Deas (Orca Book Publishers)
This middle-grade graphic novel is set in the coastal village of Sueño Bay, and centres on a mysterious radio broadcast. Kay and her friends search for a missing radio host after hearing what seems to be a real distress call.
Phyllis Wright Thomas Award – Owl magazine
This was a new award, founded to recognize the awards’ great support, Phyllis Wright Thomas, who was Doug Wright’s widow. Brad Mackay and Seth spoke onstage alongside Ken Wright, the couple’s son, to announce the Phyllis Wright Thomas Award as a certificate of commendation. Presented at the discretion of the Doug Wright Awards executive, the new award will go to great work that does not qualify for any of the other Doug Wright Awards categories.
The inaugural award was given to Owl Magazine for 50 years of publishing children’s comics with a science theme. Owl cartoonist Brian McLachlin spoke, entertaining everyone with a slideshow tribute to the magazine.
Giants of the North: The Canadian Cartooning Hall of Fame
There was a fun irony this time, with the special Hall of Fame award going to two creators who are giants, but known for characters who were tiny.
The recognition went to Emily Hearn (1925–2015) and Mark Thurman, the creators and original team behind The Mighty Mites, the long-running children’s comic strip that started in Owl magazine 50 years ago. They were inducted by Annabel Slaight, the co-founder and original publisher of Owl, via a pre-recorded video. Mark and members of Emily’s family were at the event to accept the inductions.
Arch Dale
Arch Dale (1886–1951), the editorial cartoonist and creator of the Doo Dads comic strip, was scheduled to be inducted by Terry Mosher. However, a family emergency caused a late postponement to next year’s awards.
The livestream of the ceremony can be viewed in full on the Doug Wright Awards YouTube channel.
Link https://www.youtube.com/live/5M8LyaodQ9A?si=QzCZzjOJyddgga7_
Winners and nominees in full
The 2026 Doug Wright Award for Best Book
WINNER: Cannon, Lee Lai (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Holy Lacrimony, Michael DeForge (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Muybridge, Guy Delisle (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Salt Green Death, Katarina Thorsen (Conundrum)
- The Last Band on Earth, Elaine M. Will (Renegade Arts Entertainment)
The Nipper (Emerging Talent)
WINNER: Lis Xu for Layover and Mad (Self-published) & Raccoon Rescue (Gytha Press)
- Mollie Cronin, for Future Me Is Fat (Conundrum)
- Jordana Globerman, for Soul Machine (Annick Press)
- Stefano Jun, for Modern Asian Family: Straight Outta Busan (Renegade Arts Entertainment)
- Alex Swift, for The Connoisseurs (Frog Farm)
The Pigskin Peters (Best Small- or Micro-Press Book)
WINNER: Pass Me By: Lily, Kat Simmers and Ryan Danny Owen (Renegade Arts Entertainment)
- Life After Life, Joshua Barkman (Self-published)
- Soft Serve & Nosferatu, Matthew Daley (Self-published)
- Old Souls, Jackarais (Cloudscape Comics Society)
- Mobile Gang Fortress, Alexander Laird (Frog Farm)
The Egghead (Best Kids’ Book)
WINNER: Howler Reef, Mike Deas and Nancy Deas (Orca Book Publishers)
- Way off Track, Carl Brundtland and Claudia Dávila (Kids Can Press)
- Fantastic Lou, Qin Leng (Tundra)
- Paisley & Peck: Jurassic Farm, Torres and Mike Deas (Owlkids)
- My Sister the Werebeast, Alina Tysoe (First Second)
Phyllis Wright Thomas Award
WINNER: Owl magazine
Giants of the North
- Emily Hearn
- Mark Thurman
- Arch Dale
