National Comics Awards


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 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. They took over for the UK Comic Art Awards, which were presented from 1990 to 1997. 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.
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: 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".

History

The first National Comics Awards presentation took place 15 March 1997 at United Kingdom Comic Art Convention in London, presented by Jonathan Ross and Paul Gambaccini.
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.
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, 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.
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.
After 2003 the major UK comics awards again became the Eagle Awards, until 2012 when they were discontinued.

Awards

Individual awards

Best Writer / Best Writer in Comics Today/Now

  • 1997: Garth Ennis
  • 1998: Grant Morrison
  • 1999: John Wagner
  • 2001: John Wagner, for Button Man and Judge Dredd
  • 2002: Grant Morrison
  • *Alan Moore
  • *Warren Ellis
  • *John Wagner
  • *Brian Michael Bendis
  • *Garth Ennis
  • *Frank Miller
  • *Anonymous
  • *Robbie Morrison
  • *Neil Gaiman
  • 2003: Dan Abnett
  • *John Wagner
  • *Grant Morrison
  • *Alan Moore
  • *Brian Michael Bendis
  • *Mark Millar
  • *Garth Ennis
  • *Mike Carey
  • *Gordon Rennie
  • *Andy Diggle

    Best Artist / Best Artist in Comics Today/Now

  • 1997: Alex Ross
  • 1998: Steve Dillon
  • 1999: Alex Ross
  • 2001: Carlos Ezquerra for Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog, and Just a Pilgrim
  • 2002: Frank Quitely
  • *Frazer Irving
  • *Bryan Hitch
  • *Carlos Ezquerra
  • *John Cassaday
  • *John Romita, Jr.
  • *Frank Miller
  • *Alan Davis
  • *Steve Dillon
  • *Alex Ross
  • 2003 : Bryan Hitch
  • * Henry Flint
  • * Jock
  • * Nick Brennan
  • * Frazer Irving
  • * Frank Quitely
  • * Jim Lee
  • * Karl Richardson
  • * Steve Dillon
  • * Carlos Ezquerra

    Best New Talent

  • 2001 :
  • *Frazer Irving, for Necronauts in 2000 AD
  • *Jock, for Judge Dredd in 2000 AD
  • 2002: Frazer Irving
  • *John Watson
  • *Mike Carey
  • *Tan Eng Huat
  • *Simon Spurrier
  • *Nick Locking
  • *Ed Brubaker
  • *Geoff Johns
  • *Jock
  • *Judd Winick
  • 2003 : Andy Diggle, Snow Tiger )
  • * Karl Richardson
  • * Simon Spurrier
  • * Andy Clarke
  • * Antony Johnston
  • * Frazer Irving
  • * Brian K. Vaughan
  • * Jai Sen
  • * Dom Reardon
  • * Bruce Jones

    Publication awards

Best Comic (British)

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

    Best Comic Now

  • 2002: The Beano
  • *2000 AD
  • *Transmetropolitan
  • *New X-Men
  • *Planetary
  • *Lucifer
  • *Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again
  • *100 Bullets
  • *X-Force
  • *''Ultimate Spider-Man''

    Best Comic in the World Today

  • 2001: 2000 AD, edited by Andy Diggle
  • 2002: The Beano
  • *2000 AD
  • *Watchmen
  • *The Sandman
  • *Preacher
  • *X-Men
  • *Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
  • *Spider-Man
  • *Batman
  • *V for Vendetta
  • 2003 : 2000 AD
  • * The Dandy
  • * Warhammer Monthly
  • * The Ultimates
  • * The Beano
  • * Judge Dredd Megazine
  • * The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
  • * Fables
  • * New X-Men
  • * Daredevil
  • * 100 Bullets
  • * Batman
  • * Hellblazer
  • * Alias
  • * Lucifer
  • * Three Days in Europe
  • * Y: The Last Man
  • * The Amazing Spider-Man
  • * The Filth
  • * ''Ultimate X-Men''

    Best New Comic

  • 1997:
  • * British: Octobriana
  • * Int'l: Hitman
  • 1998:
  • * British: Gyre
  • * Int'l: Transmetropolitan
  • 1999:
  • * British: Warhammer
  • **Kane
  • **Sleaze Castle
  • **Strangehaven
  • **The Beano
  • * Int'l: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
  • 2001: Green Arrow, by Kevin Smith and Phil Hester
  • 2002: Ultimates
  • *The Establishment
  • *New X-Men
  • *Alias
  • *Doom Patrol
  • *Origin
  • *Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again
  • *Batgirl
  • *Catwoman
  • *Muties
  • 2003: Y: The Last Man
  • * Fables
  • * Jack Staff
  • * Three Days in Europe
  • * The Filth
  • * Lady Constantine
  • * Courtney Crumrin
  • * Pop London
  • * The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol. 2
  • * ''Judge Dredd vs. Aliens''

    Best Self-Published/Independent

  • 1997: Strangehaven, by Gary Spencer Millidge
  • 1998: Kane, by Paul Grist
  • 1999: Class of '79
  • 2001: Petra Etcetera, by Terry Wiley, Dave McKinnon and Ady Kermode
  • 2002: Zarjaz
  • *Jack Staff
  • *Strangehaven
  • *Cerebus
  • *Bone
  • *Petra Etcetera
  • *Hardly The Hog
  • *Finder
  • *Arsenic Lullaby
  • *Diesel Sweeties
  • 2003 : Jack Staff by Paul Grist
  • * Zarjaz
  • * Fred the Clown
  • * The Girly Comic
  • * Miranda
  • * Oddcases
  • * Strangehaven
  • * 30 Days of Night
  • * Bone
  • * ''Devilchild''

    Best Comic (International)

  • 1997: Preacher
  • 1998: Preacher
  • 1999: ''Preacher''

    Best Cover

  • 1997: Kingdom Come #1, by Alex Ross

    Best Individual Story

  • 1997: Kingdom Come #1, by Mark Waid and Alex Ross

    Best Collected Series or Graphic Novel

  • 1999: Superman For All Seasons
  • 2003 : Daemonifuge — Black Library Press
  • * The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
  • * Rosemary's Backpack
  • * 30 Days of Night
  • * The Ultimates vol. one
  • * The Dark Knight Strikes Again
  • * Catwoman: Selina's Big Score
  • * Fables: Legends In Exile
  • * The Redeemer
  • * ''After the Snooter''

    Best Newspaper Strip / Best Online Strip

  • 1997: Calvin & Hobbes
  • 1998: Calvin & Hobbes
  • 1999: Calvin & Hobbes
  • 2002: The Atrocity
  • *Bobbins
  • *Marshal Law
  • *Super Idol
  • *Dilbert
  • *Sluggy Freelance
  • *Nowhere Girl
  • *Bullpen Bits
  • *Squidbitz
  • *Astounding Space Thrills
  • 2003 : Fred the Clown
  • * Oddcases
  • * Nowhere Girl
  • * Red Meat
  • * Bash Street Kids Capers
  • * Juniper Crescent
  • * PvP
  • * Astounding Space Thrills
  • * Death Takes a Holiday
  • * ''Miffy''

    Best Comic-based Multimedia

  • 1997: Spawn figures, produced by Todd Toys

    Best Comic-based Film/TV

  • 1997: The Adventures of Lois & Clark
  • 1998: Men in Black
  • 1999: Blade
  • 2001: X-Men, directed by Bryan Singer
  • 2002: Ghost World
  • *X-Men
  • *Smallville
  • *Spider-Man
  • *Blade II
  • *Dennis The Menace
  • *From Hell
  • *Batman
  • *Justice League
  • *X-Men: Evolution
  • 2003 : Spider-Man
  • * Daredevil
  • * X2
  • * Smallville
  • * Road to Perdition
  • * Blade II
  • * Justice League
  • * American Splendor
  • * Birds of Prey
  • * ''Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future''

    Best Specialist Comics Publication / Best Specialist Magazine or Website

  • 1997: Comics International
  • 1998: Tripwire
  • 1999: Comics International
  • 2001: Comics International magazine published by Dez Skinn
  • 2002: Borderline
  • * 2000adonline.com
  • *Comics International
  • *Beanotown
  • *Wizard
  • *Komixworld
  • *Comic Book Resources
  • *Ninth Art
  • *DC Comics.com
  • *Tripwire
  • 2003 : Comics International
  • * 2000adonline.com
  • * Borderline
  • * Ninth Art
  • * Tripwire
  • * Black Library
  • * Beanotown
  • * Newsarama
  • * Silver Bullet Comics
  • * ''Sequential Tart''