Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
The Nib
open-in-new
<h2 id="background">Background</h2> <p>Originally published on <a href="/facts/Medium_(website)/nPx52GLT">Medium</a>, the platform underwent changes in May 2015 resulting in <i>The Nib</i> shifting focus and publishing less content regularly. In July 2015, Bors announced <i>The Nib</i> would no longer publish on Medium and stated he would take the title elsewhere.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> He self-published a collection of comics as a print anthology called <i>Eat More Comics!: The Best of The Nib</i> in September 2015.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p><p>In February 2016, <a href="/facts/First_Look_Media/zYPdBwIC">First Look Media</a> announced it would partner with Matt Bors to relaunch <i>The Nib</i>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> The site officially re-launched under First Look Media in July 2016.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> In October 2016, First Look Media announced that Topic, the company's multimedia storytelling studio, would produce <i>The Nib</i>'s first animated series, also called "The Nib". The series' first episode premiered in June 2017, and its second season launched in March 2018.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> In September 2018, <i>The Nib</i> magazine was launched at the Small Press Expo.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> </p><p>In June 2019, First Look Media decided to stop funding <i>The Nib</i> and laid off its staff as of the end of July 2019.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> Bors announced he would be continuing to publish comics on <i>The Nib</i> with member support from its subscription service, The Inkwell.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> In December 2019, <i>The Nib</i> successfully crowdfunded a new comics anthology <i>Be Gay Do Comics</i>, collecting works by queer artists.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> </p><p>In May 2023, Bors announced that <i>The Nib</i> would cease publishing after the summer of 2023.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> On September 1, 2023, the last email publication was sent out.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a> Bors intends to keep the website and all of its content accessible online in an archived format.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="notable-contributors">Notable contributors</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Lucy_Bellwood/jdKujj3B">Lucy Bellwood</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Ruben_Bolling/PPQzmn10">Ruben Bolling</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Gemma_Correll/H1orgAjE">Gemma Correll</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Mike_Dawson_(cartoonist)/harwa9Rm">Mike Dawson</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Matt_Furie/Bx3f9kjJ">Matt Furie</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/KC_Green/d4UozlxU">KC Green</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Pia_Guerra/ylLppw9U">Pia Guerra</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Chris_Hayes/FYtnV79b">Chris Hayes</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Mattie_Lubchansky/TPH6Ir5n">Mattie Lubchansky</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Pat_Oliphant/T4GkWQ2v">Pat Oliphant</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Nate_Powell/pX8vFBCD">Nate Powell</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Jonathan_Rosenberg_(artist)/m9AECMc1">Jon Rosenberg</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Jen_Sorensen/nhrHMNp7">Jen Sorensen</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Ann_Telnaes/nNx7qvFe">Ann Telnaes</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Tom_Tomorrow/10luBYNt">Tom Tomorrow</a></li></ul> <h2 id="awards-and-nominations">Awards and nominations</h2> <p>In 2016, <i>The Nib</i> received a nomination for a <a href="/facts/Will_Eisner_Comic_Industry_Award/Rdx7arW7">Will Eisner Comic Industry Award</a> for Best Anthology.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a> In 2017, contributors Ted Closson, Sarah Winifred Searle, Eleri Harris, and <a href="/facts/Ben_Passmore/NHe7lj1B">Ben Passmore</a> received nominations for The Cartoonist Studio Prize for Best Web Comic of the Year,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a> and contributor Gemma Correll won a <a href="/facts/National_Cartoonists_Society/VRCvRbEA">National Cartoonists Society</a> <a href="/facts/Reuben_Award/VRCvRbEA">Reuben Award</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a> Also in 2017, contributors Amanda Scurti and <a href="/facts/Mike_Dawson_(cartoonist)/harwa9Rm">Mike Dawson</a> received nominations for <a href="/facts/Ignatz_Awards/rMvAsDYI">Ignatz Awards</a> for Outstanding Online Comic.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23"><sup>23</sup></a> Contributor <a href="/facts/Bianca_Xunise/rEMK1NbG">Bianca Xunise</a> received an Ignatz Award in 2017 for her <i>Nib</i> comic "The Weight of Being Black in America".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24"><sup>24</sup></a> In July 2018, Eleri Harris won the Australian Ledger cartooning prize for her serialized <i>Nib</i> comic <i>Reported Missing</i>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25"><sup>25</sup></a> Contributor Charis Jackson-Barrios was awarded the 2018 Locher Award.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26"><sup>26</sup></a> Her winning entry included several <i>Nib</i> pieces. Mike Dawson also received a nomination in 2018 for an <a href="/facts/Eisner_Award/Rdx7arW7">Eisner Award</a> for Best Webcomic.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:27" href="#fn:27"><sup>27</sup></a> </p><p>In July 2019, contributor Chelsea Saunders won the Locher Award for her Nib work.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:28" href="#fn:28"><sup>28</sup></a> In September 2019, <i>The Nib</i> editorial team, including Matt Bors, Eleri Harris, Matt Lubchansky, Sarah Mirk and Andy Warner, were given an Ignatz Award for Outstanding Series for <i>The Nib</i> magazine.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:29" href="#fn:29"><sup>29</sup></a> Also in September 2019, Matt Bors was given the Transformative Work Award at Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC) for changing the course of comics history.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:30" href="#fn:30"><sup>30</sup></a> In 2019, <i>The Nib</i> won the <a href="/facts/Ringo_Award/HPkrWlJa">Ringo Award</a> for Best Webcomic.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:31" href="#fn:31"><sup>31</sup></a> In 2023, <i>The Nib</i> won an <a href="/facts/Will_Eisner_Comic_Industry_Award/Rdx7arW7">Eisner Award</a> for Best Anthology. This was awarded in the publication's final year of operation, and was awarded to <i>The Nib</i> because of its printed magazine titles in particular.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:32" href="#fn:32"><sup>32</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://thenib.com">Official website</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"The Nib". The Nib. Retrieved January 15, 2020. <a href="https://membership.thenib.com/" target="_blank">https://membership.thenib.com/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Bors, Matt (August 30, 2023). "The End of The Nib". Retrieved September 6, 2023. <a href="https://mattbors.substack.com/p/the-end-of-the-nib" target="_blank">https://mattbors.substack.com/p/the-end-of-the-nib</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Weissman, Cale Guthrie (July 16, 2015). "Popular comics website The Nib has officially left Medium & has launched a $45,000 Kickstarter". Business Insider Australia. Retrieved June 12, 2018. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/comics-website-the-nib-leaves-medium-and-launches-a-45000-kickstarter-2015-7" target="_blank">https://www.businessinsider.com/comics-website-the-nib-leaves-medium-and-launches-a-45000-kickstarter-2015-7</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Mirek, Paul. "Interview with Matt Bors, founder of 'The Nib'". brokenfrontier.com. Retrieved June 12, 2018. <a href="http://www.brokenfrontier.com/matt-bors-interview-the-nib-kickstarter-erika-moen-ron-wimberly-khalid-albaih-gemma-correll-ellen-t-crenshaw/" target="_blank">http://www.brokenfrontier.com/matt-bors-interview-the-nib-kickstarter-erika-moen-ron-wimberly-khalid-albaih-gemma-correll-ellen-t-crenshaw/</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"Matt Bors Brings The Nib to First Look Media - First Look Media". First Look Media. Retrieved June 12, 2018. <a href="https://www.firstlook.media/matt-bors-brings-the-nib-to-first-look-media" target="_blank">https://www.firstlook.media/matt-bors-brings-the-nib-to-first-look-media</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Rainey, James (July 26, 2016). "Pierre Omidyar's First Look Media Relaunches Political Cartooning Site, 'The Nib,' At Democratic Convention". Variety. Retrieved June 12, 2018. <a href="https://variety.com/2016/biz/news/first-look-media-the-nib-relaunch-democratic-national-convention-1201823560/" target="_blank">https://variety.com/2016/biz/news/first-look-media-the-nib-relaunch-democratic-national-convention-1201823560/</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Schwarz, John. ""Topic" Kicks Off Season Two Of "The Nib"". Bubbleblabber. Retrieved June 12, 2018. <a href="https://www.bubbleblabber.com/topic-kicks-off-season-two-of-the-nib/" target="_blank">https://www.bubbleblabber.com/topic-kicks-off-season-two-of-the-nib/</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Nib, The. "The Nib Magazine Fall 2018 « SPX: The Small Press Expo". Retrieved January 15, 2020. <a href="https://www.smallpressexpo.com/listing/the-nib-magazine-fall-2018" target="_blank">https://www.smallpressexpo.com/listing/the-nib-magazine-fall-2018</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Bors, Matt (July 1, 2019). "The Future of The Nib, Again". Medium. Retrieved June 21, 2021. <a href="https://mattbors.medium.com/the-future-of-the-nib-again-d4784efb1125" target="_blank">https://mattbors.medium.com/the-future-of-the-nib-again-d4784efb1125</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Spangler, Todd (June 29, 2019). "Pierre Omidyar's First Look Media Shuts Down Topic Magazine, Ends Funding for The Nib Political Cartooning Site". Variety. Retrieved June 21, 2021. <a href="https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/topic-magazine-shuts-down-the-nib-first-look-media-1203256383/" target="_blank">https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/topic-magazine-shuts-down-the-nib-first-look-media-1203256383/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"The Nib to be Closed by First Look Media... Long Live The Nib?". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. June 29, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2020. <a href="https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/06/28/the-nib-closed-first-look-media-long-live/" target="_blank">https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/06/28/the-nib-closed-first-look-media-long-live/</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>"Comics Crowdfunding Round-Up: Be Gay, Do Comics, Barbarous, and 2 other projects we love". comicsbeat.com. Retrieved January 15, 2020. <a href="https://www.comicsbeat.com/comics-crowdfunding-be-gay-do-comics-barbarous-windsurfer-action-tank/" target="_blank">https://www.comicsbeat.com/comics-crowdfunding-be-gay-do-comics-barbarous-windsurfer-action-tank/</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Bors, Matt (May 22, 2023). "The Future of The Nib" (Press release). The Nib. Retrieved May 24, 2023. <a href="https://thenib.com/the-future-of-the-nib/" target="_blank">https://thenib.com/the-future-of-the-nib/</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Cavna, Michael (September 1, 2023). "The Nib closes down after 10 years of championing comics journalism". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 1, 2023. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/comics/2023/08/31/the-nib-closing/" target="_blank">https://www.washingtonpost.com/comics/2023/08/31/the-nib-closing/</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Bors, Matt (August 30, 2023). "The End of The Nib". Retrieved September 6, 2023. <a href="https://mattbors.substack.com/p/the-end-of-the-nib" target="_blank">https://mattbors.substack.com/p/the-end-of-the-nib</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>"Donate to The Nib and support our comics". The Nib. Retrieved September 7, 2023. <a href="https://membership.thenib.com/donate" target="_blank">https://membership.thenib.com/donate</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>Bors, Matt (May 22, 2023). "The Future of The Nib" (Press release). The Nib. Retrieved May 24, 2023. <a href="https://thenib.com/the-future-of-the-nib/" target="_blank">https://thenib.com/the-future-of-the-nib/</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>"Trump and Bannon Drag Legendary Cartoonist Pat Oliphant Out of Retirement". The Nib. February 9, 2017. Retrieved June 7, 2020. <a href="https://thenib.com/trump-bannon-oliphant-out-of-retirement/" target="_blank">https://thenib.com/trump-bannon-oliphant-out-of-retirement/</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>Cavna, Michael (April 19, 2016). "2016 Eisner Awards: 'The Oscars of comics' announces record number of nominations for women". Washington Post. Retrieved June 12, 2018. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/04/19/2016-eisner-awards-the-oscars-of-comics-announces-record-number-of-nominations-for-women/?noredirect=on" target="_blank">https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/04/19/2016-eisner-awards-the-oscars-of-comics-announces-record-number-of-nominations-for-women/?noredirect=on</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>Brogan, Jacob. "The 2018 Cartoonist Studio Prize Shortlists". Slate Magazine. Retrieved June 12, 2018. <a href="https://slate.com/culture/2018/03/the-cartoonist-studio-prize-shortlist-for-2018.html" target="_blank">https://slate.com/culture/2018/03/the-cartoonist-studio-prize-shortlist-for-2018.html</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>"2017 NCS DIVISIONAL NOMINEES!". National Cartoonists Society. Retrieved June 12, 2018. <a href="http://www.reuben.org/2018/04/2016-ncs-divisional-nominees/" target="_blank">http://www.reuben.org/2018/04/2016-ncs-divisional-nominees/</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:22"><p>"SPX 2017 Ignatz Awards Nominees | SPX: The Small Press Expo". smallpressexpo.com. Retrieved June 12, 2018. <a href="http://www.smallpressexpo.com/spx-2017-ignatz-nominees" target="_blank">http://www.smallpressexpo.com/spx-2017-ignatz-nominees</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:23"><p>Cavna, Michael (August 17, 2017). "SPX Ignatz Award nominees: Books tackling bigotry top 'the Spirit Awards of comics'". Washington Post. Retrieved June 12, 2018. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/08/17/spx-ignatz-award-nominees-books-tackling-bigotry-top-the-spirit-awards-of-comics/?noredirect=on" target="_blank">https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/08/17/spx-ignatz-award-nominees-books-tackling-bigotry-top-the-spirit-awards-of-comics/?noredirect=on</a> <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:24"><p>MacDonald, Heidi (September 18, 2017). "A Year of Free Comics: Pop music, race and Ignatz Promising New Talent Bianca Xunise". The Beat. Retrieved June 12, 2018. <a href="http://www.comicsbeat.com/a-year-of-free-comics-pop-music-race-and-ignatz-promising-new-talent-bianca-xunise/" target="_blank">http://www.comicsbeat.com/a-year-of-free-comics-pop-music-race-and-ignatz-promising-new-talent-bianca-xunise/</a> <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:25"><p>"2018 Award Recipients! | The Ledger Awards". Retrieved January 15, 2020. <a href="http://ledgerawards.org/2018-award-recipients/" target="_blank">http://ledgerawards.org/2018-award-recipients/</a> <a href="#fnref:25" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:26"><p>"2018 Locher Award Winner". The John Locher Memorial Award. Retrieved January 15, 2020. <a href="http://locheraward.org/news/2018/7/15/2018-locher-award-winner" target="_blank">http://locheraward.org/news/2018/7/15/2018-locher-award-winner</a> <a href="#fnref:26" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:27"><p>"2018 Eisner Awards Nominations". Comic-Con International: San Diego. April 23, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2018. <a href="https://www.comic-con.org/awards/2018-eisner-awards-nominations" target="_blank">https://www.comic-con.org/awards/2018-eisner-awards-nominations</a> <a href="#fnref:27" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:28"><p>"Announcing the 2019 Locher Award Winner!". The John Locher Memorial Award. Retrieved January 15, 2020. <a href="http://locheraward.org/news/2019/7/22/announcing-the-2019-locher-award-winner" target="_blank">http://locheraward.org/news/2019/7/22/announcing-the-2019-locher-award-winner</a> <a href="#fnref:28" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:29"><p>"2019 Ignatz Awards Winners Announced". Multiversity Comics. September 15, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2020. <a href="http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news/2019-ignatz-awards/" target="_blank">http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news/2019-ignatz-awards/</a> <a href="#fnref:29" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:30"><p>"Eat More Comics: The Best of the Nib". Graphic Medicine. Retrieved January 15, 2020. <a href="https://www.graphicmedicine.org/comic-reviews/eat-more-comics-the-best-of-the-nib/" target="_blank">https://www.graphicmedicine.org/comic-reviews/eat-more-comics-the-best-of-the-nib/</a> <a href="#fnref:30" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:31"><p>"Ringo Awards | The Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards". Ringo Awards. <a href="http://ringoawards.com" target="_blank">http://ringoawards.com</a> <a href="#fnref:31" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:32"><p>Bors, Matt (July 25, 2023). "The Nib won an Eisner". Retrieved September 6, 2023. <a href="https://mattbors.substack.com/p/the-nib-won-an-eisner" target="_blank">https://mattbors.substack.com/p/the-nib-won-an-eisner</a> <a href="#fnref:32" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>