Matt Bors (born 1983) is an American editorial cartoonist, comics journalist, and editor, best known for his work as the founder and editor of The Nib, an online platform for political and editorial comics. Bors is a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist for Editorial Cartooning (2012, 2020) and the first alt-weekly cartoonist to win the Herblock Prize for Excellence in Cartooning (2012).
Early Life and Education
Matt Bors was born in Canton, Ohio. He attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, where he began drawing editorial cartoons for the student newspaper, marking the start of his career in political cartooning.
Career
Early Career
At the age of 23, Bors became the youngest syndicated cartoonist in the United States when his work was picked up by Universal Features Syndicate. His cartoons, known for their progressive political stance and sharp satire, have appeared in publications including:
- Los Angeles Times
- The Nation
- The Village Voice
- The Daily Beast
- Daily Kos
The Nib and Comics Journalism
In 2013, Bors launched The Nib, an online publication dedicated to editorial and political comics. Initially part of Medium, the site moved to First Look Media in 2016, where Bors continued as the editor and lead contributor. The platform focuses on a range of political, social, and cultural issues through visual storytelling.
Comics Journalism
In addition to editorial cartoons, Bors has been a pioneer in the field of comics journalism, blending visual art with investigative reporting. He served as the comics journalism editor for the platform Cartoon Movement from 2010 to 2013, overseeing global contributions in the genre.
Key projects include:
- Haiti's Scapegoats (2012): An animated documentary exploring the persecution of the LGBT community in Haiti, created in collaboration with journalist Caroline Dijckmeester-Bins.
- Tents Beyond Tents (2012): A collaborative comics project documenting the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
War Reporting and Graphic Novels
Bors collaborated with journalist David Axe on the graphic novel War Is Boring, published in 2010 by New American Library. The book explores modern conflict zones and the challenges of war reporting.
Awards and Recognition
Matt Bors has received multiple prestigious awards for his work, including:
- Pulitzer Prize Finalist for Editorial Cartooning (2012, 2020)
- Herblock Prize for Excellence in Editorial Cartooning (2012) – First alt-weekly cartoonist to receive the award.
- Sigma Delta Chi Award for Editorial Cartooning (2012, Circulation of 100,000+)
Personal Life
Bors resided in Portland, Oregon for many years before relocating to Ontario, Canada in 2020. In April 2021, he announced his retirement from editorial cartooning to focus more on comics journalism and managing The Nib.