Damian Duffy (writer, scholar, cartoonist, and U of I alum and iSchool lecturer) and John Jennings (artist and U of I alum and former professor) have won an Eisner Award in the category “Best Adaptation from Another Medium” for their graphic novel adaptation of Octavia Butler’s Kindred.
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards are given annually during San Diego Comic Con International, and celebrate the best of the year in the comics and comics-adjacent industry. Other winners this year included Roxane Gay and Ta-Nehisi Coates for their rendition of the Black Panther comic, which is to say: It’s a pretty big deal.
If you haven’t picked up a copy of Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, you can do so here. There are also copies available at the local libraries. It’s an incredible book. You can read a quick interview and review of the book on NPR here.
U of I Assistant Professor of Graphic Design Stacey Robinson and his son Solomon Robinson (Central High School alum) worked as color assistants on the project.
Congrats to Duffy and Jennings and their teams!
Top image screenshot from Abrams Books; headshot by T-Stagg Photography and courtesy of Damian Duffy