Monday, May 30, 2011

GLAAD Comic Book Award Winners and Nominees

Run by GLAAD Media Awards (the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), the Outstanding Comic Book category began in 1992 (3rd annual media awards), skipped a few years, then awarded single awards until 1999, when the nominees where also named.

 While the GLAAD awards are unique among the GLBT awards in having a dedicated comic book category, most of the nominees tend to be mainstream comics. While this is good if you want to read about the X-Men or other superheroes, these are mainly 'straight' comics that happen to be gay friendly, and the more obscure and independent gay graphic novels are missed.

Unfortunately, coverage and documentation of the GLAAD awards online has been poor, especially for the older awards. Due to the nature of the media, awards are given to single issues during the year, so the same series can appear several times over the years. Where possible and relevant, I have identified specific issues and what part of the GLBTQ spectrum it includes. Otherwise, only the most recent award is linked, to stop the repeats getting too confusing.

Comic Book Media Awards Categories
Given to a comic book published by the four mainstream publishers and their subsidiary labels: Dark Horse, DC, Image, and Marvel. At GLAAD's discretion, a comic book from another publisher may be nominated if the book achieves a level of visibility and impact similar to a mainstream publisher. The comic book may be nominated for an individual issue, a story arc or a recurring LGBT character. Receives Award: Award is given to the comic book. Writer, artist and/or editor may accept.

23rd GLAAD Annual Media Awards (2012)
Winner: Batwoman: Elegy written by Greg Rucka, artist J.H. Williams (DC Comics) [lesbian]  [Batwoman and the Question (Kate Kane & Renee Montoya] [Review


22nd GLAAD Annual Media Awards (2011)

Winner: X-Factor by Peter David (Marvel Comics) [X-men, gay male] (Shatterstar & Rictor) and [lesbian character as part of  team - Rahne, the werewolf mutant and ex-X-man. Very minor/barely mentioned in most issues]

X-Factor Vol. 1: The Longest Night (X-Men) (v. 1)Nominees

21st GLAAD Annual Media Awards (2010)

Winner: Detective Comics written by Greg Rucka, artist J.H. Williams (DC Comics) [lesbian]  [Batwoman and the Question (Kate Kane & Renee Montoya]

Nominees
    Batwoman: Elegy
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Scott Allie, Brad Meltzer, Joss Whedon (Dark Horse Comics) [Review] repeat appearance
  • Madame Xanadu Vol. 2: Exodus Noir – Matt Wagner (Vertigo/DC Comics) [lesbian, fantasy, historical fiction]
  • Secret Six – Gail Simone (DC Comics) [lesbian character - Scandal]
  • X-Factor – Peter David (Marvel Comics) repeat appearance

20th GLAAD Annual Media Awards (2009)

Winner: Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Drew Goddard, Jeph Loeb and Joss Whedon (Dark Horse Comics) [lesbian characters, issues] repeat appearance

Nominees 
  • The Alcoholic by Jonathan Ames (Vertigo/DC Comics) [gay male,  same-sex experimentation]
  • Final Crisis: Revelations by Greg Rucka (DC Comics) [lesbian -  the Question and Batwoman]
  • Secret Six by Gail Simone (DC Comics) repeat appearance
  • Young Avengers Presents by Ed Brubaker, Brian Reed, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Paul Cornell, Kevin Grevioux and Matt Fraction (Marvel Comics)

19th GLAAD Annual Media Awards (2008)

Winner: Strangers in Paradise by Terry Moore (Abstract Studio) [lesbian, bisexual lead characters] [Review]
Strangers In Paradise Pocket Book 1 (Strangers in Paradise Pocket Book Collection) (Bk. 1)
Nominees
  • American Virgin by Steven T. Seagle (Vertigo/DC Comics) [Gay male, lesbian & transgender characters, highly triggering, religion]
  • The Boys by Garth Ennis (Dynamite Entertainment) [violence]
  • Midnighter by Garth Ennis, Brian K. Vaughan, Christos Gage, Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti, and Keith Giffin (Wildstorm/DC Comics) [gay male main character]
  • The Outsiders by Judd Winick, Greg Rucka, and Tony Bedard (DC Comics) [two lesbian characters]

18th GLAAD Annual Media Awards (2007)
Winner: Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel (Houghton Mifflin) [lesbian[Non-fiction winner, Stonewall Awards 2007Lesbian Memoir/Biography Finalist, Lambda Awards 2006]

Fun Home: A Family TragicomicNominees
  • 52 by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid (DC Comics) [lesbian] [about Renee Montoya] [Batwoman and the Question]
  • American Virgin by Steven T. Seagle (Vertigo/DC Comics) [Gay male, lesbian & transgender characters, highly triggering, religion]
  • Manhunter Vol. 3: Origins (DC Comics) by Marc Andreyko (DC Comics) [female protagonist, gay male character]
  • Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughn (Vertigo/DC Comics) [lesbian] [Futuristic, mostly female society]

17th GLAAD Annual Media Awards (2006)
Winner: Young Avengers by Allan Heinberg (Marvel) [Teen superheroes]

Young AvengersNominees


16th GLAAD Annual Media Awards (2005)

Winner: Luba by Gilbert Hernandez (Fantagraphics Books) [lesbian character - Fritzi, main character's half sister]

Nominees
  • Ex Machina (Wildstorm/DC Comics)
  • Hard Time (DC Comics)
  • My Faith in Frankie by Mike Carey, Marc Hempel and Sonny Liew (Vertigo/DC Comics)
  • Strangers in Paradise by Terry Moore (Abstract Studio) [lesbian] [Review] repeat appearance




15th GLAAD Annual Media Awards (2004)

Winner: Catwoman (DC Comics)

Nominees


14th GLAAD Annual Media Awards (2003)
Winner: Green Lantern (DC Comics) (winner) (for this storyline)

Nominees:
  • The Authority #29 written by Mark Millar (Wildstorm/DC Comics) (first gay marriage, Apollo and Midnighter, November 1999 repeat appearance
  • Murder Mysteries (Dark Horse Comics)
  • Strangers in Paradise (Abstract Studio) repeat appearance
  • X-Statix (Marvel Comics)



13th GLAAD Annual Media Awards (2002)
Outstanding Comic Book Nominees:

  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Dark Horse Comics) repeat appearance
  • Green Lantern (DC Comics) repeat appearance
  • Strangers in Paradise (Abstract Studio) repeat appearance
  • Top Ten (America's Best Comics/WildStorm) repeat appearance
  • User (Vertigo/DC Comics)


Outstanding Comic Strip Nominees:

  • Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau 
    • Newspaper only
    • Also won in 1995 (see further down for more details)
  • For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnson (Andrews McMeel Publishing)
    • (now a graphic novel series)
    • Ongoing gay male character
    • Also won in 1998 (see further down for more details)

12th GLAAD Annual Media Awards (2001)
Pedro and Me: Friendship, Loss, and What I LearnedWinner: Pedro & Me (Henry Holt) by Judd Winick [AIDs, gay male]


Nominees:
  • The Authority #7 written by Warren Ellis (DC/Wildstorm) (Apollo and Midnighter, gay couple) repeat appearance
  • Jenny Sparks: The Secret History of the Authority (DC/Wildstorm)  (Apollo and Midnighter, gay couple) 
  • Promethea, by Alan Moore et al, artist J.H. Williams (America's Best Comics/Wildstorm) [gay male as incarnation of Promothea, current incarnation probable lesbian]
  • Top Ten, by Alan Moore et al (America's Best/Wildstorm) repeat appearance

11th GLAAD Annual Media Awards (2000)
Winner: Supergirl (DC Comics) [gendershifting Angel - part-time lesbian love interest]


Nominees:

  • The Authority (DC Comics/WildStorm) repeat appearance
  • The Girl Who Would Be Death (DC Comics/Vertigo) written by Caitlin Kiernan [Lesbian/bisexual main character, has a girlfriend -Evangeline and Amelia Plath]
  • Strangers in Paradise by Terry Moore (Abstract Studio) repeat appearance
  • Top Ten (America's Best Comics) repeat appearance

10th GLAAD Annual Media Awards (1999)

Winner: Supergirl (DC Comics) [gendershifting Angel - part-time lesbian love interest] repeat appearance

Nominees:

  • The Books of Magic (DC Comics/Vertigo) (Young adult fantasy, lesbian minor character)
  • Starman (DC Comics)
  • Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (Paramount/Marvel Comics)
  • Young Heroes in Love (DC Comics)

Only one title received an award each year before 1999. Either there were no nominees, or they were not recorded. The years 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1994 had no comic book awards.

9th GLAAD Annual Media Awards (1998)
Growing Like a Weed : A For Better or for Worse CollectionFor Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnson (Andrews McMeel Publishing)

8th GLAAD Annual Media Awards (1997)
Death: The Time of Your LifeDeath: The Time of Your Life by Neil Gaiman, Chris Bachalo, Mark Pennington, Mark Buckingham and Clare Danes (Vertigo)

7th GLAAD Annual Media Awards (1996)
Metropolis S.C.U. #1 November 1994Metropolis: S.C.U written by Marzan and Cindy Goff (DC Comics) 
  •  main character Maggie Sawyer (cop) and her partner Tobie (reporter)(later Renee Montoya's immediate boss), 
  • Run of four comics, 
  • Precursor to the Gotham Central series, focus on the police working with Superman

6th GLAAD Annual Media Awards (1995)
40: A Doonesbury Retrospective "Doonesbury: Same-Sex Unions" by Garry Trudeau 

Flash (2nd Series), Edition# 533rd GLAAD Annual Media Awards (1992)
The Flash (DC Comics) written by William Messner-Loebs
  • First year of comic book awards 
  • The Flash (v.2) #53 "Fast Friend"- published August 1991 (and listed here)
  • Gay male side character - reformed super villain, the Pied Piper


Also see:

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