The Academy of Comic Book Arts is an American professional organization of the 1970s that was designed to be the comic book industry analog of such groups as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Founded in 1969 or 1970 (accounts differ), and hosting its first awards ceremony in 1971 for work published in 1970, the ACBA existed through at least 1977. Its award, the Shazam, was a statuette in the shape of a lightning bolt. A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ... Founded on May 11, 1927 in California, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) is a professional honorary organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of motion pictures. ... This article is about the wizard character Shazam. ...

In addition to the creative awards, the ACBA also established the Academy of Comic Book Arts Hall of Fame award, inducting Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster as its initial honorees. Superman, aka the Man of Steel, is a fictional character and superhero who first appeared in Action Comics #1 in 1938, and is one of the most popular and well-known comic book icons of all-time. ... Jerome (Jerry) Siegel (October 17, 1914 - January 28, 1996) was the co-creator of Superman, the first of the great comic book heroes and one of the most recognizable fictional characters from the 20th century. ... Joe Shuster (July 10, 1914 - July 30, 1992) was a Canadian-born artist best known for co-creating Superman with Jerry Siegel. ...

History

Despite its roots as an honorary society, the ACBA, under its early president, artist Neal Adams, became an advocacy organization for creators' rights. The comic-book industry at that time did not return artists' physical artwork after shooting the requisite film for printing, and in some cases destroyed the artwork to prevent unauthorized reprints. The industry also did not then offer royalties or residuals, common in such creative fields as book publishing, film and television, and the recording industry. Once the ACBA — riding a wave begun by the mid-'70s independent startup Atlas/Seaboard Comics, which instituted royalties and the return of artwork in order to attract creators — helped see those immediate goals achieved, it then gradually disbanded. Green Lantern/Green Arrow #76 (April 1970), the first of a landmark run by artist Neal Adams and writer Denny ONeil. ... A royalty is a sum paid to the creator of performance art for the use of that art. ... In statistics, the concepts of error and residual are easily confused with each other. ... Publishing is the activity of putting information into the public arena. ... Film refers to the celluloid media on which movies are printed. ... The record industry (or recording industry) is the industry that manufactures and distributes mechanical recordings of music. ... Atlas/Seaboard is the term that comic book historians and collectors use to refer to the short-lived line of comics published as Atlas Comics by Seaboard Periodicals, to differentiate it from Atlas Comics, the former name of Marvel Comics. ...

The ACBA was one of a string of largely unsuccessful comic-book indusry organizations, which include the Comic Book Creators Guild (1978-1979), the Comic Book Professionals Association (CBPA, 1992-1994), and Comic Artists, Retailers and Publishers (CARP, 1998-1998). The ongoing exception is a publishers' group, the Comic Magazine Association of America (CMAA), founded in 1954 as a response to public pressure and a Senate subcommitte on juvenile delinquency, and which created the self-censorship board the Comics Code Authority. The seal of the Comics Code Authority, which appears on the covers of approved comic books. ...

ACBA Sketchbooks

Aside from its Shazam Awards, the ACBA also published an annual fundraiser sketchbook from at least 1973 through 1977. Approximately $3,000 in sketchbook sales plus general contributions to the ACBA and accumulated interest was donated in early 2005 from the ACBA's Bill Everett Fund — created in 1975 to help comics professionals in financial need — to the present-day ACTOR (A Commitment To Our Roots), a federally chartered, not-for-profit corporation likewise dedicated. Irene Vartanoff was the final ACBA treasurer. Bill Everett (May 18, 1917 – February 27, 1973) was a comic book writer/illustrator most famous for the creation of Namor the Sub-Mariner and co-creating Daredevil for Marvel Comics. ... In many governments, a treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury. ...

Contributing to the 29-page ACBA Sketchbook 1973 were Adams, Sergio Aragones, Frank Brunner, Howard Chaykin, Dave Cockrum, Reed Crandall, Frank Frazetta, Michael Kaluta, Gil Kane, Gray Morrow, John Romita Sr., Mike Royer, Syd Shores, Jim Starlin, Jim Steranko, Herb Trimpe, and Wally Wood. Sergio Aragonés (born 1937) is a cartoonist and writer. ... American comic book artist, particularly known for his work at Marvel Comics in the 1970s. ... Howard V. Chaykin (born 1948) is an American comic book writer and artist famous for his innovative storytelling and sometimes controversial titles. ... The cover of Giant-Size X-Men #1 by Gil Kane & Cockrum, featuring characters he (Cockrum) designed. ... Reed Crandall (February 22, 1917 - September 13, 1982) was an American illustrator and penciller of comic books and magazines. ... Frank Frazetta (born February 9, 1928) is one of the worlds most influential fantasy and science fiction artists. ... Eli Katz (April 6, 1926–January 31, 2000), who worked under the name Gil Kane and in a few instances Scott Edwards, was a comic book illustrator whose career spanned the 1940s to 1990s. ... Gray Morrow (March 7, 1934 - November 6, 2001) was an American illustrator of paperback books and comics. ... John Romita, Sr. ... Syd Shores (born 1916, died March 6, 1973) is an American comic book artist known for his work on Captain America in both during the 1940s Golden Age of comic books and the 1960s Silver Age. ... James P. Jim Starlin (October 9, 1949 - ) is a veteran comic book writer and artist, who has worked for Marvel Comics, DC Comics and others since the early 1970s. ... Captain America #111 (March 1969): Sterankos signature surrealism. ... Herb Trimpe (1939- ) is an American comic book artist and occasional writer, best remembered for his work on The Incredible Hulk and credited with the co-creation of X-Mens Wolverine in the early 1970s. ... Wallace Wally Wood (born June 17, 1927, Menahga, Minnesota, United States; died November 2, 1981), was an American writer-artist best known for his work in EC Comics and Mad. ...

The 48-page ACBA Sketchbook 1975 included Adams, Aragones, Chaykin, Kaluta, Kane, Romita Sr., Steranko, Wood, and John Byrne, Russ Heath, Jeff Jones, Harvey Kurtzman, Walt Simonson, Michael Whelan, and Berni Wrightson. Wood also contributed to the 1976 and 1977 sketchbooks. John Byrne John Lindley Byrne (born July 6, 1950, Walsall) is a British-born naturalised American author and artist of comic books. ... Russ Heath is an artist who has worked in the comics industry. ... Jeff Jones (born January 10, 1944 in Atlanta, GA) was a very popular science fiction and fantasy illustrator during the 1960s and early 70s. ... Harvey Kurtzman (October 3, 1924 - February 21, 1993) was a U.S. cartoonist and magazine editor. ... Walter or, usually, Walt Simonson (born September 2, 1946) is a comic book writer and artist. ... At the 63rd World Science Fiction Convention in Glasgow, August 2005 Michael Whelan (born June 29, 1950) is a multiple award winning American artist specializing in science fiction and fantasy illustration. ... Berni Wrightson, born on October 27, 1948 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, is an American artist. ...

Shazam Awards

1970

Presented 1971

• Best Continuing Feature: Green Lantern/Green Arrow (DC)
• Best Individual Story: "No Evil Shall Escape My Sight", by Dennis O'Neil & Neal Adams, Green Lantern/Green Arrow #76 (DC)
• Best Writer (Dramatic Division): Dennis O'Neil
• Best Pencil Artist (Dramatic Division): Neal Adams
• Best Inker (Dramatic Division): Dick Giordano
• Best Writer (Humor Division): Carl Barks
• Best Pencil Artist (Humor Division): Bob Oksner
• Best Inker (Humor Division): Henry Scarpelli
• Best Colorist: Jack Adler
• Hall of Fame: Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster

Cover to Green Lantern: Rebirth #6, art by Ethan Van Sciver. ... Green Arrow (Oliver Jonas Ollie Queen) is a DC Comics superhero. ... Dennis Denny ONeil is a comic book writer and editor, principally for Marvel Comics and DC Comics in the 1970s. ... Green Lantern/Green Arrow #76 (April 1970), the first of a landmark run by artist Neal Adams and writer Denny ONeil. ... Richard Joseph Dick Giordano (July 20, 1932 - ) is a United States comic book artist and editor. ... Carl Barks in 1942 Carl Barks (March 27, 1901 – August 25, 2000) was a famous Disney Studio illustrator and comic book creator, who invented Duckburg and many of its inhabitants, such as Scrooge McDuck (1947), Gladstone Gander (1948), the Beagle Boys (1951) and Gyro Gearloose (1952). ... Bob Oksner was an American comic book artist employed by DC Comics and other companies. ... Henri Scarpelli is an artist who has worked in comics. ... Jerome (Jerry) Siegel (October 17, 1914 - January 28, 1996) was the co-creator of Superman, the first of the great comic book heroes and one of the most recognizable fictional characters from the 20th century. ... Joe Shuster (July 10, 1914 - July 30, 1992) was a Canadian-born artist best known for co-creating Superman with Jerry Siegel. ...

1971

Presented 1972

• Best Continuing Feature: Conan the Barbarian (Marvel)
• Best Individual Story: "Snowbirds Don't Fly", by Dennis O'Neil & Neal Adams, Green Lantern/Green Arrow #85 (DC)
• Best Writer (Dramatic Division): Roy Thomas
• Best Penciller (Dramatic Division): Neal Adams
• Best Inker (Dramatic Division): Dick Giordano
• Best Writer (Humor Division): John Albano
• Best Penciller (Humor Division): Dan DeCarlo
• Best Inker (Humor Division): Henry Scarpelli
• Best Letterer: Gaspar Saladino
• Best Colorist: Tatjana Wood
• Best Foreign Artist: Frank Bellamy
• Outstanding New Talent: (tie) Michael Kaluta, Richard Corben
• Special Recognition: Gil Kane, "for Blackmark, his paperback comics novel"
• Special Achievement by an Individual: Jack Kirby, "for his Fourth World series in Forever People, New Gods, Mister Miracle, Jimmy Olsen"
• Hall of Fame: Will Eisner

Hither came Conan, the Cimmerian, black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand, a thief, a reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandalled feet. ... Roy Thomas (born November 22, 1940, Missouri, United States) is a comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lees first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. ... John Albano was a writer who worked in the comics industry. ... Dan DeCarlo (December 12, 1917 - December 19, 2001) was arguably one of the most widely-viewed comic book artists of the 20th century, and one of the most prolific in terms of output. ... Gaaspar Saladino was an artist who worked in the comics industry. ... Tatjana Wood is a colorist who has worked in the comics industry. ... Frank Bellamy (born 21 May 1917, died 5 July 1976) was a British comics artist, best known for his work on the Dan Dare strip, on which he replaced Frank Hampson. ... Richard Corben (born November 1, 1940) is an American comic book artist best known for his illustrated fantasy stories in Heavy Metal magazine. ... Eli Katz (April 6, 1926–January 31, 2000), who worked under the name Gil Kane and in a few instances Scott Edwards, was a comic book illustrator whose career spanned the 1940s to 1990s. ... Blackmark is a 1971 Bantam Books paperback that is arguably the first graphic novel. ... The Fantastic Four, one of Kirbys most famous co-creations. ... Fourth World may mean: Fourth World, a term most commonly used to collectively describe notably marginalised or oppressed groups, in particular indigenous peoples, living in Third or First World countries. ... The Forever People is a comic book property created by Jack Kirby as part of the Fourth World set of DC Comics titles. ... The New Gods are a fictional race created by Jack Kirby for DC Comics. ... Mister Miracle is a DC Comics superhero created by Jack Kirby, originally as part of The Fourth World series of titles. ... Jimmy Olsen is a supporting character in the Superman comic book series published by DC Comics. ... Will Eisner (March 3, 1917, Brooklyn, New York City – January 3, 2005, Lauderdale Lakes, Florida) was an acclaimed American comics writer, artist and entrepreneur. ...

1972

Presented 1973

• Best Continuing Feature: n.a.
• Best Individual Story: "Dark Genesis", by Len Wein & Berni Wrightson, Swamp Thing #1 (DC)
• Best Individual Short Story (Dramatic): "The Demon Within", by John Albano & Jim Aparo, House of Mystery #201 (DC)
• Best Writer (Dramatic Division): Len Wein
• Best Penciller (Dramatic Division): Berni Wrightson
• Best Inker (Dramatic Division): n.a.
• Best Humor Story: "The Poster Plague", by Steve Skeates & Sergio Aragones, House of Mystery #202 (DC)
• Best Writer (Humor Division): n.a.
• Best Penciller (Humor Division): n.a.
• Best Inker (Humor Division): Sergio Aragones
• Best Letterer: n.a.
• Best Colorist: n.a.
• Best Foreign Artist: n.a.
• Outstanding New Talent: n.a.
• Special Award: DC letterer/proofreader Gerda Gattel "for bringing her special warmth to our history"
• Superior Achievement by an Individual: Julius Schwartz "for bringing the Shazam Family back into print"
• Hall of Fame: n.a.

Len Wein (born June 12, 1948, New York City, New York) is an American comic book writer and editor best known for co-creating DC Comics Swamp Thing and for reviving Marvel Comics X-Men. ... Berni Wrightson, born on October 27, 1948 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, is an American artist. ... The Swamp Thing is a fictional character created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson for DC Comics, and featured in a long-running horror-fantasy comic book series of the same name. ... Jim Aparo James N. Jim Aparo (1932-July 19, 2005) was a comic book artist best known for his work on various Batman stories for DC Comics. ... House of Mystery was a horror anthology comic book series published by DC Comics. ... Steve Skeates is a writer who has worked in the comics industry. ... Sergio Aragonés (born 1937) is a cartoonist and writer. ... House of Mystery was a horror anthology comic book series published by DC Comics. ... In comic books, the letterer is the person who draws the letters in the word balloons, draws in sound effects and usually designs a books logo. ... Proofreading is reading a proof copy of text for the purpose of detecting errors. ... Julius Schwartz, editor for DC Comics Julius Julie Schwartz (June 19, 1915 - February 8, 2004) was a comic book and pulp magazine editor, and a science fiction agent and prominent fan. ... Captain Marvel is a comic book superhero, originally published by Fawcett Comics and now owned by DC Comics. ...

1973

Presented 1974

• Best Continuing Feature: Swamp Thing (DC)
• Best Individual Story: "Song of Red Sonja", by Roy Thomas & Barry Smith, Conan the Barbarian #24 (Marvel)
• Best Individual Short Story (Dramatic): "The Himalayan Incident" (Manhunter) by Archie Goodwin & Walt Simonson, Detective Comics #437 (DC)
• Best Writer (Dramatic Division): Archie Goodwin
• Best Penciller (Dramatic Division): Berni Wrightson
• Best Inker (Dramatic Division): Dick Giordano
• Best Humor Story: "The Gourmet", Plop! #1 (DC)
• Best Writer (Humor Division): (tie) Stu Schwartzberg, Steve Skeates
• Best Penciller (Humor Division): Marie Severin
• Best Inker (Humor Division): Ralph Reese
• Best Letterer: Gaspar Saladino
• Best Colorist: Glynis Wein
• Best Foreign Comic Series: Lieutenant Blueberry
• Outstanding New Talent: (tie) Walt Simonson, Jim Starlin
• Superior Achievement by an Individual: Richard Corben
• Hall of Fame: Carl Barks

Barry Smith is a cognitive ontologist at the University of Buffalo in New York state. ... Secret Origins #22 outlined the history of the Manhunters, as to tie in with Millennium. ... Archie Goodwin (September 8, 1937 – March 1, 1998) was an American comic book writer, editor, and artist. ... Walter or, usually, Walt Simonson (born September 2, 1946) is a comic book writer and artist. ... Categories: Comics stubs | Batman | DC Comics titles ... Cover to Sub-Mariner #9 . ... Ralph Reese is an American artist who attended the High School of Art and Design before beginning his art career as an assistant to Wally Wood during the mid-1960s. ... Glynis Wein is an artist who has worked as a colorist in the comics industry. ... James P. Jim Starlin (October 9, 1949 - ) is a veteran comic book writer and artist, who has worked for Marvel Comics, DC Comics and others since the early 1970s. ...

1974

Presented 1975

• Best Continuing Feature: Conan the Barbarian (Marvel)
• Best Individual Story: "Gotterdammerung", Detective Comics #443 (DC)
• Best Individual Short Story (Dramatic): "Cathedral Perilous" (Manhunter) by Archie Goodwin & Walt Simonson, Detective Comics #441 (DC)
• Best Writer (Dramatic Division): Archie Goodwin
• Best Penciller (Dramatic Division): John Buscema
• Best Inker (Dramatic Division): Dick Giordano
• Best Humor Story: "Kaspar the Dead Baby" Crazy #8 (Marvel)
• Best Writer (Humor Division): Steve Skeates
• Best Penciller (Humor Division): Marie Severin
• Best Inker (Humor Division): Ralph Reese
• Best Letterer: John Costanza
• Best Colorist: Tatjana Wood
• Outstanding New Talent: Craig Russell
• Superior Achievement by an Individual: Roy Thomas
• Hall of Fame: Jack Kirby

John Buscema (December 11, 1927- January 10, 2002) was an American comic book artist and one of the mainstays of Marvel Comics in its 1960s and 1970s heyday. ... Philip Craig Russell is an American comic book writer, artist, and illustrator, best known for his work dealing with mythic themes. ...

Quotes

Jon B. Cooke [1]: "While the Academy of Comic Book Arts (ACBA) was established to be a kind of funnybook Motion Picture Academy — a self-congratulatory organization focused on banquets and awards — it quickly served as a soapbox for the Angry Young Men in the industry, primarily Neal Adams, Archie Goodwin, and their ilk of educated, informed and gutsy artists and writers, self-confident and filled with a strong sense of self-worth, attitudes sadly absent from the field for decades. ... (Jeff Rovin recalled, 'I can't tell you how many times Martin [Goodman] would listen to some of the things Neal Adams was saying and mutter, "Who the hell does he think he is?"'"). Archie Goodwin (September 8, 1937 – March 1, 1998) was an American comic book writer, editor, and artist. ... Martin Goodman (born January 18, 1908, New York City; died June 6, 1992, Palm Beach, Florida) was an American publisher of pulp magazines, paperback books and comic books, launching the company that would become Marvel Comics. ...

See also

• Alley Award
• Harvey Award
• Kirby Award
• Eisner Award

The Alley Awards were awards originally sponsored by Alter-Ego, a magazine edited by Jerry Bails, Roy Thomas, Ronn Foss, and Mike Friedrich. ... The Harvey Awards are given for achievement in comic books. ... The Kirby Awards were a short lived set of awards given for achievement in comic books. ... An Eisner Award is given for creative achievement in comic books, one of the most prestigious such awards in North America. ...

References

• Academy of Comic Book Arts Awards
• The Comics Journal #262: "Collective Inaction: The Comics Community Tries and Tries Again to Get It Together", by Michael Dean (excerpt posted online Aug. 13, 2004)
• Comic Book Resources: "Academy of Comic Book Arts Gifts Actor Comic Fund Over $3000" (April 22, 2005, press release)
• Amazing World Of Dc Comics: Special Edition #1 (Feb. 1976): "Siegel, Shuster & Superman", by E. Nelson Bridwell (offline)
• Comic Book Artist #16 (Dec. 2001): "Vengeance, Incorporated", by Jon B. Cooke
• Wally Wood Online checklist