It is that time of year again – The Will Eisner Awards are just around the corner, and the nominee list has been announced!
Best Short Story
- “Get Naked in Barcelona,” by Steven T. Seagle and Emei Olivia Burrell, in Get Naked (Image)
- “The Ghastlygun Tinies,” by Matt Cohen and Marc Palm, in MAD magazine #4 (DC)
- “Here I Am,” by Shaun Tan, in I Feel Machine (SelfMadeHero)
- “Life During Interesting Times,” by Mike Dawson (The Nib), https://thenib.com/greatest-generation-interesting-times
- “Supply Chains,” by Peter and Maria Hoey, in Coin-Op #7 (Coin-Op Books)
- “The Talk of the Saints,” by Tom King and Jason Fabok, in Swamp Thing Winter Special (DC)
Best Single Issue/One-Shot
- Beneath the Dead Oak Tree, by Emily Carroll (ShortBox)
- Black Hammer: Cthu-Louise, by Jeff Lemire and Emi Lenox (Dark Horse)
- No Better Words, by Carolyn Nowak (Silver Sprocket)
- Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #310, by Chip Zdarsky (Marvel)
- The Terrible Elisabeth Dumn Against the Devils In Suits, by Arabson, translated by James Robinson (IHQ Studio/ Image)
Best Continuing Series
- Batman, by Tom King et al. (DC)
- Black Hammer: Age of Doom, by Jeff Lemire, Dean Ormston, and Rich Tommaso (Dark Horse)
- Gasolina, by Sean Mackiewicz and Niko Walter (Skybound/Image)
- Giant Days, by John Allison, Max Sarin, and Julaa Madrigal (BOOM! Box)
- The Immortal Hulk, by Al Ewing, Joe Bennett, and Ruy José (Marvel)
- Runaways, by Rainbow Rowell and Kris Anka (Marvel)
Best Limited Series
- Batman: White Knight, by Sean Murphy (DC)
- Eternity Girl, by Magdalene Visaggio and Sonny Liew (Vertigo/DC)
- Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles, by Mark Russell, Mike Feehan, and Mark Morales (DC)
- Mister Miracle, by Tom King and Mitch Gerads (DC)
- X-Men: Grand Design: Second Genesis, by Ed Piskor (Marvel)
Best New Series
- Bitter Root, by David Walker, Chuck Brown, and Sanford Greene (Image)
- Crowded, by Christopher Sebela, Ro Stein, and Ted Brandt (Image)
- Gideon Falls, by Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino (Image)
- Isola, by Brenden Fletcher and Karl Kerschl (Image)
- Man-Eaters, by Chelsea Cain, Lia Miternique and Kate Niemczyk (Image)
- Skyward, by Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett (Image)
Best Publication for Early Readers (up to age 8)
- Johnny Boo and the Ice Cream Computer, by James Kochalka (Top Shelf/IDW)
- Petals, by Gustavo Borges (KaBOOM!)
- Peter & Ernesto: A Tale of Two Sloths, by Graham Annable (First Second)
- This Is a Taco! By Andrew Cangelose and Josh Shipley (CubHouse/Lion Forge)
- Tiger Vs. Nightmare, by Emily Tetri (First Second)
Best Publication for Kids (ages 9–12)
- Aquicorn Cove, by Katie O’Neill (Oni)
- Be Prepared, by Vera Brosgol (First Second)
- The Cardboard Kingdom, by Chad Sell (Knopf/Random House Children’s Books)
- Crush, by Svetlana Chmakova (JY/Yen Press)
- The Divided Earth, by Faith Erin Hicks (First Second)
Best Publication for Teens (ages 13–17)
- All Summer Long, by Hope Larson (Farrar Straus Giroux)
- Gumballs, by Erin Nations (Top Shelf/IDW)
- Middlewest, by Skottie Young and Jorge Corona (Image)
- Norroway, Book 1: The Black Bull of Norroway, by Cat Seaton and Kit Seaton (Image)
- The Prince and the Dressmaker, by Jen Wang (First Second)
- Watersnakes, by Tony Sandoval, translated by Lucas Marangon (Magnetic/Lion Forge)
Best Humor Publication
- Get Naked, by Steven T. Seagle et al. (Image)
- Giant Days, by John Allison, Max Sarin, and Julia Madrigal (BOOM! Box)
- MAD magazine, edited by Bill Morrison (DC)
- A Perfect Failure: Fanta Bukowski 3, by Noah Van Sciver (Fantagraphics)
- Woman World, by Aminder Dhaliwal (Drawn & Quarterly)
Best Anthology
- Femme Magnifique: 50 Magnificent Women Who Changed the World, edited by Shelly Bond (Black Crown/IDW)
- Puerto Rico Strong, edited by Marco Lopez, Desiree Rodriguez, Hazel Newlevant, Derek Ruiz, and Neil Schwartz (Lion Forge)
- Twisted Romance, edited by Alex de Campi (Image)
- Where We Live: A Benefit for the Survivors in Las Vegas, edited by Will Dennis, curated by J. H. Williams III and Wendy Wright-Williams (Image)
Best Reality-Based Work
- All the Answers: A Graphic Memoir, by Michael Kupperman (Gallery 13)
- All the Sad Songs, by Summer Pierre (Retrofit/Big Planet)
- Is This Guy For Real? The Unbelievable Andy Kaufman, by Box Brown (First Second)
- Monk! by Youssef Daoudi (First Second)
- One Dirty Tree, by Noah Van Sciver (Uncivilized Books)
Best Graphic Album—New
- Bad Girls, by Alex de Campi and Victor Santos (Gallery 13)
- Come Again, by Nate Powell (Top Shelf/IDW)
- Green Lantern: Earth One Vol. 1, by Corinna Bechko and Gabriel Hardman (DC)
- Homunculus, by Joe Sparrow (ShortBox)
- My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies, by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Image)
- Sabrina, by Nick Drnaso (Drawn & Quarterly)
Best Graphic Album—Reprint
- Berlin, by Jason Lutes (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Girl Town, by Carolyn Nowak (Top Shelf/IDW)
- Upgrade Soul, by Ezra Claytan Daniels (Lion Forge)
- The Vision hardcover, by Tom King, Gabriel Hernandez Walta, and Michael Walsh (Marvel)
- Young Frances, by Hartley Lin (AdHouse Books)
Best Adaptation from Another Medium
- Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation, adapted by Ari Folman and David Polonsky (Pantheon)
- “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley, in Frankenstein: Junji Ito Story Collection, adapted by Junji Ito, translated by Jocelyne Allen (VIZ Media)
- Out in the Open by Jesús Carraso, adapted by Javi Rey, translated by Lawrence Schimel (SelfMadeHero)
- Speak: The Graphic Novel, by Laurie Halse Anderson and Emily Carroll (Farrar Straus Giroux)
- To Build a Fire: Based on Jack London’s Classic Story, by Chabouté (Gallery 13)
Best U.S. Edition of International Material
- About Betty’s Boob, by Vero Cazot and Julie Rocheleau, translated by Edward Gauvin (Archaia/BOOM!)
- Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World, by Pénélope Bagieu, translated by Montana Kane (First Second)
- Herakles Book 1, by Edouard Cour, translated by Jeremy Melloul (Magnetic/Lion Forge)
- Niourk, by Stefan Wul and Olivier Vatine, translated by Brandon Kander and Diana Schutz (Dark Horse)
- A Sea of Love, by Wilfrid Lupano and Grégory Panaccione (Magnetic/Lion Forge)
Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia
- Abara: Complete Deluxe Edition, by Tsutomu Nihei, translated by Sheldon Drzka (VIZ Media)
- Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction, by Inio Asano, translated by John Werry (VIZ Media)
- Laid-Back Camp, by Afro, translated by Amber Tamosaitis (Yen Press)
- My Beijing: Four Stories of Everyday Wonder, by Nie Jun, translated by Edward Gauvin (Graphic Universe/Lerner)
- Tokyo Tarareba Girls, by Akiko Higashimura (Kodansha)
Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips
- Pogo, vol. 5: Out of This World At Home, by Walt Kelly, edited by Mark Evanier and Eric Reynolds (Fantagraphics)
- Sky Masters of the Space Force: The Complete Sunday Strips in Color (1959–1960), by Jack Kirby, Wally Wood et al., edited by Ferran Delgado (Amigo Comics)
- Star Wars: Classic Newspaper Strips, vol. 3, by Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson, edited by Dean Mullaney (Library of American Comics/IDW)
- The Temple of Silence: Forgotten Words and Worlds of Herbert Crowley, by Justin Duerr (Beehive Books
- Thimble Theatre and the Pre-Popeye Comics of E. C. Segar, edited by Peter Maresca (Sunday Press)
Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books
- Action Comics: 80 Years of Superman Deluxe Edition, edited by Paul Levitz (DC)
- Bill Sienkiewicz’s Mutants and Moon Knights… And Assassins… Artifact Edition, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW)
- Dirty Plotte: The Complete Julie Doucet (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Madman Quarter Century Shindig, by Mike Allred, edited by Chris Ryall (IDW)
- Terry Moore’s Strangers in Paradise Gallery Edition, edited by Bob Chapman, Joseph Melchior, and Terry Moore (Abstract Studio/Graphitti Designs)
- Will Eisner’s A Contract with God: Curator’s Collection, edited by John Lind (Kitchen Sink/Dark Horse)
Best Writer
- Alex de Campi, Bad Girls (Gallery 13); Twisted Romance (Image)
- Tom King, Batman, Mister Miracle, Heroes in Crisis, Swamp Thing Winter Special (DC)
- Jeff Lemire, Black Hammer: Age of Doom, Doctor Star & the Kingdom of Lost Tomorrows, Quantum Age(Dark Horse); Descender, Gideon Falls, Royal City (Image)
- Mark Russell, Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles, Green Lantern/Huckleberry Hound, Lex Luthor/Porky Pig (DC); Lone Ranger (Dynamite)
- Kelly Thompson, Nancy Drew (Dynamite); Hawkeye, Jessica Jones, Mr. & Mrs. X, Rogue & Gambit, Uncanny X-Men, West Coast Avengers (Marvel)
- Chip Zdarsky, Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man, Marvel Two-in-One (Marvel)
Best Writer/Artist
- Sophie Campbell, Wet Moon (Oni)
- Nick Drnaso, Sabrina (Drawn & Quarterly)
- David Lapham, Lodger (Black Crown/IDW); Stray Bullets (Image)
- Nate Powell, Come Again (Top Shelf/IDW)
- Tony Sandoval, Watersnakes (Magnetic/Lion Forge)
- Jen Wang, The Prince and the Dressmaker (First Second)
Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
- Matías Bergara, Coda (BOOM!)
- Mitch Gerads, Mister Miracle (DC)
- Karl Kerschl, Isola (Image)
- Sonny Liew, Eternity Girl (Vertigo/DC)
- Sean Phillips, Kill or Be Killed, My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies (Image)
- Yanick Paquette, Wonder Woman Earth One, vol. 2 (DC)
Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)
- Lee Bermejo, Batman: Damned (DC)
- Carita Lupatelli, Izuna Book 2 (Humanoids)
- Dustin Nguyen, Descender (Image)
- Gregory Panaccione, A Sea of Love (Magnetic/Lion Forge)
- Tony Sandoval, Watersnakes (Magnetic/Lion Forge)
Best Cover Artist (for multiple covers)
- Jen Bartel, Blackbird (Image); Submerged (Vault)
- Nick Derington, Mister Miracle (DC)
- Karl Kerschl, Isola (Image)
- Joshua Middleton, Batgirl and Aquaman variants (DC)
- Julian Tedesco, Hawkeye, Life of Captain Marvel (Marvel)
Best Coloring
- Jordie Bellaire, Batgirl, Batman (DC); The Divided Earth (First Second); Days of Hate, Dead Hand, Head Lopper, Redlands (Image); Shuri, Doctor Strange (Marvel)
- Tamra Bonvillain, Alien 3 (Dark Horse); Batman, Doom Patrol (DC); Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Multiple Man (Marvel)
- Nathan Fairbairn, Batman, Batgirl, Birds of Prey, Wonder Woman Earth One, vol. 2 (DC); Die!Die!Die!(Image)
- Matt Hollingsworth, Batman: White Knight (DC): Seven to Eternity, Wytches (Image)
- Matt Wilson, Black Cloud, Paper Girls, The Wicked + The Divine (Image); The Mighty Thor, Runaways(Marvel)
Best Lettering
- David Aja, Seeds (Berger Books/Dark Horse)
- Jim Campbell, Breathless, Calexit, Gravetrancers, Snap Flash Hustle, Survival Fetish, The Wilds (Black Mask); Abbott, Alice: Dream to Dream, Black Badge, Clueless, Coda, Fence, Firefly, Giant Days, Grass Kings, Lumberjanes: The Infernal Compass, Low Road West, Sparrowhawk (BOOM); Angelic (Image); Wasted Space (Vault)
- Alex de Campi, Bad Girls (Gallery 13); Twisted Romance (Image)
- Jared Fletcher, Batman: Damned (DC); The Gravediggers Union, Moonshine, Paper Girls, Southern Bastards (Image)
- Todd Klein— Black Hammer: Age of Doom, Neil Gaiman’s A Study in Emerald (Dark Horse); Batman: White Night (DC); Eternity Girl, Books of Magic (Vertigo/DC); The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Tempest (Top Shelf/IDW)
Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism
- Back Issue, edited by Michael Eury (TwoMorrows)
- The Columbus Scribbler, edited by Brian Canini, Jack Wallace, Steve Steiner, and Derek Baxter columbusscribbler.com
- Comicosity, edited by Aaron Long and Matt Santori, www.comicosity.com
- LAAB Magazine #0: Dark Matter, edited by Ronald Wimberley and Josh O’Neill (Beehive Books)
- PanelxPanel magazine, edited by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, panelxpanel.com
Best Comics-Related Book
- Comic Book Implosion: An Oral History of DC Comics Circa 1978, by Keith Dallas and John Wells (TwoMorrows)
- Drawn to Purpose: American Women Illustrators and Cartoonists, by Martha H. Kennedy (University Press of Mississippi)
- The League of Regrettable Sidekicks, by Jon Morris (Quirk Books)
- Mike Grell: Life Is Drawing Without an Eraser, by Dewey Cassell with Jeff Messer (TwoMorrows)
- Yoshitaka Amano: The Illustrated Biography—Beyond the Fantasy, by Florent Gorges, translated by Laure Dupont and Annie Gullion (Dark Horse)
Best Academic/Scholarly Work
- Between Pen and Pixel: Comics, Materiality, and the Book of the Future, by Aaron Kashtan (Ohio State University Press)
- Breaking the Frames: Populism and Prestige in Comics Studies, by Marc Singer (University of Texas Press)
- The Goat-Getters: Jack Johnson, the Fight of the Century, and How a Bunch of Raucous Cartoonists Reinvented Comics, by Eddie Campbell (Library of American Comics/IDW/Ohio State University Press)
- Incorrigibles and Innocents, by Lara Saguisag (Rutgers Univeristy Press)
- Sweet Little C*nt: The Graphic Work of Julie Doucet, by Anne Elizabeth Moore (Uncivilized Books)
Best Publication Design
- A Sea of Love, designed by Wilfrid Lupano, Grégory Panaccione, and Mike Kennedy (Magnetic/Lion Forge)
- The Stan Lee Story Collector’s Edition, designed by Josh Baker (Taschen)
- The Temple of Silence: Forgotten Worlds of Herbert Crowley, designed by Paul Kepple and Max Vandenberg (Beehive Books)
- Terry Moore’s Strangers in Paradise Gallery Edition, designed by Josh Beatman/Brainchild Studios/NYC, (Abstract Studio/Graphitti Designs)
- Will Eisner’s A Contract with God: Curator’s Collection, designed by John Lind (Kitchen Sink/Dark Horse)
Best Digital Comic
- Aztec Empire, by Paul Guinan, Anina Bennett, and David Hahn, www.bigredhair.com/books/Aztec-empire/
- The Führer and the Tramp, by Sean McArdle, Jon Judy, and Dexter Wee, http://thefuhrerandthetramp.com/
- The Journey, by Pablo Leon (Rewire), https://rewire.news/article/2018/01/08/rewire-exclusive-comic-journey/
- The Stone King, by Kel McDonald and Tyler Crook (comiXology Originals) https://cmxl.gy/
Stone-King - Umami, by Ken Niimura (Panel Syndicate), http://panelsyndicate.com/comics/umami
Best Webcomic
- The Contradictions, by Sophie Yanow, www.thecontradictions.com
- Lavender Jack, by Dan Schkade (WEBTOON), https://www.webtoons.com/en/thriller/lavender-jack/list?title_no=1410&page=1
- Let’s Play, by Mongie (WEBTOON), https://www.webtoons.com/en/romance/letsplay/list?title_no=1218&page=1
- Lore Olympus, by Rachel Smythe, (WEBTOON), https://www.webtoons.com/en/romance/lore-olympus/list?title_no=1320&page=1
- Tiger, Tiger, by Petra Erika Nordlund, (Hiveworks) http://www.tigertigercomic.com/
