Kirby Award

The Jack Kirby Award for achievement in comic books was presented from 1985-1987 by Amazing Heroes magazine, and managed by Fantagraphics employee Dave Olbrich. It is named after the pioneering writer and artist Jack Kirby, and voted on by comic-book professionals.

In 1987, a dispute arose when Olbrich and Fantagraphics, publisher of Amazing Heroes, each claimed ownership of the awards. A compromise was reached, and starting in 1988, the Kirby Award was discontinued and two new awards were created: the Eisner Award, managed by Olbrich and named after Will Eisner; and the Fantagraphics-managed Harvey Award, named for Harvey Kurtzman.

Best Single Issue

 * 1985 Swamp Thing Annual #2, by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette and John Totleben (DC Comics)
 * 1986 Daredevil #227, by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli (Marvel Comics)
 * 1987 Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1, by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson and Lynn Varley (DC)

Best Continuing Series

 * 1985 Swamp Thing, by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette and John Totleben (DC)
 * 1986 Swamp Thing, by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette and John Totleben (DC)
 * 1987 Swamp Thing, by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette and John Totleben (DC)

Best Black & White Series

 * 1985 Cerebus by Dave Sim (Aardvark-Vanaheim)
 * 1986 Love & Rockets by Gilbert Hernandez and Jaime Hernandez (Fantagraphics)
 * 1987 Cerebus by Dave Sim (Aardvark-Vanaheim)

Best Finite Series

 * 1985 Crisis on Infinite Earths, by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez (DC)
 * 1986 Crisis on Infinite Earths, by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez (DC)
 * 1987 Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (DC).

Best New Series

 * 1985 Zot!, by Scott McCloud (Eclipse Comics)
 * 1986 Miracleman, by Alan Moore and various artists (Eclipse)
 * 1987 Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (DC)

Best Graphic Album

 * 1985 Beowulf (First Comics)
 * 1986 The Rocketeer, by Dave Stevens (Eclipse)
 * 1987 Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson (DC)

Best Artist

 * 1985 Dave Stevens, for The Rocketeer (Comico)
 * 1986 Steve Rude, for Nexus (First)
 * 1987 Bill Sienkiewicz, for Elektra: Assassin (Marvel)

Best Writer

 * 1985 Alan Moore, for Swamp Thing (DC)
 * 1986 Alan Moore, for Swamp Thing (DC)
 * 1987 Alan Moore, for Watchmen (DC)

Best Writer/Artist (single or team)

 * 1986 Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli, for Daredevil (Marvel)
 * 1987 Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, for Watchmen (DC)

Best Art Team

 * 1985 Steve Bissette and John Totleben, for Swamp Thing (DC)
 * 1986 George Pérez and Jerry Ordway, for Crisis On Infinite Earths (DC)
 * 1987 Frank Miller, Klaus Janson and Lynn Varley, for Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (DC)

Best Cover

 * 1985 Swamp Thing #34, by Steve Bissette and John Totleben (DC)

Best Comics Publication

 * 1985 Comics Buyer's Guide (Krause)

Hall of Fame

 * 1987 Carl Barks
 * 1987 Will Eisner
 * 1987 Jack Kirby