PORTLAND, Ore. 06/10/2021 — Comic-Con International announced yesterdaythat Image Comics is the publisher in the lead with 29 total Eisner Award nominations. This year, Image titles have received 17 nominations plus 12 shared nominations.
Image talent represented four out of the six nominations for the Continuing Series category, three out of five in the Best New Series category, and a portion of all six Best Writer nominees.
“Every year, the list of nominees for the Eisner Awards is filled with extraordinary talent, and this list is no exception, but given how challenging 2020 was for all of us, it’s humbling to see so many of the writers and artists we work with honored for their work over the last year,” said Eric Stephenson, Chief Creative Officer & Publisher at Image Comics. “I think I speak for all the Image partners, as well as our incredible staff, when I say we couldn’t be more proud. Good luck to everyone!”
Image Comics titles with nominations include:
BEST SINGLE ISSUE
- Hedra by Jesse Lonergan
BEST CONTINUING SERIES
- Bitter Root by David F. Walker, Chuck Brown, and Sanford Greene
- The Department of Truth by James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds
- Gideon Falls by Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino
- Stillwater by Chip Zdarsky and Ramón K Pérez
BEST LIMITED SERIES
- Decorum by Jonathan Hickman and Mike Huddleston
BEST NEW SERIES
- Crossover by Donny Cates, Geoff Shaw, Dee Cunniffe and John J. Hill
- The Department of Truth by James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds
- Killadelphia by Rodney Barnes and Jason Shawn Alexander
BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM—NEW
- Pulp by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM—REPRINT
- Criminal Deluxe Edition, Vol. 3 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
BEST WRITER
- Ed Brubaker, Pulp, Reckless (Image); Friday (Panel Syndicate)
- Matt Fraction, Adventureman, November Vols. 2–3, Sex Criminals(Image), Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen (DC)
- Jonathan Hickman, Decorum (Image); Giant-Size X-Men, X-Men (Marvel)
- Jeff Lemire, Family Tree, Gideon Falls (Image), Barbalien, Black Hammer, Colonel Weird: Cosmagog (Dark Horse); The Question: The Deaths of Vic Sage (DC Black Label)
- James Tynion IV, The Department of Truth (Image); Razorblades (Tiny Onion), Something Is Killing the Children, Wynd (BOOM! Studios); Batman(DC)
- Chip Zdarsky, Stillwater (Image/Skybound), Daredevil, Fantastic Four/X-Men(Marvel)
BEST PENCILLER/INKER OR PENCILLER/INKER TEAM
- Jorge Corona, Middlewest
- Sanford Greene, Bitter Root
BEST PAINTER/MULTIMEDIA ARTIST (INTERIOR ART)
- Anand RK/John Pearson, Blue in Green
BEST COVER ARTIST
- Mike Huddleston, Decorum
- Ramón K. Pérez, Stillwater
BEST COLORING
- Jean-Francois Beaulieu, Middlewest
- Dave Stewart, Gideon Falls (Image); Promethee 13:13 (comiXology); Black Hammer (Dark Horse); Spider-Man #4-#5 (Marvel)
- Matt Wilson, Undiscovered Country (Image); Fire Power(Image/Skybound); Thor (Marvel)
BEST LETTERING
- Deron Bennett, Excellence (Image/Skybound); Bear, The Sacrifice of Darkness (Archaia); King of Nowhere, Something Is Killing the Children, We Only Find Them When They’re Dead (BOOM! Studios); Far Sector, Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red, Martian Manhunter (DC); A Dark Interlude, Dark One, Relics of Youth, Resonant, Shadow Service, Vampire: The Masquerade: Winter’s Teeth (Vault); Ping Pong (VIZ Media)
- Aditya Bidikar, The Department of Truth, Lost Soldiers (Image); Barbalien: Red Planet, Grafity’s Wall Expanded Edition (Dark Horse); John Constantine, Hellblazer (DC); A Map to the Sun (First Second); Giga, The Picture of Everything Else (Vault)
- Clayton Cowles, Adventureman, Bitter Root, Bog Bodies, Die (Image); Reaver (Image/Skybound); Aquaman, Batman, Batman and the Outsiders, Strange Adventures, Superman: Man of Tomorrow, Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen (DC); Morbius, X Of Swords (Marvel)
- Rus Wooton, Decorum, Monstress (Image); Die!Die!Die!, Fire Power, Oblivion Song, Outcast, Stillwater (Image/Skybound); Wonder Woman: Dead Earth (DC)
BEST DIGITAL COMIC
- Friday by Ed Brubaker and Marcos Martin (Panel Syndicate)
ABOUT THE EISNER AWARDS:
Named for acclaimed comics creator Will Eisner, the awards are celebrating their 33rd year of bringing attention to and highlighting the best publications and creators in comics and graphic novels. The 2021 Eisner Awards judging panel consists of comics retailer Marco Davanzo (Alakazam Comics, Irvine, CA), Comic-Con Board member Shelley Fruchey, librarian Pamela Jackson (San Diego State University), comics creator/publisher Keithan Jones (The Power Knights, KID Comics), educator Alonso Nuñez (Little Fish Comic Book Studio), and comics scholar Jim Thompson (Comic Book Historians). The Awards administrator is Jackie Estrada.
Voting for the awards is being held online using a new two-step voting process). The first step is for prospective voters to apply. After filling out the form, eligible voters will be invited to go to the ballot and cast their votes. Those who were invited to vote for the Hall of Fame will automatically be invited to fill out the new ballot. All professionals in the comic book industry are eligible to vote. The deadline for voting is June 30. The results of the voting will be announced in July in a virtual ceremony as part of Comic-Con@Home.
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards are presented by the San Diego Comic Convention, a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation organized for charitable purposes and dedicated to creating the general public’s awareness of and appreciation for comics and related popular artforms, including participation in and support of public presentations, conventions, exhibits, museums, and other public outreach activities which celebrate the historic and ongoing contribution of comics to art and culture.
For more information about the Eisner Awards, visit: http://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards-current-info