This year’s Inkwell Awards were handed out during North Carolina’s Heroes Con. The awards recognize excellence in the art form of comic book inking. Nominees were chosen by a separate and independent nomination committee with votes cast by rofessionals and fans alike took place via live ballot at the non-profit advocacy’s website. One winner was chosen in each of five categories based on American-based interior comic-book work cover-dated 2016.
The Inkwells internally selected two recipients for the annual Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame Award and two recipients for the Special Recognition Award (SRA) category. Winners and nominees are listed below, along with the percentage of votes received:
FAVORITE INKER:
Scott Hanna (21.06%)
(Action Comics, Batman, Justice League, Superman: Lois & Clark, Wonder Woman [DC]; A-Force, All-New Wolverine, Avengers: Standoff, Civil War II: The Fallen, Drax, Nova, Squadron Supreme, Uncanny Inhumans, Web Warriors, [Marvel]).
Other nominees:
Sandra Hope-Archer (16.02%)
Danny Miki (12.95%)
Jonathan Glapion (12.53%)
Matt Banning (12.22%)
Tim Townsend (11.44%)
Eber Ferriera (9.15%)
Stefano Gaudiano (6.92%)
Mick Gray (5.2%)
MOST-ADAPTABLE INKER
Walden Wong (19.97%)
(Earth 2, Robin War [DC]; Jupiter’s Circle v2 [Image]; All-New Wolverine, Guardians of Infinity, Max Ride, Web Warriors [Marvel]).
Other nominees:
Scott Hanna (14.87%)
Sandra Hope-Archer (12.43%)
Jonathan Glapion (12.38%)
Mark Morales (11.23)
Victor Olazaba (9.57%)
Norm Rapmund (9.2%)
Danny Miki (8.01%)
Jay Leisten (4.42%)
Wayne Faucher and Dexter Vines, both at (4.06%)
PROPS (inker deserving of more attention)
Scott Hanna (24.34%) (Action Comics, Batman, Justice League, Superman: Lois & Clark, Wonder Woman [DC]; A-Force, All-New Wolverine, Avengers: Standoff, Civil War II: The Fallen, Drax, Nova, Squadron Supreme, Uncanny Inhumans, Web Warriors, [Marvel]).
Other nominees:
Jonathan Glapion (19.14%)
Klaus Janson (18.72%)
Dexter Vines (13%)
Tony Kordos (12.64%)
Andrew Hennessey (9.67%)
Jason Paz (6.76%)
S.P.A.M.I. (Small Press and Mainstream Independent):
Jonathan Glapion (23.45%) (Reborn [Image]).
Other nominees:
Stefano Gaudiano (23.09%)
Karl Story (22.93%)
Brian Shearer (13.68%)
Ryan Winn (12.43%)
Cliff Rathburn (6.66%)
ALL-IN-ONE (pencilling and inking together):
Erik Larsen (18.46%)(Savage Dragon [Image])
Other nominees:
Nicola Scott (16.33%)
Liam Sharp (16.28%)
Stan Sakai (13.99%)
Walter Simonson (12.95%)
Jerome Opena (9.98%)
Joelle Jones (6.71%)
THE SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD (SRA):
Violet Barclay, aka Valerie Smith (Golden/Silver Age) and Allen Milgrom (Bronze/Modern Age)
Other nominees (in alphabetical order): Michael Allred, Sy Barry, John Byrne, Ernie Chan, Jack Davis, Tony Dezuniga, Will Elder, Mike Esposito, Frank Frazetta, Gerhard, Geoff Isherwood, George Klein, Frank McLaughlin, Mike Mignola and Mike Royer.
THE JOE SINNOTT HALL OF FAME:
Jerry Ordway and Rudy Nebres.
Other nominees: Mike DeCarlo, Mark Farmer, Bob Layton, Pablo Marcos, Bob McLeod and Mike Royer.
Joe Sinnott, the award’s namesake and first recipient, made a statement regarding this year’s inductees:
“I have always been in awe of the fabulous art that Rudy Nebres does. Such detailed and beautiful ink lines are displayed on every page. I really enjoyed the outstanding work that Rudy did on The Savage Sword Of Conan. It is in my opinion some of the best illustration that I have ever seen. It is always a pleasure when we get together at shows. We always have such a good time. I only wish we could do it more often.
“Jerry Ordway, much like Rudy, is such a great artist in his own right. I greatly enjoyed his work on Superman. It is some of the finest that I’ve seen. I did have the pleasure of inking one of Jerry’s Fantastic Four issues, #296. He was one of many artists that I was able to ink on the FF through the years, and certainly one of the best. I only wish that we could have done more than just that lone issue together.
“I am so proud that these two fine gentlemen can now join our elite group. Welcome to the Joe Sinnott Hall Of Fame Class of 2017, Rudy and Jerry. You are both well deserving, and it is great to have you on board as members.
“Also, once again, a huge thank you to The Inkwell Awards for doing such an outstanding job in promoting and educating about the art of comic book inking. And to the Inkwells’ committee for electing Rudy and Jerry. To all the comic book fans, a big thank you for your continued support of The Inkwell Awards. And lastly to Bob Almond. Without Bob, none of this would be possible.”