Legendary Comic Book and Manga Creators to be Honored during New York Comic Con: Akira Toriyama, Arthur Adams, Larry Hama, Sergio Aragonés, and John Buscema
NEW YORK – October 11, 2024 – The Harvey Awards today revealed this year’s inductees into the Harvey Awards Hall of Fame in advance of the digital event to be livestreamed during New York Comic Con. The 2024 Harvey Awards find five recipients being honored: legendary manga artist Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball, Sand Land), renowned comic illustrator Arthur Adams (Uncanny X-Men), award-winning comic book author Larry Hama (G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero), comic book artist and writer Sergio Aragonés (MAD), and legendary comic artist John Buscema (The Avengers).
Acknowledging the posthumous award for Toriyama, Bird Studio Co., Ltd. and Capsule Corporation Tokyo released the following statement: “We are very honored to receive the news that Akira Toriyama has been selected for the prestigious Harvey Award Hall of Fame. As a creator, he had always said that his work says it all. We are especially grateful to the American fans for their long-standing enthusiasm and dedicated support. We hope you will continue to support his work for many years to come as we continue to develop and expand upon his masterpieces.”"I am delighted to see Bernie's accomplishments in the field of comics and illustration honored by the Harvey Awards committee. His legacy continues to burn bright, and his memory lives on in our hearts," said Liz Wrightson, wife of inductee Barrie Wrightson.
“I am deeply honored to be inducted into the Harvey Awards Hall of Fame,” said Larry Hama. “I first met Harvey Kurtzman in 1966, when as a student at the High School of Art and Design, I would visit the office of HELP! magazine. He and art director Terry Gilliam were extremely kind to this nerdy fanboy cartoonist wannabe, and opened flat-file drawers to show me original art by R. Crumb, Willy Elder, John Severin, Jack Davis, and many others. His open, welcoming nature made me feel that my goals were not as unreachable as I feared them to be.”
“What an honor it is to be inducted into the Harvey Awards Hall of Fame,” said Sergio Aragonés. “Harvey was a great inspiration to me and so many other cartoonists.”
John Buscema’s daughter, Dianne Buscema Gerogianis, shared the following: “We are honored on behalf of my father and wish to thank all who have selected him for the Harvey Awards Hall of Fame. Thank you for keeping his legacy alive.”
Upon learning of his induction, Arthur Adams said, “Wow! What an unexpected honor! And to be inducted with these four giants of the comics industry! Amazing! Thank you so much Harvey Awards! I’m shocked!”
The Harvey Awards Hall of Fame inductees will be recognized at the 36th annual awards ceremony during a virtual screening on Friday, October 18 during New York Comic Con 2024.
The Harvey Awards Steering Committee is co-chaired by Nellie Kurtzman, John Lind, and Chip Mosher. Camilla Di Persia, Alex Rae, and Chris D’Lando of ReedPop are coordinating this year’s awards. For more information about Harvey Kurtzman and the Harvey Awards, please visit harveyawards.com or the Harvey Awards social media pages (Facebook and Twitter).
New York Comic Con, the ultimate pop culture destination event in the United States, will take place on October 17-20, 2024 at the Javits Center in NYC. NYCC brings the best of comics, television, film, exhibitors, celebrities, cosplay, anime, and more to create memorable, uniquely exciting experiences for fans. These experiences transcend beyond the walls of the Javits Center and continue to live beyond the weekend of NYCC through the online world of New York Comic Con’s Metaverse.
About Harvey Kurtzman and the Harvey Awards:
Harvey Kurtzman (1924–1993), creator of MAD, was a cartoonist and pop culture icon. Among the most influential American satirists, he was known for his visionary abilities that encompassed author, artist, designer, and editor, and combined those skills in some capacity in almost every project he was involved in. The Harvey Awards, presented annually since 1988, are named in his honor and aim to recognize the achievements among creators and their books in the publishing industry.
About ReedPop:
ReedPop is a boutique group within Reed Exhibitions – one of the world’s leading events organizers. Launched in 2006, the group has become the number one producer of pop culture events across the globe as well as a full service digital content provider and media company. Delivering once-in-a-lifetime fan experiences curated specifically for localized audiences, ReedPop currently features events in North America and Europe, including: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), PAX West, East, and Unplugged, Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC), Florida Supercon, Star Wars Celebration, MCM Comic Con, Eurogamer Expo (EGX), and more. The staff at ReedPop are a fan-based, globally focused group of professionals that are uniquely qualified to build and serve the communities with whom they share a common passion. (www.reedpop.com)