ComicBooks For Kids (CB4K), the nonprofit that distributes comics and pop culture items to children in hospitals and cancer centers, presented its annual awards at C2E2 and announced that the first issue of its own comic, by Art Baltazar, is now available.

ComicBooks For Kids! #1 is currently being sent to children in hospitals, Baltazar announced at the event, and he presented four signed copies to members of the audience. He also unveiled the cover to the second issue.

DC Group Editor Paul Kaminski, who worked on another comic that CB4K is reprinting (see “Three Retailers Sponsor New Covers”), accepted the award for DC and pledged continued support for the organization, as did Brittany McManus of CGC, another CB4K partner (see “CGC Custom Labels to Benefit ComicBooks for Kids”). J.C. Trolls and Matthew Waite, who worked with ComicBooks for Troops on a limited-edition Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic in 2020, also received an award. Kelly Guenter from Multiverse Fundraiser accepted their award and announced they will conduct annual fundraisers for CB4K starting in March 2026.

In an emotional moment, the late John Enck, owner of the Lebanon, PA, comic shop Hooked on Comics, was recognized posthumously for his work with the charity. Enck, who died of cancer in 2024, worked with CB4K for five years, and his wife Mary accepted the award from CB4K founder Mark Weiss.

Here is the full list of awards:

  • CB4K Retail Award: Krav’n Comics
  • CB4K Retail Award: LoneStar (MyComicShop)
  • CB4K Retail Award: Graham Cracker Comics
  • CB4K Pop Culture Award: Entertainment Earth
  • CB4K Game Publisher Award: Paizo
  • CB4K Distributor Award: Lunar Distribution
  • CB4K Publisher Award: DC Comics
  • CB4K Award: Matthew Waite
  • CB4K Award:  Art Baltazar
  • CB4K Award:  CGC
  • CB4K Award:  Chrissie Zullo
  • CB4K Award:  J.C. Trolls(Trolls comics)
  • CB4K Honorary Award:  Hooked on Comics
  • CB4K Award:  Kelly Guenter/Multiverse Fundraiser

CB4K distributes comics to children in hospitals and cancer centers, and its sister organization ComicBooks For Troops sends comics to the military. For more information, visit the ComicBooksFor Kids website.