2015 Comic Book Awards Pt 1: Best Characters

Best Female Lead (non superhero):  Beth Ross (Prez) from Mark Russell & Ben Caldwell - She's sassy and smart and in this year of the "outsider" candidate, she's the most unlikely, most outsider-esque and the President we need! Nominees: Velvet Templeton (Velvet), Forever Carlyle (Lazarus), Maxine Plouffe (Bandette), Chondra Jackson (Effigy)

Best Male Lead (non superhero): Charlie Parish and Gil Mason (The Fade Out) as created by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips - At first I just named Charlie for this award, as he's the center of the mystery. But what's Charlie without Gil? Mason's appropriately the second banana, but in many ways he's also the co-star. He's the one writing Charlie's scripts, he's the one who stirs the pot on the investigation. Both of these broken, haunted men are not quite complete without the other.

Best Female Superhero: Captain Marvel as written by Kelly Sue DeConnick - Kelly Sue made Carol Danvers relevant. Under her pen she became a true hero, a leader, a friend, no longer Ms, but "Captain" - someone to admire. So admired that her steadfast fans became known as the Carol Corp. In 2015 DeConnick took her final bow with the character. You'll be missed, but never forgotten. Nominees: Silk, Spider-Gwen, Spider-Woman

Best Male Superhero: Spider-Man as written by Dan Slott, Gerry Conway and others
The Spider-Family has grown, and Parker's its mad patriarch. I liked Spider-Verse, I dug Conway's return in "Spiral", I was crazy for "Renew Your Vows" and I love, love, love the new direction for "Amazing", in which Peter makes like Tony Stark and heads a thriving tech company, which allows Spidey to sport a whole lot of new neat toys (including a cool Spider-Mobile). Success hasn't gone to his head though, as the hero is still as funny as ever. 

Best Super-team: Uncanny X-Men from Bendis & Bachalo

Best Supporting Character (Female): Maps Mizoguchi (Gotham Academy)
Olive might be the star of the show, but Maps puts 'em in the seats. She's comedy gold for the way she loves her gadgets, and for her fun, plucky personality. Nominees: Ayane (Wayward), Edie (Effigy), Briar (Magneto), Maia (Invisible Republic), Drake (Gotham by Midnight)

Best Supporting Character (Male): Killer Croc was never a fav in the past, but he’s had a personality shift and was a welcome addition to Gotham Academy and Catwoman in 2015 (this shift goes back to Red Hood and the Outlaws, Batman Eternal and Batwoman). Nominees: Inanna (Wicked + The Divine) Ishmael, Boo (Copperhead)

Best Sidekick: Nobody, Maya DuCard (Robin: Son of Batman) created by Patrick Gleeson
She is the daughter of one of Robin's mentors and deadliest foes... at first she's looking for revenge, but soon becomes a vital ally (at least for now). Nominees: The Skinless Boy, Emmy’s familiar in Harrow County

Best Villain (Male): Dr. Doom (Secret Wars) – How does a baddie past his prime make this list? With the help of Jonathan Hickman, that’s how. Victor killed the Beyonders, took their power and became a God. But he was a God with feet of clay and a Kryptonite named Reed Richards. Who he both envied and feared. 

Best Villain (Female): Ananke (The Wicked + The Divine) created by Gillen & McKelvie - She's supposed to guide, protect and help the young music Gods in her care.... but like many managers, she's a backstabbing, lying, manipulative a-hole... and you can add murder to her resume. Hon Mentions: Mother (Batman & Robin Eternal), Kammi (Harrow County)

Best Anti-Heroine: Catwoman as written by Genevieve Valentine

Best Anti-Hero:  Constantine

Best Child/Youth (Female): Valeria Richards-Von Doom (Secret Wars, Runaways)

Best Child/Youth (Male): Babylon (East of West)

Best Couple: Duncan and Madison created by Matthew Rosenberg, Patrick Kindlon & Josh Hood (We Can Never Go Home, Black Mask)

Best Comic Book Version of "The Odd Couple": Cindy Moon and J. Jonah Jameson, (Silk). JJJ being a fan of a spidery superhero is one thing, but that the old grump has this warm and supportive relationship with one of his employees, who also happens to be that spidery hero is another. Good heart and humor from this unlikely duo. 

Dream Team-Up: Maps and Damian Wayne, Gotham Academy #7 by Becky Cloonan & Brenden Fletcher, illustrated by Mingjue Helen Chen - This was a match made in heaven, and featured so many hilarious moments. Like when Damian upsets Maps, and in retaliation she wipes her nose on his hand. Or the sweet scene when Robin gifts her a Batarang. But the best was Maps love affair with Damian's grapple gun. Not only funny, but a geek treat. Because at one point Damian quotes Keaton from the Batman movie. "See that thing on my belt? Grab it. Whatever you do, don't let go."

Best Siblings:  The Stepford Cuckoos (Uncanny X-Men) by Bendis and Chris Bachalo - While I prefer it when the sister's look alike, Children of the Damned and all. Bendis did put a funny spin on them seeking out their individuality (by changing their hair color)

Best Ensemble Cast: East of West by Johnathan Hickman & Nick Dragotta. Nominees: Wayward, Copperhead, Revival, Batman & Robin Eternal, Gotham Academy

Best Performance by an animal: Puck (Doctor Fate) created by Paul Levitz and Sonny Liew  - Nominees: Chewie, Murder Face (Spider-Gwen), Dragon Kitties (Hex11), Goliath (Robin)

Happiest Returns: Cassandra Cain (Batman & Robin Eternal)
Last year I got my Steph back, this season they gave me Atlee (disappointing) and Ralph and Sue Dibney (quirky good) but the very happiest of returns was seeing former Batgirl, Cassandra Cain find her way back to regular continuity

Links
Part 1: 2015 Best Comic Book Characters 
Part 2: 2015 Best Writing, Art, Designs 
Part 3: 2015 Best Stories, Arcs, Events, Misc