The shortlists for this year’s Excelsior Award  – the UK’s biggest award for graphic novels and manga for young people – were announced just before the end of term in December. Graphic novels can be a great way into reading for many young people and the main aim of the Excelsior Award is to promote Reading for Pleasure, while also raising the profile of this often under-rated genre.

The shortlists for the four age categories were selected by a panel of librarians, comic creators and booksellers but the winners are chosen by the young readers themselves. All schools in the UK and Ireland can register to take part in the Excelsior Award and the deadline for voting is Friday 21st April 2023. Find out more about the award and how to get involved here.

Congratulations to all of this year’s shortlisted writers and artists!

 

Excelsior Award White (9+) Shortlist 2023

My Buddy, Killer Croc by Sara Farizan and Nicoletta Baldari (DC Comics)

The Girl and the Glim by India Swift (IDW)

Bunny vs Monkey:Machine Mayhem by Jamie Smart (David Fickling Books)

Green Arrow: Stranded by Brendan Deneen and Bell Hosalla (DC Comics)

Godzilla: Monsters and Protectors  – Rise Up! by Erik Burnham and Dan Schoening (IDW)

 

Excelsior Award Blue (11+) Shortlist 2023

The Thing: The Next Big Thing by Walter Mosley and Tom Reilly (Marvel Comics)

Akkad by Clarke (Cinebooks)

Cat + Gamer by Water Nadatani (Dark Horse)

The Death of Doctor Strange by Jed MacKay and Lee Garrett

Run On Your New Legs by Water Midori (Yen Press)

 

Excelsior Award Red (14+) Shortlist 2023

Chivalry by Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran (Headline)

Deadpool: Samurai by Sanshiro Kasama and Hikaru Uesugi (Viz Media)

Lost Lad London by Shinya Shima (Yen Press)

Eve by Victor LaValle and Jo Mi-Gyeong (Boom Studios)

Hellboy: The Bones of Giants by Mike Mignola, Christopher Golden and Matt Smith (Dark Horse)

 

Excelsior Award Black (16+) Shortlist 2023

Days of Sand by Aimee de Jongh (SelfMadeHero)

I Want To Be a Wall by Honami Shironon (Yen Press)

Moon Knight: The Midnight Mission by Jed MacKay and Alessandro Cappuccino (Marvel Comics)

Let’s Go Karaoke by Yama Wayama (Yen Press)

The Many Deaths of Laila Starr by Ram V and Filipe Andrade (Broom Studios)

The winners of this year’s Excelsior Award will be revealed in July 2023 – look out for our winner announcement!