THE KIRBY AWARDS
For the first half of the 1970s, the Shazam Awards were considered the industry standard ceremony for recognition of achievement in comics. But for a decade after their dissolution, no real top tier prestigious award for comics existed. That changed in 1985, when Amazing Heroes magazine editor Dave Olbrich partnered with Fantagraphics to create the Kirby Awards: named, of course, in honor of the king himself, Jack Kirby. The Kirby Awards were only held for 3 years at San Diego Comic-Con, after which Olbrich and Fantagraphics were embroiled in a dispute over ownership, which became so heated that Kirby withdrew permission to use his name. Olbrich then went on to found The Eisner Awards, while Fantagraphics spearheaded The Harveys.
BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS
- 1987: Best Single Issue (#1)
- 1987: Best Graphic Album
- 1987: Best Art Team; Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, and Lynn Varley
- 1985: Best Finite Series
- 1986: Best Finite Series
- 1986: Best Art Team, George Pérez and Jerry Ordway