The Goethe Award, later known as the Comic Fan Art Award, was an American series of

comic book A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...

fan awards, first presented in 1971 for comics published in 1970. The award originated with the fanzine '' Newfangles'' and then shared close ties with '' The Buyer's Guide to Comics Fandom''. The Goethe Award was named after

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, statesman, theatre director, and critic. His works include plays, poetry, literature, and aesthetic criticism, as well as t ...

; Goethe was the person who encouraged

Rodolphe Töpffer Rodolphe Töpffer ( , ; 31 January 1799 – 8 June 1846) was a Swiss teacher, author, painter, cartoonist, and caricaturist. He is best known for his illustrated books (''littérature en estampes'', "graphic literature"), which are possibly ...

, "the father of comic strips," to publish his stories. The

Comic Art Convention The Comic Art Convention was an American comic book fan convention held annually New York City, New York, over Independence Day weekend from 1968 through 1983, except for 1977, when it was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and 1978 to 1979, ...

(CAC) twice hosted the presentation of the awards, at the 1972 and 1974 CACs. The format and balloting of the

Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Awards The ''Comics Buyer's Guide'' (''CBG'') magazine administered the annual Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Awards from 1982 to circa 2010, with the first awards announced in issue #500 (June 17, 1983). Upon taking over as ''CBG'' editors, Don and Maggie T ...

, presented by the ''

Comics Buyer's Guide ''Comics Buyer's Guide'' (''CBG''; ), established in 1971, was the longest-running English-language periodical reporting on the American comic book industry. It awarded its annual Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Awards from 1983 to circa 2010. The publ ...

'' from 1982 to circa 2010, were in many ways derived from the Goethe Award/Comic Fan Art Award.

Overview

The Goethe Awards/Comic Fan Art Awards were tallied yearly for comic books produced during the previous year, and were given out in several categories.

History

Don & Maggie Thompson created the Goethe Awards in 1971; the Goethe Awards for comics published in 1970 were first published in a 1971 issue of their fanzine ''Newfangles''.Thompson, Maggie
"Comics Fan Awards 1961-1970"
''Comics Buyer's Guide'' (August 19, 2005). Nominations for the 1972 Goethe Awards (for comics published in 1971) ballot were initially published in '' The Buyer's Guide to Comics Fandom (TBG)'', ''

The Monster Times ''The Monster Times'' was a horror film fan magazine created in 1972. Published by The Monster Times Publishing Co., it was intended as a competitor to ''Famous Monsters of Filmland''. Although the main editorial focus of the magazine was horror me ...

'', and '' Graphic Story World''. Nominations were sent in from 335 readers. Ultimately, there were 7 categories with 4-7 nominees in each category. 700 fans voted for the final nominees.Miller, John Jackson
"GOETHE/COMIC FAN ART AWARD WINNERS, 1971-74,"
''Comics Buyer's Guide'' (July 19, 2005). The 1972 Goethe Awards were presented July 3,

1972 Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using mean solar tim ...

, at the

, New York City, in a ceremony emceed by

Tony Isabella Tony Isabella (born December 22, 1951) is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, artist and critic, known as the creator and writer of Marvel Comics' Black Goliath; DC Comics' first major African-American superhero, Black Lightning; and as ...

and

Carl Gafford Carl Gafford (born November 23, 1953) is a colorist (and occasional editor) who has worked for several decades in the comics industry. His career has spanned several publishers, including Marvel Comics, DC Comics and Topps Comics. Biography E ...

. The award results were also published in ''Comic Art News & Reviews''. Ballots for the 1973 awards (for comics published in 1972) were printed in ''TBG'', ''Comic Crusader'', ''

The Comic Reader ''The Comic Reader'' (''TCR'') was a comics news- fanzine published from 1961 to 1984. Debuting in the pre- direct market era (before the proliferation of comics retailers), ''TCR'' was the first regularly published comics industry news fanzine, a ...

'', the ''Gazette Advertiser'', ''

The Menomonee Falls Gazette ''The Menomonee Falls Gazette'' (subtitled "The international newspaper for comic art fans") was a weekly tabloid published in the 1970s by Street Enterprises that reprinted newspaper comic strips from the United States and the U.K. Comic strip ...

'', and ''

Rocket's Blast Comicollector ''Rocket's Blast Comicollector'' (''RBCC'') was a comics advertising fanzine published from 1964 to 1983. The result of a merger with a similar publication, ''RBCCs purpose was to bring fans together for the purpose of adding to their comic book co ...

''. 1,011 fans cast their votes. The results were published in '' The Buyer's Guide to Comics Fandom'' #38 (June 15, 1973). In 1974, the Thompsons grew frustrated with perceived

ballot-stuffing Electoral fraud, sometimes referred to as election manipulation, voter fraud or vote rigging, involves illegal interference with the process of an election, either by increasing the vote share of a favored candidate, depressing the vote share of ...

and passed the awards to

, who changed the name to the Comic Fan Art Awards. The awards for comics published in 1973 were presented at the 1974

, held at the Commodore Hotel, New York City. They were later published in ''TBG'' #63 (Aug. 1, 1974).'' The final Comic Fan Art Awards (for comics published in 1974) were co-administered by Ken Gale and were not announced until ''TBG'' #123 (March 26, 1976). In 1982, the ''

'' (the successor to '' The Buyer's Guide to Comics Fandom''), began presenting their

, in many ways modeled on the Goethe Award/Comic Fan Art Award.

Winners

People

Favorite Pro Artist/Penciller * 1971

Neal Adams Neal Adams (June 15, 1941 – April 28, 2022) was an American comic book artist. He was the co-founder of the graphic design studio Continuity Associates, and was a creators-rights advocate who helped secure a pension and recognition for Sup ...

* 1972 TK * 1973

Barry Windsor-Smith Barry Windsor-Smith (born Barry Smith, 25 May 1949) is a British comic book illustrator and painter whose best known work has been produced in the United States. He attained note working on Marvel Comics' ''Conan the Barbarian'' from 1970 to 197 ...

(runners-up

Bernie Wrightson Bernard Albert Wrightson (October 27, 1948 – March 18, 2017), sometimes credited as Bernie Wrightson, was an American artist, known for co-creating the Swamp Thing, his adaptation of the novel ''Frankenstein'' illustration work, and for his o ...

Jack Kirby Jack Kirby (born Jacob Kurtzberg; August 28, 1917 – February 6, 1994) was an American comic book artist, writer and editor, widely regarded as one of the medium's major innovators and one of its most prolific and influential creators. He gre ...

) * 1974

* 1975

Jim Starlin James P. Starlin (born October 9, 1949) is an American comics artist and writer. Beginning his career in the early 1970s, he is best known for space opera stories, for revamping the Marvel Comics characters Captain Marvel and Adam Warlock, an ...

Favorite Inker * 1975 Tom Palmer Favorite Pro Writer * 1971 ''tie'' **

Denny O'Neil Dennis Joseph O'Neil (May 3, 1939 – June 11, 2020) was an American comic book writer and editor, principally for Marvel Comics and DC Comics from the 1960s through the 1990s, and Group Editor for the Batman family of titles until his retir ...

** Roy ThomasThomas entry
''Who's Who in Comic Books: 1928–1999''. Accessed Feb. 3, 2016. * 1972 TK * 1973 Roy Thomas (runners-up Len Wein,

Dennis O'Neil Dennis Joseph O'Neil (May 3, 1939 – June 11, 2020) was an American comic book writer and editor, principally for Marvel Comics and DC Comics from the 1960s through the 1990s, and Group Editor for the Batman family of titles until his retir ...

Steve Englehart Steve Englehart (; born April 22, 1947) is an American writer of comic books and novels. He is best known for his work at Marvel Comics and DC Comics in the 1970s and 1980s. His pseudonyms have included John Harkness and Cliff Garnett. Early lif ...

) * 1974 Len Wein * 1975 Roy Thomas Favorite Pro Editor * 1971

Dick Giordano Richard Joseph Giordano (; July 20, 1932 – March 27, 2010) was an American comics artist and editor whose career included introducing Charlton Comics' "Action Heroes" stable of superheroes and serving as executive editor of DC Comics. Early ...

* 1972 TK * 1973 Roy Thomas (runner-up

Julius Schwartz Julius "Julie" Schwartz (; June 19, 1915 – February 8, 2004) was a comic book editor, and a science fiction agent and prominent fan. He was born in The Bronx, New York. He is best known as a longtime editor at DC Comics, where at various ...

) * 1974 Roy Thomas * 1975 Roy Thomas Favorite Fan Writer * 1971

Jan Strnad Jan Steven Strnad (sometimes credited as J. Knight) is an American writer of comic books, horror, and science fiction. He is known for his many collaborations with artist Richard Corben, as well as his work in the ''Star Wars'' expanded universe ...

* 1972

* 1973 Don & Maggie Thompson (runners- up Tom Fagan,

Paul Levitz Paul Levitz (; born October 21, 1956) is an American comic book writer, editor and executive. The president of DC Comics from 2002–2009, he worked for the company for over 35 years in a wide variety of roles. Along with publisher Jenette Kahn ...

) * 1974 Don & Maggie ThompsonDon Thompson entry
''Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999''. Accessed Feb. 4, 2016. Favorite Fan Artist * 1971 Robert Kline * 1972 TK * 1973

Richard Corben Richard Corben (October 1, 1940December 2, 2020) was an American illustrator and comic book artist best known for his comics featured in '' Heavy Metal'' magazine, especially the ''Den'' series which was featured in the magazine's first film ada ...

(runners-up

Don Newton Don Newton (November 12, 1934 – August 19, 1984) was an American comics artist. During his career, he worked for a number of comic book publishers including Charlton Comics, DC Comics, and Marvel Comics. He is best known for his work on The Phan ...

, John Fantucchio,

Martin Greim Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Aust ...

) * 1974

Newton entry
''Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999''. Accessed Feb. 4, 2016. (3rd runner-up Howard Bender)Bender entry
''Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999''. Accessed Feb. 4, 2016.

Works

Favorite Pro Comic Book * 1971 '' Green Lantern/Green Arrow'' (DC) * 1972 TK * 1973 Conan (Marvel) (runners- up ''

Swamp Thing The Swamp Thing is a superhero in American comic books published by DC Comics. A humanoid/plant elemental creature, created by writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson, the Swamp Thing has had several humanoid or monster incarnations in v ...

'', ''

Tarzan Tarzan (John Clayton II, Viscount Greystoke) is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungle by the Mangani great apes; he later experiences civilization, only to reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adv ...

'', '' The Avengers'') * 1974 ''

'' (DC) * 1975

E-Man E-Man is a comic-book character, a superhero created by writer Nicola Cuti and artist Joe Staton for the American company Charlton Comics in 1973. Although the character's original series was short-lived, the lightly humorous hero has become a c ...

(Charlton) Favorite Underground Comic/Non-Newsstand Comic * 1971 ''Captain George Presents'', by George Henderson of Toronto, CanadaStern, Martin. "Fans Create a Comicbook Culture," ''

The Michigan Daily ''The Michigan Daily'' is the weekly student newspaper of the University of Michigan. Its first edition was published on September 29, 1890. The newspaper is financially and editorially independent of the University's administration and other stu ...

'' (Sept. 1972). * 1972 TK * 1973 ''

'' (runners-up ''Bedtime Stories'', '' Further Adventures of the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers'', '' Fantagor'', ''Skull Comics'', ''Phase'') Favorite Comic-Book Story * 1971 "No Evil Shall Escape My Sight" by

and

in '' Green Lantern/Green Arrow'' #76 (DC) * 1972 TK * 1973 "The Black Hound of Vengeance!" in ''Conan'' #20; (runners-up "And Through Him Save a World" in ''

Green Lantern Green Lantern is the name of several superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. They fight evil with the aid of rings that grant them a variety of extraordinary powers, all of which come from imagination, fearlessness, ...

'' #89; "The Pact" in '' New Gods'' #20; "Dark Genesis" in ''

'' #1) * 1974 "Night of the Bat," by Len Wein,

, and

Joe Orlando Joseph Orlando (April 4, 1927 – December 23, 1998) was an Italian American illustrator, writer, editor and cartoonist during a lengthy career spanning six decades. He was the associate publisher of '' Mad'' and the vice president of DC Comics, ...

in ''

'' #7 (DC) Favorite Comic-Book Character: * 1971 Deadman (DC) * 1972 TK * 1973 Conan (Marvel) (runners-up Batman, Spider-Man,

, Green Arrow) * 1974 Conan (Marvel) Favorite Fanzine * 1971 '' Newfangles'' * 1972 '' The Buyer's Guide to Comics Fandom'' * 1973 ''

'' (edited by

Paul Levitz entry
''Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999''. Accessed Feb. 4, 2016. (runners-up '' The Buyer's Guide to Comics Fandom'', '' Comixscene'', ''Comic Crusader'', '' Graphic Story World'', ''

'') * 1974 ''

'' (edited by

) * 1975 ''

References

{{American Comic Book Industry Awards Comics awards