Unmoored

Unmoored is a self-published graphic novel by Vicky Yang that won the Promising New Talent award at the 2025 Ignatz Awards. The comic represents a striking debut from an emerging voice in independent comics.

The Ignatz Awards, presented annually at Small Press Expo in Maryland, recognize excellence in small press comics and graphic novels. Named for the brick-throwing mouse from George Herriman’s Krazy Kat, the awards have been championing independent creators since 1997. Yang’s win in the Promising New Talent category places them among notable alumni of the award.

According to coverage from Publishers Weekly, the 2025 Ignatz Awards saw self-published works dominate the nominations, reflecting the growing strength of the independent comics scene. Yang’s Unmoored stood out among nominees including Trishelle Jeffery’s Best Breasts in the West, Mili St. John’s The Edge of Autumn, Connie Meyers’ Big Gamble Rainbow Highway, and Ricky Lima and Daniele Aquilani’s Undergrowth.

The comic’s exploration of identity and transformation resonates with themes common to emerging artists working in the autobiographical mode. Yang’s background in psychology at Brown University and illustration at RISD informs their approach to storytelling, bringing an academic perspective to emotionally complex narrative work.

Perfect for fans of literary graphic novels, autobiographical comics, and the tradition of emotionally resonant independent work emerging from the small press scene.