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Joe Keatinge, co-editor of Popgun comics anthology and Image Comics marketing coordinator, has published an open letter in response to criticisms of the 2009 Harvey Award nominations.
The nominations, announced earlier this week, initiated a torrent of complaints about the writers, artists and publications honoured, with accusations of ballot stuffing.
In his letter, titled 'I believe in Harvey Kurtzman', Keatinge exhorted the industry professionals who vote on the awards to cast their votes rather than complaining about who receives nominations.
Keatinge wrote: "As I write this, it’s barely been a day since the 2009 Harvey Awards nominations have been announced and the reaction is, well, you know... Not good.
"While a large number of well-respected comics and their creators received the accolades they deserve, there are quite a few others that the comics industry feel are the results of ballot stuffing and yet another reflection of the joke they feel this award has become.
"Yet what people don't understand is that there’s but one problem here. It’s not ballot stuffing... It’s not politics... It’s us.
"If everyone who wrote a scathing review of the nominations put in nominations themselves, this ballot stuffing myth would be rendered obsolete."
The Harveys are the only comic awards nominated and selected exclusively by industry professionals. They will take place in October at the Baltimore Comic-Con.
