For the past few months, young people across the country have been reading, discussing and reviewing the shortlisted titles for this year’s Excelsior Award, the UK’s longest-running award for graphic novels and manga for young people.

The votes have now been counted and this year’s Overall Winner declared. Congratulations to Manlio Castagna, Harriet Webster, Lorenzo Colangeli and Francesca Dell’Omodarme for their bright and bold Disney graphic novel adventure Hades: The Horn of Plenty  (Autumn Publishing).

Featuring the villain of Disney blockbuster Hercules, Hades: The Horn of Plenty follows the Greek God of the Underworld in his attempt to get revenge on his fellow gods by stealing their pet goat Amalthea and using her magic horn to make all his wicked wishes come true.

To be declared this year’s Overall Winner, Hades: The Horn of Plenty had first to be chosen as the winner of the White (9+) category from a shortlist of five titles before going on to beat the winners of the three other award categories – Blue (11+), Red (14+) and Black (16+).

Commenting on this year’s award, founder Paul Register said: ‘Hades was a very interesting winner as, although it is a spin-off of the American-made Disney movie Hercules(1997), the style of storytelling within this book has a very European flavour. Thank you to all the schools that took part this year!’

Joe Fixit by Peter David and Yildiray Cinar (Marvel) – Excelsior Award Blue (11+)

Grim Volume 1: Don’t Fear the Reaper by Stephanie Phillips, Flaviano and Rico Renzi (Boom) – Excelsior Award Red (14+)

Redbeard – Volume 1 by Jean-Charles Kraehn, and Stefano Carloni (Cinebook) – Excelsior Award Black (16+)

Find out more about the Excelsior Award and how your school can get involved here.  See all the titles shortlisted for this year’s Excelsior Award here.