'Phables' Cartoon Feature Wins SPJ Column Prize

By: E&P Staff In an unusual twist, a Philadelphia Daily News cartoon feature has been awarded a column prize.

The weekly "Phables" comic about life in Philadelphia was named "Best Local Column" by the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, according to "Phables" creator Brad Guigar.

"Seeing 'Phables' honored as a newspaper column is a really big step in broadening the acceptance of the comics as more than just 'kids' stuff,'" said Guigar, who also does the "Evil Inc." Web strip.

Readers often submit stories to Guigar, who then interviews them and creates a full-page "Phables" comic based on the results. Guigar also tells his own stories or offers his opinions in the feature.