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Kirby Awards

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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.

Jack Kirby Awards
Awarded forFor achievement in comic books
VenueSan Diego Comic-Con
CountryUnited States
Presented byAmazing Heroes
First awarded1985
Last awarded1987
Photo of Jack Kirby taken by Susan Skaar during a session in the studio at Jack's home in Thousand Oaks, CA.
Photo of Jack Kirby taken by Susan Skaar during a session in the studio at Jack's home in Thousand Oaks, CA

History

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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

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

Best Single Issue

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Best Continuing Series

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  • 1985 Swamp Thing, by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette and John Totleben (DC)
  • 1986 Swamp Thing, by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette and John Totleben (DC)
  • 1987 Swamp Thing, by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette and John Totleben (DC)

Best Black & White Series

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Best Finite Series

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Best New Series

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Best Graphic Album

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Best Writer

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  • 1985 Alan Moore, for Swamp Thing (DC)
  • 1986 Alan Moore, for Swamp Thing (DC)
  • 1987 Alan Moore, for Watchmen (DC)

Best Writer/Artist (single or team)

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  • 1986 Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli, for Daredevil (Marvel)
  • 1987 Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, for Watchmen (DC)

Best Artist

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Best Art Team

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  • 1985 Steve Bissette and John Totleben, for Swamp Thing (DC)
  • 1986 George Pérez and Jerry Ordway, for Crisis On Infinite Earths (DC)
  • 1987 Frank Miller, Klaus Janson and Lynn Varley, for Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (DC)

Best Cover

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  • 1985 Swamp Thing #34, by Steve Bissette and John Totleben (DC)

Best Comics Publication

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Hall of Fame

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b 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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