Akino Kondoh’s Box Garden Beetle (Hako Niwa Mushi) has earned a nomination for Outstanding Collection at the 2026 Ignatz Awards. The collection, which compiles various short stories characterized by surreal imagery and nostalgic themes, was brought to English-speaking readers by Glacier Bay Books earlier this year following a successful crowdfunding campaign initiated in 2025.
The English release features translation work by Ryan Holmberg, with lettering by Tim Sun and editorial contributions from Emuh Ruh and Holmberg. The collection was originally released in Japan by Seirinkogeisha over two decades ago in 2004.
This nomination continues a successful streak for Glacier Bay Books at the Ignatz Awards, which celebrate excellence in independent comics and cartooning. The publisher previously saw success in 2021 when their Glaeolia 2 anthology took home the award for Outstanding Anthology. Furthermore, the 2024 ceremony recognized Nazuna Saitō’s Offshore Lightning in the same category, highlighting the growing presence of indie manga within the broader North American comics landscape.
The Ignatz Awards are unique in that a jury of professional cartoonists selects the initial ballot, while the final winners are decided by the attendees of the Small Press Expo. The awards themselves are named after the iconic character from George Herriman’s classic Krazy Kat strip.
