American series of comic book fan awards
TheAlley Award was an American annual series ofcomic book fan awards, first presented in 1962 for comics published in 1961. Officially organized under the aegis of theAcademy of Comic Book Arts and Sciences ,[ 1] fanzine Alter Ego [ 2]
The Alley Awards were tallied for comic books produced during the previous year. The Alley statuette — a likeness of thecomic strip characterAlley Oop [ 3] redwood , from which "plaster duplications" were made to be handed out to the various winners.[ 4]
The Alley Award traces its origin to "a letter to Jerry dated October 25, 1961" by Roy Thomas, in which he suggested that Jerry Bails' fanzineAlter-Ego [ 4]
Initially suggested as the "Alter-Ego Award", the name evolved into the Alley Award aftercomic strip caveman Alley Oop , since, as Thomas reasoned, "surely a caveman had to be the earliest superhero chronologically".[ 4] Bill Schelly notes that no one "bothered to ask theNEA [newspaper] syndicate for permission to utilizeV. T. Hamlin 's comic strip character".[ 4]
By the awards' third year, the number of ballots received had become so overwhelming that Bails called for a fan get-together at which votes could be tabulated by group effort. This gathering of Midwestern fans, held in March 1964 at the Detroit-area home of Bails, was dubbed the "Alley Tally", and its success provided inspiration for the organizing of comic bookfan conventions that began soon afterward.[ 5]
Results of the voting were published in the comicsfanzines On the Drawing Board /The Comic Reader [ 3] comic strip awards added in 1967 (for calendar year 1966). The awards were presented at all threeAcademy Cons from 1965 to 1967. The final three years' awards were presented atPhil Seuling 'sNew York Comic Art Convention .[ 6]
After the dissolution of the Alleys, from 1971 to 1974 the Comic Art Convention presented theGoethe Awards [ 7] [ 8]
Source[ 1]
Best Regularly Published Comic Book -Justice League of America (DC Comics ) Best Adventure Hero(ine) Having Own Comic Book -Green Lantern (DC Comics) Best Adventure Hero(ine) Not Having Own Comic Book -Hawkman (DC Comics) Best Supporting Character -Elongated Man (DC Comics) Best Cover -The Flash Flash of Two Worlds " (DC Comics) Best Single Issue -The Flash #123, "Flash of Two Worlds" [byGardner Fox &Carmine Infantino ] (DC Comics) Best Artist (Pencil or Ink) - Carmine Infantino Best Story -The Flash #123, "Flash of Two Worlds" (DC Comics) Best Adventure-Hero Group - Justice League of America (DC Comics) Hero or Heroine Most Worthy of Revival - TheSpectre (DC Comics) Worst Comic Book Currently Published -Wonder Woman (DC Comics) "Ama" (Fan) Division
Comic Fanzines of 1961/62 -Alter-Ego , edited byJerry Bails &Roy Thomas Special Projects -Index to All Star Comics , by Jerry Bails Articles - "The Light of Green Lantern", by Jerry Bails Features - "Profiles on Collectors", byBiljo White Strip - "Bestest League of America", by Roy Thomas Fiction - "The Reincarnation of The Spectre", by Roy Thomas Source[ 9]
Pro Categories
Best Editor -Stan Lee (Marvel Comics) Best Writer - Stan Lee Best Artist - Carmine Infantino Best Comics Categories
Amateur Division (on a scale of 1-5 points)
Article - "Minute Movies", by Hal Lynch & Vern Coriell (Comic Art #4 ) - 4.31 points Illustrated Strip - "The Eclipse", by Drury Moroz & Ron Foss (Alter-Ego #5) - 4.22 points Fanzine Fiction - "The Black Panther", by John Wright (Komix #2) - 4.06 points Single Illustration - Cover,Star-Studded Comics Buddy Saunders - 4.28 points Fan Project -Authoritative Index to DC Comics , byHoward Keltner & Jerry Bails - 4.50 points Fan Artist - Ron Foss - 4.19 points Fan Writer -Jerry Bails - 4.40 points Comics Fanzine -The Comic Reader #15-20, by Jerry Bails - 4.53 points Write-In Categories
Strip that Should be Improved -Justice League of America (DC Comics) Crossover of DC Heroes forThe Brave and the Bold - Hawkman & the Flash (DC Comics) Artist Preferred onSea Devils Joe Kubert (DC Comics) Artist Preferred onJustice League of America - Murphy Anderson (DC Comics) Comic Displaying Best Interior Color Work -Mystery in Space (DC Comics) Pro Categories
Best Adventure Hero Comic Book -The Amazing Spider-Man (Marvel Comics) Best Regularly Published Fantasy Comic -Forbidden Worlds (American Comics Group ) Best Humorous Comic Book -Herbie Best Miscellaneous Fiction -Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos (Marvel Comics) Best Editor - Stan Lee (Marvel Comics) Best Writer - Stan Lee Best Pencil Artist - Carmine Infantino Best Inking Artist - Murphy Anderson Best Comic Book Cover -Detective Comics (DC Comics) Best Short Story - "Doorway to the Unknown", byJohn Broome & Carmine Infantino,The Flash #148 (DC Comics) Best Novel - "Captain America Joins the Avengers", by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby, fromThe Avengers (Marvel Comics) Best Giant Comic -The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 (Marvel Comics) Comic Regularly Displaying Best Color Work -Magnus, Robot Fighter (Gold Key Comics ) Worst Regularly Published Comic -Wonder Woman Best Hero - Spider-Man Best Supporting Character - The Thing (Fantastic Four ) (Marvel Comics) Best Villain -Doctor Doom (Fantastic Four (Marvel Comics) Best Group of Characters - The Fantastic Four (Marvel Comics) Best New Strip or Book -Captain America , by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby, inTales of Suspense (Marvel Comics) Strip Most Desired for Revival - The Spectre (DC Comics) Fan Categories (on a scale of 1-5 points)
Best Article in a Fanzine - (tie) "Lee", by Rick Weingroff (4.21 points); "One Man's Family", by Roy Thomas (4.21 points) Best Regular Fanzine Feature - "Information Center", by Bob Jennings (4.17 points) Best Fan Comic Strip -Adam Link Bill Spicer andD. Bruce Berry (4.61 points) Best Ditto/Mimeo Cover -Batmania #1, by Biljo White (4.46 points) Best Cover (Other Reproduction) -Alter-Ego #7, by Biljo White (4.61 points) Best Fan Fiction - "Nemesis of Evil", by Victor Baron (4.23 points) Best Fan Project -Who's Who andSupplement , by Jerry Bails & Larry Lattanzi (4.32 points) Best Fanzine -Alter-Ego #7, by Roy Thomas (4.67 points) Source[ 10]
Pro Categories
Best Adventure Hero Comic Book -The Amazing Spider-Man (Marvel Comics) Best Regularly Published Fantasy Comic -Strange Adventures (DC Comics) Best Humor Comic Book -Herbie Best Miscellaneous Fiction -Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos (Marvel Comics) Best Editor - Stan Lee (Marvel Comics) Best Writer - Stan Lee Best Pencil Artist -Wally Wood Best Inking Artist -Murphy Anderson Best Comic Book Cover -The Brave and the Bold #61 (DC Comics) Best Short Story -The Origin of theRed Skull , by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby,Tales of Suspense #66 (Marvel Comics) Best Giant Comic -T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents Len Brown , Wally Wood,Reed Crandall ,Gil Kane ,George Tuska ,Mike Sekowsky (Tower Comics ) Best Novel - "Solomon Grundy Goes on a Rampage"Showcase Murphy Anderson (DC Comics) Comic Regularly Displaying Best Color Work -Magnus, Robot Fighter (Gold Key Comics ) Comic Most Needing Improvement -Blue Beetle (Charlton Comics ) Best Hero - Spider-Man (Marvel Comics) Best Supporting Character - The Thing (Fantastic Four ) (Marvel Comics) Best Villain -Doctor Doom (Fantastic Four ) (Marvel Comics) Best Group - The Fantastic Four (Marvel Comics) Best New Strip or Book -T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents , by Len Brown & Wally Wood (Tower Comics) Best Revived Hero - Doctor Fate (DC Comics) Strip or Book Most Desired for Revival -Justice Society of America (DC Comics) Fan Categories (on a scale of 1-5 points)
Best Article - "With Comics Down Under", by John Ryan (4.51 points) Best Regular Feature - "On the Drawing Board", by Glen Johnson & Derrill Rothermich (4.68 points) Best Fan Comic Strip - "The End of Bukawai",Fantasy Illustrated #3 (4.48 points) Best Ditto/Mimeo Cover -Batmania #5, by Biljo White (4.38 points) Best Cover (Other Reproduction) -Alter-Ego #8, by Biljo White (4.57 points) Best Fan Fiction - "Powerman vs. the Blue Barrier", byGeorge R. R. Martin (4.29 points) Best Fan Project -New York Comicon , byDave Kaler (4.63 points) Best Fanzine -Alter-Ego #8, by Roy Thomas (4.71 points) Best Comic Magazine Section
Adventure Book with the Main Character in the Title -The Amazing Spider-Man (Marvel Comics) Multi-Feature Title -Tales of Suspense (Marvel Comics) Super Hero Group Title -Fantastic Four (Marvel Comics) Normal Group Adventure Title -M.A.R.S. Patrol (Gold Key Comics) Fantasy/SF/Supernatural Title -Strange Adventures (DC Comics) Western Title -Kid Colt, Outlaw (Marvel Comics) War Title -Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos (Marvel Comics) Humor Title: Teenage -Archie (Archie Comics ) Humor Title: Costumed -Inferior Five (DC Comics) Humor Title: Juvenile -Uncle Scrooge (Western Publishing) All-Reprint Title -The Spirit (Harvey Comics ) Combination New & Reprint Material Title -Fantastic Four Annual (Marvel Comics) Best Professional Work
Editor - Stan Lee (Marvel Comics) Writer - Stan Lee Pencil Work -Al Williamson Inking Work - Wally Wood Cover -Flash Gordon (King Comics ) Coloring -Flash Gordon (King Comics) Best Full-Length Story - "How Green was My Goblin", by Stan Lee &John Romita Sr. ,The Amazing Spider-Man #39 (Marvel Comics) Feature Story - "Return to Mongo", by Al Williamson,Flash Gordon #1 (King Comics) Regular Short Feature - "Tales ofAsgard " by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby, inThe Mighty Thor (Marvel Comics) Hall of Fame - n.a. Popularity Poll - n.a. Newspaper Strip Section
Fan Activity Section
Best All-Article Fanzine - (tie)Batmania andTNT/Slam-Bang Best All-Comics Fanzine -Odd Best All-Fiction Fanzine -Batwing Best Article/Comic Fanzine -Fantasy Illustrated Best Fiction/Comic Fanzine -Comic Art , by Don & Maggie Thompson Best Article/Fiction Fanzine - n.a. Best Fannish One-Shot -The Spirit (reprints), by Ed Aprill Best Article on Comic Book Material - "Quality Comics Group" Best Article on Newspaper Strips - "Pride of the Navy" Best Regular Fan Column - "What's News", byDave Kaler Best Fan Fiction - "White Dragon Strikes" Best Fan Comic Strip - "Xal-Kor", byRichard "Grass" Green Best Fan Artist - Richard "Grass" Green Best Comic Strip Writer - Richard "Grass" Green Best Fan Project - Ed Aprill's reprints Best Newsletter -Dateline: Comicdom Source[ 11]
Best Comic Magazine Section
Adventure Book with the Main Character in the Title -The Amazing Spider-Man (Marvel Comics) Adventure Hero Title with One or More Characters in Own Strip -Strange Tales (Marvel Comics) Super Hero Group Title -Fantastic Four (Marvel Comics) Non-Super-Powered Group Title -Challengers of the Unknown (DC Comics) Fantasy/SF/Supernatural Title -The Many Ghosts of Dr. Graves (Charlton Comics) Western Title -Ghost Rider (Marvel Comics) War Title -Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos (Marvel Comics) Humor Title: Teenage -Archie (Archie Comics) Humor Title: Costumed -Not Brand Echh (Marvel Comics) Humor Title: Juvenile -Uncle Scrooge (Western Publishing) All-Reprint Title -Fantasy Masterpieces (Marvel Comics) Combination New & Reprint Material Title -Marvel Super-Heroes (Marvel Comics) Best Professional Work
Editor - Stan Lee (Marvel Comics) Writer - Stan Lee Pencil Artist - Jack Kirby Inking Artist -Joe Sinnott Cover -Strange Adventures #207, byNeal Adams (DC Comics) Coloring -Magnus, Robot Fighter (Gold Key Comics ) Full-Length Story - "Who's Been Lying in My Grave?", byArnold Drake & Carmine Infantino,Strange Adventures #205 (DC Comics) Feature Story - "Lost Continent of Mongo" byArchie Goodwin & Al Williamson,Flash Gordon #4 (King Comics) Regular Short Feature - (tie) "Tales of Asgard" and "Tales of theInhumans ", both by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby, inThe Mighty Thor (Marvel Comics) Hall of Fame -The Spirit Will Eisner Popularity Poll
Best Costumed or Powered Hero - Spider-Man (Marvel Comics) Best Normal Adventure Hero -Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Marvel Comics) Best Super-Powered Group -Fantastic Four (Marvel Comics) Best Normal Adventure Group -Challengers of the Unknown (DC Comics) Best Male Normal Supporting Character -J. Jonah Jameson (The Amazing Spider-Man ) (Marvel Comics) Best Female Normal Supporting Character -Mary Jane Watson (The Amazing Spider-Man ) (Marvel Comics) Best Villain - Doctor Doom (Fantastic Four ) (Marvel Comics) Best New Strip - "Deadman ", byArnold Drake & Carmine Infantino, inStrange Adventures (DC Comics) Best Revived Strip - "Blue Beetle" (Charlton Comics) Strip Most Needing Improvement - "Batman" (DC Comics) Strip Most Desired for Revival - "Adam Strange " (DC Comics) Newspaper Strip Section
Best Adventure Strip -Prince Valiant Hal Foster Best Human Interest Strip -On Stage (also known asMary Perkins, On Stage ), byLeonard Starr Best Humor Strip -Peanuts , by Charles Schulz Best Humor Panel -Dennis the Menace , by Hank Ketcham Best Miscellaneous Strip -Ripley's Believe It or Not Hall of Fame Award -Flash Gordon , by Alex Raymond Fan Activity Section
Best All-Article Fanzine - (tie)Batmania andGosh Wow Best All-Strip Fanzine -Star-Studded Comics Best All-Fiction Fanzine -Stories of Suspense Best Article/Strip Fanzine -Fantasy Illustrated Best Fiction/Strip Fanzine -Star-Studded Comics Best Article/Fiction Fanzine - (tie)Gosh Wow andHuh! Best Fannish One-Shot -Fandom Annual Best Article on Comic Book Material - "Blue Bolt and Gang" (Gosh Wow #1) Best Article on Comic Strip Material - "Gully Foyle" (Star-Studded Comics #11) Best Regular Fan Column - "What's News", byDave Kaler Best Fan Fiction - "Nightwalker", by Larry Brody (Gosh Wow #1) Best Fan Comic Strip - "Xal-Kor", by Richard "Grass" Green Best Fan Artist - George Metzger Best Comic Strip Writer - Larry Herndon Best Fan Project - 1967South-Western Con Best Newsletter -On the Drawing Board , by Bob Schoenfeld Comic Magazine Section
Best Adventure Title - Winner:Fantastic Four ; 2nd place:The Amazing Spider-Man (Marvel Comics) Best Fantasy/SF/Supernatural Title -Doctor Strange (Marvel Comics) Best Western Title -Bat Lash (Dc Comics) Best War Title -Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos (Marvel Comics) Best Humor Title -Not Brand Echh (Marvel Comics) Best Romance Title -Millie the Model (Marvel Comics) Best Reprint Title -Marvel Super-Heroes (Marvel Comics) Professional Work
Best Editor - Stan Lee Best Writer - Winner: Stan Lee; 2nd place: Roy Thomas Best Pencil Artist - Winner:Jim Steranko ; 2nd place: Jack Kirby Best Inking Artist - Winner: Joe Sinnott; 2nd place: Wally Wood Best Cover -Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #6, by Jim Steranko (Marvel Comics) Best Full-Length Story - (tie) "Track of the Hook", byBob Haney &Neal Adams ,The Brave and the Bold #79 (DC Comics); "Origin of the Silver Surfer", by Stan Lee &John Buscema ,The Silver Surfer (Marvel Comics) Best Feature Story - "Today Earth Died", by Jim Steranko,Strange Tales #168 (Marvel Comics) Best Regular Short Feature - "Tales of theInhumans ", by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby, inThe Mighty Thor (Marvel Comics) Hall of Fame -Fantastic Four , by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby;Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. , by Jim Steranko (Marvel Comics) Popularity Poll
Best Adventure Hero Strip -The Amazing Spider-Man (Marvel Comics) Best Adventure Group Strip -Fantastic Four (Marvel Comics) Best Supporting Character - J. Jonah Jameson (The Amazing Spider-Man ) (Marvel Comics) Best Villain - Doctor Doom (Fantastic Four ) (Marvel Comics) Best New Strip -The Silver Surfer byStan Lee &John Buscema (Marvel Comics) Strip Most Needing Improvement -X-Men (Marvel Comics) Strip Most Desired for Revival - "Adam Strange " (DC Comics) Newspaper Strip Section
Best Adventure Strip -Prince Valiant , by Hal Foster Best Human Interest Strip -On Stage (also known asMary Perkins, On Stage ), by Leonard Starr Best Humor Strip -Peanuts , by Charles Schulz Best Humor Panel -Dennis the Menace , by Hank Ketcham Best Miscellaneous Strip -Feiffer Jules Feiffer Hall of Fame -Peanuts , by Charles Schulz Fan Activity Section
Best Limited Reproduction Fanzine -Concussion Best Unlimited Reproduction Fanzine -Graphic Story Magazine Best Fan Artist - John Fantucchio Best Comic Strip Writer - Larry Herndon Best Fan Project - The Alley Awards Sources[ 12] [ 13] Best Comic Magazine Section
Best Adventure Title - Winner:Fantastic Four (Marvel Comics) Best Fantasy/SF/Supernatural Title -Doctor Strange (Marvel Comics) Best Western Title -Bat Lash (DC Comics) Best War Title -Star Spangled War Stories (DC Comics) Best Humor Title -Archie (Archie Comics) Best Romance Title -Young Love (DC Comics) Best Reprint Title -Marvel Super-Heroes (Marvel Comics) Professional Work
Best Editor -Dick Giordano (DC Comics) Best Writer - Roy Thomas Best Pencil Artist -Neal Adams Best Inking Artist -Tom Palmer Best Cover -Captain America Best Full-Length Story - "...And Who Shall Mourn for Him?", by Stan Lee, John Buscema & Sal Buscema,The Silver Surfer #5 (Marvel Comics) Best Feature Story - "At the Stroke of Midnight", by Jim Steranko,Tower of Shadows (Marvel Comics) Hall of Fame - "Deadman", by Neal Adams (DC Comics) Special Awards
Carmine Infantino, "who exemplifies the spirit of innovation and inventiveness in the field of comic art". Joe Kubert, "for the cinematic storytelling techniques and the exciting and dramatic style he has brought to the field of comic art". Neal Adams, "for the new perspective and dynamic vibrance he has brought to the field of comic art". Popularity Poll
Best Adventure Hero Strip -The Amazing Spider-Man (Marvel Comics) Best Adventure Group Strip -Fantastic Four (Marvel Comics) Best Fantasy/Mystery Character —Doctor Strange Best Supporting Character -Rick Jones (The Incredible Hulk ,The Avengers Captain America ) (Marvel Comics) Best Villain -Doctor Doom (Fantastic Four ) (Marvel Comics) Strip Most Needing Improvement -Superman (DC Comics) Newspaper Strip Section
Best Adventure or Human Interest Strip -Prince Valiant , by Hal Foster Best Humor Strip or Panel -Peanuts , by Charles Schulz Hall of Fame -Tarzan Burne Hogarth Fan Activity Section
Hanerfeld, Mark (February–March 1969). "Wonderful World of Comics #10: Fandom Picks the Winners".The Witching Hour DC Comics . ^a b "The Alley Awards for 1961: A Report from Roy Thomas, Secretary of the Academy of Comic Book Arts and Sciences".Alter Ego Thomas, Roy; Schelly, Bill (2008).Alter Ego: The Best of the Legendary Comics Fanzine .Raleigh ,North Carolina :TwoMorrows Publishing . pp. 48– 49.ISBN 978-1-893905-88-7 ^ Kleefeld, Sean. "A Brief History",Comic Book Fanthropology (Lulu.com, 2009), p. 31. ^a b Siegel, Howard P. "Made in America",BEM ^a b c d Schelly, Bill (June 2003). "Jerry Bails' Ten Building Blocks of Fandom".Alter Ego 3 (25):5– 8. ^ Schelly, Bill .The Golden Age of Comic Fandom (Hamster Press, 1995).^ Gabilliet, Jean-Paul (trans. by Bart Beaty and Nick Nguyen).Of Comics and Men: A Cultural History of American Comic Books (University of Mississippi Press, 2010), pp. 250–251. ^ "The 1971 Goethe Awards" (ballot),Graphic Story World vol. 2, #2 (whole #6) (July 1972), p. 29. ^ Miller, John Jackson (July 19, 2005)."Goethe/Comic Fan Art Award winners, 1971-74" .CBGXtra.com . Archived fromthe original on September 20, 2010.^ "1963 Alley Awards" , Comic Book Awards Almanac. Retrieved Dec. 8, 2020.^ "1965 Alley Awards" . Comic Book Awards Almanac. RetrievedDecember 8, 2020 .^ Hahn, Joel (ed.)."1967 Alley Awards" . Comic Book Awards Almanac. RetrievedJanuary 3, 2015 . ^ "1969 Alley Awards" . Comic Book Awards Almanac. RetrievedMarch 1, 2023 .Tallied by Mark Hanerfeld. Total number of votes: at least 319. ^ Thompson, Don;Thompson, Maggie , eds. (June 1970)."Academies" (PDF) .Newfangles . No. 36.Mentor, Ohio .
