At Baltimore Comic-Con 2015, the comic book industry paid homage to Harvey Kurtzman, the legendary cartoonist and founding editor of MAD Magazine with the 2015 Harvey Awards. And once again, Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples’ Saga was named Best Continuing Series, with Staples winning two solo awards for Best Artist and Best Cover Artist.
Comic industry veteran Mark Waid was named Best Writer for his stint on Marvel’s Daredevil, while Jason Aaron and Jason Latour’s Southern Bastards took home the Best New Series Award.
Sex Criminals co-creator Chip Zdarsky won the Special Award for Humor in Comics for his work on the series. But according to Comic Book Resources, Zdarsky has rejected the award because his collaborator, Matt Fraction did not share his nomination.
“It’s nice having people realize how special I am and how humor I am, and I truly appreciate everyone who voted for me, but the award, as it stands, doesn’t make a lot of sense,” said Zdarsky on his Tumblr account. “The fact that I was nominated for a humor award for Sex Criminals without the writer of said series, my beloved chum, Matt Fraction, is wrong. On every level. I pointed this out to the Harvey Awards and told them I wished to have Matt on the ballot with me, or to remove me completely, and they declined to do either.”
“Let’s make this category reflect the teams who deserve it,” continued Zdarsky. “Until then, I can’t accept the award.” He also added “If, for some reason, it’s already en route to me, I’ll just carve Matt’s name into it and raffle it off for the Hero Initiative.”
A full list of 2015 Harvey Award winners is reproduced below:
Best Writer
Mark Waid, Daredevil, Marvel Comics
Best Artist
Fiona Staples, Saga, Image Comics
Best Cartoonist
Terry Moore, Rache Rising, Abstract Studios
Best Letterer
Jack Morelli, Afterline With Archie, Archie Comic Publications
Best Inker
Danny Miki, Batman, DC Comics
Best Colorist
Dave Stewart, Hellboy In Hell, Dark Horse Comics
Best Cover Artist
Fiona Staples, Saga, Image Comics
Most Promising New Talent
Chad Lambert, Kill Me from Dark Horse Presents, Dark Horse Comics
Best New Series
Southern Bastards, Image Comics
Best Continuing or Limited Series
Saga, Image Comics
Best Syndicated Strip or Panel
Dick Tracy, Joe Staton and Mike Curtis, Tribune Media Services
Best Anthology
Dark Horse Presents, Dark Horse Comics
Best Graphic Album — Original
Jim Henson’s The Musical Monsters Of Turkey Hollow, Archaia/BOOM! Studios
Best Graphic Album — Previously Published
Mouse Guard: Baldwin The Brave And Other Tales, Archaia/BOOM! Studios
Best Single Issue or Story
“Breaking Out”, Dark Horse Presents #35, Dark Horse Comics
Best Domestic Reprint Project
Steranko Nick Fury Agent Of S.H.I.E.L.D. Artist’s Edition, IDW
Best American Edition of Foreign Material
Blacksad: Amarillo, Dark Horse
Best Online Comics Work
The Private Eye, Brian K. Vaughan, Marcos Martin, and Muntsa Vicente
Special Award for Humor in Comics
Chip Zdarsky, Sex Criminals, Image Comics
Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Visual History, Andrew Farago, Insight Editions
Best Original Graphic Publication for Young Readers
Lumberjanes, BOOM! Box (BOOM! Studios)
Special Award for Excellence in Presentation
Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream, Andrew Carl, Josh O’Neill, and Chris Stevens, Locust Moon Press
