Comics Issue 2009

By overwhelming majority vote, Afrocentric feminist and regular letter-to-the-editor writer Larnell Custis Butler's Ask Larnell is the winner of the 2009 installment of City Paper's Comics Contest, earning her a one-year paid gig in Baltimore's Most Comical Alternative Weekly.

Thanks to this year's panel of distinguished celebrity judges, in no particular order : Benn Ray of Atomic Books, who has also taken the time to provide the aspiring cartoonist with some sage advice, Funny Paper's Tom Scocca, Dirt Farm's Ben Claassen III, Emily Flake of Lulu Eightball fame, Tony Millionaire of the one-and-only Maakies, and Dina Kelberman, creator of last year's winner, Important Comics, which will stick around in a mutated form in the pages of CP for the foreseeable future.

It is the considered opinion of the judges that Ms. Custis Butler's comic is: "Incredible work. I must see more of this comic strip." (Millionaire), "These are CRAZY. How fucking EXCITED would you be to read a new one of these every week???" (Kelberman), "I want to watch this self-destruct. Cuz you know it will. And it will be awesome." (Ray), "Definitely the only one I would check up on each week to see what it was up to." (Claassen III)

Again, overwhelmingly, St. Sebastian Materializes in the Present Day by "N" (with an arrow through it--you'll get it when you see the strip) takes second place, and Bruiser and Dude Child by Christopher Adams completes the field of prize winners. Second place receives a $100 gift certificate good at Bin 604 Wine Sellers (because we assume all cartoonists drink), and third place receives a $50 tab at Cinghiale Osteria, since we assume all cartoonists eat, but they have drinks there, too. Sincere Honorable Mention plaudits to (in alphabetical order) Dumb Ass by June Schmidt, Edgerock by M.G. Toth, Pickle Jar by Ryan Dumas, Sassyfrass by Jenna Brager, and Ben Steigler's untitled entry.

First Place: Just Ask Larnell

Comics Feature: by Larnell Custis Butler

Second Place: St. Sebastian Materializes In The Present Day

Comics Feature: by N

Third Place: Bruiser & Dude Child

Comics Feature: by Christopher Adams

Honorable Mention

Comics Feature: Edgerock by M.G. Toth, Untitled by Ben Stiegler, Pickle Jar by Ryan Dumas, Sassyfrass by Jenna Brager, and Dumb Ass by June Schmidt

The Rest

Comics Feature: The rest of the entries.

Simple Cartooning Tips for The Comics Inclined

Comics Feature: Some pointers for future would-be cartoonists thinking about entering the next City Paper Comics Contest. by Benn Ray

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