The end of the Jack Kirby Comics Industry Awards: a lesson in honesty

In yesterday’s post, I wrote about how the Jack Kirby Awards were established. It was a reaction to the Comics Buyer’s Guide Fan Awards. It came from a germ of an idea from either Gary Groth or Kim Thompson at Fantagrapics Books. The goal being to establish awards based on the votes of comic professionals, ones that might be respected both within the industry and in the outside world. 

I also promised a little melodrama as well as some lying and betrayal, so strap in for this reasonably long second chapter of our adventure in comic industry awards.

The “origin” story of The Jack Kirby Comics Industry Awards

The germ of the idea wasn’t mine. But I’m here to accept my portion of the blame. I made a lot of mistakes. I was wrong. 

The Jack Kirby Comics Industry Awards was a child born of outrage. It started in early 1985 somewhere in Agoura Hills, California on a regular (or as regular as they ever got) work day at Fantagraphics Books. The Comic Buyer’s Guide Fan Awards were the subject of the discussion.

Before we can get to the outrage, the creation, the betrayal, the diplomacy or my wrong-doing, we need to set-up the scene on this little melodrama.