2016 Forceys

THE FORCEYS (Manchester Grand Hyatt)  This year's 11th Annual Forcey Awards took place on the Friday night of the 2016 Comic Con in San Diego.  The awards still generate much discussion about the previous year.  This hotel is the closest we've ever stayed to the venue and was a nice change of pace from shuttle riding.  The group of five representatives gathered with beer, whiskey and wine to celebrate the best of 2015/2106.  After over a decade we're still going strong . . . 

BEST MOVIE - Star Wars: The Force Awakens.   Strikeforce has often rewarded comic book adaptations with this award.  Despite a strong run in the voting from "Civil War", Star Wars nostalgia won the day for this strong return of the franchise.  With a new release coming at us yearly and Marvel not slowing down their schedule, this should be a strong rivalry going forward.

BEST COMIC - Paper Girls.  This category has had a variety of winners over the years.  We've had mainstream superhero comics, Vertigo titles, TV show adventures and independent comics.  "Saga" is a title that gets runner up votes each year but has never held the crown.  This year's winner harkens back to our first winner "Y: The Last Man".  This Brian K. Vaughn science fiction mystery title captured our imaginations in 2015/2016.

BEST MUSIC - David Bowie - Black Star.  Radiohead, Wilco and Leon Bridges all made good runs at this award this year.  But an appreciate for Bowie's legacy vaulted this album to the top.  It is certainly a worthy album for consideration but there's a feeling that in a different year he wouldn't have made it.  I don't disagree but will defend the quality of this release held up against other recent releases.

 

BEST OF TV -  Daredevil.  This is the odd category that hasn't had a repeat winner.  We've chosen superhero shows more often than not but there have been comedies and drama's too.  Last year's "The Flash" looked to be making a good effort for repeat winner but the Netflix power of their Marvel Universe passed them up and "Daredevil" was the big winner.  Netflix has built a huge stable of shows but our love of superheroes drove this one.  Will they have staying power into the future?  Our fickle tastes and number of choices would tell me we'll find something new to love.

BEST OF THE WEB - Netflix.  This 3rd time consecutive winner might mean the retirement of this category.  YouTube was a three time winner in it's day, so we almost need to have a run off this year to see who rules.  Amazon has yet to make a solid run at this crown.  Is anyone willing to make a case for them or Hulu against these content provider giants?

COOLEST ITEM OF THE YEAR - Sphero BB-8.   Because of the timing of this, I thought that Pokemon Go! was going to pull out a last second win.  But the rebirth of Star Wars mania won the day.  This little guy picked up the cute droid flag and ran with it (rolled with it, technically).  Hard to deny the cool aspects of this guy.  Brings back memories of our first winner - The Phantasm Ball.

STRIKEFORCE HALL OF DOOM - the highest honor is also known as "The Kirby".  Last year we inducted five honorees.  This year was also a solid crop of 5 inductees.  Each very deserving of the honor.

Atari 2600.  The classic game console joins the Hall.

David Bowie.  Sadly it took his death to get him in here.

John Carpenter.  One of the most unanimous picks we've ever had.

Steve Ditko.  For years and years he has just barely missed the cut and got through this time.

Weed.  It's been another nominee for years that finally is getting a little love.  Legalization across the nation is probably only a decade away.

Just missing the vote this year and hoping for further consideration - Blondie, Coen Brothers, Looney Tunes and Public Enemy

THE KINNEY -  Trump/Clinton Election -  Inaction On Gun Control.  I thought it would be hard to top previous winners like Bush/Libby and last year's Cosby.  This year was a little over the top with crazy crap.  I think we'll continue this theme of the category for a few years.

BLAST FROM THE PAST - BEST REISSUE - Complete Peanuts V.25.  The project took over a decade to finish.  I spent the 2016 year reading every strip from 1950 to 2000.  This collection is one of my most valued possessions for what it has meant to me over the course of my lifetime.  Few things have put such a smile on my face.

The Forceys took place late in the drinking evening but there was still plenty of post-awards fun to be had.  This gathering of the tribe is always the highlight of the weekend.  The awards for 2016/2017 promise to be just as much fun with another unique location.  Please make your plans right now to join us in a couple weeks.

"I'm a blackstar, way up, oh hone, I've got game / I see right so white, so open-heart it's pain / I want eagles in my daydreams, diamonds in my eyes."   Stay hard.

sb