Tom Batiuk, who pens the continuing story of Funky Winkerbean and his pals, was recognized as one of three finalists in the cartooning category of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize awards competition for the series of daily comic strips that chronicled the death of longtime character Lisa Moore. His Complete Funky Winkerbean series and Roses in December: A Story of Love and Alzheimer's were finalists for the 2016 Eisner Awards. He is a graduate of Kent State University. His Funky Winkerbean and Crankshaft comic strips are carried in over 700 newspapers throughout the United States. In 2006 he was honored by the American Cancer Society and presented its Cancer Cure Hall of Fame Award for his sympathetic work in highlighting the experiences of those with cancer in Lisa's Story: The Other Shoe.