raul grau
Jul 4, 2005, 06:20 pm
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/logos/EisnerAwardsLogot.jpg " hspace=10 align=left border=0 alt="Eisner Awards logo">Edited By: Raul Grau
Named for a pioneering force in the sequential medium, the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards have become the comic book equivalent of the Oscars, rivaling the Academy Awards in prestige and recognition of diversity. Once the nominees are announced, the winners are determined by the voting pool, limited to comic creators, editors, publishers, and retailers. Therefore, receiving an Eisner is truly an honor, as it is a show of respect from your peers.
The results for the 2005 Eisner Awards will be announced on Friday, July 15th, during the San Diego Comic Con... but before we learn who won, we determined who should win. The staff of Comixfan held a voting session of their own, and here are our top picks from amongst this year's nominees.
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Best Short Story
"Eve O' Twins," by Craig Thompson, in Rosetta 2 (Alternative)
"Glenn Ganges: Jeepers Jacobs," by Kevin Huizenga, in Kramer's Ergot 5 (Gingko Press)
"God" (story on wrap-around dust jacket) by Chris Ware, in McSweeney's Quarterly #13 (McSweeney's)
"The Price," by Neil Gaiman and Michael Zulli, in Creatures of the Night (Dark Horse Books)
"Unfamiliar," by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson, in The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft (Dark Horse Books)
"Where Monsters Dine," by Troy Hickman, Angel Medina, and Jon Holdredge, in Common Grounds #5 (Top Cow/Image)
Our Pick: Unfamiliar
This cat and dog supernatural story just edged out the Neil Gaiman offering.
Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)
Demo #7: "One Shot, Don't Miss," by Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan (AiT/Planet Lar)
Eightball #23: "The Death Ray," by Dan Clowes (Fantagraphics)
Ex Machina #1: "The Pilot," by Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, and Tom Feister (WildStorm/DC)
Global Frequency #12: "Harpoon," by Warren Ellis and Gene Ha (WildStorm/DC)
The Goon #6: "Ilagarto Hombre!," by Eric Powell (Dark Horse)
Our Pick: Ex Machina #1
The heart-stopping final page to this introduction of New York City's superpowered mayor struck a major chord with readers (and clearly Comixfan staffers).
Best Serialized Story
Astonishing X-Men #1-6: "Gifted," by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday (Marvel)
Ex Machina #2-5: "State of Emergency," by Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, and Tom Feister (WildStorm/DC)
Fables #19-27: "March of the Wooden Soldiers," by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, and Steve Leialoha (Vertigo/DC)
Planetary #19-20: "Mystery in Space/Rendezvous," by Warren Ellis and John Cassaday (WildStorm/DC)
Y: The Last Man #18-20: "Safeword," by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, and José Marzan Jr. (Vertigo/DC)
Our Pick: Fables #19-27
The fairy tale characters made real excelled past Ex Machina and easily outclawed the X-Men.
Best Continuing Series
Astonishing X-Men, by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday (Marvel)
Ex Machina, by Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, and Tom Fesiter (WildStorm/DC)
The Goon, by Eric Powell (Dark Horse)
Stray Bullets, by David Lapham (El Capitan)
Y: The Last Man, by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, and José Marzan Jr. (Vertigo/DC)
Our Pick: Ex Machina
The Brian K. Vaughan examination of a superpowered politician edged ahead of the Brian K. Vaughan examination of an estrogen-rich society by only one vote.
Best Limited Series
DC: The New Frontier, by Darwyn Cooke (DC)
Demo, by Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan (AiT/Planet Lar)
30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow, by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith (IDW)
WE3, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (Vertigo/DC)
Wanted, by Mark Millar and J. G. Jones (Top Cow/Image)
Our Pick: WE3
The clear winner amongst Comixfan voters, this look at our four-legged friends tugged at the heart while it astonished the eye.
Best New Series
Astonishing X-Men, by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday (Marvel)
Doc Frankenstein, by the Wachowski Brothers and Steve Scroce (Burlyman)
Ex Machina, by Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, and Tom Fesiter (WildStorm/DC)
The Shaolin Cowboy, by Geof Darrow (Burlyman)
Our Pick: Ex Machina
Without another Vaughan title to share the honors with, Ex Machina breezed past the competition, though Mayor Mitchell Hundred wishes he were as popular with his constituents.
Best Publication for a Younger Audience
Amelia Rules!, (Renaissance Press) and Amelia Rules! What Makes You Happy (iBooks) by Jimmy Gownley
Courtney Crumrin in the Twilight Kingdom, by Ted Naifeh (Oni)
Owly, by Andy Runton (Top Shelf)
Plastic Man, by Kyle Baker and Scott Morse (DC)
Tommysaurus Rex, by Doug TenNapel (Image)
Our Pick: Owly
This silent story about a lonely owl proved intelligent and enchanting enough to astound readers of all ages.
Best Humor Publication
Angry Youth Comix, by Johnny Ryan (Fantagraphics)
Birth of a Nation, by Aaron McGruder, Reginald Hudlin, and Kyle Baker (Crown)
The Goon, by Eric Powell (Dark Horse)
Kyle Baker, Cartoonist, by Kyle Baker (Kyle Baker Publishing)
Plastic Man, by Kyle Baker and Scott Morse (DC)
Our Pick: Plastic Man
Though Kyle Baker shared the category with himself, this retro look at a stretchy comic book icon took the top spot.
Best Anthology
Common Grounds, by Troy Hickman and others, edited by Jim McLauchlin (Top Cow/Image)
The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft, edited by Scott Allie (Dark Horse Books)
The Matrix Comics, vol. 2, edited by Spencer Lamm (Burlyman)
McSweeney's Quarterly #13, edited by Chris Ware (McSweeney's)
Michael Chabon Presents The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist, edited by Diana Schutz and David Land (Dark Horse)
Our Pick: Michael Chabon Presents The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist
The Escapist has all of the appeal of a classic Golden Age anthology, just with higher quality paper.
Best Digital Comic
Athena Voltaire, by Steve Bryant www.athenavoltaire.com
Copper, by Kazu www.boltcity.com/copper_home.htm
Jonny Crossbones, by Les McClaine http://www.evilspacerobot.com/comics/jonnycrossbones/index.htm
Mom's Cancer, by Brian Fies www.momscancer.com/eisner.htm
ojingogo, by matt forsythe www.comingupforair.net/comics/ojingogo.html
Our Pick: Mom's Cancer
This somber tale just edged past the Tintin-esque Johnny Crossbones.
Best Graphic Album-New
Blacksad Book 2: Arctic Nation, by Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido (iBooks)
It's a Bird..., by Steven T. Seagle and Teddy Kristiansen (Vertigo/DC)
The Originals, by Dave Gibbons (Vertigo/DC)
Suspended in Language, by Jim Ottaviani and Leland Purvis (GT Labs)
Tommysaurus Rex, by Doug TenNapel (Image)
Our Pick: It's a Bird...
Hailed as the best Superman story to not feature Superman, the story of a struggling cartoonist was the clear favorite in this category.
Best Graphic Album-Reprint
Age of Bronze: Sacrifice, by Eric Shanower (Image)
Bone One Volume Edition, by Jeff Smith (Cartoon Books)
The Book of Ballads, by Charles Vess and others (Tor)
Clyde Fans, by Seth (Drawn & Quarterly)
In the Shadow of No Towers, by art spiegelman (Pantheon)
Locas, by Jaime Hernandez (Fantagraphics)
Our Pick: Bone One Volume Edition
With a hefty page count, the complete collection of Bone outmuscled the other nominees, proving that a small (big-nosed, pale-skinned) Bone can have a large presence.
Best Archival Collection/Project
The Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker, edited by Robert Mankoff (Black Dog & Leventhal)
The Complete Peanuts, edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)
DC Comics Rarities Archives, vol. 1, edited by Dale Crain (DC)
Krazy and Ignatz, edited by Bill Blackbeard and Derya Ataker (Fantagraphics)
Russ Manning's Magnus, Robot Fighter, vol. 1, edited by Katie Moody, Mike Carriglitto, and David Land (Dark Horse Books)
Our Pick: The Complete Peanuts and Krazy and Ignatz
While all of the nominees were classics even before being collected, this pair of offerings from Fantagraphics were fondly (and equally) regarded by the Comixfan staff. Charlie Brown and Krazy Kat live on...
Best U.S. Edition of Foreign Material
Barefoot Gen: A Cartoon Story of Hiroshima, vols. 1-2, by Keiji Nahazawa (Last Gasp)
Blacksad Book 2: Arctic Nation, by Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido (iBooks)
Buddha, vols. 3-4 by Osamu Tezuka (Vertical)
Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return, by Marjane Satrapi (Pantheon)
Tokyo Tribes, by Santa Inoue (TOKYOPOP)
Our Pick: Tokyo Tribes
Manga dominated this category, but this brutal story of gang violence in the streets of Toyko had the most cross-cultural appeal.
Best Writer
Steve Niles, 30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow; 30Days of Night: Bloodsucker Tales; Aleister Arcane (IDW); Freaks of the Heartland; Last Train to Deadsville (Dark Horse)
Greg Rucka, Queen & Country (Oni); Gotham Central (DC)
Brian K. Vaughan, Y: The Last Man (Vertigo/DC); Ex Machina (WildStorm/DC); Runaways (Marvel)
Joss Whedon, Astonishing X-Men (Marvel)
Bill Willingham, Fables (Vertigo/DC)
Our Pick: Brian K. Vaughan
Being nominated for three of his critically-acclaimed series, including his 'empowered teens of the run' Marvel offering, it is no wonder that Vaughan would vault past the competition yet again.
Best Writer/Artist
Paul Chadwick, Concrete: The Human Dilemma (Dark Horse)
Dan Clowes, Eightball #23 (Fantagraphics)
David Lapham, Stray Bullets (El Capitan)
Stan Sakai, Usagi Yojimbo (Dark Horse)
Adrian Tomine, Optic Nerve #9 (Drawn & Quarterly)
Our Pick: Paul Chadwick
Dark Horse drew the majority of votes, though the man behind the craggy existentialist outdid the man behind the samurai rabbit.
Best Writer/Artist-Humor
Kyle Baker, Plastic Man (DC); Kyle Baker, Cartoonist (Kyle Baker Publishing)
Phil Foglio, Girl Genius (Airship Entertainment)
Scott Kurtz, PvP (Image)
Eric Powell, The Goon (Dark Horse)
Johnny Ryan, Angry Youth Comix (Fantagraphics)
Our Pick: Eric Powell
The Goon is a different kind of hero, slightly more burly and much more funny, but Powell just edged out the prolific Kyle Baker.
Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
Charles Adlard, The Walking Dead (Image)
John Cassaday, Astonishing X-Men (Marvel); Planetary (WildStorm/DC); I Am Legion: The Dancing Faun (Humanoids/DC)
Geof Darrow, Shaolin Cowboy (Burlyman)
Cary Nord/Thomas Yeates, Conan (Dark Horse)
Frank Quitely, WE3 (Vertigo/DC)
Our Pick: Frank Quitely
With stiff competition from the highly detailed Cassaday, Frank Quitely emerged as the top choice, suggesting that WE3 cannot be awarded enough to satisfy our staff.
Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)
Juanjo Guarnido, Blacksad, Book 2: Arctic Nation (iBooks)
Teddy Kristiansen, It's a Bird . . . (Vertigo/DC)
David Mack, Kabuki (Marvel)
Ben Templesmith, 30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow (IDW)
Michael Zulli, Creatures of the Night (Dark Horse Books)
Our Pick: David Mack and Ben Templesmith and Michael Zulli
Yes, a three-way split, between the surreal Mack, the dark Templesmith, and the haunting Zulli, who all drew equal acclaim.
Best Coloring
Peter Doherty, Shaolin Cowboy (Burlyman)
Steven Griffen, Hawaiian Dick: The Last Resort (Image)
Laura Martin, Astonishing X-Men (Marvel); Ministry of Space (Image); Planetary (WildStorm/DC); I Am Legion: The Dancing Faun (Humanoids/DC)
J. D. Mettler, Ex Machina (WildStorm/DC)
Dave Stewart, Daredevil, Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Six, Captain America (Marvel); Conan, BPRD (Dark Horse)l DC: The New Frontier (DC)
Our Pick: Laura Martin
The sometimes subdued, always astonishing colors of Laura Martin add an extra dimension to the realism of John Cassady, and earning her praise from the clear majority of Comixfan voters.
Best Lettering
Todd Klein, Promethea; Tom Strong; Tom Strong's Terrific Tales (ABC); Wonder Woman (DC); Books of Magick: Life During Wartime; Fables; WE3 (Vertigo/DC); Creatures of the Night (Dark Horse)
Stan Sakai, Usagi Yojimbo (Dark Horse)
Dave Sim, Cerebus (Aardvark Vanaheim)
Craig Thompson, Carnet de Voyage (Top Shelf); "Eve O' Twins" in Rosetta 2 (Alternative)
Our Pick: Todd Klein
Able to move seamlessly from an Amazonian princess to a fairy tale princess, Todd Klein proved the clear winner.
Best Cover Artist
Kieron Dwyer, Remains (IDW)
James Jean, Fables (Vertigo/DC); Green Arrow, Batgirl (DC)
Tony Moore, The Walking Dead (Image)
Frank Quitely, Bite Club; WE3 (Vertigo/DC)
Michael Turner, Identity Crisis (DC)
Our Pick: James Jean
Though Frank Quitely again seemed the favorite, the varying styles of James Jean proved more popular amongst our voters.
Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition
Frank Cammuso (Max Hamm, Fairy Tale Detective)
Bosch Fawstin (Table for One)
Matt Kindt (Two Sisters; Pistolwhip)
Sean McKeever (A Waiting Place; Mary Jane; Inhumans; Sentinels)
Raina Telgemeier ("Smile," Takeout)
Our Pick: Sean McKeever
With Gravity as the newest title to his credit, Sean McKeever continues to build towards the level of recognition he deserves.
Best Comics-Related Periodical
Comic Art, edited by M. Todd Hignite (Comic Art)
Comic Book Artist, edited by Jon B. Cooke (Top Shelf)
Draw!, edited by Mike Manley (TwoMorrows)
Indy Magazine online (www.indyworld.com), edited by Bill Kartalopoulos (Alternative)
Our Pick: Comic Book Artist
With interviews and articles highlighting individual eras in comic past, Comic Book Artist carved out a niche within our staff.
Best Comics-Related Book
The Art of Usagi Yojimbo, by Stan Sakai (Dark Horse Books)
Chris Ware, by Daniel Raeburn (Monographics/Yale University Press)
Give Our Regards to the Atom Smashers, edited by Sean Howe (Pantheon)
Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth of the Comic Book, by Gerard Jones (Basic Books)
Strangers in Paradise Treasury Edition, by Terry Moore (HarperCollins Perennial)
Our Pick: Strangers in Paradise Treasury Edition
This trio of realistic characters dealing with the realities of love just managed to pass the manga portraits of a samurai rabbit.
Best Publication Design
The Art of Usagi Yojimbo, designed by Cary Grazzini (Dark Horse Books)
Clyde's Fans, designed by Seth (Drawn & Quarterly)
The Complete Peanuts, designed by Seth (Fantagraphics)
In the Shadow of No Towers, designed by art spiegelman (Pantheon)
McSweeney's Quarterly #13, designed by Chris Ware (McSweeney's)
Our Pick: In the Shadow of No Towers
The subject matter is highly charged, but from its simple black cover to its oversized, spread format, the work itself is quite powerful.
Hall of Fame
Four will be selected from:
Matt Baker
Wayne Boring
Nick Cardy
Yves Chaland
Gene Colan
Johnny Craig
Reed Crandall
Floyd Gottfredson
Frank Hampson
Graham Ingels
Robert Kanigher
William Moulton Marston
Hugo Pratt
Frank Robbins
To join the judge's choices (Lou Fine, René Goscinny, and Albert Uderzo), we selected:
Yves Chaland, the French writer/artist, creator of Freddy Lombard, and regular contributor to the original Metal Hurlant magazine.
Gene Colan, best known for his classic run on Tomb of Dracula, as well as artist on Silver Surfer, Daredevil, Dr. Strangeand other Marvel series and features during the Silver Age.
Robert Kanigher, in addition to scripting Showcase #4 (hailed by many as the start of the Silver Age), he created Black Canary, the Metal Men, Sgt. Rock, and Enemy Ace during his several decades as a writer/editor for DC.
William Moulton Marston, eminent psychologist, best known in the comic book world as the creator of Wonder Woman, and writer of nearly all of her adventures until his passing.
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On July 15th, you will learn how closely our predictions matched reality, but we hope that you have enjoyed reading our selections for the 2005 Eisner Award winners.
For more information on the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, please visit http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_main.shtml
Named for a pioneering force in the sequential medium, the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards have become the comic book equivalent of the Oscars, rivaling the Academy Awards in prestige and recognition of diversity. Once the nominees are announced, the winners are determined by the voting pool, limited to comic creators, editors, publishers, and retailers. Therefore, receiving an Eisner is truly an honor, as it is a show of respect from your peers.
The results for the 2005 Eisner Awards will be announced on Friday, July 15th, during the San Diego Comic Con... but before we learn who won, we determined who should win. The staff of Comixfan held a voting session of their own, and here are our top picks from amongst this year's nominees.
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Best Short Story
"Eve O' Twins," by Craig Thompson, in Rosetta 2 (Alternative)
"Glenn Ganges: Jeepers Jacobs," by Kevin Huizenga, in Kramer's Ergot 5 (Gingko Press)
"God" (story on wrap-around dust jacket) by Chris Ware, in McSweeney's Quarterly #13 (McSweeney's)
"The Price," by Neil Gaiman and Michael Zulli, in Creatures of the Night (Dark Horse Books)
"Unfamiliar," by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson, in The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft (Dark Horse Books)
"Where Monsters Dine," by Troy Hickman, Angel Medina, and Jon Holdredge, in Common Grounds #5 (Top Cow/Image)
Our Pick: Unfamiliar
This cat and dog supernatural story just edged out the Neil Gaiman offering.
Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)
Demo #7: "One Shot, Don't Miss," by Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan (AiT/Planet Lar)
Eightball #23: "The Death Ray," by Dan Clowes (Fantagraphics)
Ex Machina #1: "The Pilot," by Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, and Tom Feister (WildStorm/DC)
Global Frequency #12: "Harpoon," by Warren Ellis and Gene Ha (WildStorm/DC)
The Goon #6: "Ilagarto Hombre!," by Eric Powell (Dark Horse)
Our Pick: Ex Machina #1
The heart-stopping final page to this introduction of New York City's superpowered mayor struck a major chord with readers (and clearly Comixfan staffers).
Best Serialized Story
Astonishing X-Men #1-6: "Gifted," by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday (Marvel)
Ex Machina #2-5: "State of Emergency," by Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, and Tom Feister (WildStorm/DC)
Fables #19-27: "March of the Wooden Soldiers," by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, and Steve Leialoha (Vertigo/DC)
Planetary #19-20: "Mystery in Space/Rendezvous," by Warren Ellis and John Cassaday (WildStorm/DC)
Y: The Last Man #18-20: "Safeword," by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, and José Marzan Jr. (Vertigo/DC)
Our Pick: Fables #19-27
The fairy tale characters made real excelled past Ex Machina and easily outclawed the X-Men.
Best Continuing Series
Astonishing X-Men, by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday (Marvel)
Ex Machina, by Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, and Tom Fesiter (WildStorm/DC)
The Goon, by Eric Powell (Dark Horse)
Stray Bullets, by David Lapham (El Capitan)
Y: The Last Man, by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, and José Marzan Jr. (Vertigo/DC)
Our Pick: Ex Machina
The Brian K. Vaughan examination of a superpowered politician edged ahead of the Brian K. Vaughan examination of an estrogen-rich society by only one vote.
Best Limited Series
DC: The New Frontier, by Darwyn Cooke (DC)
Demo, by Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan (AiT/Planet Lar)
30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow, by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith (IDW)
WE3, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (Vertigo/DC)
Wanted, by Mark Millar and J. G. Jones (Top Cow/Image)
Our Pick: WE3
The clear winner amongst Comixfan voters, this look at our four-legged friends tugged at the heart while it astonished the eye.
Best New Series
Astonishing X-Men, by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday (Marvel)
Doc Frankenstein, by the Wachowski Brothers and Steve Scroce (Burlyman)
Ex Machina, by Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, and Tom Fesiter (WildStorm/DC)
The Shaolin Cowboy, by Geof Darrow (Burlyman)
Our Pick: Ex Machina
Without another Vaughan title to share the honors with, Ex Machina breezed past the competition, though Mayor Mitchell Hundred wishes he were as popular with his constituents.
Best Publication for a Younger Audience
Amelia Rules!, (Renaissance Press) and Amelia Rules! What Makes You Happy (iBooks) by Jimmy Gownley
Courtney Crumrin in the Twilight Kingdom, by Ted Naifeh (Oni)
Owly, by Andy Runton (Top Shelf)
Plastic Man, by Kyle Baker and Scott Morse (DC)
Tommysaurus Rex, by Doug TenNapel (Image)
Our Pick: Owly
This silent story about a lonely owl proved intelligent and enchanting enough to astound readers of all ages.
Best Humor Publication
Angry Youth Comix, by Johnny Ryan (Fantagraphics)
Birth of a Nation, by Aaron McGruder, Reginald Hudlin, and Kyle Baker (Crown)
The Goon, by Eric Powell (Dark Horse)
Kyle Baker, Cartoonist, by Kyle Baker (Kyle Baker Publishing)
Plastic Man, by Kyle Baker and Scott Morse (DC)
Our Pick: Plastic Man
Though Kyle Baker shared the category with himself, this retro look at a stretchy comic book icon took the top spot.
Best Anthology
Common Grounds, by Troy Hickman and others, edited by Jim McLauchlin (Top Cow/Image)
The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft, edited by Scott Allie (Dark Horse Books)
The Matrix Comics, vol. 2, edited by Spencer Lamm (Burlyman)
McSweeney's Quarterly #13, edited by Chris Ware (McSweeney's)
Michael Chabon Presents The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist, edited by Diana Schutz and David Land (Dark Horse)
Our Pick: Michael Chabon Presents The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist
The Escapist has all of the appeal of a classic Golden Age anthology, just with higher quality paper.
Best Digital Comic
Athena Voltaire, by Steve Bryant www.athenavoltaire.com
Copper, by Kazu www.boltcity.com/copper_home.htm
Jonny Crossbones, by Les McClaine http://www.evilspacerobot.com/comics/jonnycrossbones/index.htm
Mom's Cancer, by Brian Fies www.momscancer.com/eisner.htm
ojingogo, by matt forsythe www.comingupforair.net/comics/ojingogo.html
Our Pick: Mom's Cancer
This somber tale just edged past the Tintin-esque Johnny Crossbones.
Best Graphic Album-New
Blacksad Book 2: Arctic Nation, by Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido (iBooks)
It's a Bird..., by Steven T. Seagle and Teddy Kristiansen (Vertigo/DC)
The Originals, by Dave Gibbons (Vertigo/DC)
Suspended in Language, by Jim Ottaviani and Leland Purvis (GT Labs)
Tommysaurus Rex, by Doug TenNapel (Image)
Our Pick: It's a Bird...
Hailed as the best Superman story to not feature Superman, the story of a struggling cartoonist was the clear favorite in this category.
Best Graphic Album-Reprint
Age of Bronze: Sacrifice, by Eric Shanower (Image)
Bone One Volume Edition, by Jeff Smith (Cartoon Books)
The Book of Ballads, by Charles Vess and others (Tor)
Clyde Fans, by Seth (Drawn & Quarterly)
In the Shadow of No Towers, by art spiegelman (Pantheon)
Locas, by Jaime Hernandez (Fantagraphics)
Our Pick: Bone One Volume Edition
With a hefty page count, the complete collection of Bone outmuscled the other nominees, proving that a small (big-nosed, pale-skinned) Bone can have a large presence.
Best Archival Collection/Project
The Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker, edited by Robert Mankoff (Black Dog & Leventhal)
The Complete Peanuts, edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)
DC Comics Rarities Archives, vol. 1, edited by Dale Crain (DC)
Krazy and Ignatz, edited by Bill Blackbeard and Derya Ataker (Fantagraphics)
Russ Manning's Magnus, Robot Fighter, vol. 1, edited by Katie Moody, Mike Carriglitto, and David Land (Dark Horse Books)
Our Pick: The Complete Peanuts and Krazy and Ignatz
While all of the nominees were classics even before being collected, this pair of offerings from Fantagraphics were fondly (and equally) regarded by the Comixfan staff. Charlie Brown and Krazy Kat live on...
Best U.S. Edition of Foreign Material
Barefoot Gen: A Cartoon Story of Hiroshima, vols. 1-2, by Keiji Nahazawa (Last Gasp)
Blacksad Book 2: Arctic Nation, by Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido (iBooks)
Buddha, vols. 3-4 by Osamu Tezuka (Vertical)
Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return, by Marjane Satrapi (Pantheon)
Tokyo Tribes, by Santa Inoue (TOKYOPOP)
Our Pick: Tokyo Tribes
Manga dominated this category, but this brutal story of gang violence in the streets of Toyko had the most cross-cultural appeal.
Best Writer
Steve Niles, 30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow; 30Days of Night: Bloodsucker Tales; Aleister Arcane (IDW); Freaks of the Heartland; Last Train to Deadsville (Dark Horse)
Greg Rucka, Queen & Country (Oni); Gotham Central (DC)
Brian K. Vaughan, Y: The Last Man (Vertigo/DC); Ex Machina (WildStorm/DC); Runaways (Marvel)
Joss Whedon, Astonishing X-Men (Marvel)
Bill Willingham, Fables (Vertigo/DC)
Our Pick: Brian K. Vaughan
Being nominated for three of his critically-acclaimed series, including his 'empowered teens of the run' Marvel offering, it is no wonder that Vaughan would vault past the competition yet again.
Best Writer/Artist
Paul Chadwick, Concrete: The Human Dilemma (Dark Horse)
Dan Clowes, Eightball #23 (Fantagraphics)
David Lapham, Stray Bullets (El Capitan)
Stan Sakai, Usagi Yojimbo (Dark Horse)
Adrian Tomine, Optic Nerve #9 (Drawn & Quarterly)
Our Pick: Paul Chadwick
Dark Horse drew the majority of votes, though the man behind the craggy existentialist outdid the man behind the samurai rabbit.
Best Writer/Artist-Humor
Kyle Baker, Plastic Man (DC); Kyle Baker, Cartoonist (Kyle Baker Publishing)
Phil Foglio, Girl Genius (Airship Entertainment)
Scott Kurtz, PvP (Image)
Eric Powell, The Goon (Dark Horse)
Johnny Ryan, Angry Youth Comix (Fantagraphics)
Our Pick: Eric Powell
The Goon is a different kind of hero, slightly more burly and much more funny, but Powell just edged out the prolific Kyle Baker.
Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
Charles Adlard, The Walking Dead (Image)
John Cassaday, Astonishing X-Men (Marvel); Planetary (WildStorm/DC); I Am Legion: The Dancing Faun (Humanoids/DC)
Geof Darrow, Shaolin Cowboy (Burlyman)
Cary Nord/Thomas Yeates, Conan (Dark Horse)
Frank Quitely, WE3 (Vertigo/DC)
Our Pick: Frank Quitely
With stiff competition from the highly detailed Cassaday, Frank Quitely emerged as the top choice, suggesting that WE3 cannot be awarded enough to satisfy our staff.
Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)
Juanjo Guarnido, Blacksad, Book 2: Arctic Nation (iBooks)
Teddy Kristiansen, It's a Bird . . . (Vertigo/DC)
David Mack, Kabuki (Marvel)
Ben Templesmith, 30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow (IDW)
Michael Zulli, Creatures of the Night (Dark Horse Books)
Our Pick: David Mack and Ben Templesmith and Michael Zulli
Yes, a three-way split, between the surreal Mack, the dark Templesmith, and the haunting Zulli, who all drew equal acclaim.
Best Coloring
Peter Doherty, Shaolin Cowboy (Burlyman)
Steven Griffen, Hawaiian Dick: The Last Resort (Image)
Laura Martin, Astonishing X-Men (Marvel); Ministry of Space (Image); Planetary (WildStorm/DC); I Am Legion: The Dancing Faun (Humanoids/DC)
J. D. Mettler, Ex Machina (WildStorm/DC)
Dave Stewart, Daredevil, Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Six, Captain America (Marvel); Conan, BPRD (Dark Horse)l DC: The New Frontier (DC)
Our Pick: Laura Martin
The sometimes subdued, always astonishing colors of Laura Martin add an extra dimension to the realism of John Cassady, and earning her praise from the clear majority of Comixfan voters.
Best Lettering
Todd Klein, Promethea; Tom Strong; Tom Strong's Terrific Tales (ABC); Wonder Woman (DC); Books of Magick: Life During Wartime; Fables; WE3 (Vertigo/DC); Creatures of the Night (Dark Horse)
Stan Sakai, Usagi Yojimbo (Dark Horse)
Dave Sim, Cerebus (Aardvark Vanaheim)
Craig Thompson, Carnet de Voyage (Top Shelf); "Eve O' Twins" in Rosetta 2 (Alternative)
Our Pick: Todd Klein
Able to move seamlessly from an Amazonian princess to a fairy tale princess, Todd Klein proved the clear winner.
Best Cover Artist
Kieron Dwyer, Remains (IDW)
James Jean, Fables (Vertigo/DC); Green Arrow, Batgirl (DC)
Tony Moore, The Walking Dead (Image)
Frank Quitely, Bite Club; WE3 (Vertigo/DC)
Michael Turner, Identity Crisis (DC)
Our Pick: James Jean
Though Frank Quitely again seemed the favorite, the varying styles of James Jean proved more popular amongst our voters.
Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition
Frank Cammuso (Max Hamm, Fairy Tale Detective)
Bosch Fawstin (Table for One)
Matt Kindt (Two Sisters; Pistolwhip)
Sean McKeever (A Waiting Place; Mary Jane; Inhumans; Sentinels)
Raina Telgemeier ("Smile," Takeout)
Our Pick: Sean McKeever
With Gravity as the newest title to his credit, Sean McKeever continues to build towards the level of recognition he deserves.
Best Comics-Related Periodical
Comic Art, edited by M. Todd Hignite (Comic Art)
Comic Book Artist, edited by Jon B. Cooke (Top Shelf)
Draw!, edited by Mike Manley (TwoMorrows)
Indy Magazine online (www.indyworld.com), edited by Bill Kartalopoulos (Alternative)
Our Pick: Comic Book Artist
With interviews and articles highlighting individual eras in comic past, Comic Book Artist carved out a niche within our staff.
Best Comics-Related Book
The Art of Usagi Yojimbo, by Stan Sakai (Dark Horse Books)
Chris Ware, by Daniel Raeburn (Monographics/Yale University Press)
Give Our Regards to the Atom Smashers, edited by Sean Howe (Pantheon)
Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth of the Comic Book, by Gerard Jones (Basic Books)
Strangers in Paradise Treasury Edition, by Terry Moore (HarperCollins Perennial)
Our Pick: Strangers in Paradise Treasury Edition
This trio of realistic characters dealing with the realities of love just managed to pass the manga portraits of a samurai rabbit.
Best Publication Design
The Art of Usagi Yojimbo, designed by Cary Grazzini (Dark Horse Books)
Clyde's Fans, designed by Seth (Drawn & Quarterly)
The Complete Peanuts, designed by Seth (Fantagraphics)
In the Shadow of No Towers, designed by art spiegelman (Pantheon)
McSweeney's Quarterly #13, designed by Chris Ware (McSweeney's)
Our Pick: In the Shadow of No Towers
The subject matter is highly charged, but from its simple black cover to its oversized, spread format, the work itself is quite powerful.
Hall of Fame
Four will be selected from:
Matt Baker
Wayne Boring
Nick Cardy
Yves Chaland
Gene Colan
Johnny Craig
Reed Crandall
Floyd Gottfredson
Frank Hampson
Graham Ingels
Robert Kanigher
William Moulton Marston
Hugo Pratt
Frank Robbins
To join the judge's choices (Lou Fine, René Goscinny, and Albert Uderzo), we selected:
Yves Chaland, the French writer/artist, creator of Freddy Lombard, and regular contributor to the original Metal Hurlant magazine.
Gene Colan, best known for his classic run on Tomb of Dracula, as well as artist on Silver Surfer, Daredevil, Dr. Strangeand other Marvel series and features during the Silver Age.
Robert Kanigher, in addition to scripting Showcase #4 (hailed by many as the start of the Silver Age), he created Black Canary, the Metal Men, Sgt. Rock, and Enemy Ace during his several decades as a writer/editor for DC.
William Moulton Marston, eminent psychologist, best known in the comic book world as the creator of Wonder Woman, and writer of nearly all of her adventures until his passing.
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On July 15th, you will learn how closely our predictions matched reality, but we hope that you have enjoyed reading our selections for the 2005 Eisner Award winners.
For more information on the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, please visit http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_main.shtml