The World Science Fiction Society, which sponsors the Hugo Awards (and the annual World Science Fiction Convention), has added a category for Best Graphic Story to the awards.  “Any science fiction or fantasy story told in graphic form appearing for the first time in the previous calendar year” will be eligible.  The new award will have to be ratified in 2009 to take effect. 

In the meantime, the organizer of the 2009 convention in Montreal has added the category to the Hugo Awards for next year (under an authority given to the local organizer, so there will be a Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story in 2009.