After poring through the thousands of books, and comics submitted, a five-person blue ribbon panel of judges have arrived at the 2007 nominees for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, considered the "Oscars" of the comicbook industry.
Creators with the most nominations (at four) are Ed Brubaker (DAREDEVIL and CAPTAIN AMERICA), writer Bill Willingham (Vertigo/DC's FABLES and its spinoffs) and cartoonist Bob Burden. Burden's version of Gumby with artist Rick Geary is up for three Eisners (including Best Writer), while his FLAMING CARROT COMICS is up for Best Humor Publication.
The nominees are:
Best Short Story* "The Black Knight Glorps Again," by Don Rosa, in UNCLE SCROOGE #354 (Gemstone)* "Felix," by Gabrielle Bell, in DRAWN & QUARTERLY SHOWCASE 4 (Drawn & Quarterly)* "A Frog's Eye View," by Bill Willingham and James Jean, in FABLES: 1001 NIGHTS OF SNOWFALL (Vertigo/DC)* "Old Oak Trees," by Tony Cliff, in FLIGHT 3 (Ballantine)* "Stan Lee Meets Spider-Man," by Stan Lee, Oliver Coipel and Mark Morales, in STAN LEE MEETS SPIDER-MAN (Marvel)* "Willie: Portrait of a Groundskeeper," by Eric Powell, in BART SIMPSONS'S TREEHOUSE OF HORROR #12 (Bongo)
Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)* BATMAN/THE SPIRIT #1: "Crime Convention," by Jeph Loeb and Darwyn Cooke (DC)* A LATE FREEZE, by Danica Novgorodoff (Danica Novgorodoff)* THE PREPOSTEROUS ADVENTURES OF IRONHIDE TOM, by Joel Priddy (AdHouse)* SKYSCRAPERS OF THE MIDWEST #3, by Joshua Cotter (AdHouse)* THEY FOUND THE CAR, by Gipi (Fantagraphics)
Best Continuing Series* ALL STAR SUPERMAN, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (DC)* CAPTAIN AMERICA, by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting (Marvel)* DAREDEVIL, by Ed Brubaker, Michael Lark, and Stefano Gaudiano (Marvel)* NAOKI URASAWA'S MONSTER, by Naoki Urasawa (Viz)* THE WALKING DEAD, by Robert Kirkman and Charles Adlard (Image)* YOUNG AVENGERS, by Allan Heinberg, Jim Cheung, and various inkers (Marvel)
Best Limited Series* BATMAN: YEAR 100, by Paul Pope (DC)* THE LOOKING GLASS WARS: HATTER M, by Frank Beddor, Liz Cavalier, and Ben Templesmith (Desperado/Image)* THE OTHER SIDE, by Jason Aaron and Cameron Stewart (Vertigo/DC)* SCARLET TRACES: THE GREAT GAME, by Ian Edginton and D'Israeli (Dark Horse)* SOCK MONKEY: THE INCHES INCIDENT, by Tony Millionaire (Dark Horse)
Best New Series* CRIMINAL, by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Marvel Icon)* EAST COAST RISING, by Becky Cloonan (Tokyopop)* GUMBY, by Bob Burden and Rick Geary (Wildcard)* JACK OF FABLES, by Bill Willingham, Matthew Sturges, Tony Akins, and Andrew Pepoy (Vertigo/DC)* THE LONE RANGER, by Brett Matthews and Sergio Cariello (Dynamite)
Best Publication for a Younger Audience* CHICKENHARE, by Chris Grine (Dark Horse)* DRAWING COMICS IS EASY (EXCEPT WHEN IT'S HARD), by Alexa Kitchen (Denis Kitchen Publishing)* GUMBY, by Bob Burden and Rick Geary (Wildcard)* MOOMIN, by Tove Jansson (Drawn & Quarterly)* TO DANCE: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel, by Sienna Cherson and Mark Siegel (Simon & Schuster)
Best Humor Publication* FLAMING CARROT COMICS, by Bob Burden (Desperado/Image)* ONIONHEAD MONSTER ATTACKS, by Paul Friedrich (Hellcar)* SCHIZO #4, by Ivan Brunetti (Fantagraphics)* TALES DESIGNED TO THRIZZLE, by Michael Kupperman (Fantagraphics)* TRUTH SERUM, by Jon Adams (City Cyclops)
Best Anthology* FABLES: 1001 NIGHTS OF SNOWFALL, by Bill Willingham and various (Vertigo/DC)* HOTWIRE COMIX AND CAPERS #1, edited by Glenn Head (Fantagraphics)* JAPAN AS VIEWED BY 17 CREATORS, edited by Frédéric Boilet (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)* KRAMERS ERGOT 6, edited by Sammy Harkham (Buenaventura Press)* PROJECT: ROMANTIC, edited by Chris Pitzer (AdHouse)
Best Digital Comic* BEE, in "Motel Art Improvement Service," by Jason Little, beecomix.com* GIRL GENIUS, by Phil and Kaja Foglio, www.girlgeniusonline.com* MINUS, by Ryan Armand, www.kiwisbybeat.com/minus1.html* PHABLES, by Brad Guigar, www.phables.com* SAM AND MAX, by Steve Purcell, telltalegames.com/community/comics/samandmax/issue-3* SHOOTING WAR, by Anthony Lappe and Dan Goldman, www.shootingwar.com
Best Reality-Based Work* FUN HOME, by Alison Bechdel (Houghton Mifflin)* I LOVE LED ZEPPELIN, by Ellen Forney (Fantagraphics)* MOM'S CANCER, by Brian Fies (Abrams)* PROJECT X CHALLENGERS: CUP NOODLE, by Tadashi Katoh (Digital Manga)* STAGGER LEE, by Derek McCulloch and Shepherd Hendrix (Image)
Best Graphic Album--New* AMERICAN BORN CHINESE, by Gene Luen Yang (First Second)* BILLY HAZELNUTS, by Tony Millionaire (Fantagraphics)* FUN HOME, by Alison Bechdel (Houghton Mifflin)* NINJA, by Brian Chippendale (Gingko Press)* SCRUBLANDS, by Joe Daly (Fantagraphics)* THE TICKING, by Renée French (Top Shelf)
Best Graphic Album--Reprint* ABSOLUTE DC: THE NEW FRONTIER, by Darwyn Cooke (DC)* CASTLE WAITING, by Linda Medley (Fantagraphics)* MOM'S CANCER, by Brian Fies(Abrams)* SHADOWLAND, by Kim Deitch (Fantagraphics)* TRUTH SERUM, by Jon Adams (City Cyclops)
Best Archival Collection/Project--Strips* THE COMPLETE PEANUTS, 1959-1960, 1961-1962, by Charles Schulz (Fantagraphics)* MARY PERKINS ON STAGE, by Leonard Starr (Classic Comics Press)* MOOMIN, by Tove Jansson (Drawn & Quarterly)* POPEYE: I YAM WHAT I YAM, by E. C. Segar (Fantagraphics)* WALT & SKEEZIX, vol. 2, by Frank King (Drawn & Quarterly)
Best Archival Collection/Project--Comic Books* ABANDON THE OLD IN TOKYO, by Yoshihiro Tatsumi (Drawn & Quarterly)* ABSOLUTE SANDMAN, vol. 1, by Neil Gaiman and various (Vertigo/DC)* ART OUT OF TIME: UNKNOWN COMICS VISIONARIES, 1900-1969, by Dan Nadel (Abrams)* THE ETERNALS, by Jack Kirby (Marvel)* ODE TO KIRIHITO, by Osamu Tezuka (Vertical)
Best U.S. Edition of International Material* A.L.I.E.E.E.N., by Lewis Trondheim (First Second)* DE:TALES, by Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá (Dark Horse)* HWY 115, by Matthias Lehmann (Fantagraphics)* THE LEFT BANK GANG, by Jason (Fantagraphics)* PIZZERIA KAMIKAZE, by Etgar Keret and Asaf Hanuka (Alternative)
Best U.S. Edition of International Material--Japan* AFTER SCHOOL NIGHTMARE, by Setona Mizushiro (Go! Comi)* ANTIQUE BAKERY, by Fumi Yoshinaga (Digital Manga)* NAOKI URASAWA'S MONSTER, by Naoki Urasawa (Viz)* OLD BOY, by Garon Tsuchiya and Nobuaki Minegishi (Dark Horse Manga)* WALKING MAN, by Jiro Taniguchi (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)
Best Writer* Ed Brubaker, CAPTAIN AMERICA, DAREDEVIL (Marvel); CRIMINAL (Marvel Icon)* Bob Burden, GUMBY (Wildcard)* Ian Edginton, SCARLET TRACES: THE GREAT GAME (Dark Horse)* Grant Morrison, ALL STAR SUPERMAN, BATMAN, 52, SEVEN SOLDIERS (DC)* Bill Willingham, FABLES, JACK OF FABLES, FABLES: 1001 NIGHTS OF SNOWFALL (Vertigo/DC)
Best Writer/Artist* Allison Bechdel, FUN HOME (Houghton Mifflin)* Renée French, THE TICKING (Top Shelf)* Gilbert Hernandez, LOVE AND ROCKETS, NEW TALES OF OLD PALOMAR (Fantagraphics); SLOTH (Vertigo/DC)* Paul Pope, BATMAN: YEAR 100 (DC)* Joann Sfar, KLEZMER, VAMPIRE LOVES (First Second)
Best Writer/Artist--Humor* Ivan Brunetti, SCHIZO (Fantagraphics)* Lilli Carré, TALES OF WOODSMAN PETE (Top Shelf)* Michael Kupperman, TALES DESIGNED TO THRIZZLE (Fantagraphics)* Tony Millionaire, BILLY HAZELNUTS (Fantagraphics); Sock MONKEY: THE INCHES INCIDENT (Dark Horse)* Lewis Trondheim, A.L.I.E.E.E.N. (First Second); MR. I (NBM)
Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team* Mark Buckingham/Steve Leialoha, FABLES (Vertigo/DC)* Tony Harris/Tom Feister, EX MACHINA (WildStorm/DC)* Niko Henrichon, PRIDE OF BAGHDAD (Vertigo/DC)* Michael Lark/Stefano Gaudiano, DAREDEVIL (Marvel)* Sonny Liew, WONDERLAND (SLG)* Steven McNiven/Dexter Vines, CIVIL WAR (Marvel)
Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)* Nicolas De Crecy, GLACIAL PERIOD (NBM)* Melinda Gebbie, LOST GIRLS (Top Shelf)* Ben Templesmith, FELL (Image); THE LOOKING GLASS WARS: HATTER M (Desperado/Image); WORMWOOD: GENTLEMAN CORPSE (IDW)* Jill Thompson, "A Dog and His Boy" in THE DARK HORSE BOOK OF MONSTERS; "Love Triangle" in SEXY CHIX (Dark Horse); "Fair Division," in FABLES: 1001 NIGHTS OF SNOWFALL (Vertigo/DC)* Brett Weldele, SOUTHLAND TALES: PREQUEL SAGA (Graphitti); SILENT GHOST (Markosia)
Best Cover Artist* John Cassaday, ASTONISHING X-MEN (Marvel); THE ESCAPISTS (Dark Horse); THE LONE RANGER (Dynamite)* Tony Harris, CONAN (Dark Horse); EX MACHINA (WildStorm/DC)* James Jean, FABLES, JACK OF FABLES, FABLES: 1001 NIGHTS OF SNOWFALL (Vertigo/DC)* Dave Johnson, 100 BULLETS (Vertigo/DC); ZOMBIE TALES, CTHULU TALES, BLACK PLAGUE (Boom!)* J. G. Jones, 52 (DC)
Best Coloring* Kristian Donaldson, SUPERMARKET (IDW)* Hubert, THE LEFT BANK GANG (Fantagraphics)* Lark Pien, AMERICAN BORN CHINESE (First Second)* Dave Stewart, BPRD, CONAN, THE ESCAPISTS, HELLBOY (Dark Horse); ACTION COMICS, BATMAN/THE SPIRIT, SUPERMAN (DC)* Chris Ware, ACME NOVELTY LIBRARY #17 (ACME Novelty)
Best Lettering* Ivan Brunetti, SCHIZO (Fantagraphics)* Todd Klein, FABLES, JACK OF FABLES, FABLES: 1001 NIGHTS OF SNOWFALL, PRIDE OF BAGHDAD, TESTAMENT (Vertigo/DC); FANTASTIC FOUR: 1602, ETERNALS (Marvel); LOST GIRLS (Top Shelf)* Clem Robins, BPRD, THE DARK HORSE BOOK OF MONSTERS, HELLBOY (Dark Horse); LOVELESS, 100 BULLETS, Y: THE LAST MAN (Vertigo/DC)* Richard Sala, THE GRAVE ROBBER'S DAUGHTER, DELPHINE (Fantagraphics)* Chris Ware, ACME NOVELTY LIBRARY #17 (ACME Novelty)
Special Recognition* Ross Campbell, ABANDONED (Tokyopop); WET MOON 2 (Oni)* Svetlana Chmakova, DRAMACON (Tokyopop)* Hope Larson, GRAY HORSES (Oni)* Dash Shaw, THE MOTHER'S MOUTH (Alternative)* Kasimir Strzepek, MOURNING STAR (Bodega)
Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism* ALTER EGO, edited by Roy Thomas (TwoMorrows)* COMIC ART 8, edited by Todd Hignite (Buenaventura Press)* THE COMICS JOURNAL, edited by Gary Groth, Dirk Deppey, Michael Dean, and Kristy Valenti (Fantagraphics)* THE COMICS REPORTER, produced by Tom Spurgeon and Jordan Raphael (www.Comicsreporter.com)* ¡JOURNALISTA!, produced by Dirk Deppey (Fantagraphics, www.tcj.com/journalista/)
Best Comics-Related Book* THE ART OF BRIAN BOLLAND, edited by Joe Pruett (Desperado/Image)* CARTOON AMERICA: COMIC ART IN THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, edited by Harry Katz (Abrams)* DEAR JOHN: THE ALEX TOTH DOODLE BOOK, by John Hitchcock (Octopus Press)* IN THE STUDIO: VISITS WITH CONTEMPORARY CARTOONISTS, by Todd Hignite (Yale University Press)* WALLY'S WORLD, by Steve Sarger and J. David Spurlock (Vanguard)
Best Publication Design* ABSOLUTE DC: THE NEW FRONTIER, designed by Darwyn Cooke (DC)* CASTLE WAITING graphic novel, designed by Adam Grano (Fantagraphics)* LOST GIRLS, designed by Matt Kindt and Brett Warnock (Top Shelf)* POPEYE: I YAM WHAT I YAM, designed by Jacob Covey (Fantagraphics)* THE TICKING, designed by Jordan Crane (Top Shelf)
Hall of FameJudges' Choices: Robert Kanigher and Ogden Whitney
Voters will choose four from among:* Ross Andru & Mike Esposito* Dick Ayers* Bernard Baily* Matt Baker* Wayne Boring* Creig Flessel* Harold Gray* Irwin Hasen* Graham Ingels* Joe Orlando* Lily Renée (Peters) Phillips* Bob Powell* Gilbert Shelton* Cliff Sterrett
The 2007 Eisner judges are librarian Robin Brenner, pop culture blogger Whitney Matheson (Pop Candy at usatoday.com), comics writer Christopher P. Reilly (PUNCH & JUDY), retailer James Sime (Isotope Comics, San Francisco) and fantasy author/critic Jeff VanderMeer (bookslut.com).
Ballots will be going out in May to comics creators, editors, publishers and retailers. The results will be announced in a gala awards ceremony on the evening of Friday, July 27, 2007, in Ballroom 20 at the San Diego Convention Center.
For more information, visit www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_main.shtml.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
