UPDATED: Jan. 6, 2016, 5pm
Daniel Clowes announced Tuesday that he is pulling himself from a list of 30 nominees for a prestigious comic award in support of a boycott of the contest over the fact that all the nominees were men.
Clowes, the Oakland-based comic artist described by the New York Times as being one of today’s most successful and respected graphic novelists, posted his decision on his publisher Fantagraphics' website after the nominees were announced Tuesday morning.
“I support the boycott of Angouleme and am withdrawing my name from any consideration for what is now a totally meaningless ‘honor.’ What a ridiculous, embarrassing debacle,” Clowes is quoted saying on the blog post.
The centerpiece of a gigantic, 42-year-old comic festival in France, Grand Prix d’Angouleme could be considered the greatest honor a comic artist can receive. The winner's work is celebrated by a festival that attracts 200,000 people a year. At special exhibits about the honoree's process, the artist is invited to draw comics live for thousands of spectators in a recreation of his or her studio. And then the winner even becomes president of the jury that selects the following year's nominees.