King Features’ cartoonist Hilary B. Price wins Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year for “Rhymes with Orange” and Wayno wins Best Newspaper Panel Award for “Bizarro” strip at 2024 awards ceremony
NEW YORK, September 4, 2024 – King Features Syndicate, a unit of Hearst and home to some of the world’s most popular entertainment characters, is celebrating two wins at the National Cartoonist Society’s 78th annual Reuben Awards. Held on Thursday, August 22, during the NCS Annual Reuben Awards Weekend, the Reuben Awards are hosted by the National Cartoonists Society (NCS) to celebrate the year’s outstanding achievements within the profession.
During the ceremony, Hilary B. Price was presented with the Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year Award, the cartooning industry’s highest honor, by For Better or For Worsecreator Lynn Johnston. The award recognizes Price for her work on the beloved comic stripRhymes with Orange. This prestigious accolade is a testament to Price’s exceptional talent, creativity, and consistent ability to resonate with readers. Over the years,Rhymes with Orange has become a staple in comics, celebrated for its sharp wit, insightful humor, and relatable content. The Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year is chosen by a secret ballot of the members of the National Cartoonists Society.
Hilary B. Price is an accomplished cartoonist, storyteller, and speaker. Rhymes with Orange appears in newspapers internationally and is a four-time winner of Best Newspaper Panel Cartoon by the National Cartoonists Society. Her passion is to teach people how to access their ideas and show them ways to simplify and amplify their stories. Price graduated from Stanford University, and at the age of 25 became the youngest-ever female syndicated newspaper cartoonist. Her journey introduced perspectives that did not exist on the comics page.
Price said, “I’m still buzzing from it! The nominees and winners are chosen by members of The National Cartoonists Society, the pros in the field, so it’s a recognition from peers I both admire and respect. To join the ranks of other past winners like Roz Chast or Lynda Barry– artists whose work I use to teach the craft of single panel cartooning– makes the honor even more special!”
Additionally, Wayno was presented with the Best Newspaper Panel award for his work on Bizarro. Wayno’s unique blend of surreal humor and whimsical art has made Bizarro a favorite among readers and critics. This win also honors the legacy of Dan Piraro, the original creator of Bizarro, whose innovative style laid the groundwork for Wayno’s continued success.
Wayno is a cartoonist, illustrator, writer, and musician based in Pittsburgh, PA, who has been writing and drawing the Monday through Friday Bizarro panels since 2018. He has worked in underground and alternative comics and has enjoyed a long career as a humorous illustrator, working with such clients as The New Yorker, Nickelodeon Magazine, Rhino Records, Entertainment Weekly, The Guardian, and The New York Times. His comics panel Wayno Vision ran online from 2014 through 2017. As a writer, Wayno created more than 150 gags for Bizarro, and filled in twice as Bizarro’s guest cartoonist. He has mounted several one-man exhibits of his “cartoon pop” paintings and illustration art and has lectured and taught at Pittsburgh’s world-renowned Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild.
“I’m grateful to my cartooning colleagues for recognizing my work, and honored to join the great cartoonists who have received the Silver Reuben Award for best newspaper panel before me,” said Wayno. “Thanks to everyone at King for the daily support!”
“Congratulations to both Hilary and Wayno on their wins! Hilary is one of the industry’s most innovative cartoonists and Rhymes with Orange has become a comics mainstay through Hilary’s unique wit and creativity. This honor is a long time coming and so well deserved,” said Tea Fougner, editorial director for comics, King Features. “Wayno has honored the legacy of Dan Piraro while bringing his own spin to the strip and cultivating a diverse following of Bizarro fans. We at King Features are incredibly proud of them both and look forward to bringing their work to readers around the world for many years to come.”
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