Dean Simons

Awards coverage

Some things are predictable (except the timing).

The chances of a new festival - or any festival - taking place in Angoulême in 2027 have narrowed.

an older man is holding a piece of paper that says wonder man on it ALT: an older man is holding a piece of paper that says wonder man on it

Gave Wonder Man a quick look. I wasn’t expecting to see Croydon and Coronation Street referenced in the first episode (both are real things)

YouTube video by 東映アニメーション公式YouTubeチャンネル [DRAGON BALL] 40th Anniversary Special Video

a special promo video was just released celebrating (over) 40 years of Dragon Ball . With a special score by Hans Zimmer (?!), Toriyama’s original manga pages came to life. Also it announced next series of Dragon Ball Super is in production, subtitled “Galactic Patrol” (Moro arc from Super Manga)

An Angoulême update. My usual explainer of a rather unusual set of circumstances.

After 53 years, FIBD is “officially” dead. For legal reasons. But a comics festival in Angoulême - the “comics capital” - will take place.

Also, explaining what is taking place next week

Hopefully it makes sense

Did a review

« Ami » de Jeffrey Dahmer, il raconte son histoire avec ce tueur en série qui « surgit sans cesse là où on ne l’attend pas » Dans le documentaire « le Cannibale de Milwaukee » réalisé par Olivier Mirguet, l’auteur Derf Backderf revient sur la conception de sa BD culte « Mon ami Dahmer », récit de sa vie de lycéen aux côtés ...

@derfbackderf.bsky.social doing press for the premiere of a French documentary about the making of his graphic novel My Friend Dahmer. Published by Abrams ComicArts (2012), the French edition was published by Ca et Là in 2013. The documentary for the Arte channel debuted this evening in France.

17 valeurs sûres en BD à offrir à quelqu’un que vous ne connaissez pas bien (la sœur de votre collègue) Du « Photographe » au « Combat ordinaire » en passant par « Tamara Drewe » et « Aya de Yopougon ».

Spotted this list from French publication Nouvel Obs. It was posted December 22, 2025. The title is pretty much "17 Comics To Gift Someone You Don't Know Very Well".

Most (13/17) I believe are/were available in English. Some digital only via Europe Comics. It's a curious mix.

YouTube video by Star Wars Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord | Official Teaser Trailer | Streaming April 6 on Disney+

Animated Star Wars in Disney+ era has been consistently great with quality of animation coming leaps and bounds from the early days of Clone Wars.

Intrigued by elements teased for Maul: Underworld, bunch of Jedi apprentices on the run, and the Emperor’s Inquisitors after Maul

YouTube video by Kermitment - A Muppets Podcast Kermit the Frog will return in Avengers: Doomsday

Finally, a character that will actually make me more than 5% interested in Avengers: Doomsday

Soli Deo Gloria wins 2026 Fnac France Inter Comics Prize Soli Deo Gloria by writer Jean-Christophe Deveney and artist Édouard Cour (Dupuis) was picked the 2026 recipient of the Fnac France Inter Prix BD. The winner, chosen by a final panel of journalists and booksellers, was announced live on daily morning show La Grande Matinale on January 7 during a special day of programming devoted to comics.

Soli Deo Gloria wins 2026 Fnac France Inter Comics Prize

Soli Deo Gloria by writer Jean-Christophe Deveney and artist Édouard Cour (Dupuis) was picked the 2026 recipient of the Fnac France Inter Prix BD. The winner, chosen by a final panel of journalists and booksellers, was announced live on…

Hannah McCann’s ST. BRIGID & ME wins First Graphic Novel Award 2025 Hannah McCann’s graphic memoir about abortion rights and folklore in Northern Ireland, St Brigid & Me, has been named the 2025 winner of the UK's First Graphic Novel Award

Hannah McCann’s ST. BRIGID & ME wins First Graphic Novel Award 2025

Hannah McCann’s graphic memoir about abortion rights and folklore in Northern Ireland, St Brigid & Me, has been named the 2025 winner of the UK's First Graphic Novel Award

Influential 2000 AD precursor ACTION to release 50th Anniversary Special in April The special issue of the influential – and controversial – British comic precursor to 2000 AD will feature four all-new iterations of classic stories from the original anthology, spearheaded by Garth Ennis

Influential 2000 AD precursor ACTION to release 50th Anniversary Special in April

Frames and lenses for the analogue version are expensive enough!

…And then you have someone correct you. Yep. Had that.

I suspect that is where most of the unusual or more complex words I use come from. No idea what I read to discover them.

Sometimes they pop up as I write and I have to double check the meaning correctly applies. Did it today, in fact.

I still use a dictionary when I read. And I sometimes write things down.

Don’t have to just read the easier books. If you are curious about it, give the book a try. So many worlds to explore. Fiction and non-fiction.

Also dig that he looks up the correct pronunciation. I forget to do that part 😅

I still do it, I just don’t have to carry a physical dictionary around any more.

Challenging ourselves is the best way to learn and improve.

I...kind of want this, but my bank balance says 'No.' 😔

www.next.co.uk/style/su9915...

Spotted this on BBC News. West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster proudly showing off surrendered weapons.

And now I am wondering where you need to go for authentic blood wine in the West Midlands. Wolverhampton? Coventry? #startrek

Another thing I try to do when I cover awards:

If it is small press or self published with limited distribution, I will look up the website or place where people can find the book being nominated. Often it isn’t easy to find and I end up having to link to an Instagram page.

One of the things I often have to do, particularly with awards put together by those outside the comics community/scene, is look up and fill in the creative teams on books. Often they just credit the writer. NAACP was one example but it is depressingly frequent. I hope it changes in future.

Thought Bubble: The Yorkshire Comic Art Festival 2026! Dates coming soon!

Join our mailing list to be the first to know: thoughtbubblefestival.com/mailinglist

More award coverage.

More to come.

Took them a little while to make this available but the Nintendo Year in Reviews are up. I thought I hadn’t played that much on my Switch this year. Clearly I was wrong.

See yours at year-in-review.nintendo.com

More awards coverage...And more to come (I have a growing list)

If there is a local, national or international award involving comics that I've missed - do give me the heads up

Started my next read.

Technically breaking my “no sequels, only standalone novels” rule of past two years with this standalone sequel: “Urth of the New Sun” by Gene Wolfe.

I recall its precursor (“Book of the New Sun”) like a mesmerising fever dream. Hopefully this won’t take months to finish

Finished this last night. Never got as disturbing as those few chapters but a gripping read towards the end.

I’ve been staring at the French edition for years. It’s on my list of random manga I want to read in English.

At least the list isn’t growing as much as it used to thanks to alt and mainstream publishers showing more interest in localising stuff (huzzah the English language manga boom).