The shortlists for this year’s Excelsior Award  were announced in mid December. Celebrating the best graphic novels and manga, the nationwide award covers books for readers aged nine to adult, across four age categories.

The 20 shortlisted titles were selected by a panel of librarians, comic creators and booksellers but the winners will be chosen by groups of young judges aged 9-18 in schools around the country.

Graphic novels can be a great way into reading for many young people and one of the main aims of the award is to promote reading for pleasure. Voting is open until Friday 17th April, so there is still time for schools to register a Reading and Rating Group as part of their plans for the National Year of Reading. Find out more about how to get involved here.

Commenting on this year’s shortlists, Paul Register, award founder said: ‘I am really pleased with the books we have chosen this year, especially the new Excelsior Award Black (sponsored by AccessIt Library) which we are now aiming directly at school librarians and other assorted grown-ups! Some superb books on that shortlist.’

Congratulations to all the shortlisted writers and artists!

Excelsior Award: White Shortlist (9+)

Hilda and Twig: Wake the Ice Man written and illustrated by Luke Pearson (Flying Eye Books)

Tales of the Emotosphere written by Russ Daff and Dr Susannah Redhead, illustrated by Russ Daff (ZunTold)

Minecraft: The Manga (Volume 1) written and illustrated by Kazuyoshi Seto (VIZ Media)

Almost Sunset written and illustrated by Wahab Algarmi  (HarperAlley)

Unfairies written and illustrated by Huw Aaron (Puffin)

 

Excelsior Award: Blue Shortlist (11+)

Cat + Crazy (Volume 1) written and illustrated by Wataru Nadatani  (Dark Horse)

Star Wars: Jango Fett – Trail of Lost Hope written by Ethan Sacks, illustrated by Luke Ross (Marvel)

DC X Sonic the Hedgehog written by Ian Flynn and illustrated by Adam Bryce Thomas (DC Comics)

When the Sky Falls written by Phil Earle and illustrated by Fred Fordham (Andersen Press)

Symbiote Spider-Man 2099 written by Peter David and illustrated by Roge Antonio (Marvel)

 

Excelsior Award: Red Shortlist (14+)

Stranger Things and Dungeons and Dragons: The Rise of Hellfire written by Jody Hauser and Eric Campbell, and illustrated by Diego Galindo (Dark Horse)

Cosmos, Vol 1 written and illustrated by Ryuhei Tamura (VIZ Media)

The Uncanny X-Men: Red Wave written by Gail Simone and illustrated by David Marquez (Marvel)

Astral Panic written and illustrated by Katie Hicks (Flying Eye Books)

Kneel Before Zod written by Joe Casey and illustrated by Dan McDaid (DC Comics)

 

Excelsior Award: Black Shortlist (adults)

LOW: Bowie’s Berlin Years written and illustrated by Reinhard Kleist (SelfMadeHero)

Dry Cleaned written and illustrated by Joris Mertens and translated by Julia Blackburn and Sandra van Beek) (Jonathan Cape)

The Bank: Volume 1 written by Pierre Boiserrie and Philippe Guillaume, translated by Jerome Saincantin, and illustrated by Julien Maffre (Cinebooks)

It Rhymes with Takei written by George Takei, Steven Scott & Justin Eisinger, illustrated by Harmony Becker (Top Shelf Productions)

The Once and Future Riot written and illustrated by Joe Sacco (Jonathan Cape)

The winners of this year’s Excelsior Award will be revealed in July 2026 – look out for our winner announcement!