The full nominations list for the 57th NAACP Image Awards were announced Monday with graphic novels enjoying a third year as a separate category. Comics-inspired media also had a pretty good showing – with 13 nominations in total. The NAACP Image Awards will take place February 28, 8PM (ET) at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, which will be livestreamed via BET and CBS.
Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP, said: “The NAACP Image Awards is our declaration to our community that ‘We See You,’ affirming Black creativity, excellence, and humanity across every space where our stories are told. From film, television, and music to literature and beyond, the voices of all of our nominees tell stories that honor our past, celebrate our identity, and remind us that storytelling has the power to move culture forward.”
In the graphic novel category – formally called ‘Outstanding Literary Work – Graphic Novel’ – there is a pretty broad mix of work. Of the five nominations, two were middle grade graphic novels – one historical fiction/adaptation of the 2010 novel of the same name, One Crazy Summer: The Graphic Novel by Rita William-Garcia & Sharee Miller (HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books); and one about horseriding and fitting-in with Calista Brill, Nilah Magruder, and Elis P.’s Creaky Acres: A Graphic Novel (Penguin Young Readers). There was also a graphic biography about the eventful life of 19th century politician Robert Smalls in Defiant by Rob Edwards, Darrell May, et al (Stranger Comics), a mature revenge thriller with Sheldon Allen, Mauricio Campetella, and Daniele Caramanico’s They Choose Violence (AWA Studios), and a second adaptation with Damien Duffy and John Jenning‘s third Octavia E. Butler project, Parable of the Talents (Abrams ComicArts).
In the wider media categories there were thirteen total nominations, seven of which for the Disney+ Marvel drama series Ironheart:
- Outstanding Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie)
- Outstanding Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie): Dominique Thorne (Riri Williams/Iron Heart) – Ironheart (Disney+)
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie): Lyric Ross (Natalie Washington/N.A.T.A.L.I.E.) – Ironheart (Disney+)
- Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television): Chinaka Hodge – Ironheart (Disney+)
- Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series: Angela Barnes – Ironheart – “The Past Is the Past” (Disney+)
- Outstanding Editing in a Motion Picture or Television Series, Movie, or Special: Deanna Nowell, ACE – Ironheart (Disney+)
- Outstanding Original Score for Television/Film: Marvel’s Ironheart: Vol. 1 (Original Soundtrack) (Hollywood Records)
Meanwhile Marvel animation anthology series Eyes of Wakanda receieved two nominations in Outstanding Children’s Program and Outstanding Original Score for Television/Film. The Cartoon Network animated adaptation of Roye Okupe & Godwin Akpan‘s Iyanu: Child of Wonder (published by YouNeek/Dark Horse Comics, developed by Lion Forge Entertainment) was also nominated in the Outstanding Children’s Program category, as well as for Outstanding Animated Series and Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie, Documentary or Special (Okupe and TV series co-creator Brandon Easton) – making three total nods for Iyanu. The ubiquitous Dog Man (movie) also made an appearance in the nominations list with Lil Rel Howery for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance – Motion Picture.
A lot of genre fare received nominations. Period horror drama Sinners was the headliner with 18 total nominations but Stranger Things (Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Caleb McLaughlin), Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Outstanding Children’s Program and Outstanding Performance by a Youth ) and even Star Trek Section 31 got a nomination (Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie, Documentary or Special – Olatunde Osunsanmi). IT: Welcome to Derry and Wicked For Good also could be spotted amongst the lists.
The NAACP Image Awards have been held since 1967 as an extension of the civil rights and social justice organisation’s core mission by celebrating the work of people of color in the arts and media. The awards today cover a huge number of categories, with the 2026 edition having ninety-seven including music, film, TV, podcasting, videogame streamers, literature and more.
The NAACP – National Association for the Advancement of Colored People – is one of the oldest civil rights organisations in the US. Founded in 1909, it has three sets of annual awards to celebrate Black achievement and representation: the Image Awards for the arts and media; Theatre Awards for achievements on the stage; and finally the Spingarn Medal for outstanding achievement in any field – including education, medicine, science, politics.
Outstanding Literary Work – Graphic Novel
- Creaky Acres: A Graphic Novel, by writer Calista Brill, illustrated by Nilah Magruder, colours by Elis P. (Penguin Young Readers) – new school x horse riding, middle grade
- Defiant: The Story of Robert Smalls, written by Rob Edwards, layouts by Darrell May, interior art by Sean Damien Hill & Alex Paterson, colors by Mauro Salgado & Blond, cover by Nikolas Draper-Ivey (Stranger Comics) – graphic biography (teen)
- One Crazy Summer: The Graphic Novel – based on the 2010 novel by Rita William-Garcia, illustrated by Sharee Miller (HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books) – middle grade, set in 1960s
- Parable of the Talents A Graphic Novel Adaptation, based on the novel by Octavia E. Butler, adapted by Damien Duffy & John Jennings, layouts by David Brame (Abrams ComicArts) – Duffy and Jennings third Butler adaptation, this one concluding the Parable duology
- They Choose Violence, written by Sheldon Allen, illustrated by Mauricio Campetella, colors by Daniele Caramanico (AWA Studios) – Mature series, serialised in 2025, collection just released. Thriller that sees three women turn vigilante to seek revenge on the white supremacists sidestepping the justice system
