TheLulu Awards were a group of literary awards in the field ofcomics, presented by theFriends of Lulu from 1997 to 2010. The awards were intended to "recognize the people and projects that help open the eyes and minds to the amazing comic and cartooning work by and/or about women."[1] The awards were presented atSan Diego Comic-Con from 1997 to 2007, at theMoCCA Festival in 2008[2]–2009,[3] and the Long Beach Comic Con in 2010.[4]
The awards were separated into five categories:Lulu of the Year,Kimberly Yale Award for Best New Talent,Volunteer of the Year Award,Women of Distinction Award, and theWomen Cartoonists Hall of Fame. In 2009, two additional awards were created: theLeah Adezio Award for Best Kid-Friendly Work andBest Female Character.[5]
Originally, award nominations and voting were limited to Friends of Lulu dues-paying members.[6] In 2007, nominations were opened for the first time to non-members.[7] In the Awards' penultimate year, 2009, a judges panel provided "the list of nominees," and "then the public ... [voted] for the winners in each category."[3] The 2009 judges were Brigid Alverson, Jennifer Babcock,Abby Denson, Cheryl Lynn Eaton, Chris Eberle, Karen Green, and Robert Randle.[3]
The Lulu of the Year honor went to creator(s), book(s), or other projects "whose work best exemplifies Friends of Lulu’s mission."[1] "Nominees must have published comic book, strip, or editorial cartoon work, whether self-published, company-published, or net-published."[8]
"Nominees must have published comic book, strip, or editorial cartoon work, whether self-published, company-published, or net-published. An individual cannot win more than once."[8] In 2010, shortly before the demise of the Friends of Lulu, the Women Cartoonists Hall of Fame was renamedThe Female Cartoonists and Comic Book Writers Hall of Fame.[9]
Criteria for inclusion were similar to the Women Cartoonists Hall of Fame, except that the award was open to all women in the comic book field, not just writers and artists.[8]
^"Shades Of Blue Interview", Lonely.geek.nz, February 14, 2001: "Darren Schroeder: What is your full name? / Rachel Suzanne Nacion [...] Friends of Lulu nominated me for Best New Talent [...] although they spelled my last name, Ancion."
