MasterClass member Don from Finland was awarded the Excellence Runner-Up award in the 10th round of the “Kyushu International Manga Award” and was featured in the March 2024 issue of Monthly Comic ZENON! Don’s 39-page entry for COAMIX’s 10th Kyushu International Manga Award, “The Runaway Clown”, marks their first award in a Comic ZENON manga contest. Don received this award along with American MasterClass member PoodPoopsie who won the top prize in the same round!

The following is a comment from the special judge of COAMIX’s 10th Kyushu International Manga Award, Kei Koga-sensei (“Trace: Recollections of a Forensic Researcher”) about Don’s entry:

“I liked the setting in which the clown had special skills he could utilize both as a clown and as someone who wants to make people laugh. However, I was a little concerned that the theme of the work was a bit difficult to understand, perhaps because it did not mesh well with the mode of expression.”

“The Runaway Clown” tells the story of a talented circus clown named Miro. However, Miro disappeared just before his grand debut in the circus ring. As a runaway, he used his agility to balance on the thin line between right and wrong. One day, fate suddenly brings Miro back to his estranged brother, Mido. Finding his way back on wobbly feet, Miro begins to realize that the things we run away from typically stay with us the most, no matter how fast or how far we run…will Miro finally find his place, or will he go back to his old habit of running away?

READ “THE RUNAWAY CLOWN” IN ENGLISH HERE!

Don joins an ever-growing group of  SMA MasterClass members whose works have won awards in Monthly Comic ZENON’s manga contests! With the support of the SMA Editorial Department, the MasterClass members show their potential to Japanese readers each year!

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