Inkwell Awards

The Inkwell Award, sometimes shortened to the Inkwells, is a trophy given in the field of inking in American comic books. Its mission statement is "To promote and educate about the craft of comic book inking and to show recognition for ink artists."

History
In January 2008, Bob Almond proposed the idea of an award to recognize the contributions of comic book inkers. Founding members were artists Tim Townsend, Jim Tournas, Bill Nichols, and writer Daniel Best, with artist Adam Hughes and DC Comics editor Mike Marts lending support.

The Hall of Fame Award was named in honor of veteran comic book inker Joe Sinnott.

In remembrance of artist Dave Simons, the Dave Simons Inkwell Memorial Scholarship was established, a $1,000 award granted annually to a student attending the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art.

Wizard Entertainment sponsored the first live Inkwell Awards Presentation at The New England Comic Con on October 1–3, 2010. In 2011, Heroes Convention took up the position of host show for the annual live presentation ceremony.

In 2019, the Inkwells moved to the Great Philadelphia Comic Con! in Oaks, Pennsylvania.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, live awards presentations were suspended from 2020 on.

Funding
The Inkwell Awards are funded via donations. In 2010, funds were raised via a book produced by Jimmy Tournas at the Boston Comic Con.

MVP Award

 * 2008 Danny Miki

The Call of Duty Award

 * 2008 Bob Almond

Favorite Finisher / Embellisher

 * 2008 (retro)Tom Palmer/ (modern) Kevin Nowlan

Most-Prolific Inker

 * 2008 Danny Miki

Favorite Inker
Favorite ink artists over the pencil work of another artist from award year cover-dated, interior, American comic book material.
 * 2008 (retro) Terry Austin & Joe Sinnott (tie)/ (modern) Danny Miki
 * 2009 Wade Von Grawbadger
 * 2010 Mark Morales
 * 2011 Scott Hanna
 * 2012 Mark Farmer
 * 2013 Klaus Janson
 * 2014 Norm Rapmund
 * 2015 Victor Olazaba
 * 2016 Joe Prado
 * 2017 Scott Hanna
 * 2018 Scott Hanna
 * 2019 Walden Wong
 * 2020 Walden Wong
 * 2021 Ruy José
 * 2022 Eber Ferreira
 * 2023 Walden Wong
 * 2024 Wade Von Grawbadger

Most-Adaptable Inker Ink artist "showing ink style versatility" in award year interior, cover-dated, American comic book material.
 * 2008 Danny Miki
 * 2009 Tim Townsend
 * 2010 Scott Hanna
 * 2011 Scott Hanna
 * 2012 Scott Hanna
 * 2013 Jonathan Glapion
 * 2014 Walden Wong
 * 2015 Walden Wong
 * 2016 Walden Wong
 * 2017 Walden Wong
 * 2018 Scott Hanna
 * 2019 Walden Wong
 * 2020 Walden Wong
 * 2021 Norm Rapmund
 * 2022 Norm Rapmund
 * 2023 Walden Wong
 * 2024 Elisabetta D'Amico

Props Award
Ink artists "deserving of more attention" for their work from award year interior cover-dated American comic book material.
 * 2008 Danny Miki
 * 2009 Matt Ryan
 * 2010 Jonathan Glapion
 * 2011 Art Thibert
 * 2012 Scott Hanna
 * 2013 Eber Ferreira
 * 2014 Walden Wong
 * 2015 Wade Von Grawbadger
 * 2016 Wade Von Grawbadger
 * 2017 Scott Hanna
 * 2018 Joe Prado
 * 2019 Elisabetta D'Amico
 * 2020 Eber Ferreira
 * 2021 Eber Ferreira
 * 2022 Tim Townsend
 * 2023 Adriano Di Benedetto
 * 2024 Elisabetta D'Amico

The "SPAMI" Award (Small Press and Mainstream-Independent)
Favorite Small Press And Mainstream-Independent award year interior, cover-dated, American comic book ink work over another pencil artist (Non-Marvel or DC work).
 * 2009 Tim Townsend
 * 2010 Dan Parsons
 * 2011 Cliff Rathburn
 * 2012 Dexter Vines
 * 2013 Sal Buscema
 * 2014 Andrew Pepoy
 * 2015 Dan Parsons
 * 2016 Stefano Gaudiano
 * 2017 Jonathan Glapion
 * 2018 Sal Buscema
 * 2019 Stefano Gaudiano
 * 2020 Stefano Gaudiano
 * 2021 Adelso Corona
 * 2022 Adelso Corona
 * 2023 David Cabeza
 * 2024 Terry Moore

The All-in-One Award
Artists known for inking their own pencil work in award year interior, cover-dated, American comic book material.
 * 2009 Mike Mignola
 * 2010 Amanda Conner
 * 2011 Francis Manapul
 * 2012 J.H. Williams
 * 2013 Skottie Young
 * 2014 Stan Sakai
 * 2015 Fiona Staples
 * 2016 Jason Fabok
 * 2017 Erik Larsen
 * 2018 Liam Sharp
 * 2019 Lee Weeks
 * 2020 Liam Sharp
 * 2021 Chris Samnee
 * 2022 Walter Simonson
 * 2023 Nir Levie
 * 2024 Salvador Larroca

Special Recognition Award
The Special Recognition Award AKA the Stacey Aragon Special Recognition Award in honor of the Inkwells supporter "who passed after a decade-long battle with cancer".
 * 2015 Bernie Wrightson
 * 2016 Vince Colletta
 * 2017 Allen Milgrom and Violet Barclay. The award for Violet Barclay was accepted posthumously by Allen Bellman.
 * 2018 Russ Heath
 * 2019 Jack Davis and Marie Severin
 * 2020 Allen Bellman, Sal Buscema, and Norman Lee
 * 2021 Wendy Pini, Alfredo Alcala, and Frank Frazetta
 * 2022 George Pérez, Gene Day, John Severin, and Dave Stevens
 * 2023 Danny Bulanadi, Reed Crandall and Dave Simons
 * 2024 John Totleben, George Klein, and Graham Ingels

The Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame Award
A hall of fame designation for an inking career in American comic books (lifetime achievement, 25 years minimum; two winners chosen annually).
 * 2008 Joe Sinnott
 * 2009 Terry Austin & Dick Giordano
 * 2010 Klaus Janson & Al Williamson
 * 2011 Wally Wood & Kevin Nowlan
 * 2012 Mark McKenna & Scott Williams
 * 2013 Dick Ayers & Murphy Anderson
 * 2014 Joe Simon & Tom Palmer
 * 2015 Joe Kubert & Steve Ditko
 * 2016 Frank Giacoia & Josef Rubinstein
 * 2017 Jerry Ordway & Rudy Nebres
 * 2018 Joe Giella & Bob McLeod
 * 2019 Neal Adams & Dan Adkins
 * 2020 Bob Layton, John Romita Sr., & Bernie Wrightson
 * 2021 Mike Esposito, Pablo Marcos, Sal Buscema, and Mike Royer
 * 2022 Brett Breeding and Bob Wiacek
 * 2023 Frank Frazetta and Syd Shores
 * 2024 Chic Stone and Ernie Chan

Above & Beyond Award
In celebration of the 10th anniversary in 2018, Almond created this award for organization members or non-members who have made "special efforts".
 * 2018 Hailey Skaza-Gagne, for her fundraising and event contributions as the longest-running Ms. Inkwell spokesperson; Robert Haines, for his 10 consecutive years on the Inkwell Nomination Committee; Mark Sinnott, for his work as Senior Inkwell Contributor for a decade, as liaison between the Inkwell Awards and his father, Joe Sinnott, and for his work in fundraising for the Inkwells.
 * 2019 Michael Hoskin, the second member to annually serve on the Inkwell Awards nomination committee; Shelton Drum, organizer/promoter of Heroes Con, the show to host the Inkwell Awards ceremonies from 2011 to 2018.
 * 2020—none
 * 2021 Bob Bretall and Johnny B. Gerardy, for ten years of Nomination Committee service.
 * 2022 Michele Witchipoo for ten years of Nomination Committee service.
 * 2023 Rik Offenberger and Tony Parker, for ten years of Nomination Committee service; Keith Williams for outstanding involvement in the Joe Sinnott Inking and Tribute Challenges; and Ray Burke, for prolific, versatile performance to the Inkwells.
 * 2024 Edward Harris, Jim Johnson, Michael Hoskin, and Mike Pascale . Pascale served on the core committee for 10 years, most of that time as assistant director.

Ambassadors
The position of ambassador recognizes creators for their support for the Inkwell Awards. Unless noted otherwise, all ambassadors continue to hold this position.

Special Ambassadors

 * Joe Sinnott, 2012 until his death in June 2020 (artist)
 * Mike McKone, July 2010. (artist)
 * J. David Spurlock, March 2011. (publisher, editor, author, artist, and advocate)
 * Clifford Meth, August 2014. (Writer, advocate)
 * Aldrin "Buzz" Aw, January 2018 (artist)
 * Rags Morales, September 2018 (artist)
 * Dan Parsons, September 2018 (artist)
 * Mark Sinnott and Joe Prado, January 2021
 * Dan DiDio, August 2022 (writer, editor, and publisher)

Ambassadors
These supporting artists who help advocate for inkers are called ambassadors.
 * Adam Hughes, February 2008 (artist)
 * Mike Marts, February 2008 – August 2018 (editor), inactive
 * Sal Velluto, July 2010 (artist)
 * Mark Brooks, June 2010 (artist)
 * Trevor Von Eeden, July 2010 (artist)
 * Cully Hamner, June 2011 (artist)
 * Joe Kubert, September 2011 until his death in August 2012 (artist, cartoonist, letterer, colorist, author, editor, and legend)
 * Eric Basaldua, September 2011 (artist)
 * Phil Jimenez, September 2011 (artist)
 * Jim Shooter, January 2012 (writer and editor)
 * Brian Pulido, October 2012 (artist, writer, editor, and publisher)
 * Jim Starlin, August 2014 (artist, writer)
 * Laura Martin, August 2014 (colorist)
 * Rich Buckler, 2015 until his death in May 2017 (artist)

Guests of honor and keynote speakers
At many of the live ceremonies, notable comic book creators were invited as guests of honor and keynote speakers.
 * 2011: Dan Panosian, Keynote Speaker
 * 2012: Bob McLeod, Keynote Speaker
 * 2013: Jimmy Palmiotti, Keynote Speaker
 * 2014: Bill Sienkiewicz, Guest of Honor
 * 2015: Klaus Janson, Guest of Honor
 * 2016: Jim Steranko, Special Appearance
 * 2017: Joe Giella, Guest of Honor and Allen Bellman, Guest Speaker
 * 2018: Mike Royer, Guest of Honor
 * 2019: Mark McKenna, Guest of Honor

Contributors
Artist Dan Panosian designed the Inkwell Awards logo. Randy Green designed the Ms. Inkwell spokesperson costume.