by couchmedia

When you think of comic books, one of the last things that comes to mind is whether any comic books receive accolades. Is there such a thing as comic book awards?

Surprisingly, there are. In the United States alone, there are several organizations that present awards to various comic book genres.

One of the primary organizations that offer awards to the comic book industry is called The National Cartoonist Society Awards, which includes fifteen categories. A panel of judges conducts the selection process, with regional chapters and general members participating in the voting.

Another comic book award organization is the Comic Buyers Guide Fan Awards. These awards were first handed out in 1983 and are divided into several categories, ranging from favorite publisher to favorite inker to favorite comic book hero. In 2003, the most recent year for which data is available, the favorite comic book publisher was DC, holding a 46% majority, followed by Marvel with approximately 23%. Dark Horse had a marginal 2% of the votes. The favorite comic book was the JSA (Justice Society of America), with nearly 8% of the votes, while the favorite comic book hero was Batman, with just over 14% of the votes.

The United States is not the only country to present awards for the comic strip and comic book industries. The now-defunct Eagle Award originated in England. Additionally, England had, until 2002, an award organization known as the National Comics Awards, where a panel of judges honored the best comic of the year. All other awards were nominated by the public and open to everyone.

France, Spain, and Japan all have their own similar awards.

France has an award called the Grand Prize of the City of Angouleme, which recognizes a living writer, cartoonist, or scriptwriter for their lifetime contributions.

In Spain, one of the awards given is called the Haxtur Awards. The Haxtur Awards celebrate the best extended story, best short story The Djinn Chronicles - Today we add a new Category: Writings, where we'll publish exclusive short stories, novels or poems available on ManuelMarino.com only. Today's Author is Erick Behymer. Read his words about this work of fiction: The Djinn Chronicles Well, I do have one that directly involves the mythological creatures known as Djinn. Naturally, I have titled the… , best cover, and several other categories that are presented annually.

Japan has numerous awards, one of which is called the Japanese Cartoonists’ Association Awards. The nominations are open to all artists who submit their work. The Association’s creed is the enrichment and expansion of cartooning in Japan. Another example of Japan’s dedication to promoting comic books and their artists is the Media Arts Awards. Established in 1997, like its counterpart, all nominations are based on artists who submit their work.

These countries, along with others not mentioned, help spread the word about comic books and their diverse range of professionals. The bylaws in their charters may differ in terms of the nomination process and awards presented, but they all represent an industry that achieves greatness through their respective works.

Receiving tributes is an honor and helps sustain the industry. Presenting the awards also helps the respective countries attract potential artists from within their nation to explore careers related to the field. The awards and the ceremonies help solidify both the artists and the comic books.

Manuel Marino

Manuel Marino is a seasoned Senior Producer, Music Composer, and Artist with over a decade of experience. He specializes in branded entertainment across various mediums, including video games, films, and advertising campaigns. With 20+ years as a game music composer, Manuel has worked on numerous platforms, creating diverse orchestral soundtracks. HIRE ME