Eisner Award Nominees Announced

The 2009 Eisner Awards nominees were announced on Wednesday. Ballots with this year's nominees will be going out in mid-April to comics creators, editors, publishers, and retailers. A downloadable PDF of the ballot will also be available online, and a special website has been set up for online voting. The results in all categories will be announced in a gala awards ceremony on the evening of Friday, July 24 at Comic-Con International.

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 Aragones 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 Kabuishi (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 "Sean 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
-- BODYWORLD, by Dash Shaw, www.dashshaw.com [1]
-- FINDER, by Carla Speed McNeil, www.shadowlinecomics.com/webcomics/#/finder/ [2]
-- THE LADY'S MURDER, by Eliza Frye, theladysmurder.elizafrye.com
-- SPEAK NO EVIL, by Elan Trinidad, www.theoryofeverythingcomics.com/SNE/ [3] | Mirror Site
-- VS. by Alexis Sottile & Joe Infurnari, www.smithmag.net/nextdoorneighbor/2008/12/08/story-18/ [4]

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 Album -- 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 Album -- 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 Ba (Dark Horse)

Best Archival Collection/Project -- 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/Project -- 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 "Sean 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 Material -- 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 Ba, 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 (Atelier 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 Ba, 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 UNBRELLA 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
-- COMIC BOOK RESOURCES, produced by Jonah Weiland (www.comicbookresources.com [5])
-- THE COMICS JOURNAL, edited by Gary Groth, Michael Dean, and Kristy Valenti (Fantagraphics)
-- THE COMICS REPORTER, produced by Tom Spurgeon and Jordan Raphael (www.comicsreporter.com [6])
-- COMICS COMICS, edited by Timothy Hodler and Dan Nadel (www.comicscomicsmag.com [7]) (PictureBox)

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)