Grand Comics Database Comics History Awards

The Grand Comics Database is a nonprofit, internet-based organization of international volunteers dedicated to building a database covering all printed comics throughout the world. Many of you are probably familiar with our database, at https://www.comics.org/. But in addition to the database we have a related educational mission: expanding and improving the public's understanding and appreciation of comics.

As a part of our educational mission we would like to announce the creation of the Grand Comics Database Comics History Awards. Awards will be given in three categories, best book, best article, and best reprint collection for works published, in English, between January and December, 2020.

Eligibility

Eligible works should be published in English or accompanied by a translation into English. All types of comics are suitable as source material: comic books, strips (including single-panel and editorial cartoons), and webcomics. Anthologies, as a whole, are not eligible, however individual chapters from anthologies will be accepted. Subjects such as history of publishers, of characters, of publications, of trends or tropes, or biographies of creators are all acceptable. Works deemed by the judges to be outside the discipline of history are not eligible. Works by members of the GCD Board of Directors or the awards panel of judges or their immediate families are not eligible.

Evaluation Criteria

We will use these criteria:

• Serious scholarship representing a significant contribution to the discipline

• Relevant topic of continuing importance to fans, readers, and scholars

• Authority in interpretation: depth and breadth of expertise represented

• Spirit of objectivity

• Research findings handled with skill and assurance

• Accurate, thorough, clear cross-referencing and indexing

• Well-written and readable writing style

The best reprint collection will include an essay, introduction, or annotations that place the reprinted material in the historical context of comics and/or pop culture.

Awards

The award committee will consist of a GCD board officer, two GCD members, and two academic scholars selected by the GCD Board. The author of the best book will be awarded $750. The authors of the best reprint collection and best article will be awarded $200 each. In the event of works authored by more than one person, the monetary prize will be divided among the authors; each award will also include an appropriate plaque for each author. The GCD reserves the right to present no award in any of the three categories.

Nominations can be made by publishers or authors. Five copies of each nominated book should be sent to GCD Awards, 34 Overby Circle, Little Rock, AR 72205. A pdf of a traditionally published book is acceptable and should be sent to awards-chair@comics.org.

For the best article award, please send a pdf of the article that includes the name and date of the publication wherein it appeared to awards-chair@comics.org.

All entries should be accompanied by a cover letter that includes a brief vita for the writer and appropriate contact information. Nomination will be accepted 1 January 2020 through 31 January 2021 with the awards being made on 1 March 2021.

Questions may be directed to the awards panel at awards-chair@comics.org or at GCD Awards, 34 Overby Circle, Little Rock, AR 72205.