{"id":373824,"date":"2026-10-15T12:06:50","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T12:06:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/373824\/"},"modified":"2026-10-15T12:06:50","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T12:06:50","slug":"bodega-announces-the-comic-arts-trophy-cat-nominations-celebrating-comic-and-graphic-arts-creators-at-inaugural-brooklyn-expo-of-comics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/373824\/","title":{"rendered":"Bodega Announces The Comic Arts Trophy (CAT) Nominations, Celebrating Comic And Graphic Arts Creators At Inaugural Brooklyn Expo Of Comics"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"\"BODEGA CAT Award, design by Alex Krokus<\/p>\n

Brooklyn, NY (10\/13\/2026)\u2014Non-profit Brooklyn Organization Dedicated to the Endurance of the Graphic Arts (BODEGA)<\/a> is excited to announce the BODEGA CAT (Comics Arts Trophy) Award nominations, with winners to be announced at a ceremony during the Brooklyn Expo of Comics (BEC) this November. Led by BODEGA<\/a> co-founders James Tynion IV, Bryce Gold, Courtney Menard, the Brooklyn Expo of Comics will celebrate independent comic and graphic arts creators and cartoonists during the two-day inaugural annual event. The goal of BEC is to foster the arts community in New York with free and accessible events while also celebrating creators and creations from all around the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The BODEGA CAT Awards will celebrate independent creators and their works with five award CAT-egories: Best Anthology, Best Design, Best Minicomic, Best Graphic Novel, and Honorary New Yorker, a unique award given to a chosen creator who best embodies the creative spirit of Brooklyn and BODEGA regardless of where they are from. Winners will receive a purringly beautiful CAT trophy to display on their shelves, designed by Brooklyn-based cartoonist Alex Krokus, modeled and brought to life by Clutter Toys in Beacon, NY. The CAT Awards ceremony, hosted by the BODEGA team, will take place at the Mid-Con Party on Saturday, November 14th from 8pm-12am at Union Pool (484 Union Ave, Brooklyn, NY). The party is free and open to everyone 21+.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we started ideating on everything we wanted BEC to be, we knew we wanted to create a new award that celebrated the incredible work our exhibitors made over the past year and gave them the flowers they deserve,\u201d said Executive Director Bryce Gold. \u201cWe wanted a name that fit the BODEGA theme and another great acronym to add to our roster, as well as a tangible award that creators could proudly display on their shelf to match the prestige that comes with the recognition of being nominated by their peers. When it all came together it hit like lightning: the Comics Arts Trophy, a BODEGA CAT! We\u2019re thrilled to bring a comics-focused award to a Brooklyn indie comics show for the very first time, and put our hat in the ring for the best-designed trophy in comics. Who wouldn\u2019t want a little BODEGA CAT on their shelf, reminding them they made something amazing that year?\u201d<\/p>\n

“Those who vote in these inaugural awards have no easy task in front of them,\u201d said BEC Co-Director and BODEGA Secretary Courtney Menard. \u201cThe amount of beautiful, medium-pushing work in the indie comics scene today is staggering and I am so happy BEC is able to showcase these talents and to honor them with the CAT Award! And it’s a cute award to boot.”<\/p>\n

Here are the nominees for the first BODEGA CAT Awards:<\/p>\n

BEST ANTHOLOGY<\/p>\n

Ex.Mag Volume 6, edited by Patrick Crotty and Wren Macdonald, published by Peow2
\nSYSTEM 01: Hot Net Hotel, edited by Orion Martin, published by Paradise Systems
\nCRAM Comics #5: Something Strong for when the Love is Gone, edited by Andrew Alexander, published by Cram Books
\nDatura Magazine No. 4, edited by Sunmi and Mar Julia, self-published
\nWitch Window, edited by Kyle Canyon, Sanike Phawde, and Sophie Page, self-published
\nLeather & Lace, edited by Kelsey Short and Bets Ochoa, published by Dark Spark Press<\/p>\n

BEST DESIGN<\/p>\n

SYSTEM 01: Hot Net Hotel, edited by Orion Martin, published by Paradise Systems
\nA Garden of Spheres, by Linnea Sterte, published by Peow2
\nFaster (Complete Edition), by Jesse Lonergan, published by Bulgilhan Press
\nThe Terror of the Moldy Shore, by John F. Malta, self-published
\nWitch Window, edited by Kyle Canyon, Sanike Phawde, and Sophie Page, self-published
\nAction Baby Comics: Animal Alphabet, by AT Pratt, self-published
\nLeather & Lace, edited by Kelsey Short and Bets Ochoa, published by Dark Spark Press
\nSikh Femmes in Sick Fashion, by Jasjyot Singh Hans, self-published<\/p>\n

BEST MINICOMIC<\/p>\n

Enframement, by K. Wroten, self-published
\nCompanion, by Olivia Fredericks, self-published
\nGirl Yaoi, by Ana Two, published by Diskette Press
\nWord From the Bird, by Grayson Bear, published by Secret Room Press
\nCreamthing In His Golden Year, by Sam Hensley, self-published
\nThe future collapses to a single point, by Jon Allen, self-published
\nThe Old Woman Part 4, by Rebecca Mock, self-published<\/p>\n

BEST GRAPHIC NOVEL<\/p>\n

Like Swimmers, by Dash Shaw, published by The New York Review of Books
\nIdentical, by Leah Hayes, published by Fantagraphics
\nTestament, by J. Marshall Smith, published by Bulgilhan Press
\nFlea, by Mara Ramirez, published by Fieldmouse Press
\nA Tale Of Two Travelers, by Madita Schwenke, published by Fieldmouse Press
\nThe Weight, by Melissa Mendes, published by Drawn & Quarterly
\nMary Pain, by Lola Lorente, published by Drawn & Quarterly<\/p>\n

HONORARY NEW YORKER<\/p>\n

Alexander Laird – Frog Farm publisher, notable works: MOBILE GANG FORTRESS, SHNORK
\nAndrew Alexander – CRAM Books publisher, notable works: Caught Lookin’ #1
\nCaroline Cash – notable works: Nancy Comics, ADVENTURE TIME: BONNIE THE VAMPIRE HUNTER SPECIAL #1
\nLee Lai – notable works: Cannon
\nLale Westvind – notable works: Void Packer 3, Void Packer 4
\nMichael DeForge – notable works: Holy Lacrimony, All The Cameras In My Room
\nAudra Stang – notable works: CONFETTI GIRLS, VALLEY VALLEY\/IDELLA DELL<\/p>\n

Voting will open shortly and will close on Saturday November 14 (Day 1 of BEC) at 4pm ET. The general public is allowed to vote using THIS LINK.<\/a><\/p>\n

Taking place at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on November 14 and 15, the Brooklyn Expo of Comics will feature panels, signings, and appearances from over a hundred notable cartoonists, comic creators, and industry professionals. Special guests <\/a>include Chris Ware (Jimmy Corrigan \u2013 the Smartest Kid on Earth), Lisa Hanawalt (Tuca and Birdie), Rosemary Vallero-O\u2019Connell (Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me), Caroline Cash (PeePeePooPoo), Ronald Wimberly (LAAB), Tara Booth (Processing: 100 Comics That Got Me Through It), Tradd Moore (Doctor Strange: Fall Sunrise), Wendy Xu (Infinity Particle), Linnea Sterte (Stages of Rot), and more to be announced soon.\u00a0<\/p>\n

BODEGA Communications Manager Christina Lee, Outreach Manager Paloma Hernando, and BEC Panel Coordinator Gabe Fowler will also be handling event management. BEC is sponsored by Desert Island, Kickstarter, Oni Press, Fantagraphics, Tiny Onion, Fireball Printing, Dirty Diamonds, Pow Pow Press, and Drawn & Quarterly.<\/p>\n

BODEGA welcomes all art enthusiasts, creatives, New Yorkers, and those who are curious to attend BEC. All events are free and accessible to the public.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a0<\/p>\n

###\u00a0<\/p>\n

ABOUT BODEGA<\/p>\n

BODEGA is the Brooklyn Organization Dedicated to the Endurance of the Graphic Arts.
Our mission is to provide meaningful nourishment, resources, and platforms that support comic and graphic arts in Brooklyn and the greater New York area. BODEGA Comics Group, Inc is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Those interested in supporting BODEGA can go to bodegacomics.org<\/a>, or email [email\u00a0protected]<\/a>. Press inquiries should be directed to [email\u00a0protected]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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