Kirby Awards

Last updated
Jack Kirby Awards
Awarded forFor achievement in comic books
Venue San Diego Comic-Con
Country United States
Presented by Amazing Heroes
First awarded1985
Last awarded1987

The Jack Kirby Comics Industry Awards [1] were a set of awards for achievement in comic books, presented from 1985 to 1987. Voted on by comic-book professionals, the Kirby awards were the first such awards since the Shazam Awards ceased in 1975. Sponsored by Amazing Heroes magazine (which was published by Fantagraphics), and managed by Amazing Heroes managing editor Dave Olbrich, the Kirby Awards were named after the pioneering writer and artist Jack Kirby.

Contents

History

The Kirby Awards came about in reaction against the 1983 institution of the Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Awards, which were voted on by fans; Olbrich (and the editors at Fantagraphics) wished to create an award voted on by comics professionals [1] (meaning creators, retailers, and distribution personnel). [2] Nominations for the Kirby Awards were made by Amazing Heroes editors and warehouse employees, [3] with the final ballots printed in issues of Amazing Heroes. The awards themselves were distributed at the annual San Diego Comic-Con, with Jack Kirby himself on hand to congratulate the winners. [4] In 1985, 238 ballots were cast, about 100 of them by comics creators. [2]

In 1987, a dispute arose when Olbrich and Fantagraphics, publisher of Amazing Heroes, each claimed ownership of the awards, [1] and Kirby removed himself from the equation. [1] A compromise was reached, and starting in 1988, the Kirby Award was discontinued. [5] Two new awards were created: the Eisner Award, managed by Olbrich and named after Will Eisner; and the Fantagraphics-managed Harvey Award, named for Harvey Kurtzman. Both of the new awards allowed voting only by comics industry professionals.

List of Jack Kirby Award winners

The following is a list of winners of the Kirby Award, sorted by category. [6]

Best Single Issue

Best Continuing Series

Best Black & White Series

Best Finite Series

Best New Series

Best Graphic Album

Best Writer

Best Writer/Artist (single or team)

Best Artist

Best Art Team

Best Cover

Best Comics Publication

Hall of Fame

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Olbrich, Dave (December 17, 2008). "The End of the Jack Kirby Comics Industry Awards: A Lesson in Honesty". Funny Book Fanatic (Dave Olbrich official blog). Archived from the original on June 24, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  2. 1 2 TH. "1984 Kirby Awards Announced," The Comics Journal #101 (Aug. 1985), p. 26.
  3. ↑ C. M. "Behind the Harveys," The Comics Journal #122 (June 1988), p. 19.
  4. ↑ "Eisner Awards History," San Diego Comic-Con official website. Accessed May 3, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Newswatch: Kirby Awards End In Controversy", The Comics Journal #122 (June 1988), pp. 19-20
  6. ↑ "Awards: San Diego Comic-Con - 1980s". San Diego Comic-Con.
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