Industry Appreciation Award - Comics Professional Retailers Organization

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The ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award

The direct market remains the way most comic-book stories get from creator to fan. ComicsPRO wants to honor those people who stand in that gap and help smooth the process. From publishers, distributors, marketers, creators and more, a lot of people are involved in bringing the stories we all love to market. ComicsPRO would like to stand up and recognize those who have been simply the best at what they do, making the comic-book direct market more successful for all of us. ComicsPRO has created The ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award to honor these individuals.

There are two categories for the Industry Appreciation Award, one for professionals who are still active in the business of comics and a Memorial Award one for those who have passed away and left an indelible mark on the profession of comic book specialty retailing. After a period of accepting nominations from members, the ComicsPRO Board of Directors presents the final ballot. Members will vote for one Award recipient from each category.

PREVIOUS AWARDS

2023 ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award Winner - Skybound Entertainment Team
(presentation https://vimeo.com/873183473)

2023 Industry Appreciation Memorial Award Winner – John Romita Sr.
(presentation https://vimeo.com/873182735)

The 2023 nominees were: Jackie Estrada, Matthew Rosenberg, Skybound Entertainment Team, Adrian and Damian Wassel, Jessica Wells.

The 2023 memorial nominees were: John Romita Sr, Allen Spiegel, Don Thompson, Mel Thompson, Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson
Special Board Award - Unsung Hero Award: Miryam Ramos (presentation https://vimeo.com/873179369)

2021/2022 Rising Tide Awards
Given to acknowledge those who helped the industry during Covid-19
Those individuals and organizations that helped lift ALL our boats.
Here is the presentation: https://vimeo.com/680302890?share=copy

Aftershock Comics
Bad Idea
Be Our Heroes Canada
CLLDF - Comic Legends Legal Defense Fund
All the Publishers who "checked in" on retailers
CBLDF - Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
Comics Experience
BINC - Book Industry Charitable Foundation
Creators
Customers of our Stores
Facebook Forums (CPRO, Coliseum, FOC forum, etc)
Full Returnability (Dynamite, Boom!, Image, Vault)
Game Companies that provided free product (Wizards of the Coast, Pokemon Company, Konami, Czech Games, etc)
Government
Inside Art Kickstarter
Leadership Level of BINC
Mad Cave Studios
Online Store Facilitators
Scout Comics
Store Front Retailers
TKO Studios
Zenescope Entertainment

2021/2022 Champion Awards
Give to acknowledge those who went Above and Beyond during Covid-19
Here is the presentation: https://vimeo.com/680302890?share=copy

Creators 4 Comics
David Steward II
Jim Lee
David Gabriel
Bill Schanes
Steve Geppi
Robert Kirkman, Todd McFarlane

2021 ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award Winner - Margaret “Maggie” Thompson.

2021 Industry Appreciation Memorial Award Winner – Dwayne McDuffie

The 2021 nominees were: The Aftershock Team, Shelly Bond, Cartoonist Kayfabe, Alex Cox, Vince Letterio, Maggie Thompson

The 2021 memorial nominees were: Batton Lash, Dwayne McDuffie, Marie Severin, Joe Simon, Don Thompson, Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson
Here is the presentation: https://vimeo.com/680302890?share=copy

2020 ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award Winner - Joe Field

2020 Industry Appreciation Memorial Award Winner – Robert Scott

The 2020 nominees were Robert Kirkman, Steve Rotterdam, Joe Field, Jim Shooter, Dirk Wood

The 2020 memorial nominees were: Robert Scott, Joe Simon, Don Thompson, Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson

2019 ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award Winner - BOOM! Studios Team

2019 Industry Appreciation Memorial Award Winner – Bill Liebowitz

The 2019 nominees were BOOM! Studios Team, Steve Geppi, Jonni Levas, Margaret "Maggie" Thompson, and Gene Luen Yang.

The 2019 memorial nominees were Batton Lash, Bill Liebowitz, Joseph Henry "Joe" Simon, Don Thompson, and Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson

2018 ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award Winner - DC Comics Retail Support Team

2018 Industry Appreciation Memorial Award Winner – Len Wein

The 2018 nominees were Raina Telgemeier, Gene Luen Yang, Adam Freeman, and DC Comics Retail Support Team.

The 2018 memorial nominees were Steve Dillon, Bernie Wrightson, Carl Barks, Len Wein
Special Board Award: Unsung Hero Award: Dave Hawksworth

2017 ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award Winner - Karen Berger

2017 Industry Appreciation Memorial Award Winner – Darwyn Cooke

The 2017 nominees were Karen Berger, Bob Overstreet, Margaret "Maggie" Thompson, Bud Plant

The 2017 memorial nominees were Darwyn Cooke, Steve Dillon, Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, Don Thompson

2016 ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award Winner - David Gabriel

2016 Industry Appreciation Memorial Award Winner – William Maxwell Gaines

The 2016 nominees were Mike Friedrich, David Gabriel, Matt Pizzolo, Dinesh Shamdasani

The 2016 memorial nominees were William Maxwell Gaines, Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, Don Thompson, Shel Dorf

2015 ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award Winner - William D. Schanes

2015 Industry Appreciation Memorial Award Winner – Joseph "Joe" Kubert

The 2015 nominees were Stephen A. Geppi, Robert Kirkman, William D. Schanes, Dirk Wood

The 2015 memorial nominees were William Maxwell Gaines, Joseph "Joe" Kubert, Joseph Henry "Joe" Simon, Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson

2014 ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award Winner - Eric Stephenson

2014 Industry Appreciation Memorial Award Winner – Julius Schwartz

The 2014 nominees were Karen Berger, David Gabriel, Jenette Kahn, Denis Kitchen, Margaret Thompson

The 2014 memorial nominees were Carl Barks, William Gaines, Camine Infantino, Don Thompson

2013 ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award Winner - Cindy Fournier

2013 Industry Appreciation Memorial Award Winner - Will Eisner

The 2013 nominees were Scott Dunbier, David Gabriel, Bill Schanes, Eric Stephenson.

The 2013 memorial nominees were Julius Schwartz, Shel Dorf, and Joe Kubert.

The 2012 ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award winner is Bob Wayne,
The 2012 ComicsPRO Industry Memorial Award winner is Phil Seuling.

The 2012 nominees were Cindy Fournier, David Gabriel, Robert Kirkman, Eric Stephenson, and Bob Wayne.

The 2012 memorial nominees were Julius Schwartz and Phil Seuling.

The 2011 ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award winner is Stan Lee,
The 2011 ComicsPRO Industry Memorial Award winner is Jack Kirby.

The 2011 nominees were Steve Geppi, Denis Kitchen, Stan Lee, Bill Schanes and Bob Wayne.

The 2011 memorial nominees were Will Eisner, Jack Kirby, Julius Schwartz and Phil Seuling.

The 2010 ComicsPRO Industry Appreciation Award winner is Paul Levitz,
The 2010 ComicsPRO Industry Memorial Award winner is Carol Kalish.

The 2010 nominees were Neil Gaiman, Steve Geppi, Paul Levitz, Dave Sim and Bob Wayne.

The 2010 memorial nominees were Will Eisner, Carol Kalish, Julius Schwartz and Phil Seuling.