One final honor, however, was set into motion in the spring of 2022, when the Cartoon Art Museum, acting in conjunction with DC Comics’ archives department, reached out to the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. with a formal nomination for the inclusion of Steve Cook’s photographs of George Pérez in the National Archives. The nomination included a testimonial outlining Pérez’s contributions to popular culture, the high regard in which he was held by the comics community, his dedication to charitable works, and his outstanding moral character.

Upon receipt and acknowledgement of the nomination, the board of directors of the National Portrait Gallery began their discussions and vetting process to determine if the portraits would merit inclusion in the their collection. As noted in their official mission statement, “The National Portrait Gallery was authorized and founded by Congress in 1962 with the mission to acquire and display portraits of individuals who have made significant contributions to the history, development, and culture of the people of the United States. Today, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery continues to narrate the multi-faceted and ever-changing story of America through the individuals who have shaped its culture. Through the visual arts, performing arts, and new media, the Portrait Gallery presents poets and presidents, visionaries and villains, actors and activists whose lives form our national identity.”

After a thorough review and discussion, the National Portrait Gallery made the formal decision to accept Steve Cook’s portraits of George Pérez into their collection in December 2023, making Pérez the first comic book artist to be honored in such a manner, and an enduring tribute to an American icon.