About
Black Josei Press is an award-winning indie comic book publishing company focused on celebrating comics by and for people of color from marginalized genders and sexualities.
Black Josei Press is heavily inspired by josei manga and primarily publishes comics for grown folks, but we also have comics for all ages. We hope to change the comic landscape for the better by providing a space for creators like us to tell their stories.
We were founded in 2018 by the Black, Latinx, Queer, and disabled comics writer Jamila Rowser. We are based in North Carolina on the traditional land of Lumbee, the Mánu: Yį Įsuwą (Catawba), and Skaruhreh/Tuscarora.
Awards, Nominations and Accolades
"The Gift" by Jamila Rowser and Sam Wade
- 2023 Broken Frontier Awards Nominee for Best One Shot
- Carrie McClain Review: My Favorite Comics of 2023
"Gordita: Built Like This" by Daisy Ruiz
Wash Day Diaries (Graphic Novel) by Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith
(Published by Chronicle Books, but we gon' claim it anyway in Wash Day is in it.)
- L.A. Times Book Prize Winner 2022
- Award Winner of Outstanding Story Wash Day Diaries “Ride or Die” | SPX Ignatz 2023
- Nominated Best Publication for Teens (ages 13-17) | 2023 Eisner Awards
- 2023 Alex Award Winner | YASLA/ALA
- Best Books of 2022 List | NYPL
- Starred review from Publisher’s Weekly
- Best Queer Books of 2022 | Autostraddle
- Favorite Small Press Books of 2022 | Women Write About Comics
- Top 20 of the “Best Graphic Novels & Comics" | GoodReads Choice Awards 2022
Black Josei Press/Jamila Rowser
- Nominated for Promising New Talent | Ignatz Awards 2022
- Nominated for Best Comic Collection | Ignatz Awards 2022
- Nominated for Breakout Talent and Best One Shot | Broken Frontier Awards 2022
- Favorite Small Press Books of 2022 | Women Write About Comics
"Ode to Keisha" by Jamila Rowser and Trinidad Escobar