Richard Metson Honored with Special Contribution Award at Taiwan’s Golden Comic Awards

Taiwanese cartoonist Richard Metson has received the Special Contribution Award at the 17th Golden Comic Awards, recognizing nearly 40 years of work across comics, animation and design.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture announced the award on August 10, along with the finalists for this year’s Golden Comic Awards. Metson, also known as Mai Ren-jie, was selected for the award in recognition of his long career and contribution to the development of Taiwanese comics.

The Golden Comic Awards are organized by Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture and recognize work across the country’s comics industry.

Metson has been active since the 1980s, working in comics as well as animation and design. The jury cited the range of his work and his distinctive drawing style, and credited him with helping Taiwanese comics reach audiences outside the country.

The judges also pointed to his long involvement in developing original characters and intellectual properties.

Metson’s work has continued in recent years. In 2025, he released Twin Crowns: Little Prince & Princess Saga, a comic based on his experiences raising twins with autism and ADHD. The book brought a personal subject into a career better known for work across comics and other forms of visual storytelling.

This year’s Golden Comic Awards received 185 submissions. After the preliminary selection process, 24 works advanced to the final round.

The shortlisted works cover categories including Best Newcomer, Best Comic Editor and the Golden Comic Award. The total prize money for the 2026 edition is NT$2.75 million, approximately US$85,500.

The jury noted a wide range of subjects and styles among this year’s entries, including stories based on local culture and everyday life. Webtoons were also singled out for their visual and narrative approaches.

Winners of the Best Newcomer and Golden Comic Award categories will be eligible to apply for an additional NT$600,000 grant to support their next project.

The remaining winners are expected to be announced at an awards ceremony in late October. The shortlisted works will also be shown in a special exhibition at the National Taiwan Museum of Comics in Taichung.  

Sources

Taiwan Ministry of Culture — 17th Golden Comic Awards Finalists Announced; Richard Metson Receives Special Contribution Award
https://www.moc.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=105&s=260157

Taiwan News — Taiwan Golden Comic Awards honor Richard Metson
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6418323