TheComic Art Professional Society (CAPS) is an organization of professionalcartoonists in the United States. The organization's stated primary purposes are "to advance the ideals and standards of professional cartooning in its many forms", "to promote and foster a social, cultural and intellectual interchange among professional cartoonists of all types" and "to stimulate and encourage interest in and acceptance of the art of cartooning by aspiring cartoonists, students and the general public."[1]
The Society was founded in June 1977 when cartoonistsSergio Aragones ofMad Magazine,Don Rico ofMarvel Comics, and writerMark Evanier sought to create a non-profit monthly social group for fellow members of the profession.[1] They enjoyed each other's company and decided to meet on a regular basis. Membership is limited to established professional cartoonists, with a few exceptions of outstanding persons in affiliated fields. CAPS is not aguild orlabor union.[2] Charter members of the organization includedJack Kirby,Scott Shaw!,[3] andWilliam Stout. Stout created the CAPS logo based after the logo of theSteve Canyon newspaper comic strip.[4]
"a non-profit social-type group that will meet every month. A great many of us toil in near isolation, utterly unaware of what (and who) is happening in our field. The primary goal of CAPS is to change that.” - From the original CAPS invitation[1]
The membership meets the second Thursday of every month to discuss happenings in the comic art business, market news, state-of-the-industry reports, and often hear from guest speakers who are at the top of their profession. CAPS exists for cartoonists and writers to interact on a social basis. CAPS hosts other special events through the year that have included picnics, art auctions, Christmas parties, and an annual banquet at which an esteemed member of the comic art profession is honored with The Sergio Award. CAPS is not afan organization.[5][1]
The CAPS membership has often contributed their talents to various philanthropic endeavors, such as auctions of original artwork for charity. Many times this has included raising money to assist cartoonists in need.
The organization hosts an annual banquet to honor an esteemed member of the profession and present their highest award for lifetime achievement,The Sergio, named after one of CAPS' co-foundersSergio Aragones. The earliest recipients of the honor received a printed award certificate, with later year's honorees receiving an award plaque. In 2006, CAPS officially gave a name to the honor – The Sergio Award - and began giving an award statue crafted in Aragones' cartoon likeness.[14] The Sergio award statue was sculpted byRubén Procopio.[15]
Started by former CAPS presidentTone Rodriguez and originally called theScott Shaw Award, awarded for a member who goes above and beyond to support CAPS. Shaw requested the award be renamed to honorDon Rico.
^Reynaldo, Randy (October 15, 2008)."2007 CAPS Banquet".wcgcomics.com. WCG Comics. Archived fromthe original on 2008-10-15. RetrievedDecember 21, 2021.
^Bronck, Jonas (June 23, 2011)."Eugene Colan Dies At 84".bronx.com. The Bronx Daily. RetrievedDecember 22, 2021.
^Masten, George (August 24, 2018)."Russ Heath Passes Away at 91".newsarama.com. Newsarama. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. RetrievedDecember 21, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
