Canadian comic book news for May 16, 2026

Welcome to the True North Country Comics Podcast — dedicated to celebrate Canadian comic book and graphic novel creators and supporters.

Here’s the latest news about Canadian comic book and graphic novel creators and supporters for Saturday, May 16, 2026

Sweeney Boo reveals next graphic novel project
In her podcast chat, Sweeney Boo spoke about her next graphic novel project working with Kami Garcia on High School Bites. During the chat, she said the story is a bit of ‘Jennifer’s Body’ and it’s reminiscent of the ‘Buffy’ TV series. Listen to more of the True North Country Comics interview with Sweeney Boo.

Here’s the 27th Bédélys Awards winners
This week, the 27th Bédélys Awards were announced and presented by the Montreal Comic Arts Festival in collaboration with SODC. The winners include:
– Lee Lai for Cannon (published by Drawn & Quarterly) in the category of Best comic book by a Québec artist published in Québec. Presented by Librairie Planète BD. 
– Erika Soucy and Geneviève Bigué for La Maison Cachette (published by La Pastèque) in the category of Best comic book for an audience aged 14 and under by a Québec artist published in Québec. Presented by Télé-Québec.
– Karima Lacroix for Les pieds d’Isadora (published by Amirak Delate Creations) in the category of Best self-published francophone comic book in Québec.
– Nina Drew for Take That (self published) in the category of Best self-published anglophone comic book in Quebec.
– Van Lalonde for La Nuit aux loups (published by Casterman) in the category of Best French-language comic book intended for young people aged 7 to 14.
– Jesse Lonergan for Drome (published by 23rd St.) in the category of Best French-language comic book published outside Québec.
Congratulations to all.

Patrick Allaby offers sneak peak about future plans
During a recent chat with Patrick Allaby, he mentioned that his future graphic novel plans include combining his recent books The Water Love, Customer Service and Ontario & Back into a complete collection. He said details are still in the works and the project may take a few years. Listen to more of the True North Country Comics interview with Patrick Allaby.

Dartmouth Comic Arts Festival announces poster
On Instagram, the Dartmouth Comic Arts Festival revealed this year’s poster illustrated by Vivian Zhou. With panel talks slated for August 8, and the vendor exhibition on August 9, the event will occur at Alderney Gate Landing in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Learn more about Vivian Zhou by checking out this recent True North Country Comics interview.

Vivi Partridge to contribute to RAID Studios’ Blitz
While speaking with Vivi Partridge, details emerged about her future projects including the creation of a short comic for RAID Studios’ Blitz magazine. Vivi is also planning to collaborate on a future anthology but couldn’t say more at the time. Listen to more of the True North Country Comics interview with Vivi Partridge.

Sarah Leavitt’s graphic novel Tangles gets animated at Cannes
This week the animated movie Tangles, based on the graphic memoir by Sarah Leavitt, was presented at the Festival de Cannes. The all-star voice cast includes Seth Rogen, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Bowen Yang, Sarah Silverman, and many more. Discover more about Sarah Leavitt in this True North Country Comics interview.

Mélanie La Roche steps down from MCAF executive role
After many productive years as executive director of the Montreal Comic Arts Festival, Mélanie La Roche said she was retiring from the role while speaking in a podcast interview. She plans to continue supporting the arts but moving into movies and TV productions. Mélanie praised the MCAF support team and knows the festival will be in good hands in the future. Listen to more of the True North Country Comics interview with Mélanie La Roche.

Aaron Reynolds wins 2026 Webby Award
The 2026 Webby Awards were handed out this week and creator Aaron Reynolds won for his humorous, yet off-colour series Effin’ Birds. Learn more about Aaron Reynolds and his work in this True North Country Comics interview.

That’s a wrap on Brantford Comic Con 2026
Brantford Comic Con 2026 took place last weekend and by all accounts it was a great time had by all. Comic book creator Andrew Thomas was a key contributor to the planning of the comic con. Learn more about Andrew by checking out this recent True North Country Comics interview.

Alina Tysoe wins Forest of Reading Award
Announced this week, Alina Tysoe received the Silver Birch Express Award for The Great Puptective 02 Purranormal Activity (published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers). The awards are presented by the Ontario Library Association and the Forest of Reading. Learn more about Alina Tysoe by discovering this True North Country Comics interview.

Canadians nominated for 2026 Eisner Awards
The 2026 Eisner Award nominations were announced this week and Canadian creators were among the many talented artists and writers. The notable nominees include:
– Christian Giroux for The Accidental Undergrad (published by Fieldmouse Press) in the category of Best Webcomic
– Conor McCreery and Jibola Fagbamiye for Fela: Music Is The Weapon (published by Amistad) in the category of Best Reality-Based Work. Learn more about this book in this True North Country Comics interview
– Guy Delisle, along with translators Helge Daschert and Rob Aspinal, for Muybridge (published by Drawn & Quarterly) in the category of Best Reality-Based Work
– Jamal Campbell for Zatanna (published by DC) in the category of Best Writer/Artist. Discover more about Jamal Campbell in this True North Country Comics interview.
– Julie Rocheleau, along with Julian Voloj, for Globetrotters: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland’s World Tour (published by Abrams Comic Arts) in the category of Best Reality-Based Work. Learn more about Julie Rocheleau in this True North Country Comics interview
– Lee Lai for Cannon published by Drawn & Quarterly) in the category of Best Graphic Album-New. Learn more about Lee Lai in this True North Country Comics interview
– Mariko Tamaki, along with Nicole Gaux, for This Place Kills Me (published by Abrams Fanfare) in the category of Best Publication For Teens AND in the category of Best Writer
– Michael Walsh, along with James Tynion IV, Pornsak Pichetshote and others for Exquisite Corpses (published by Image) in the Category of Best New Series. Discover more about Michael Walsh in this True North Country Comics interview
– Tate Brombal, along with Jacob Phillips for Everything Dead and Dying (published by Image) in the category of Best Limited Series
– Tony Cliff for Practical Defense Against Piracy (published by delilahdirk.com) in the category of Best Digital Comic. Discover more about Tony Cliff in this True North Country Comics interview

The Eisner Award trophies will be presented during a gala awards ceremony held on July 24 during Comic-Con at the San Diego Hilton Bayfront Hotel.

Thanks for reading and remember to subscribe to True North Country Comics

P.S. While this may seem a wee bit off the beaten path, I wanted to call out a new game from Montreal-based Unreliable Narrators called The Caribou Trail. As I hail from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, the history of the province especially in First World War continues to be a fascination for me. The Caribou Trail is described as a ‘visceral, first-person narrative experience about a band of friends from Newfoundland, sent on some of the most unlikely missions of the Great War’.