The Jewish Comics Experience
the 2023 JEWCIE AWARDS

Opening on November 11th, 2023, the Center for Jewish History’s comic book convention, JewCE: The Jewish Comics Experience,celebrates the Jewishness of comics and graphic narratives by exploring the Jewish history of the comics industry, highlighting the diversity of Jewish narratives, characters, and creatorship; and honoring the tradition of Jewish storytelling in the comic book medium.
A vital part of the JewCE convention will be a major public event, the JewCie Awards. The first ceremony ever held in celebration of Jewish comics, the JewCie Awards supports JewCE’s mission by honoring the creators of Jewish comic book narratives, themes, and characters. Such awards serve as a platform to acknowledge and celebrate the unique contributions of artists, storytellers, and creators who have invested their talents and passion into Jewish storytelling through the medium of comics.
Starting an award in Jewish comics not only honors the extraordinary achievements of talented individuals but also encourages the growth and development of the field. It inspires artists to explore Jewish themes, narratives, and characters, and provides them with a platform to share their unique perspectives and stories with a wider audience. The award incentivizes the creation of compelling and authentic representations of Jewish culture, fostering a more inclusive and diverse comic landscape.
The JewCie Awards will be held on the preview night of JewCE, November 11, at the Center for Jewish History. That evening, nine awards will be presented by an distinguished panel of judges from the industry to audience filled with comic book creators and fans. The celebratory evening will include food, drinks, and a sneak preview of the vendors, artists, and exhibit for the following day’s convention.
Tickets are available to purchase alone or in packages with day passes to the convention and other assorted goodies.
The Center for Jewish History cordially invites all creators, industry professionals, collectors, and readers to help celebrate the many artists and writers who have brought memorable Jewish narratives, characters, and materials into the world.
This year’s JewCie Awards Committee of Judges includes:

Selecting the Jewcies
THE CATEGORIES
- Macherke Award for Career Contributions to Jewish Comics
- Artist Honoree of the Year
This is an award to honor an artist who has created work with Jewish content: characters, themes, or stories, working within the last five years. - Writer Honoree of the Year
This is an award to honor an author who has created work with Jewish content: characters, themes, or stories, working within the last five years. - Book award in Diverse Jewish Representation
This is an award for a recent publication with Jewish content that demonstrates exemplary representation of diverse Jewish characters, narratives, or themes. - Award for Historical narratives
An award for a historically themed publication (historical fiction, memoir, or nonfiction) with Jewish themes, characters, or narratives. - Award for Autobiographical Content
An award for an autobiographical publication (graphic novel, web comic, comic strip, etc) with Jewish themes, characters, or narratives. - Award for Contemporary topics
An award for a contemporary themed publication with Jewish themes, characters, or narratives. - Award for Fictional Narratives
An award for a graphic work of fiction with Jewish themes, characters, or narratives. - Combating Prejudice Award
An award for a writer, artist, or cartoonist who has demonstrated dedication to the fight against prejudice through their creative work and publications.
And the Winners will be…
THE NOMINEES
Macherke Award
The Macherke award is a prestigious accolade in the realm of Jewish comics, presented to individuals who have made significant and noteworthy contributions to the field. Derived from the Yiddish word “macher,” meaning a person of influence or importance, the Macherke award recognizes individuals who have exerted their creative prowess and expertise to advance Jewish narratives, themes, and cultural representations within the medium of comics.
Recipients of the Macherke award have not only created impactful works that resonate with diverse audiences but have also contributed to the preservation and celebration of Jewish heritage, traditions, history, and identity through their artistic expressions.
Artist Honoree of the year
- Rutu Modan
- Chari Pere
- Typex
- Terri Liebenson
- Liana Finck
- Erez Zadok
- Jorge Miguel
- Jules Feiffer
- Asaf Hanuka
- Rachel Petrowicz
WRITER Honoree of the year
- Jules Feiffer
- Dani Colman
- Typex
- Jordan Gorfinkel
- Neil Kleid
- Dan Goldman
- Alisa Kwitney
- Asaf Hanuka
Diverse Representation
- But I Live: Three Stories of Child Survivors of the Holocaust
by Charlotte Schallié (Editor),
Barbara Yelin (Illustrator),
Gilad Seliktar (Illustrator),
Miriam Libicki (Illustrator)
[2022, New Jewish Press] - The Unfinished Corner
by Dani Colman and Rachel “Tuna” Petrowicz [2021, Vault/Wonderbound] - Shanghai Dream by Philippe Thirault and Jorge Miguel [2019, LifeDrawn/Humanoids]
- Chunky by Yehudi Mercado [2021, Katherine Tegen Books]
- Intertwined: The Last Jewish Daughter of Kaifeng by Fabrice Sapolsky , Fei Chen , Ho Seng Hui [2023, FairSquare Comics]
- Let There Be Light by Liana Finck [2022, Random House]
- Tunnels by Rutu Modan [2021, Drawn&Quarterly]
Historical Narrative
- Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation by Folman [2018, Generic]
- The Koren Tanakh Graphic Novel: Esther by Jordan Gorfinkiel and Yael Nathan [2023, Koren Publishers Jerusalem]
- When I Grow Up: The Lost Autobiographies of Six Yiddish Teenagers by Ken Krimstein [2021, Bloomsbury]
- Jose and the Pirate Captain Toledano by Arnon Z. Shorr and Joshua M. Edelglass [2022, Kar-Ben Publishing]
- Megilat Esther by JT Waldman [2005, JPS]
- Market Day by James Sturm [2010, Drawn & Quarterly]
- The Librarian of Auschwitz: The Graphic Novel by Salva Rubio, Antonio Iturbe, Loreto Aroca
[2023, Godwin Books] - Brownsville by Neil Kleid and Jake Allen [2006, NBM Publishing] [NBM]
Autobiographical Narrative
- Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant: A Memoir by Roz Chast [2014, Bloomsbury]
- Fair Enough (series) by Danny Lobell [2018 to present, Stand Up Comic Group]
- For Justice: The Serge and Beate Klarsfeld Story, adapted by Pascal Bresson and Sylvain Dorange [2021, Life Drawn/Humanoids]
- One of Those Days by Yehuda and Maya Devir (webcomic) [Also: 2020, Random House]
- How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less by Sarah Glidden [2011, Vertigo/First Edition]
- Chunky by Yehudi Mercado [2021, Katherine Tegen Books]
- Chasing Echoes by Dan Goldman and Gégê Schall [2019, Life Drawn]
- The Property by Rutu Modan [2013, Drawn & Quarterly]
- The Realist: Last Day on Earth by Asaf Hanuka [2015, Archaia]
- The Complete Maus: A Survivor’s Tale by Art Spiegelman [1996, Pantheon]
- Flying Couch: A Graphic Memoir by Amy Kurzweil [2016, Catapult]
Contemporary Topics
- The Dairy Restaurant by Ben Katchor [2020, Schocken]
- The Big Kahn by Neil Kleid and Nicolas Cinquegrani [2009, NBM]
- All the Answers by Michael Kupperman [2018, Gallery 13]
- Chunky Goes to Camp by Yehudi Mercado [2022, Katherine Tegan]
- The Property by Rutu Modan [2013, D & Q]
- Sylvie by Sylvie Kantorowitz [2021, Walker Books US]
- Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant: A Memoir by Roz Chast [2014, Bloomsbury]
- The Realist: Last Day on Earth by Asaf Hanuka [2015, Archaia]
Fictional Narrative
- Sandman #8 “The Sound of Her Wings” by Neil Gaiman, Mike Dringenberg & Malcolm Jones III [1989, DC Comics]
- Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem, by Steve Niles and Dave Wachter, [2014, Dark Horse Books]
- Unterzakhn by Leela Corman [2012, Schocken]
- Hereville Trilogy by Barry Deutsch [2010-2015, Amulet Books]
- We Only Kill Each Other by Stephanie Phillips and Peter Krause [2022, Dark Horse Books]
- A Bunch of Jews (and Other Stuff): A Minyen Yidn by Max B. Perlson and Trina Robbins et al [2017, Bedside Press]
- Tunnels by Rutu Modan [2021, Drawn & Quarterly]
- The Unfinished Corner by Dani Colman and Rachel “Tuna” Petrowicz [2021, Vault/Wonderbound]
Combating Prejudice
- Riad Sattouf
- James Sturm
- Neal Adams, Rafael Medoff, Craig Yoe
- Art Spiegelman
- Peter Kuper
- E. Lockhart
- G. Willow Wilson
- Ronald Wimberly