(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New Bedford, MA/USA—March 1, 2025) The non-profit Inkwell Awards, devoted to promoting the art of comic book inking, has released the list of artists participating in its eighth annual Joe Sinnott Inking Challenge Spotlight. This year’s Challenge features legendary creator Rudy Nebres offering two jungle-themed warrior pieces in blue pencil. Yes, two, which is a call back to a tradition from the original Joe Sinnott Inking Challenges where Joe drew two characters, and after a while he drew one character tightly and the other loosely, to allow artists a chance to render either straight inks or ink finishes or both. Bob shared “Due to a delay getting the Joe Sinnott Legacy Inking Challenge with Al Milgrom launched after the previous Challenge of the same name, this Spotlight event will run immediately following the recently ended one. Which is also much appreciated with the current economy-related difficulties in our fundraising. Thankfully, Rudy and his agent Anthony Isaza were graciously ready to accommodate when asked to participate in support“.
Rudy was a part of the Filipino comics industry until 1971 when Joe Orlando and Carmine Infantino visited the Philippines to recruit artists for American comic books at DC Comics. These artists were equally recognized for their penciling and embellishing skills, rendered often in lush, detailed strokes. He was one of several artists to relocate to the States in the 1970s from a generation that included Nestor Redondo, Alfredo Alcala, Tony DeZuniga, Ernie Chan, Alex Nino, Gerry Talaoc, Romeo Tanghal, Danny Bulanadi and many more, opening up decades of talent outsourcing to this day. (Alcala, Bulanadi, and Chan would all receive the Inkwell’s Lifetime Achievement awards posthumously.) At DC, he and his peers worked on DC’s mystery line of titles and more with Rudy eventually producing many DC covers. Before long he was working on the Marvel B&W magazines alongside his contemporaries and several series like John Carter, Warlord of Mars, Dr. Strange, Power Man & Iron Fist as well as many covers. This led to working at Warren Publishing in the 1980s as well as Pacific Comics, Archie’s heroes line, and Continuity Comics before transitioning out of comics and towards storyboarding and commercial art in the 1990s. In 2017, Nebres was awarded the Inkwell Awards Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame award for “an inking career in American comic books of outstanding accomplishment”.
Rudy offered the following statement “I’m flattered and honored to be a part of this Inking Challenge. I am looking forward to seeing some great inking by many talented artists. And I hope it raises money for what is definitely a good cause.” Bob added, “Rudy has been used to inking himself or others for decades but having several other capable artists ink-finish his breakdowns is a rarity that he truly looks forward to cherishing.“
According to Bob, the Spotlight Challenge grew out of the original Joe Sinnott Inking Challenge but showcases legendary and contemporary, “fan-favorite” talents on a more limited scale with various veteran published inkers. In chronological order, previous Spotlight pencillers were Jim Lee, Neal Adams, Erik Larsen, David Finch, Ivan Reis, Mike Deodato Jr., and Walter Simonson.
The participating ink artists (in alphabetical order) are:
Sergio Cariello
Kevin Conrad
Elisabetta D’Amico (tentative)
Elisabetta D’Amico (tentative)
Marc Deering
Michelle Delecki
Daniel Henriques (tentative)
Don Ho
Geof Isherwood
Kevin Kobasic
Tony Kordos
Jay Leisten
Jose Marzan Jr. (tentative)
Mark McKenna
Jose Marzan Jr. (tentative)
Mark McKenna
Roland Paris
Dan Parsons
Andrew Pepoy
Andrew Pepoy
Norm Rapmund
Bart Sears (tentative)
Oclair Alberto Silvério
Bob Smith
Mark Stegbauer
J.L. Straw
Jonas Trindade
LeBeau Underwood
Keith Williams
Some of the participating artists will choose one image version or the other or both. Changes in the roster often take place with artists needing to drop out due to work schedule conflicts and others subsequently pulled in from a waiting list so the final line-up may differ by auction time. “Every year we are thrilled with the response from the artist community,” Almond said. “We realize schedules can be crazy, so we are very grateful to those who can step up.” Much like the Legacy version, the Challenge Spotlight furthers the inking advocacy’s dual mission of promoting the art form and educating the public. Blue-lined art files featuring the penciled Rudy Nebres pinups are sent to the artists to finish in ink. Each inked page will be signed by Nebres and the respective inker and include a certificate of authenticity signed with limited numbering assigned by Almond. All pages will be previewed at the Inkwell Awards Facebook group page and subsequently auctioned on the Inkwells’ eBay page in two to three waves occurring in two-week intervals starting in late March (specific date to be announced as we get closer). In the later, traditionally-displayed, animated gif of samples, fans will be able to see the difference in the penciled and inked versions to better understand how much inkers contribute to the art form. After auctions run the original blue pencil art of the Angry Jungle Warrioress will be auctioned. Proceeds from the auction support fundraising for the Inkwells. Said Almond, “On behalf of the Inkwells, our sincerest thanks to the participating artists, some of which had just recently also inked the Al Milgrom blue-line art, Anthony, Rudy, and all involved for their cooperation, support of our program, and appreciation of ink artists.”
The Inkwell Awards is the only official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and educate regarding the art form of comic-book inking, as well as annually recognize the best ink artists and their work. Established in 2008, the Inkwells are overseen by a volunteer committee of industry professionals and assisted by various professional ambassadors and contributors. They sponsor the Dave Simons Inkwell Memorial Scholarship Fund for the Kubert School and host the Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame Award. As of 2024, their live awards ceremony is hosted at the Hershey Comic Con.
About Author
