Helmut Nickel and Isabel Kreitz awarded Peng! Comic Prize
Comic artist Helmut Nickel has been awarded Munich’s Peng! Prize. Nickel, 87, who adapted the novels The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas and Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, received the award at the Munich Comic Festival. He developed the series Peters seltsame Reisen (i.e. Peter’s strange journeys) and created the first Winnetou comics based on the novels by Karl May.
The Peng! Prize for best German comic went to scenarist Peer Meter and comic artist Isabel Kreitz for their comic narrative about the serial killer Fritz Haarmann. In the manga category, artist Anna Hollmann received the award for her school tale Stupid Story. Das Leben ist kein Ponyhof by Sarah Burrini was awarded as best German online comic.
The detective story Blacksad – die Stille der Hölle (i.e. Blacksad – the silence of hell) by scenarist Juan Diaz Canales and artist Juanjo Guarnido of Spain was selected as best European comic. A special award for outstanding accomplishment for Munich’s comic culture went to author Ralf Palandt and artist Gerhard Schlegel.
The ICOM Independent Comic Prizes were also awarded at the Festival. The zombie tale Die Toten (i.e. the dead) by Stefan Dinter and Christopher Tauber was distinguished as best independent comic. Artist Till Thomas’ love triangle story Zirp was chosen as best self-published comic. Ivo Kircheis and Mamei were given the award for the outstanding scenario for their outer-space road movie Rocket Blues. An additional prize went to the artist Erik for his artwork in the detective story Dédé – Sind Sie tot, Madame? (i.e. Dédé – are you dead, Madame?)
The jury gave a special award to the comic publication Jazam! 5, a yearly anthology of works by talented young comic artists. An additional special award went to the publisher of Reprodukt Verlag. The jury noted that Dirk Rehm’s dedication and commitment “have enhanced and increased the reputation of German comics abroad”.
In addition, the Kurt Schalker Prize for graphic blogging was awarded for the first time. This year, the new Web comic award went to Wolfgang Buechs and his website digirev.de for zuhause während der digitalen revolution (i.e. at home during the digital revolution).
June 2011
