Let’s Predict the Inkpot Award Winners 2018

Before We Begin!

To see how these predictions turned out, click here.  I have a complete list of Inkpot winners there, along with the results of these predictions, in particular. (Some names didn’t get ‘checked’ off because I couldn’t get social network links to share at the time, for example.)

Now, here is what I originally wrote:

Inkpot Introduction

The big show in San Diego is next week already.

Every year, they give out Inkpot Awards. They’re the best-designed awards in the business.  Just look at these bad boys:

Who wouldn’t want one of those cuties on their mantle?

They are given out for excellence in pop culture, basically. You don’t have to be an artist, a cartoonist, or even in comics, to win one. Here’s the official definition:

Comic-Con International’s Inkpot Awards are given to individuals for their contributions to the worlds of comics, science fiction/fantasy, film, television, animation, and fandom services.

There’s no mention of how winners are determined.  I assume there’s some kind of committee behind the scenes at the convention that puts the list of names together.

Let’s Do Some Math

The pattern usually is that a creator who is a guest of the show and, thus, has a “Spotlight On” panel is most likely to get an Inkpot Award during their time on the stage.

So, let’s predict who might get one this year.

First, I’ll take a look at all the “Spotlight On” panels.

There are 34 of those this year.

Next, I looked at how many winners they had in recent years.  The total number does vary, but it looks to be between 20 and 25.

We can safely eliminate all the guests of the convention with “Spotlight On” panels who already have an award.

Here’s that list. I’ll put the year they got theirs in parenthesis, same as the official Inkpot website does:

• Lynn Johnston (1991)
• Jim Lee (1992)
• Scott McCloud (1992)
• Mike Mignola (2004)
• Terry Moore (2003)
• Jeff Smith (2001)
• Maggie Thompson (1976)

No surprises there.

I guess the only surprise for me is that Jim Lee got his so early. I knew all the Image fathers have one, but for some reason I thought it would have been after the Image boom.

It also goes to show how early they can give out the awards in a career.

That leaves us now with 27 names. Theoretically, everyone could get one. It’s possible.

The Most Obvious Picks

Here are the eight names I think are shoo-ins to get the prize:

• Jeff Lemire
• Shannon Wheeler (Check!)
• Noah Van Sciver
• Larry Stroman
• Yoshitaka Amano (Check!)
• Rafael Albuquerque
• Jason Lutes
• Ann Nocenti

Amano likely doesn’t come to San Diego every year, so this is their chance to hand-deliver the Final Fantasy master his award.

Wheeler is a political cartoonist in 2018. He’s a given.  If you wanted to bet your proverbial ranch, there you have it.

Nocenti and Stroman have been in and out of comics for a long time, with memorable works (“Daredevil”, “Alien Legion”/”X-Factor”/”Tribe”, etc.)

Lutes has been nominated for several Eisners.  Don’t know how many he’s won, but he’s well-regarded.  Van Sciver is also well-regarded as an indie cartoonist.

Albuquerque and Lemire have been working in the biz for a few years now, with impressive bodies of work behind them already.

There’s your first eight.

Round Two

Here are the next likeliest batch:

• Larry Houston (Check!)

Not only did the man direct the 90s “X-Men” animated cartoon, but he also directed the opening credits on the classic 80s G.I. Joe show.  Give this man every award you can!

• R.A. Salvatore

Beloved fantasy/science-fiction novelist with an upcoming comics project at Boom!.

• Emile Ferris

Created the book of 2017.  With only one book on her resume, can she get an Inkpot?  Sure, why not? It’s a really good book.

• Marc Bernardin (Check!)

Crossed the line from covering comics to creating them.

• Peter Tomasi (Check!)

Superman editor turned writer, with a graphic novel out now about the Brooklyn Bridge.

• Randy Reynaldo (Check!)

Artist/Writer/Self-Publisher of the long-running “Rob Haynes Adventures” and continuous San Diego attendee.  He often debuts new issues of his book at the convention, as I recall.

That gives us 14 names. We probably have another 5 – 10 names to pick, at least, among the 14 names listed.

Who Else?

I have to be honest. I just don’t know most of the people below.  I’m sure their resumes are strong, but I can’t be one to judge right now.

• EK Johnston
• Manuele Fior
• Brian Fies (Update: Check!)
• Jen Wang
• Thi Bui
• Aminder Dhaliwal
• Elizabeth Hand
• Lonnie Millsap
• Alex Grecian
• Tillie Walde
• Liniers
• Veronica Fish
• Andy Fish

Grecian is a novelist.

Veronica Fish did “Spider-Woman” at Marvel and then a stint at Archie.  She’s a great artist, but it feels a little too early for an Inkpot. But, again, there’s not a minimum bar to cross here.  It’s up to some unknown committee somewhere to decide who gets one.  They have all the leeway in the world.

Most of those names will likely get an Inkpot, though, and I’ll have to Google them at that point to understand why.

Also up for consideration: There might be a Hollywood name or two in Hall H to get one, so keep your eye open for those. One of those will likely get the Icon Award, instead, though.

Fun With Names and People:

Joe Quesada is the only Inkpot Award winner whose last name starts with a “Q”. He won’t be getting any company this year.

J. Michael Straczynski got his Inkpot Award in 1994. That was in the middle of the first season of Babylon 5.  He more recently received the Icon Award.

Peter David has one, and so does Alan Davis, Jack Davis, Dan Davis, Jim Davis, and Michael Davis.

Jeff Smith is the only Smith on the list, unless you count Barry Windsor-Smith.

E.K. Johnston doesn’t have an Inkpot yet, but Disney animator, Ollie Johnston, and comic strip legend, Lynn Johnston, have theirs.

Chuck Dixon didn’t get one until 2014. I guess he doesn’t go to very many San Diego shows? I think during my con days, I remember seeing him more often in Chicago, so that might be it.

Francois Schuiten, Belgian cartoonist, got one in 1996.  Lewis Trondheim received his in 2000.  Albert Uderzo doesn’t have one, but I also don’t think he’s ever been to San Diego.

Maggie Thompson is the only comics journalist I see on the list of winners.  My odds of taking one home (for “fandom services,” I guess) aren’t very good, are they?  Nuts.