GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book

GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book
Awarded forExcellence in depiction of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community in comics
CountryUnited States
Presented byGLAAD
First awardedApril 1992; 32 years ago (1992-04)
2024 winner(s)Star Wars: Doctor Aphra

The GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book is an annual award that honors comic books for excellence in the depiction of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) characters and themes. It is one of several categories of the annual GLAAD Media Awards, presented by GLAAD—an American non-governmental media monitoring organization—at ceremonies in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco between March and June.[1]

The award was introduced in 1992 as a non-competitive category at the 3rd GLAAD Media Awards. The first honoree was the second volume of The Flash, an ongoing comic book series published by DC Comics and written by William Messner-Loebs. No award was given from 1993 through 1995, but one comic has been recognized every year since 1996. Outstanding Comic Book became a competitive category in 1997.[2] While the award initially encompassed all types of comics—such as comic books, comic strips, and graphic novels—GLAAD split the category into two starting with the 33rd ceremony in 2022; Outstanding Comic Book and Outstanding Original Graphic Novel/Anthology.[3]

For a comic to be eligible, it must be targeted at a general audience and be sold nationwide in comic retail stores.[4] Furthermore, it must be published by one of the United States' four mainstream comic book publishers—Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, Image Comics, or Marvel Comics—or their subsidiaries.[5] A title from another publisher is eligible at GLAAD's discretion if it manages to attain a degree of visibility and impact similar to that of one of the four mainstream publishers.[5]

Comic books selected by GLAAD are evaluated based on four criteria: "Fair, Accurate, and Inclusive Representations" of the LGBT community, "Boldness and Originality" of the project, significant "Impact" on mainstream culture, and "Overall Quality" of the project.[6] GLAAD monitors mainstream media to identify which comic books will be nominated, while also issuing a Call for Entries that encourages media outlets to submit titles for consideration. Comics created by and for an LGBT audience must be submitted in order to be considered for nomination, as GLAAD does not monitor such works for defamation.[6] Winners are determined by a plurality vote by GLAAD staff and board, Shareholders Circle members,[a] as well as volunteers and allies.[6]

Since its inception, the award has been given to 27 comics. Green Lantern, Young Avengers, Strangers in Paradise, and Star Wars: Doctor Aphra are the only comics to have received the award twice, with only Green Lantern achieving consecutive wins; in 2002 and 2003. Judd Winick is the writer with the most wins, having been nominated four times and winning three; two for Green Lantern. Strangers in Paradise also has the distinction of being the most-nominated comic, having been nominated 7 times. With nine nominations and one win, James Tynion IV has been nominated more often than any other writer. With four nominations, The Authority is the comic that has been nominated the most often without a win; with six nominations, Brian K. Vaughan is the most-nominated writer without a win.

Since the mid-2000s the award has received some criticism for its emphasis on mainstream comics—including its exclusion of non-mainstream comics, webcomics, and manga—as well as failing to recognize comic book artists alongside writers in nominations, though artists were eventually honored alonsdige writers as of the 34th GLAAD Media Awards. At the 35th GLAAD Media Awards in 2024, the award was given to the ongoing series Star Wars: Doctor Aphra; published by Marvel Comics, and written by Alyssa Wong.

  1. ^ "GLAAD Media Awards Selection Process". GLAAD. September 10, 2011. Archived from the original on August 17, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference 1997 Death was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Johnston, Rich (January 19, 2022). "Comics Outstanding Nominations Announced For GLAAD Awards 2022". Bleeding Cool. Avatar Press. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  4. ^ "Award Category Definitions and Eligibility Rules". GLAAD. Archived from the original on March 20, 2003. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards - Award Category Definitions and Eligibility Rules". GLAAD. 22 September 2011. Archived from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "GLAAD Media Awards Selection Process". GLAAD. Archived from the original on July 11, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  7. ^ "Become a Member. Donate Today. Help us make a difference". GLAAD. 9 September 2011. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2022.


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