Alley Award


The Alley Award was an American annual series of comic book fan awards, first presented in 1962 for comics published in 1961. Officially organized under the aegis of the Academy of Comic Book Arts and Sciences, the award shared close ties with the fanzine Alter Ego magazine. The Alley is the first known comic book fan award.
The Alley Awards were tallied for comic books produced during the previous year. The Alley statuette — a likeness of the comic strip character Alley Oop — was initially sculpted by Academy member Ron Foss out of redwood, from which "plaster duplications" were made to be handed out to the various winners.

History

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' fanzine Alter-Ego, which had debuted in March 1961, create an award for fandom's "favorite comic books in a number of categories".
Initially suggested as the "Alter-Ego Award", the name evolved into the Alley Award after comic strip caveman Alley Oop, since, as Thomas reasoned, "surely a caveman had to be the earliest superhero chronologically". Comics historian Bill Schelly notes that no one "bothered to ask the NEA syndicate for permission to utilize V. T. Hamlin's comic strip character".
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 book fan conventions that began soon afterward.
Results of the voting were published in the comics fanzines On the Drawing Board / The Comic Reader The Alley Awards themselves were given out from 1962 to 1970, with comic strip awards added in 1967. The awards were presented at all three Academy Cons from 1965 to 1967. The final three years' awards were presented at Phil Seuling's New York Comic Art Convention.
After the dissolution of the Alleys, from 1971 to 1974 the Comic Art Convention presented the Goethe Awards/Comic Fan Art Awards.

Winners

1961

Source

1962

"Ama" Division
  • Comic Fanzines of 1961/62 - Alter-Ego, edited by Jerry 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", by Biljo White
  • Strip - "Bestest League of America", by Roy Thomas
  • Fiction - "The Reincarnation of The Spectre", by Roy Thomas

1963

Source
Pro Categories
Best Comics Categories
Amateur Division
  • Article - "Minute Movies", by Hal Lynch & Vern Coriell - 4.31 points
  • Illustrated Strip - "The Eclipse", by Drury Moroz & Ron Foss - 4.22 points
  • Fanzine Fiction - "The Black Panther", by John Wright - 4.06 points
  • Single Illustration - Cover, Star-Studded Comics #2, by Buddy Saunders - 4.28 points
  • Fan Project - Authoritative Index to DC Comics, by Howard 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

1964

Pro Categories
  • Best Adventure Hero Comic Book - The Amazing Spider-Man
  • Best Regularly Published Fantasy Comic - Forbidden Worlds
  • Best Humorous Comic Book - Herbie
  • Best Miscellaneous Fiction - Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos
  • Best Editor - Stan Lee
  • Best Writer - Stan Lee
  • Best Pencil Artist - Carmine Infantino
  • Best Inking Artist - Murphy Anderson
  • Best Comic Book Cover - Detective Comics #329
  • Best Short Story - "Doorway to the Unknown", by John Broome & Carmine Infantino, The Flash #148
  • Best Novel - "Captain America Joins the Avengers", by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby, from The Avengers #4
  • Best Giant Comic - The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1
  • Comic Regularly Displaying Best Color Work - Magnus, Robot Fighter
  • Worst Regularly Published Comic - Wonder Woman
  • Best Hero - Spider-Man
  • Best Supporting Character - The Thing
  • Best Villain - Doctor Doom
  • Best Group of Characters - The Fantastic Four
  • Best New Strip or Book - Captain America, by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby, in Tales of Suspense
  • Strip Most Desired for Revival - The Spectre
Fan Categories
  • Best Article in a Fanzine - "Lee", by Rick Weingroff ; "One Man's Family", by Roy Thomas
  • Best Regular Fanzine Feature - "Information Center", by Bob Jennings
  • Best Fan Comic Strip - Adam Link, by Eando Binder, Bill Spicer and D. Bruce Berry
  • Best Ditto/Mimeo Cover - Batmania #1, by Biljo White
  • Best Cover - Alter-Ego #7, by Biljo White
  • Best Fan Fiction - "Nemesis of Evil", by Victor Baron
  • Best Fan Project - Who's Who and Supplement, by Jerry Bails & Larry Lattanzi
  • Best Fanzine - Alter-Ego #7, by Roy Thomas

1965

Source
Pro Categories
Fan Categories
  • Best Article - "With Comics Down Under", by John Ryan
  • Best Regular Feature - "On the Drawing Board", by Glen Johnson & Derrill Rothermich
  • Best Fan Comic Strip - "The End of Bukawai", Fantasy Illustrated #3
  • Best Ditto/Mimeo Cover - Batmania #5, by Biljo White
  • Best Cover - Alter-Ego #8, by Biljo White
  • Best Fan Fiction - "Powerman vs. the Blue Barrier", by George R. R. Martin
  • Best Fan Project - New York Comicon, by Dave Kaler
  • Best Fanzine - Alter-Ego #8, by Roy Thomas

1966

Best Comic Magazine Section
  • Adventure Book with the Main Character in the Title - The Amazing Spider-Man
  • Multi-Feature Title - Tales of Suspense
  • Super Hero Group Title - Fantastic Four
  • Normal Group Adventure Title - M.A.R.S. Patrol
  • Fantasy/SF/Supernatural Title - Strange Adventures
  • Western Title - Kid Colt, Outlaw
  • War Title - Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos
  • Humor Title: Teenage - Archie
  • Humor Title: Costumed - Inferior Five
  • Humor Title: Juvenile - Uncle Scrooge
  • All-Reprint Title - The Spirit
  • Combination New & Reprint Material Title - Fantastic Four Annual
Best Professional Work
  • Editor - Stan Lee
  • Writer - Stan Lee
  • Pencil Work - Al Williamson
  • Inking Work - Wally Wood
  • Cover - Flash Gordon #1, by Al Williamson
  • Coloring - Flash Gordon
  • Best Full-Length Story - "How Green was My Goblin", by Stan Lee & John Romita Sr., The Amazing Spider-Man #39
  • Feature Story - "Return to Mongo", by Al Williamson, Flash Gordon #1
  • Regular Short Feature - "Tales of Asgard" by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby, in The Mighty Thor
  • Hall of Fame - n.a.
  • Popularity Poll - n.a.
Newspaper Strip Section
Fan Activity Section
  • Best All-Article Fanzine - Batmania and TNT/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, 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", by Dave Kaler
  • Best Fan Fiction - "White Dragon Strikes"
  • Best Fan Comic Strip - "Xal-Kor", by Richard "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''

1967

Source
Best Comic Magazine Section
  • Adventure Book with the Main Character in the Title - The Amazing Spider-Man
  • Adventure Hero Title with One or More Characters in Own Strip - Strange Tales
  • Super Hero Group Title - Fantastic Four
  • Non-Super-Powered Group Title - Challengers of the Unknown
  • Fantasy/SF/Supernatural Title - The Many Ghosts of Dr. Graves
  • Western Title - Ghost Rider
  • War Title - Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos
  • Humor Title: Teenage - Archie
  • Humor Title: Costumed - Not Brand Echh
  • Humor Title: Juvenile - Uncle Scrooge
  • All-Reprint Title - Fantasy Masterpieces
  • Combination New & Reprint Material Title - Marvel Super-Heroes
Best Professional Work
Popularity Poll
  • Best Costumed or Powered Hero - Spider-Man
  • Best Normal Adventure Hero - Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
  • Best Super-Powered Group - Fantastic Four
  • Best Normal Adventure Group - Challengers of the Unknown
  • Best Male Normal Supporting Character - J. Jonah Jameson
  • Best Female Normal Supporting Character - Mary Jane Watson
  • Best Villain - Doctor Doom
  • Best New Strip - "Deadman", by Arnold Drake & Carmine Infantino, in Strange Adventures
  • Best Revived Strip - "Blue Beetle"
  • Strip Most Needing Improvement - "Batman"
  • Strip Most Desired for Revival - "Adam Strange"
Newspaper Strip Section
Fan Activity Section
  • Best All-Article Fanzine - Batmania and Gosh 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 - Gosh Wow and Huh!
  • Best Fannish One-Shot - Fandom Annual
  • Best Article on Comic Book Material - "Blue Bolt and Gang"
  • Best Article on Comic Strip Material - "Gully Foyle"
  • Best Regular Fan Column - "What's News", by Dave Kaler
  • Best Fan Fiction - "Nightwalker", by Larry Brody
  • Best Fan Comic Strip - "Xal-Kor", by Richard "Grass" Green
  • Best Fan Artist - George Metzger
  • Best Comic Strip Writer - Larry Herndon
  • Best Fan Project - 1967 South-Western Con
  • Best Newsletter - On the Drawing Board, by Bob Schoenfeld

1968

Comic Magazine Section
  • Best Adventure Title - Winner: Fantastic Four; 2nd place: The Amazing Spider-Man
  • Best Fantasy/SF/Supernatural Title - Doctor Strange
  • Best Western Title - Bat Lash
  • Best War Title - Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos
  • Best Humor Title - Not Brand Echh
  • Best Romance Title - Millie the Model
  • Best Reprint Title - Marvel Super-Heroes
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
  • Best Full-Length Story - "Track of the Hook", by Bob Haney & Neal Adams, The Brave and the Bold #79 ; "Origin of the Silver Surfer", by Stan Lee & John Buscema, The Silver Surfer #1
  • Best Feature Story - "Today Earth Died", by Jim Steranko, Strange Tales #168
  • Best Regular Short Feature - "Tales of the Inhumans", by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby, in The Mighty Thor
  • Hall of Fame - Fantastic Four, by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby; Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., by Jim Steranko
Popularity Poll
  • Best Adventure Hero Strip - The Amazing Spider-Man
  • Best Adventure Group Strip - Fantastic Four
  • Best Supporting Character - J. Jonah Jameson
  • Best Villain - Doctor Doom
  • Best New Strip - The Silver Surfer by Stan Lee & John Buscema
  • Strip Most Needing Improvement - X-Men
  • Strip Most Desired for Revival - "Adam Strange"
Newspaper Strip Section
  • Best Adventure Strip - Prince Valiant, by Hal Foster
  • Best Human Interest Strip - 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, by 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

1969

Best Comic Magazine Section
  • Best Adventure Title - Winner: Fantastic Four
  • Best Fantasy/SF/Supernatural Title - Doctor Strange
  • Best Western Title - Bat Lash
  • Best War Title - Star Spangled War Stories
  • Best Humor Title - Archie
  • Best Romance Title - Young Love
  • Best Reprint Title - Marvel Super-Heroes
Professional Work
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
  • Best Adventure Group Strip - Fantastic Four
  • Best Fantasy/Mystery Character — Doctor Strange
  • Best Supporting Character - Rick Jones
  • Best Villain - Doctor Doom
  • Strip Most Needing Improvement - Superman
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, by Burne Hogarth
Fan Activity Section