There is something quiet about the way real change happens in indie comics.
It rarely arrives with massive press releases or giant billboard campaigns in Times Square. Most of the time, it looks like a creator sitting at a desk late into the night, working through script revisions, stressing over printing quotes, and wondering if anyone out on the internet is ever going to read what they just put on paper.
Eight years ago, Beserat Debebe was in that exact position.
When he printed and published his first comic book, almost nobody in the wider industry knew his name or cared about his newly launched imprint, Etan Comics. He wasn’t backed by deep venture capital funding, and he didn’t have immediate shelf placement across major comic retail chains. What he had was a very specific vision: he wanted to build comic books that centered his own Ethiopian heritage and placed rich African folklore, history, and mythology squarely inside modern sci-fi and fantasy storytelling.
It was the kind of representation he had spent years waiting to see on pages published by Marvel or DC when he was growing up. When he realized nobody else was going to make those exact books for him, he decided to do it himself.
Now, eight years later, the broader comic book ecosystem just gave him the ultimate stamp of approval.
A Career-Defining Moment at the 2026 Ringo Awards
Over the weekend at the Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards (the Ringos), hosted alongside the annual Baltimore Comic-Con, Etan Comics was officially named Fan Favorite Publisher.
For anyone who follows indie publishing, winning a Fan Favorite category at the Ringos is a unique honor. Unlike judged panel awards, this category comes directly from the readers, comic shop managers, and fans who take the time to cast their votes. It represents pure community backing.
What made the night even more symbolic was who presented the award on stage. Debebe accepted the trophy directly from Jim Lee, the current President, Publisher, and Chief Creative Officer of DC Comics.
For a creator who grew up idolizing Lee’s legendary work on X-Men and Batman, standing on stage beside one of the most influential figures in comic book history was a surreal moment.
Reflecting on the milestone shortly after stepping off the stage, Debebe shared a raw look back at his eight-year journey:
“This is crazy. 8 years ago, I published my first comic. Almost no one knew we existed. And for me, that was okay. Because I knew. I knew a comic that centered my Ethiopian heritage finally existed. Something I’ve wanted to see from DC and Marvel for a long time. The feeling of creating something, from an idea to a physical form, was addicting. So, I kept going.
One book at a time. I got better at it. I invested heavily in hand drawn art and African creators. I took huge risks. Spent countless hours to deliver quality books to our readers. Consistently. On time. Our fans kept growing every year. Now here I am.
Accepting FAN FAVORITE PUBLISHER award at one of the most prestigious comic book awards in the US industry. Receiving it from THE Jim Lee. President, Publisher and Chief Creative Officer of DC Comics. A man I grew up revering.
I was in shock. So much so that I forgot to thank my family who have supported me through everything, the fans who made this possible, the creators, comic shop owners, printing partners, journalists, teachers, educators, and everyone who championed us and played a part in our journey. Thank you so much.
All glory to God. We enthusiastically look forward to serving you for years to come.”
Building Etan Comics Brick by Brick
Understanding why this win matters requires looking at how independent publishing actually works behind the scenes.
When independent creators launch their own imprints, the odds are stacked against them. Distribution networks favor established mainstream publishers, printing costs for small runs can swallow margins whole, and marketing budget is usually nonexistent.
Instead of chasing quick viral trends or cutting corners on quality, Debebe focused on foundational growth. He prioritized hand-drawn sequential art, hired skilled African artists, colorists, and writers, and built a reputation for shipping physical books on schedule.
Through titles like Jember (a groundbreaking superhero story set against the backdrop of modern Ethiopia) and Hawi (an action-packed African fantasy adventure centering an Ethiopian historical monarch), Etan Comics slowly proved that global audiences were hungry for authentic African speculative fiction.
They built their fan base community by community, Kickstarter campaign by Kickstarter campaign, comic shop by comic shop. They proved that readers aren’t fatigued by superhero and fantasy tropes, they are simply fatigued by seeing the exact same cultural mythologies recycled over and over.
What’s Coming Next: The “YOU CALLED” Anthology
Winning Fan Favorite Publisher at the Ringo Awards isn’t a signal for Etan Comics to slow down. In fact, the team is already rolling straight into their next major release.
YOU CALLED is an ambitious sci-fi and fantasy anthology built entirely around African folklore. Featuring a slate of diverse creative voices across the continent, the book aims to push the boundaries of Pan-African storytelling even further, blending futuristic technological themes with ancient mythic traditions.
If you’ve been looking for fresh, high-quality indie titles to add to your reading stack, this anthology is the perfect entry point.
The full rundown of top category winners from the weekend, including DC’s Absolute Batman taking home Best Series and Deniz Camp picking up major writing accolades, can be checked out in the full breakdown of the 2026 Ringo Award winners.
Etan Comics winning Fan Favorite Publisher is a victory for indie publishing as a whole. It proves that when creators stay committed to their heritage, back indigenous artistic talent, and deliver quality books consistently, the readers will show up and make their voices heard.
