National Comics Awards

National Comics Award
LocationBristol
CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented byJonathan Ross and Paul Gambaccini (1997)
Hosted byUnited Kingdom Comic Art Convention (1997–1998)
Comic Festival (1999, 2001–2003)
First awarded1997
Last awarded2003

The National Comics Awards was a series of awards for comic book titles and creators given out on an annual basis from 1997 to 2003 (with the exception of the year 2000) for comics published in the United Kingdom the previous year. The votes were by the U.K. comics fan community, and were open to anyone.

The Awards were founded in 1997 by comic creators Kev F Sutherland and Mark Buckingham.[1] They took over for the UK Comic Art Awards, which were presented from 1990 to 1997 (which had themselves replaced the Eagle Awards, which were the dominant British comics awards from 1977 to 1990). The National Comics Awards were distinguished by the distinctive "Jimmy" statue designed by Buckingham.

Structure and categories

The National Comics Awards were awarded by UK comics fans voting for work produced during the previous year. Financial supporters of the awards could have their companies' names added to an individual award, as well as having a representative of the business present the award at the ceremony.[2]

The National Comics Awards were presented to individual creators as well as for publications and characters. There was also a section of the awards devoted to all-time lists. From 1997 to 1999, voters were required to pay to vote for the "Best Comic Ever" category, with all proceeds going to charity:[2] in 1997 the category was "Best British Comic Ever," in 1998 it was "Best Comic in the World Ever," and in 1999 it was "Best Comic of the 20th Century" (with all proceeds going to the ChildLine Charity).

History

The first National Comics Awards presentation took place 15 March 1997 at United Kingdom Comic Art Convention (UKCAC) in London, presented by Jonathan Ross and Paul Gambaccini.[3]

In 1998 the Awards took place at the Manchester UKCAC.

The Awards were held at the Bristol Comic Festival in 1999, and from 2001 to 2003. There were no National Comics Awards presented in 2000, as the Eagle Awards were revived that year.[4]

The 2002 Awards were hosted by Kev F Sutherland. Presenters included Mike Conroy and Dez Skinn of Comics International, Martin Averre of Ace Comics, Dave Finn of Incognito Comics, Mark Buckingham, Nick Parry-Jones of Red Route Distribution, The Comedian from Watchmen and Alice in Wonderland (a.k.a. character costume models Doug Oliver and Andrea Sanders), Dave Gibbons, Karen Berger, Jonathan Bryans and Bryan Liddiard of Naturesguard, Carol Bennett of Knockabout Comics, Rich Johnston, Alex Summersby of MacUnlimited, and Jim Valentino.[5]

The 2003 awards, presented in London at that year's Comic Festival, were sponsored by Red Route Distribution, Ace Comics, Incognito Comics, Tripwire, Knockabout Comics, SFX magazine, Bulletproof Comics, Comics International, Borders Books, and Diamond Previews.[6]

After 2003 the major UK comics awards again became the Eagle Awards, until 2012 (2014) when they were discontinued.

Awards

Individual awards

Best Writer / Best Writer in Comics Today/Now

Best Artist / Best Artist in Comics Today/Now

Best New Talent

Publication awards

Best Comic (British)

  • 1997: 2000 AD
  • 1998: 2000 AD
  • 1999: 2000 AD

Best Comic Now

Best Comic in the World Today

Best New Comic

Best Self-Published/Independent

Best Comic (International)

Best Cover

Best Individual Story

Best Collected Series or Graphic Novel

Best Newspaper Strip / Best Online Strip

Best Comic-based Multimedia

Best Comic-based Film/TV

Best Specialist Comics Publication / Best Specialist Magazine or Website

Character awards

Best Character

Best Supporting Character

Most Missed Character, Strip, or Comic

All-time awards

Best Comics Writer Ever

Best Comics Artist Ever

Best British Comic Ever

Best Comic in the World Ever

Best Comic of the 20th Century

  • 1999: The Eagle

Roll of Honor/Lifetime Achievement

See also

References

  1. ^ Johnston, Rich. "Bananaman – Or Miracleman?", Bleeding Cool (March 19, 2014).
  2. ^ a b "National Comics Awards Results 1998-2002". Comic Book Awards Almanac. Retrieved April 15, 2002..
  3. ^ Chris Wilson (March 16, 1997). "Dennis the Menace zaps Dan Dare". Sunday Telegraph London.[dead link‍]
  4. ^ "Eagle Awards 2000: Sequential Tart Wins!", Sequential Tart. Accessed Jan. 15, 2020.
  5. ^ Sutherland, Kev F. "NATIONAL COMICS AWARDS 2002: THE 5TH NATIONAL COMICS AWARDS RESULTS," 2000ADonline.org. Archived at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved Nov. 30, 2020.
  6. ^ "National Comics Awards Results 2003". Down The Tubes. Archived from the original on 2006-06-15. Retrieved April 15, 2003.
  7. ^ Sims, Chris. "2000 AD Immortalizes Harry Heston, Gorilla Judge, After Creator's Untimely Death," Comics Alliance (September 19, 2016).