2009 Will Eisner nominees announced

This year’s Will Eisner nominees have been announced. The Eisner Awards are each year at the San Diego Comic-Con to recognize the best in comic book, graphic novel and digital comic art.

This year’s nominees are:

Best Short Story

  • “Actual Size” by Chris Ware, in Kramers Ergot 7 (Buenaventura Press)
  • “Chechen War, Chechen Women,” by Joe Sacco, in I Live Here (Pantheon)
  • “Freaks,” by Laura Park, in Superior Showcase #3 (AdHouse)
  • “Glenn Ganges in ‘Pulverize,'” by Kevin Huizenga, in Ganges #2 (Fantagraphics)
  • “Murder He Wrote,” by Ian Boothby, Nina Matsumoto, and Andrew Pepoy, in The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror #14 (Bongo)

Best Continuing Series

  • All Star Superman. by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (DC)
  • Fables, by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, Niko Henrichon, Andrew Pepoy, and Peter Gross (Vertigo/DC)
  • Naoki Urasawa’s Monster, by Naoki Urasawa (Viz)
  • Thor, by J. Michael Straczynski, Olivier Coipel, Mark Morales, and various (Marvel)
  • Usagi Yojimbo, by Stan Sakai (Dark Horse)

Best Limited Series

  • Groo: Hell on Earth, by Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier (Dark Horse)
  • Hellboy: The Crooked Man, by Mike Mignola and Richard Corben (Dark Horse)
  • Locke & Key, by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (IDW)
  • Omega the Unknown, by Jonathan Lethem, Karl Rusnak, and Farel Dalrymple (Marvel)
  • The Twelve, by J. Michael Straczynski and Chris Weston (Marvel)

Best New Series

  • Air, by. G. Willow Wilson and M. K. Perker (Vertigo/DC)
  • Echo, by Terry Moore (Abstract Studio)
  • Invincible Iron Man, by Matt Fraction and Salvador Larocca (Marvel)
  • Madame Xanadu, by Matt Wagner, Amy Reeder Hadley, and Richard Friend (Vertigo/DC)
  • Unknown Soldier, by Joshua Dysart and Alberto Ponticelli (Vertigo/DC)

Best Publication for Kids

  • Amulet, Book 1: The Stonekeeper, by Kazu Kibuishi (Scholastic Graphix)
  • Cowa! by Akira Toriyama (Viz)
  • Princess at Midnight, by Andi Watson (Image)
  • Stinky, by Eleanor Davis (RAW Junior)
  • Tiny Titans, by Art Baltazar and Franco (DC)

Best Publication for Teens/Tweens

  • Coraline, by Neil Gaiman, adapted by P. Craig Russell (HarperCollins Children’s Books)
  • Crogan’s Vengeance, by Chris Schweizer (Oni)
  • The Good Neighbors, Book 1: Kin, by Holly Black and Ted Naifeh (Scholastic Graphix)
  • Rapunzel’s Revenge, by Shannon and Dean Hale and Nathan Hale (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)
  • Skim, by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki (Groundwood Books)

Best Humor Publication

  • Arsenic Lullaby Pulp Edition No. Zero, by Douglas Paszkiewicz (Arsenic Lullaby)
  • Chumble Spuzz, by Ethan Nicolle (SLG)
  • Herbie Archives, by “Shane O’Shea” (Richard E. Hughes) and Ogden Whitney (Dark Horse)
  • Petey and Pussy, by John Kerschbaum (Fantagraphics)
  • Wondermark: Beards of Our Forefathers, by David Malki (Dark Horse)

Best Anthology

  • An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, and True Stories, vol. 2, edited by Ivan Brunetti (Yale University Press)
  • Best American Comics 2008, edited by Lynda Barry (Houghton Mifflin)
  • Comic Book Tattoo: Narrative Art Inspired by the Lyrics and Music of Tori Amos, edited by Rantz Hoseley (Image)
  • Kramers Ergot 7, edited by Sammy Harkham (Buenaventura Press)
  • MySpace Dark Horse Presents, edited by Scott Allie and Sierra Hahn (Dark Horse)

Best Digital Comic

Best Reality-Based Work

  • Alan’s War, by Emmanuel Guibert (First Second)
  • Blue Pills: A Positive Love Story, by Frederik Peeters (Houghton Mifflin)
  • Fishtown, by Kevin Colden (IDW)
  • A Treasury of XXth Century Murder: The Lindbergh Child, by Rick Geary (NBM)
  • What It Is, by Lynda Barry (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Graphic Albumâ??New

  • Alan’s War, by Emmanuel Guibert (First Second)
  • Paul Goes Fishing, by Michel Rabagliati (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Skim, by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki (Groundwood Books)
  • Swallow Me Whole, by Nate Powell (Top Shelf)
  • Three Shadows, by Cyril Pedrosa (First Second)

Best Graphic Albumâ??Reprint

  • Berlin Book 2: City of Smoke, by Jason Lutes (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Hellboy Library Edition, vols. 1 and 2, by Mike Mignola (Dark Horse)
  • Sam & Max Surfin’ the Highway anniversary edition HC, by Steve Purcell (Telltale Games)
  • Skyscrapers of the Midwest, by Joshua W. Cotter (AdHouse)
  • The Umbrella Academy, vol. 1: Apocalypse Suite deluxe edition, by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá (Dark Horse)

Best Archival Collection/Projectâ??Strips

  • The Complete Little Orphan Annie, by Harold Gray (IDW)
  • Explainers, by Jules Feiffer (Fantagraphics)
  • Little Nemo in Slumberland, Many More Splendid Sundays, by Winsor McCay (Sunday Press Books)
  • Scorchy Smith and the Art of Noel Sickles, (IDW)
  • Willie & Joe, by Bill Mauldin (Fantagraphics)

Best Archival Collection/Projectâ??Comic Books

  • Breakdowns: Portrait of the Artist as a Young %@&*! by Art Spiegelman (Pantheon)
  • Creepy Archives, by various (Dark Horse)
  • Elektra Omnibus, by Frank Miller and Bill Sienkiewicz (Marvel)
  • Good-Bye, by Yoshihiro Tatsumi (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Herbie Archives, by “Shane O’Shea” (Richard E. Hughes) and Ogden Whitney (Dark Horse)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material

  • Alan’s War, by Emmanuel Guibert (First Second)
  • Gus and His Gang, by Chris Blain (First Second)
  • The Last Musketeer, by Jason (Fantagraphics)
  • The Rabbi’s Cat 2, by Joann Sfar (Pantheon)
  • Tamara Drewe, by Posy Simmonds (Mariner/Houghton Mifflin)

Best U.S. Edition of International Materialâ??Japan

  • Cat Eyed Boy, by Kazuo Umezu (Viz)
  • Dororo, by Osamu Tezuka (Vertical)
  • Naoki Urasawa’s Monster, by Naoki Urasawa (Viz)
  • The Quest for the Missing Girl, by Jiro Taniguchi (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)
  • Solanin, by Inio Asano (Viz)

Best Writer

  • Joe Hill, Lock & Key (IDW)
  • J. Michael Straczynski, Thor, The Twelve (Marvel)
  • Mariko Tamaki, Skim (Groundwood Books)
  • Matt Wagner, Zorro (Dynamite); Madame Xanadu (Vertigo/DC)
  • Bill Willingham, Fables, House of Mystery (Vertigo/DC)

Best Writer/Artist

  • Ricky Geary, A Treasury of XXth Century Murder: The Lindbergh Child (NBM); J. Edgar Hoover (Hill & Wang)
  • Emmanuel Guibert, Alan’s War (First Second)
  • Jason Lutes, Berlin (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Cyril Pedrosa, Three Shadows (First Second)
  • Nate Powell, Swallow Me Whole (Top Shelf)
  • Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library (Acme)

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team

  • Gabriel Bá, The Umbrella Academy (Dark Horse)
  • Mark Buckingham/Steve Leialoha, Fables (Vertigo/DC)
  • Olivier Coipel/Mark Morales, Thor (Marvel)
  • Guy Davis, BPRD (Dark Horse)
  • Amy Reeder Hadley/Richard Friend, Madame Xanadu (Vertigo/DC)
  • Jillian Tamaki, Skim (Groundwood Books)

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist

  • Lynda Barry, What It Is (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Eddie Campbell, The Amazing Remarkable Monsieur Leotard (First Second)
  • Enrico Casarosa, The Venice Chronicles (Ateliér Fio/AdHouse)
  • Scott Morse, Tiger! Tiger! Tiger! (Red Window)
  • Jill Thompson, Magic Trixie, Magic Trixie Sleeps Over (HarperCollins Children’s Books)

Best Cover Artist

  • Gabriel Bá, Casanova (Image); The Umbrella Academy (Dark Horse)
  • Jo Chen, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Serenity (Dark Horse); Runaways (Marvel)
  • Amy Reeder Hadley, Madame Xanadu (Vertigo/DC)
  • James Jean, Fables (Vertigo/DC);

    The Umbrella Academy (Dark Horse)

  • Matt Wagner, Zorro (Dynamite); Grendel: Behold the Devil (Dark Horse)

Best Coloring

  • Steve Hamaker, Bone: Ghost Circles, Bone: Treasure Hunters (Scholastic Graphix)
  • Trish Mulvihill, Joker (DC), 100 Bullets (Vertigo/DC)
  • Val Staples, Criminal, Incognito (Marvel Icon)
  • Dave Stewart, Abe Sapien: The Drowning, BPRD, The Goon, Hellboy, Solomon Kane, The Umbrella Academy (Dark Horse); Body Bags (Image); Captain America: White (Marvel)
  • Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library #19 (Acme)

Best Lettering

  • Farel Dalrymple, Omega: The Unknown (Marvel)
  • Jimmy Gownley, Amelia Rules! (Renaissance)
  • Scott Morse, Tiger! Tiger! Tiger! (Red Window)
  • Nate Powell, Swallow Me Whole (Top Shelf)
  • Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library #19 (Acme)

Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism

Best Comics-Related Book

  • Bill Mauldin: A Life Up Front, by Todd DePastino (Norton)
  • Brush with Passion: The Art and Life of Dave Stevens, edited by Arnie and Cathy Fenner (Underwood)
  • Drawing Words and Writing Pictures, by Jessica Abel and Matt Madden (First Second)
  • Kirby: King of Comics, by Mark Evanier (Abrams)
  • The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How It Changed America, by David Hajdu (Picador/Farrar, Straus & Giroux)

Best Publication Design

  • Breakdowns: Portrait of the Artist as a Young %@&*! designed by Art Spiegelman (Pantheon)
  • Comic Book Tattoo, designed by Tom Muller, art direction by Rantz Hoseley (Image)
  • Hellboy Library Editions, designed by Cary Grazzini and Mike Mignola (Dark Horse)
  • What It Is, designed by Lynda Barry (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Willie and Joe, designed by Jacob Covey (Fantagraphics)

5 thoughts on “2009 Will Eisner nominees announced

  1. There’s some awesome nominations there. Amulet was fantastic, and I also loved the Wondermark collection.

    The digital comic category is always a little hit or miss for me. Bodyworld is pretty awesome, but I haven’t heard of the others. In fact, the nominations are usually nothing I’m familiar with. I guess I’m reading all the wrong webcomics! 😉

  2. BTW There is a great list of places to submit your work right before your very eyes. I had my eyes on Top Shelf, First Second , and now Fantagraphics. Some of these places don’t take unagented material however… like Harper Collins.

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