LDComics Women’s Graphic Novel Awards is back for 2021

By John Freeman on May 29, 2021

LDComics has announced their annual women’s graphic novel competition, open to women-identifying artists only, is back this year – and ready to seek out the new, up and coming talent.

Digital submissions opened on 26th April and the LDComics team are excited to scout out some great new comic ideas.

The LDComics Awards are the first prizes for a graphic novel in progress open to women-identifying artists only. The aim is to recognise and celebrate the huge potential of comics that are currently being produced by women in the UK and Ireland. The LDComics Award will be awarded to the graphic novel in progress that shows the most promise, in the opinion of the judges.

The prize itself consists of a £2000 award to the overall winner, with the five shortlisted entries also receiving £200 each.

The LDC 2020 winner was Rima Sabina Aouf, with her graphic novel Yugo, a work in progress.

“Yugo is a biography of my mother that contains the history of Yugoslavia as a nation,” says Rima. “It examines the nature of historical memory, nostalgia and national identity, while telling the story of one ordinary life in an extraordinary place and time”.

LDComics want to encourage diversity and provide a platform for works in progress to be acknowledged. In addition to the cash prize, shortlisted entries will be guaranteed a place in an online weekend residency with LDC, including one-to-one critical feedback sessions with leading graphic novelists.

One of the shortlisted entries will also be awarded The Rosalind B.Penfold Prize for “finding your voice over the age of 50”. The Penfold Prize recognises that women of all ages should be given the chance to express their voice, especially those who have found their passion for comics later and have a lifetime of important domestic experiences worth documenting.

The LDC 2020 Rosalind B. Penfold prize was awarded to Denise Dorrance, a cartoonist and illustrator
who lived in New York before moving to London, for Polar Vortex, “a humorous and touching tale of confronting life and death, revisiting your past, and the universally complex nature of family.”

LDComics CIC is a UK-based women-led Community Interest Company, established in 2009 as Laydeez do Comics. LDC believes in the transformative potential of the comic form to offer wellbeing through making and reading and socialising around.

LDC’s mission is to unleash the power of comics by providing opportunities and platforms for comic creators to share their work. The Annual LDC Graphic Novel Awards is just one of the many opportunities to help promote and acknowledge new and upcoming comic artists.

• Applications must be submitted via the LDComics website | The deadline for entries is 31st July 2021 (digital) and printed version 31st August 2021

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.