2007 was a fantastic, extremely productive year for the site. While it may not have reached the upper echelons of output that it once boasted, it still produced a whopping 191 issues over the course of '07, and that ain't nothing to scoff out. So quit scoffing!

As per usual, this award ceremony is dedicated to all those who helped the site continue to live on throughout the year. Thanks to one and all, and now it's time to see who the fans ranked as being the best of the best!

2007
(THE EIGHTH ANNUAL TOOKIES)

Best Title

Avengers West Coast (31.5%)

Runner-Up: Tie - Thor (15.7%); Ultimate Defenders (15.7%)

Bryan Locke here for Best Title. What makes a title the absolute "Best Title" of an entire year? Such was the question on my mind as I decided on my choice for one of M2K's top (if not very top) Tookie. The answer to this question was one shared by the majority of us here at M2K: Avengers West Coast! For me (and hopefully, you) it came down to three things, which have handily referred to as the "Three C's".

CONSISTENCY: How many issues of this title were put out in a year? For Josh's AWC that number would be eleven, more than any other issue not written by "Various". That's almost one for each month, which should be, at the very least, every fanfic writer's goal. Josh accomplished such a number with vigor. But was the title consistently exciting and engaging? After all, anyone could write dozens of issues a year, but if they fail to engage the reader's excitement factor, then what's the point? Josh took us on a wild ride with surprising villians, a lovable cast, and a gamut of guest-stars. AWC became a quintessential fanfic. AWC was the definition of consistency.

CHARACTERIZATION: Writers know what they like. Typically, they stick to it. Good choice too, since it's very easy to fall into languid characterization. AWC however consistently (there's that word again!) avoided this pitfall. Amazing a feat it was for Josh, considering how many characters he had to juggle! From the bombastic guest-stars (like Howard the Duck!) and essential B-listers (like Darkhawk!) to the unknown (Princess Python?!) and the legendary (Dracula!), all the way to, of course, the Avengers (like Hank, Clint, Jan and Tony), characterization for the most part was nailed. So much so that now AWC has spawned a spin-off so Josh doesn't have to end his wild characterization of those popular guest-stars. Some would argue that this "C" is the most important in fanfic, but all would agree that its the "C" that put Avengers West Coast over the top, and this year's best title!

CONTINUITY: GASP~! And the final "C" is perhaps a dirty word in today's fanfic. With writers unwilling to modify visions of characterization, or interjecting too much non-sequiter in forms of characters and sub-plots, AWC felt wonderfully fluid with those issues that came before it, even those published by Marvel! AWC has always been of a wackier, oddball breed (hence, the team's nickname...the Whackos!). And Josh took that concept and ran. Running on the same path blazed by Anderson and Munn, both M2K Hall of Famers, it shouldn't have been as easy as Josh made it seem. More greatly rendered was the continuity between issues themselves. Overarching sub-plots like the returns of Dracula and Doctor Druid only made more enviable the fact that an individual issue could be read on its own, and enjoyed to the fullest extent.

This may seem like heavy praise for any one title. But listen up, jack! This ain't just any one title. This is the BEST TITLE OF 2007! It's Avengers West Coast, and it's written by Josh Reynolds. It's a priviledge of mine to present this Tookie to him.

Congratulations, Josh. I know I speak for the majority of M2K when I say thank you for the past year. I know I speak the truth when I say if 2008 gives us more AWC like these past eleven issues, you'll be right back up here next year!

Best Hero

Spider-Man (41.2%)

Runner-Up: Tie - Captain America (23.5%)

Hey everyone, it's your favorite (or not-so-favorite) former Editor-in-Chief Cory Wiegel here, proud to present to you the Best Hero for the Eighth Annual Tookies... and even prouder to say that the Amazing Spider-Man has taken it once again for the first time in five years! Sadly, the ol' Webhead's absence from the Tookie's Winner Circle for the last half a decade does reflect the number of hiatuses and creative difficulties there have been for the hero and his ongoing series, but that all changed last year when "Bodacious" Bryan Locke joined the staff of Marvel 2000. He quickly familiarized himself with all of the necessary back-story, a feat in and of itself at the site, and was able to build on it to great effect. Not only was Bryan able to work with an unconventional status quo for the character (grad student and single father under the thumb of a spy agency, anyone?), but he's made excellent use of Peter Parker's supporting cast and integrated them into his stories seamlessly. Plus, you gotta love the action and drama!

Oh, and hey, it doesn't hurt one bit that you have Meriades Rai backing you up on the stellar Marvel Team-Up series over in the Alternate Branch. Though his misadventures with various other heroes is outside Marvel 2000's mainstream continuity, Meri's Spider-Man shines nonetheless and has gathered quite the dedicated fan following over at our site's message board. He's no stranger to Spidey by any means, and he's able to weave (pun intended) some energetic, fast-paced, and downright fun stories with the character and his rotating partners in crime (heroics).

So, congratulations to the both of you! Spider-Man's always been my favorite hero, but together you two have managed to make him the Best Hero of 2007 at Marvel 2000.

Best Heroine

Warbird (31.5%)

Runner-Up: Tie - Spider-Woman (21.1%); Storm (21.1%)

Hey, it's me, recently super-absent Ben Wolfert, here to present this year's award for Best Heroine. Mind you, that's Heroine, H-E-R-O-I-N-E. Those looking for the best H-E-R-O-I-N...well, can't help you out with that one. Achem, anyways...as we all know, or maybe not, the comic genre is primarily a sausage fest. I mean, I've never seen as many guys in spandex since my shameful days of watching the WWF. This makes it even more essential that there be some female characters capable of kicking ass and taking names. The Marvel Universe, and M2K in particular, has more than a few qualified candidates for such a distinction. But there can only be one (sorta like Miss America, but without the evening gown and swim wear competition...).

It's my esteemed pleasure to deliver the award for Best Heroine to Carol Danvers, also known us as Warbird. The character has a long and healthy history, during which she's proven her mettle time and time again. She's fought numerous battles with and without her powers against a variety of villains. Just as important, though, is her triumph over the bottle. A bottle of Everclear can be just as dangerous as Galactus, in the wrong hands. Of course...all of this lame quackery is being said as if Carol's a real person. The award, realistically, goes to the Mr. Steve Crosby, and his great rendition of a strong character. Fans of Warbird should read Crosby's Marvel Fanfare #52, a story that brings the character full circle and then some. The attention to Carol's history and spot on characterization make this issue a must-read, regardless. Congrats Crosby!

Best Villain

Dracula (31.5%)

Runner-Up: Loki (10.5%)

Before we even get to what Josh Reynolds did with this year's best villain, let's explore the evil deeds already under Dracula's belt. First he kept Jonathan Harker trapped in his castle with three women sucking his blood (trust me, worse than it sounds) as Dracula butchered a ship's crew on his way to England. Once there, he turns Lucy into a vampire, makes Renfield a slave, and feeds his blood to Mina. The attempt to kill Dracula leaves Quincy dead and the vampire supposedly killed. But that was just the book.

When Marvel got their shot, Dracula got really nasty. Turns out there are a lot more vampires, and Dracula is lord of them all. As such, every time he's killed it doesn't quite take, even when Doctor Strange casts an anti-vampire spell. Yes, you read that right. Dracula is beyond even the magic of Doctor Strange. Along the way he created the awesome Baron Blood and nearly turned the X-Man Storm into a vampire. So great a villain was Dracula that he even had his own series, Tomb of Dracula, where great characters such as Blade and Hannibal King were introduced, yet neither were a true match for the Lord of all Vampires.

But all that was then. We're honoring Dracula for his recent use in Avengers West Coast, written by new EIC Josh Reynolds. In a series of stories jam-packed with villains, it took no effort for Dracula to stand out. He was boisterous and classic, perfectly fitting the mold of seventies-era that I think Josh was going for. Perhaps it was fitting that Dracula battled against a god in AWC, the runner-up for Best Villain is none other than Loki, God of Mischief and Lies. It seems to fit for a villain that has often been considered human and sympathetic, battling futilely against gods yet somehow persevering.

And along the way, he even gets a bite out of a super-hero or two. Truly, Dracula is a lord.

Best Supporting Character

James Rhodes (11.8%)

Runner-Up: Tie - Mr. Immortal (5.9%); Betty Brant (5.9%)

Jeff Melton here, writer of Thor and 70s Champions. Today, I've been asked to present the Best Supporting Character Award for this year. Given the winner, I'm happy to do so.

Marvel Comics have been known for their strong list of supporting characters. These well-defined characters have added much to the ongoing storylines of the principle characters over the years, and this is true of even the most minor supporting characters. Don't we all have a vision in our minds, after all, when we hear the name Willie Lumpkin?

Marvel 2000 has continued this tradition as well, with well-developed supporting characters. Today, we honor a classic character in that mold. He has been a decorated combat veteran, a bodyguard for Tony Stark, worn the Iron Man costume (as well as a variant of that costume), and is now head of security at the Vault. His close friendship with Tony Stark, his loyalty, and his fierceness in combat are part of what makes this character so memorable to all of us. So, it is with great pride that I announce the Tookie Award winner for this year for Best Supporting Character is none other than James "Rhodie" Rhodes! You deserve it!

And, props go out to David Golightly for continuing to write this great character with the respect that he is due!

Best Original Character

Ash Kennedy (46.6%)

Runner-Up: Binary (20%)

Josh Reynolds, EiC at your service. Ah. Best original character. Seems kind of a wrong-note for fanfic, don't it? But sometimes, somehow, the original, it creepeth in. And nowhere is that more prevalent than in ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN by Meriades Rai; and shocker of shocker (Shocker...heh, God I love villains who dress in yellow quilt fabric) it's the main character himself who's the original sinner (sorry, religious joke, not funny unless you're a Zoroastrian)! Ash Kennedy (sounds like a WWE reject, don't it? Ah well, there's a reason Meri writes fanfic...kidding, kidding!), the Spectacular Spider-Man has made a big splash as far as M2K's Ultimate line is concerned and as far as fanfic itself, I think. Is he better than classic Spidey? Will he go the way of New Coke? Who can say...only the Shadow knows, really. But for now, for this peerless year, Ash Kennedy is M2K's best original character!

Best Team

Avengers West Coast (42.1%)

Runner-Up: Avengers (21%)

Hey there, fellow fans of the finest fanfiction around, otherwise known as Marvel 2000! Daniel Ingram, former EiC here, with the award for best team.

So who won? Did those mighty mutants X the competition? Did the Power Pack out brat pack the rest? Did…okay, I got nothin’, so I’ll just announce the winner.

Best team goes to Avengers West Coast, written by Josh Renolds! Marvel 2000 readers love their wackos and it shows! Vampires, snakes, elder golds, archers and that’s only the tip of the ice berg! It’s hard to go wrong with characters like Dr. Druid, Darkhawk and Hawkeye and given that Josh writes them so very right, well…this reward is no surprise.

So congrats, Josh! Wackos are winners!

Best Imprint

Heroes (47.3%)

Runner-Up: Alternate (42.1%)

It's been a great year at M2K, a good strong year, and it's been on the back of one imprint- that's the Knights Imprint, especially my Scarl- what?! What do you mean I'm reading the wrong card? You mean that's for the worst imprint and series? MY series is worst?! Who th- Oh, yeah. Okay- right card now.

The real best imprint this year is the Heroes Imprint! Based on a strong showing from the Imprint's core titles- especially the Avengers books!- and some fantastic ongoing series and Fanfare issues, Heroes hit the ground run from the beginning of the year and didn't stop. Just check out some of this year's issues and try to deny it was great. Congrats to the Heroes writers for making their Imprint great!

Best Writer

Meriades Rai (31.6%)

Runner-Up: Tie - Josh Reynolds (15.8%); Steve Crosby (15.8%)

Dave Golightly on board to award this year's fan favorite scribe with the Best Writer Tookie. Surely it comes as no surprise that the reader's tossed the majority of their votes to Meri! He's renowned in the fanfic kingdom, and not just at our humble site. Meri is responsible for pumping out a steady number of issues in M2K's Alternate Branch this year, and even launched our new Ultimate line all by himself! As if that weren't impressive enough, all of the issues he wrote were astounding. Seriously, just swing a dead cat and you're bound to hit something incredible written by Mr. Rai. The fans have spoken, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm one of them! Congrats, Meriades!

Best Fight

Avengers West Coast vs. Vampires (16.7%)

Runner-Up: X-Men vs. St. Croix constructs (11%)

Hang loose and face front, True Believers! This is Stan Lee reporting live from the Tookies at M2K-- okay, this is just Gregg Epstein. So I never won a Tookie besides that honorable mention last year. But let's not talk about me, let's talk about Best Fight. I'll give you a hint who won. Do you like the Avengers on the West Coast? Do you like vampires? You guessed it. Congrats, Josh Reynolds, for writing a killer issue of Avengers West Coast.

Oh, you mean to tell me that he's been writing Avengers West Coast for over a year. I knew that. Seriously, I really, really knew that.

So, who's next?

Best Moment

The Vault coup *The Vault #4* (13.3%)

Runner-Up: Death impersonates Jesus *Cable/Deadpool #2* (5.5%)

Well look what we have here. Best Moment in 2007. Chris Oliva here, writer of Eye-Scream here at M2K and what a pleasure it is to award the Best Moment Tookie to David G. for his incredible work on his series the Vault, and to boot, when the guys take over the whole dang place. Not only is this well deserved, as I think this was the moment in the series that the shit hit the fan, but it couldn't have hapenned to a nicer guy. David G's The Vault is really one of the grittiest and interesting peices of fanfic on the site, and If I'm as bold to say, in all of fanfic. It really gives us a taste of the Marvel Universe we don't get to see that often, and David really hit it home with the total takeover. Kudos, David!

Best Team-Up

Spider-Man/Nightcrawler/Magik *Marvel Team-Up #4* (25%)

Runner-Up: Spider-Man/Human Torch *Marvel-Team-Up #1* (18.7%)

Josh Reynold here to dish out the Best Team-Up. And the award to...wait, what? You're kidding me. He did what now? How is that even possible? Golightly, you swore this thing was fool-proof! This is...this is...inconceivable! Inconcievable? Whatever. Fine, fine! I'll do it, give me a minute. Ahem. Apparently, Meriades won both first AND second place for this category...which, as we all know, is proof of his ties to the underworld. That's right people, even now SATANIC MOBSTERS WALK AMONG US! And the man, the fiend in human shape we know as Meriades Rai, good ol' Meri, is their agent on Earth. Their pawn in the cosmic high-stakes poker game of reality...well know this Meriades...GOD DEALS FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE DECK YOU-[sound of microphone being cut]

HALL OF FAME

David Golightly

David joined the ranks of M2K's editors after making a mark at the site with HEROES FOR HIRE, X-FORCE, and THE VAULT. With a couple other stories under his belt, a ton of work overhauling the site, and a budding following through his work on ULTIMATE AVENGERS, David has officially been ushered into fanfic history as part of the Hall of Fame!