Eisners announce 20 nominations for IMAGE COMICS

And the nominees are… On sale, 50% off all digital editions for a limited time

Comic-Con International announced the nominations for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards 2014 this morning, 17 of which were published by Image Comics. An additional three nominations were shared with other publishers, bringing the total nominations for Image Comics to 20.

Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples’ SAGA, a winner of previous Eisner awards, was nominated in four categories. The hit series was nominated for Best Continuing Series, writer Brian K. Vaughan was nominated for Best Writer, and artist Fiona Staples was nominated in the Best Painter/Multimedia Artist and Best Cover Artist categories.

Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta’s EAST OF WEST also raked in four nominations, including Best Continuing Series. Artist Nick Dragotta was nominated for Best Penciller/Inker and Frank Martin was nominated for Best Coloring for their work on the series. Jonathan Hickman was nominated in the Best Writer category for his work on both EAST OF WEST and MANHATTAN PROJECTS.

Eric Stephenson and Nate Bellegarde’s NOWHERE MEN held its own with three nominations and an additional shared nomination. The series was nominated in the Best Continuing Series category, writer and Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson was nominated for Best Writer, artist Nate Bellegarde was nominated for Best Penciller/Inker, and Jordie Bellaire was nominated in the Best Coloring category for several projects that included NOWHERE MEN, as well as other Image titles like THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS, PRETTY DEADLY, and ZERO.

Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky’s SEX CRIMINALS, which has taken the comics industry by storm and was hailed by TIME Magazine as “comic series of the year,” earned two nominations, one for Best Continuing Series and one for Best New Series. In addition, writer Matt Fraction was nominated for Best Writer for several series, including SEX CRIMINALS.

Kelly Sue DeConnick and Emma Ríos’s PRETTY DEADLY received two nominations, plus another two shared nominations. Emma Ríos was nominated for Best Penciller/Inker and Best Cover Artist. The shared nominations included Kelly Sue DeConnick for Best Writer and Best Coloring for Jordie Bellaire.

Greg Rucka and Michael Lark’s critically acclaimed dystopian action series LAZARUS was nominated in the Best New Series category, as was Shadowline/Image’s fantasy series RAT QUEENS by Kurtis J. Wiebe and Roc Upchurch.

OUTLAW TERRITORY, VOL. 3, edited by Michael Woods, was nominated for Best Anthology.

“I couldn’t be more proud of all the insanely awesome men and women currently working with us at Image Comics,” said Eric Stephenson, Publisher at Image Comics. “One of the great joys of my life has been watching all of these incredible comics make the transition from an exciting idea to an amazing series, and I think our strong showing on this year’s Eisner ballot only further underscores the strength and vitality of creator-owned comics.”

In celebration of the nominated series, Image Comics will offer 50% off all the digital editions of the following nominated titles—available on the Image Comics Website immediately, and on ComiXology, Google Play, Amazon, and Apple iBooks beginning 4/16—through midnight EST on April 21, 2014: EAST OF WEST, NOWHERE MEN, SAGA, SEX CRIMINALS, LAZARUS, RAT QUEENS, PRETTY DEADLY, MANHATTAN PROJECTS, ZERO, and OUTLAW TERRITORY, VOL. 3.

Voting for the awards will open soon at www.eisnervote.com. All professionals in the comic book industry are eligible to vote. The deadline for voting is June 13. The results of the voting will be announced in a gala awards ceremony on the evening of Friday, July 25 at Comic-Con International in San Diego.

FULL LIST OF IMAGE COMICS EISNER 2014 NOMINATIONS:

Best Continuing Series:
East of West, by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta
Sex Criminals, by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky
Nowhere Men, by Eric Stephenson and Nate Bellegarde
Saga, by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Best New Series:
Lazarus, by Greg Rucka and Michael Lark
Rat Queens, by Kurtis J. Wiebe and Roc Upchurch (Image/Shadowline)
Sex Criminals, by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky

Best Anthology:
Outlaw Territory, Vol. 3, edited by Michael Woods

Best Writer:
Eric Stephenson, Nowhere Men
Brian K. Vaughan, Saga
Jonathan Hickman, East of West, Manhattan Projects

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team:
Nate Bellegarde, Nowhere Men
Nick Dragotta, East of West
Emma Ríos, Pretty Deadly

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art):
Fiona Staples, Saga

Best Cover Artist:
Emma Rios, Pretty Deadly
Fiona Staples, Saga

Best Coloring:
Frank Martin, East of West

SHARED NOMINATIONS:

Best Writer:
Kelly Sue DeConnick, Pretty Deadly
Matt Fraction, Sex Criminals

Best Coloring:
Jordie Bellaire, The Manhattan Projects, Nowhere Men, Pretty Deadly, Zero

ABOUT THE EISNER AWARDS
Named for acclaimed comics creator the Will Eisner, the awards are celebrating their 26th year of highlighting the best publications and creators in comics and graphic novels.