As I occasionally forget things, the presenting of the Eisner Awards on the 23rd of July sort of slipped by me: I read the list, nodded my satisfaction, and failed to post it amongst all the other Comic-Con coverage. But I am here now, and so is the list, albeit a bit late.
The big winner in 2010 was David Mazzuccheilli. His comic Asterios Polyp (which I am rather fond of) took home several Eisners this year, in categories from Best Lettering to Best Graphic Album. It’s a gorgeous piece of work that I will eventually write up here and it absolutely deserved the awards it won. The art is ethereal and strange—each page is laid out like a painting—and it has an interesting story, on top of that.
I was pleased to see several other comics make their appearances this year…
The Walking Dead snatched up Best Continuing Series, which is not a huge surprise to me. Its popularity is so widespread that it’s getting a pretty-looking TV series; receiving an Eisner fits with that. For all the over-saturation of zombies in the past year, The Walking Dead is still a great read.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz adaptation/comic done by Marvel also took home a couple of awards. I’m thrilled about that, because I love the look of that comic. It’s whimsical and perfect for its subject matter, while still managing to be a bit frightening where it’s supposed to be. Many of the literary adaptations Marvel has done in recent years have pleased me, but none quite so much as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
I’m interested in seeing next year’s nominees and winners, mostly because of the new things that have been going to press from Mike Carey (The Unwritten) and what seems to me to be a greater availability of odd creator-owned comics lately. There’s a lot to be said for speculative comics in the industry, both creator-owend and company-owned. The Eisner Awards especially draw interest and attention to some thoroughly cool spec-fic comics. One that popped up several times that I haven’t read is Beasts of Burden, which I’m likely to go check out, now. Thanks, Eisners!
Here is the full list of winners, provided by the Comic-Con official site:
Best Short Story
“Urgent Request,” by Gene Luen Yang and Derek Kirk Kim, in The Eternal Smile (First Second)
Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)
Captain America #601: “Red, White, and Blue-Blood,” by Ed Brubaker and Gene Colan (Marvel)
Best Continuing Series
The Walking Dead, by Robert Kirkman and Charles Adlard (Image)
Best Limited Series or Story Arc
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by Eric Shanower and Skottie Young (Marvel)
Best New Series
Chew, by John Layman and Rob Guillory (Image)
Best Publication for Kids
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (hardcover), by L. Frank Baum, Eric Shanower, and Skottie Young (Marvel)
Best Publication for Teens
Beasts of Burden, by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson (Dark Horse)
Best Humor Publication
Scott Pilgrim Vol. 5: Scott Pilgrim vs. the Universe, by Bryan Lee O’Malley (Oni)
Best Anthology
Popgun vol. 3, edited by Mark Andrew Smith, D. J. Kirkbride, and Joe Keatinge (Image)
Best Digital Comic
Sin Titulo, by Cameron Stewart, www.sintitulocomic.com
Best Reality-Based Work
A Drifting Life, by Yoshihiro Tatsumi (Drawn & Quarterly)
Best Adaptation from Another Work
Richard Stark’s Parker: The Hunter, adapted by Darwyn Cooke (IDW)
Best Graphic Album—New
Asterios Polyp, by David Mazzuccheilli (Pantheon)
Best Graphic Album—Reprint
Absolute Justice, by Alex Ross, Jim Krueger, and Doug Braithewaite (DC)
Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips
Bloom County: The Complete Library, Vol. 1, by Berkeley Breathed, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW)
Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books
The Rocketeer: The Complete Adventures (deluxe edition), by Dave Stevens, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW)
Best U.S. Edition of International Material
The Photographer, by Emmanuel Guibert, Didier Lefèvre, and Frédéric Lemerier (First Second)
Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia
A Drifting Life, by Yoshihiro Tatsumi (Drawn & Quarterly)
Best Writer
Ed Brubaker, Captain America, Daredevil, Marvels Project (Marvel) Criminal, Incognito (Marvel Icon)
Best Writer/Artist
David Mazzuccheilli, Asterios Polyp (Pantheon)
Best Writer/Artist–Nonfiction
Joe Sacco, Footnotes in Gaza (Metropolitan/Holt)
Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
J. H. Williams III, Detective Comics (DC)
Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)
Jill Thompson, Beasts of Burden (Dark Horse); Magic Trixie and the Dragon (HarperCollins Children’s Books)
Best Cover Artist
J. H. Williams III, Detective Comics (DC)
Best Coloring
Dave Stewart, Abe Sapien, BPRD, The Goon, Hellboy, Solomon Kane, Umbrella Academy, Zero Killer (Dark Horse); Detective Comics (DC); Luna Park (Vertigo)
Best Lettering
David Mazzuccheilli, Asterios Polyp (Pantheon)
Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism
The Comics Reporter, produced by Tom Spurgeon (www.comicsreporter.com)
Best Comics-Related Book
The Art of Harvey Kurtzman: The Mad Genius of Comics, by Denis Kitchen and Paul Buhle (Abrams ComicArts)
Best Publication Design
Absolute Justice, designed by Curtis King and Josh Beatman (DC)
Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award
Vault of Midnight, Ann Arbor, Michigan
HALL OF FAME:
Judges’ Choices:
– Burne Hogarth
– Bob Montana
Elected:
– Steve Gerber
– Dick Giordano
– Michael Kaluta
– Mort Weisinger
Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award:
Jeannie Schulz
Bill Finger Award for Achievement in Comic Book Writing:
Otto Binder, Gary Friedrich
Russ Manning Most Promising Newcomer Award:
Marian Churchland (Beast, published by Image)
Lee Mandelo is a multi-fandom geek with a special love for comics and queer literature. She can be found on Twitter and Livejournal.
