Lee Lai’s graphic novel Cannon has claimed the $60,000 Stella Prize, marking the first time a graphic novel has won the award in its 14-year history. The Australian cartoonist, based in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal, expressed surprise at the book’s reception, noting she could never predict what would resonate with readers.

A Timely Tale of Anger and Friendship

Cannon explores the complexities of relationships, particularly women’s friendships amid life’s conflicts. Lai crafted the story during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black Lives Matter resurgence, and the Israeli invasion of Gaza. “Those events have deeply marked me,” she says. “The world has changed dramatically in the past decade.”

Lai views the book as a portrait of anger’s value and lessons. “A book exploring the instructiveness of anger feels timely now,” she adds.

Judges Praise Its Skill and Innovation

Judges’ chair Sophie Gee lauds Cannon for its humor and pathos: “This novel demonstrates immense skill and power, blending words and comics’ visual language into a complex, unresolved story readers can’t put down. It’s relatable, funny, wise, and wonderfully weird.”

Stella Prize CEO and creative director Fiona Sweet calls it “a triumph of the form.” She highlights its focus on “women’s friendships through life and conflict—a beautifully intimate story of forgiveness, gentleness, queerness, and care.” Sweet hopes the win introduces graphic novels to broader audiences.

Protagonist Cannon’s Inner World

Cannon, the protagonist, is a hardworking chef, talented with flavors, and a devoted granddaughter caring for her challenging grandfather. To outsiders, like her friend Trish, she appears “small, quiet, and Chinese.” Beneath this calm exterior brews intense emotion as she shoulders others’ burdens.

Trish confronts her in a tense moment: “You’re patient, virtuous, and long-suffering? There’s no virtue in being solitary, self-effacing, and resentful.” The novel argues that enduring friendships demand effort, especially as they navigate rocky patches.

Inspiration from Real-Life Conversations

Both Cannon and Lai’s debut Stone Fruit—longlisted for the Stella Prize in 2022—stem from discussions with thoughtful friends. Around 2019, themes of friendship’s fragility and longevity, plus elder care, emerged. In queer communities, friendships were seen as eternal family bonds, yet time erodes them with daily challenges.

“Friendships are more fragile and precious than I realized,” Lai reflects. “I’m struck by that as I navigate adulthood, and I wanted to capture it.”

Crafting Graphic Novels: A Demanding Art

Lai expresses shock that a graphic novel secured such a prestigious prize, given the form’s under-recognition in Australia. Publishers rarely acquire visual works, but Giramondo took the risk—its first since Pat Grant’s Blue in 2012.

Production demands years: Lai draws about one page daily, interrupted by paying gigs. Writing and illustrating intertwine; she scripts first, then draws, but revisions mean discarding pages. Limiting to dialogue for psychological depth proved challenging, especially for stoic Cannon.

She employs magical realism—black-and-white birds symbolizing rage and intuition visible only to Cannon—and visual techniques like crowded compositions for overwhelm. “These feel intuitive to readers,” she says.

A Prize That Buys Precious Time

Since moving to Canada in 2016, Lai has found a larger comics market than in Australia. Graphic novels remain her passion, blending writing and drawing, though financial needs force illustration side jobs.

The $60,000 prize (taxable) offers breathing room. “This covers rent and food in Montreal longer than in Australia,” she says. After rushing prior books, Lai plans to savor research, consultations, and ideation for her next project—a true luxury.