The Lulu Awards were a group of literary awards in the field of comics, presented by the Friends of Lulu from 1997 to 2010. The awards were intended to "recognize the people and projects that help open the eyes and minds to the amazing comic and cartooning work by and/or about women." The awards were presented at San Diego Comic-Con from 1997 to 2007, at the MoCCA Festival in 2008 –2009, and the Long Beach Comic Con in 2010.

Award categories and voting process

The awards were separated into five categories: Lulu of the Year, Kimberly Yale Award for Best New Talent, Volunteer of the Year Award, Women of Distinction Award, and the Women Cartoonists Hall of Fame. In 2009, two additional awards were created: the Leah Adezio Award for Best Kid-Friendly Work and Best Female Character. Originally, award nominations and voting were limited to Friends of Lulu dues-paying members. In 2007, nominations were opened for the first time to non-members. In the Awards' penultimate year, 2009, a judges panel provided "the list of nominees," and "then the public ... [ voted ] for the winners in each category." The 2009 judges were Brigid Alverson, Jennifer Babcock, Abby Denson, Cheryl Lynn Eaton, Chris Eberle, Karen Green, and Robert Randle.

Award winners and nominees

Lulu of the Year

The Lulu of the Year honor went to creator(s), book(s), or other projects "whose work best exemplifies Friends of Lulu’s mission." "Nominees must have published comic book, strip, or editorial cartoon work, whether self-published, company-published, or net-published."

Women Cartoonists Hall of Fame

"Nominees must have published comic book, strip, or editorial cartoon work, whether self-published, company-published, or net-published. An individual cannot win more than once." In 2010, shortly before the demise of the Friends of Lulu, the Women Cartoonists Hall of Fame was renamed The Female Cartoonists and Comic Book Writers Hall of Fame.

Kimberly Yale Award for Best New Talent

"Awarded to a woman who has worked in the comic book & comic strip industry for less than two years. The category [ was ] named for a comic book writer & Friends of Lulu founding member who died in 1997."

Volunteer of the Year Award

"Voted on by the Friends of Lulu board." Not presented at the 2010 awards.

Women of Distinction Award

Criteria for inclusion were similar to the Women Cartoonists Hall of Fame, except that the award was open to all women in the comic book field, not just writers and artists.

Leah Adezio Award for Best Kid-Friendly Work

Best Female Character