Trophy given in the field of inking in American comic books
The Inkwell Award , sometimes shortened to the Inkwells , is a trophy given in the field of
inking in
American comic books . Its mission statement is "To promote and educate about the craft of comic book inking and to show recognition for ink artists."
[1]
History
In January 2008,
Bob Almond proposed the idea of an award to recognize the contributions of
comic book
inkers .
[2] Founding members were artists Tim Townsend, Jim Tournas, Bill Nichols, and writer Daniel Best,
[3] with artist
Adam Hughes and
DC Comics editor Mike Marts lending support.
[4]
The Hall of Fame Award was named in honor of veteran comic book inker
Joe Sinnott .
[2]
In remembrance of artist Dave Simons,
[5] the Dave Simons Inkwell Memorial Scholarship was established, a $1,000 award granted annually to a student attending the
Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art .
[6]
Wizard Entertainment sponsored the first live Inkwell Awards Presentation at The New England Comic Con on October 1–3, 2010.
[7] In 2011,
Heroes Convention took up the position of host show for the annual live presentation ceremony.
[8]
In 2019, the Inkwells moved to the
Great Philadelphia Comic Con! in
Oaks, Pennsylvania .
[9]
[10]
[11]
Due to the
COVID-19 pandemic , live awards presentations were suspended from 2020 on.
[12]
[13]
Funding
The Inkwell Awards are funded via donations.
[14] In 2010, funds were raised via a book produced by Jimmy Tournas at the
Boston Comic Con .
[15]
Award winners
MVP Award
The Call of Duty Award
Favorite Finisher / Embellisher
Most-Prolific Inker
Favorite Inker
Favorite ink artists over the pencil work of another artist from award year cover-dated, interior, American comic book material.
Most-Adaptable Inker Ink artist "showing ink style versatility" in award year interior, cover-dated, American comic book material.
Props Award
Ink artists "deserving of more attention" for their work from award year interior cover-dated American comic book material.
The "SPAMI" Award (Small Press and Mainstream-Independent)
Favorite Small Press And Mainstream-Independent award year interior, cover-dated, American comic book ink work over another pencil artist (Non-Marvel or DC work).
The All-in-One Award
Artists known for inking their own pencil work in award year interior, cover-dated, American comic book material.
Special Recognition Award
The Special Recognition Award AKA the Stacey Aragon Special Recognition Award in honor of the Inkwells supporter "who passed after a decade-long battle with cancer".
[25]
The Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame Award
A hall of fame designation for an inking career in American comic books (lifetime achievement, 25 years minimum; two winners chosen annually).
Above & Beyond Award
In celebration of the 10th anniversary in 2018,
Almond created this award for organization members or non-members who have made "special efforts".
2018 Hailey Skaza-Gagne,
[47] for her fundraising and event contributions as the longest-running Ms. Inkwell spokesperson; Robert Haines, for his 10 consecutive years on the Inkwell Nomination Committee; Mark Sinnott, for his work as Senior Inkwell Contributor for a decade, as liaison between the Inkwell Awards and his father,
Joe Sinnott , and for his work in fundraising for the Inkwells.
[27]
2019 Michael Hoskin, the second member to annually serve on the Inkwell Awards nomination committee; Shelton Drum, organizer/promoter of
Heroes Con , the show to host the Inkwell Awards ceremonies from 2011 to 2018.
2020—none
[31]
2021 Bob Bretall and Johnny B. Gerardy,
[32]
[33] for ten years of Nomination Committee service.
2022 Michele Witchipoo
[34]
[35] for ten years of Nomination Committee service.
2023
Rik Offenberger and Tony Parker, for ten years of Nomination Committee service;
Keith Williams for outstanding involvement in the Joe Sinnott Inking and Tribute Challenges; and Ray Burke, for prolific, versatile performance to the Inkwells.
[48]
[49]
Ambassadors
The position of ambassador recognizes creators for their support for the Inkwell Awards. Unless noted otherwise, all ambassadors continue to hold this position.
[50]
Special Ambassadors
Joe Sinnott , 2012 until his death in June 2020 (artist)
Mike McKone , July 2010. (artist)
J. David Spurlock , March 2011. (publisher, editor, author, artist, and advocate)
Clifford Meth , August 2014. (Writer, advocate)
Aldrin "Buzz" Aw, January 2018 (artist)
[51]
Rags Morales , September 2018 (artist)
[52]
[53]
Dan Parsons , September 2018 (artist)
[52]
[53]
Mark Sinnott and Joe Prado, January 2021
[54]
[50]
Dan DiDio , August 2022 (writer, editor, and publisher)
[55]
[56]
[57]
[58]
[59]
[60]
[61]
Ambassadors
These supporting artists who help advocate for inkers are called ambassadors.
[62]
Adam Hughes , February 2008 (artist)
Mike Marts, February 2008 – August 2018 (editor), inactive
Sal Velluto, July 2010 (artist)
Mark Brooks , June 2010 (artist)
Trevor Von Eeden , July 2010 (artist)
Cully Hamner , June 2011 (artist)
Joe Kubert , September 2011 until his death in August 2012 (artist, cartoonist, letterer, colorist, author, editor, and legend)
Eric Basaldua , September 2011 (artist)
Phil Jimenez , September 2011 (artist)
Jim Shooter , January 2012 (writer and editor)
Brian Pulido , October 2012 (artist, writer, editor, and publisher)
Jim Starlin , August 2014 (artist, writer)
[63]
Laura Martin , August 2014 (colorist)
[63]
Rich Buckler , 2015 until his death in May 2017
[25] (artist)
[64]
[62]
Guests of honor and keynote speakers
At many of the live ceremonies, notable comic book creators were invited as guests of honor and keynote speakers.
2011:
Dan Panosian , Keynote Speaker
[65]
[66]
2012:
Bob McLeod , Keynote Speaker
[67]
[68]
[69]
2013:
Jimmy Palmiotti , Keynote Speaker
[70]
[71]
[72]
2014:
Bill Sienkiewicz , Guest of Honor
[73]
[74]
[75]
2015:
Klaus Janson , Guest of Honor
[76]
2016:
Jim Steranko , Special Appearance
[77]
[78]
[79]
2017:
Joe Giella , Guest of Honor
[26]
[80] and
Allen Bellman , Guest Speaker
[26]
[80]
2018:
Mike Royer , Guest of Honor
[27]
2019:
Mark McKenna , Guest of Honor
[81]
Contributors
Artist
Dan Panosian designed the Inkwell Awards logo. Randy Green designed the Ms. Inkwell spokesperson costume.
[82]
References
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[1] Inkwell Awards Homepage
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"CBGXtra Forum, The Ticker" . CBGXtra.com. Archived from
the original on February 26, 2008. Retrieved 2009-10-22 .
^ Daniel Best & James Tournas.
"The Inkwell Awards" . The Inkwell Awards. Archived from
the original on 2009-09-13. Retrieved 2009-08-20 .
^
"Inkwell Awards Forum" . InkwellAwards.com. Retrieved 2009-10-22 .
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"Inkwell Awards Forum - Dave Simons: 1954-2009" . Inkwellawards.proboards.com. 2009-06-10. Retrieved 2009-08-20 .
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"Inkwell Awards Forum - Nathan Massengill and The Dave Simons Scholarship" . Inkwellawards.proboards.com. Retrieved 2009-08-20 .
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"Wizard Entertainment press release on October 2010 New England Comic Con" . wizardworld.com. Archived from
the original on 2010-02-20. Retrieved 2010-04-03 .
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"Inkwell Ballot Goes LIVE w/ a SITE RELAUNCH on April 1st! Awards Ceremony at Heroes Con in June!" . 21 February 2017.
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"Inkwell Awards: Changing Host Show to the Great Philadelphia Comic Con!" . inkwellawards.com. 18 November 2018.
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"First Comic News: Inkwell Awards Changing Host Show Location from HeroesCon to the Great Philadelphia Comic Con!" . firstcomicnews.com. 20 November 2018.
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"Dynamite: Inkwell Awards Changing Host Show Location" . dynamite.com.
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First Comics News: 2020 Inkwell Awards Voting Results
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News Archives - Inkwell Awards
^ Books, Blaq (2008-02-15).
"20th Century Danny Boy: Presenting...THE INKWELL AWARDS" . Ohdannyboy.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2009-08-20 .
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"Inkwell Awards Forum - New 2010 Donation book to debut at Boston Comic Con" . Inkwellawards.proboards.com. Retrieved 2010-04-03 .
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Inkwell Awards 2008 Winners
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Inkwell Awards 2009 Winners
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Inkwell Awards 2010 Winners
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Inkwell Awards 2011 Winners
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Inkwell Awards 2012 Winners
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Inkwell Awards 2013 Winners
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Inkwell Awards 2014 Winners
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Inkwell Awards 2015 Winners
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Inkwell Awards 2016 Winners
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Inkwell Awards 2017 Winners
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Newsarama 2017 INKWELL AWARD Winners
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Inkwell Awards 2018 Winners
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First Comic News: 2019 Inkwell Awards Voting Results & Ceremony
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Word of the Nerd: 2019 Inkwell Award Winners
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GamesRadar+ 2020 Inkwell Award Winners
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Inkwell Awards Winners 2020
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2021 Inkwell Awards Voting Results
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2021 Winners - Inkwell Awards Official Site
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Comic Art News: Inkwell Awards Announces 2022 Honorees
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Comics for Sinners: 2022 Inkwell Awards Celebrates Gunslinger Spawn’s Corona, 4th time winner Rapmund and more… #ink-magic
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First Comics News - 2023 Inkwell Awards Ballot Winners
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Comics for Sinners Inkwell Awards 2023 Winners
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Inkwell Awards Announce Winners for 2023
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YouTube - Scott Hanna - Heroes Convention 2011
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YouTube - Arthur Thibert - Heroes Convention 2011
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"First Comics News - 2022 Inkwell Awards Lifetime Achievement Winners"
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"Major Spoilers - Frazetta and Shores announced as Inkwell Awards’ 2023 Lifetime Achievement
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"Pop Culture Podium - Frazetta & Shores Win Inkwell Lifetime Achievement Award"
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"First Comics News - Inkwell Awards’ 2023 Lifetime Achievement Winners Announced"
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YouTube - Kevin Nowlan - Heroes Convention 2011
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YouTube - J. David Spurlock - Heroes Convention 2011 - Posthumous acceptance on behalf of Wally Wood
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Hailey Skaza-Gagne
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First Comics News - INKBLOTS: Inkwell Awards celebrates four ABOVE & BEYOND community volunteers
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Bob's Blog: Inkwell Awards celebrates four ABOVE & BEYOND community volunteers
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Ambassadors - Inkwell Awards Official Site
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Inkwell Awards Celebrates Milestone 10th Season
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First Comics News - Inkwell Awards Adds New Special Ambassadors
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Inkwell Awards Launches 11th Season with New Special Ambassadors Rags Morales, Dan Parsons
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First Comic News - Inkwell Awards Adds New Special Ambassadors
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First Comics News - Inkwell Awards Adds Dan DiDio as Special Ambassador
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Inkwell Awards Adds Dan DiDio As Special Ambassador
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Comicbook.com - DC Comics Dan DiDio Named Inkwell Awards Special Ambassador
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Comics for Sinners - Dan DiDio Added As Inkwell Awards Special Ambassador
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JournaFeed - Former DC Publisher Dan DiDio Named Inkwell Awards Special Ambassador
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Comic Crusaders - Dan DiDio Added as Inkwell Awards Special Ambassador
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Erudit - Former DC Editor Dan DiDio Named Special Inkwell Awards Ambassador
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Inkwell Award Ambassadors
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First Comics News Press Release - Starlin, Meth, and Martin as Inkwell Awards Ambassadors [
permanent dead link ]
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"First Comics News Press Release - Rich Buckler named Inkwell Awards Ambassador" . Archived from
the original on 2016-03-19. Retrieved 2016-07-15 .
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The Joe Shuster Awards: Congratulations to Francis Manapul and the other winners of the 2011 Inkwell Awards
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Inkwell Awards at 2011 HeroesCon
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"She Never Slept: The 2012 Inkwell Awards" . Archived from
the original on 2016-09-13. Retrieved 2016-09-02 .
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YouTube - Inkwell Awards 2012 Ceremony, Bob McLeod, Keynote Speaker (Introduction)
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YouTube - Inkwell Awards 2012 Ceremony, Bob McLeod, Keynote Speaker (Speech)
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"She Never Slept: 2013 Inkwell Awards" . Archived from
the original on 2016-09-13. Retrieved 2016-09-02 .
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Inkwell Awards: 2013 Inkwell Awards Celebrate Inkers at 3rd Annual HeroesCon Awards Ceremony
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YouTube - Inkwell Awards 2013 Ceremony, Jimmy Palmiotti, Keynote Speaker
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Everyone's Wrong and I'm Right (The Blog of Clifford Meth): Inkwell Awards 2014 Winners and Hall Of Fame
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Inkwell Awards: Bill Sienkiewicz is Guest of Honor at 2014 HeroesCon Awards Ceremony
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YouTube - Inkwell Awards 2014 Ceremony, Bill Sienkiewicz Guest of Honor
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"First Comic News: Guest of Honor Klaus Janson to speak at the 2015 Inkwell Awards Ceremony during Heroes Con" . Archived from
the original on 2015-12-27. Retrieved 2016-09-02 .
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First Comics News: Special Appearance by Jim Steranko to Highlight the 2016 Inkwell Awards Ceremony at Heroes Con [
permanent dead link ]
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YouTube - Inkwell Awards 2016 Ceremony, Jim Steranko Special Appearance
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Inkwell Awards 2016 Post-Show Video and Transcript
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Inkwell Awards: Legends Joe Giella and Allen Bellman Headline The 2017 Inkwell Awards Ceremony at Heroes Con
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Inkwell Awards 2019 Voting Results and Ceremony
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"Inkwell Awards debut Ms. Inkwell" . Inkwellawards.proboards.com. Retrieved 2010-04-03 .
External links