The very first edition of the Monsoon Awards is taking place here in Bangkok, championing comics drawn and written by Asian artists.
We all know Marvel and DC. We’re familiar with Iron Man, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, Superman, and Batman. We’ve seen these guys go from page to screen. They’ve died, been resurrected, and their stories have been reimagined in many ways.
Though there’s certainly nothing wrong with being a fan of these comics, there’s more to graphic novels than just superheroes. There’s a vast array of comics out there made by equally talented artists who are self-published or being published by indie presses. Southeast Asia alone is home to many skilled graphic novelists, both budding and established, whose works may get lost in the vast sea of other media.
That’s why the Monsoon Awards was founded, to champion Asian graphic novelists and to introduce their work to a wider audience. And lucky for us, its inaugural edition is being held here in Bangkok.
[Hero and feature image: The Monsoon Awards]
The first edition of the Monsoon Awards to be held in Bangkok
Founded by artists Juliette Yu-Ming Lizeray and Boris Aravindabalan, The Monsoon Awards aims to put a spotlight on Asian comics and artists and increase their visibility internationally. It’s completely independent and led by artists, its jury being comprised of 10 artists from all across Asia.
Some of the categories include Best Graphic Novel, Best Short Comic/Zine, and Best Experimental Comic. The Best Graphic Narrative award will be given to a comic from the host country, so for its inaugural edition, Thai comics will be nominated for this category. The awards are encouraging artists from all across the region to submit their work. If you’re an artist yourself and want to do that, you can find all the submission details on their website. But you better do it quickly since submissions close on 31 May. Finalists will be announced on September.
“We’re doing this out of passion for building connections with creators and communities across the region and earnestness to raise the visibility of Asian comics and creators internationally,” said the founders of the Monsoon Awards. They hope that this is the first of many to come.
The Monsoon Awards will be held during the 2026 Bangkok Comic Arts Festival at the BACC from 14-26 October.
Visit the awards’ website for more info
Note : The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.