WCCAs 2007, Part 1

The list is out, the usual discussion has ensued, the usual drama has flared, and despite the different date, the Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards are proceeding pretty much as normal.

Here is my list of the categories, who I'm rooting for in each one, and occasionally who I actually think will win the award.

The biggest surprise for me, this year, was how many comics I simply had never heard of. Admittedly, I have been actively trying to keep my webcomic reading list in check - but given the frightening number I read already, and how many of the categories I looked at without having any sense of most of the comics, I'm wondering who really is capable of genuinely evaluating each category.

OUTSTANDING COMIC:
Let's be honest now - after Narbonic wrapping up in their grand finale, it would be surprising to see anyone else take this one home. All the nominees are quality strips, and if it wasn't for the sheer emotional impact of the end of Narbonic, I'd have a tough time deciding.

OUTSTANDING NEWCOMER:
I was very, very sad not to see Minus make the list. The ones on there... are good, but none of them really knock me out of my shoes. I'd be happy seeing Out There as the winner, but suspect Lackadaisy will be the popular choice.

OUTSTANDING ARTIST:
Given that Perry Bible Fellowship is the only one of the lot that I read, it seems like the natural choice. Still, even after glancing at the other strips, I'll stand by it - it isn't the fanciest or most visually cinematic, but Gurewitch is able to very effectively, very vividly, capture and display his ideas. That seems like a good qualification for the title in my book. I think Lackadaisy will win it, though.

OUTSTANDING WRITER:
I suspect this will be another win for Scary-Go-Round has really floored me this year, so I'm rooting for John Allison.

OUTSTANDING LAYOUT:
I'll stay Stuff Sucks, just cause it's awesome, and should win something. The only one of the lot that I feel fits the category is A Lesson is Learned... who didn't quite have enough content this year for me to really feel they qualified.

OUTSTANDING BLACK AND WHITE ART:
Gonna be Digger. It's won it the last two years running, and honestly, hasn't had any others that could really challenge it.

OUTSTANDING USE OF COLOR:
I'd really like to vote for Copper, because it's gorgeous. But, again, it's been absent much of the year in question.

OUTSTANDING PHOTOGRAPHIC COMIC:
I don't read any of these, but from the little I've seen, I'd say A Softer World is where my money lies.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTER RENDERING:
There has to be a better name for this category. Templar Arizona all the way, in any case.

OUTSTANDING ENVIRONMENT DESIGN:
While Gunnerkrigg Court hasn't been quite as intense at dominating the field as last year, it this is one area where it just rocks the house.

OUTSTANDING USE OF THE MEDIUM:
This is a tough choice, as for me, it usually comes down to "Which of these elaborately designed sites least impairs my reading endeavors?" However, this year both Halfpixel and I Am A Rockey Builder actively had some good stuff going for them, so I'd be happy seeing either of them win.

OUTSTANDING WEBSITE DESIGN:
PvPs new design really is slick. And yeah, he didn't design it, and doesn't want the award 'cause he's busy being a grouch, but credit where credit is due - it is the best of the lot.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTER WRITING:
Now this... this is a tough choice. I'm betting Something Positive takes the title back, though I'd personally rather see it go to Scary Go Round.

Tomorrow... the Genres!