Comics and graphic novels receive some justified criticisms. One of the most serious is that characters in comics – at least the most important ones – have for too long been mostly white.

There are exceptions, of course. In the mainstream comics universe, characters such as Luke Cage, Blade, Storm and Black Panther come to mind. There are others, I know. But most of the longest running heroes – your Spider-Men, Supermen, Batmen and Wonder Women – would all be colored peach in a children’s coloring book. That’s why it’s so important to make note of the Glyph Comics Awards, and what it says about the increasing diversity found inside the covers of mainstream and independent comics.

The annual awards were created to honor the best in black comics and creators. Comic publishers of all sizes, along with online comic creators and cartoonists for newspapers and other periodicals, can submit black-themed material released from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 of 2007 for consideration for a Glyph award. The judging committee defines black-themed as any comic with a black protagonist or black characters pivotal to the direction of the story; a setting or theme that explores the black experience within the United States and/or abroad in the past, present or future; and/or a comic of any kind written and/or illustrated by a black creator.

Want to submit you comic book or strip? Send an e-mail message to Rich Watson at rich.watson@gmail.com. Deadline for submissions is Jan. 20, 2008.

The 2008 version of the Glyph Comics Awards will be held in May of 2008 at the East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention. You can find out more about this organization, and its efforts to promote the work of black creators, at www.ecbacc.com.

If last year's ceremonies are any indication, the competition will be tough. That's good news. It's a sign that comics are including a growing number of characters with a wider variety of ethnic backgrounds. The graphic novel Stagger Lee won a record-breaking four wins at last year’s awards ceremony, including one for Story of the Year. I read this novel, created by Derek McCulloch and Shepherd Hendrix. It’s an impressive work, with sharp writing and art. If it’s representative of the talent honored at the awards, then the Glyph awards is definitely a ceremony for comics fans everywhere to watch, no matter their skin color.