2017 Eisner Award Winners Announced (Complete List) - "Saga" Leads with Four Awards

The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, also simply know as the “Eisner Awards,” are awards annually given for creative achievement in American comic books. The awards are named for pioneering comic book writer, artist, and publisher, Will Eisner. Some consider the Eisner Awards to be the preeminent awards that honor American comic books, even referring to the awards as “the Oscars of comic books” (which is so obviously ridiculous).

The Eisner Awards also include the Comic Industry's Hall of Fame. The Eisner Awards are associated with the annual Comic-Con International convention held in San Diego, California, in July. The Eisner Awards have been given annually since 1988, with the exception of 1990.

The 2017 Eisner Award nominations were announced Tuesday, May 2, 2017. The winners were announced Friday, July 21, 2017 at a gala ceremony held during San Diego Comic-Con International 2017.

The 2017 Eisner Awards judging panel consisted of Alan Campbell, Rob Clough, Jamie Newbold, Robert Moses Peaslee, Dawn Rutherford, and Martha Thomases.

Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Winners 2017:

Best Short Story

“Good Boy,” by Tom King and David Finch, in Batman Annual #1 (DC)

Best Single Issue/One-Shot

Beasts of Burden: What the Cat Dragged In, by Evan Dorkin, Sarah Dyer, and Jill Thompson (Dark Horse)

Best Continuing Series

Saga, by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (Image)

Best Limited Series

The Vision, by Tom King and Gabriel Walta (Marvel)

Best New Series

Black Hammer, by Jeff Lemire and Dean Ormston (Dark Horse)

Best Publication for Early Readers (up to age 8)

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea, by Ben Clanton (Tundra)

Best Publication for Kids (ages 9-12)

Ghosts, by Raina Telgemeier (Scholastic)

Best Publication for Teens (ages 13-17)

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, by Ryan North and Erica Henderson (Marvel)

Best Humor Publication

Jughead, by Chip Zdarsky, Ryan North, Erica Henderson, and Derek Charm (Archie)

Best Anthology

Love Is Love, edited by Sarah Gaydos and Jamie S. Rich (IDW/DC)

Best Reality-Based Work

March (Book Three), by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell (Top Shelf)

Best Graphic Album—New

Wonder Woman: The True Amazon by Jill Thompson (DC Comics)

Best Graphic Album—Reprint

Demon, by Jason Shiga (First Second)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material

Moebius Library: The World of Edena, by Jean “Moebius” Giraud et al. (Dark Horse)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia

The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye, by Sonny Liew (Pantheon)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips (at least 20 years old)

Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy, Colorful Cases of the 1930s, edited by Peter Maresca (Sunday Press)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books (at least 20 Years Old)

The Complete Wimmen’s Comix, edited by Trina Robbins, Gary Groth, and J. Michael Catron (Fantagraphics)

Best Writer

Brian K. Vaughan, Paper Girls, Saga (Image)

Best Writer/Artist

Sonny Liew, The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye (Pantheon)

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team

Fiona Staples, Saga (Image)

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)

Jill Thompson, Wonder Woman: The True Amazon (DC); Beasts of Burden: What the Cat Dragged In (Dark Horse)

Best Cover Artist (for multiple covers)

Fiona Staples, Saga (Image)

Best Coloring

Matt Wilson, Cry Havoc, Paper Girls, The Wicked + The Divine (Image); Black Widow, The Mighty Thor, Star-Lord (Marvel)

Best Lettering

Todd Klein, Clean Room, Dark Night, Lucifer (Vertigo/DC); Black Hammer (Dark Horse)

Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism

The A.V. Club comics coverage, including Comics Panel, Back Issues, and Big Issues, by Oliver Sava et al., www.avclub.com

Best Comics-Related Book

Krazy: George Herriman, A Life in Black and White, by Michael Tisserand (Harper)

Best Academic/Scholarly Work

Superwomen: Gender, Power, and Representation, by Carolyn Cocca (Bloomsbury)

Best Publication Design

The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye, designed by Sonny Liew (Pantheon)

Best Webcomic

Bird Boy, by Anne Szabla

Best Digital Comic

Bandette, by Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover (Monkeybrain/comiXology)

Hall of Fame:

Judges’ Choices:

Milt Gross

H. G. Peter

Antonio Prohias

Dori Seda

Inductees:

Gilbert Hernandez

Jaime Hernandez

George Pérez

Walt Simonson

Jim Starlin

Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award:

Anne Szabla

Bill Finger Award for Excellence in Comic Book Writing:

Jack Kirby, William Messner-Loebs

Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award:

Mark Andreyko, Joe Ferrara

Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award:

Comicazi: Robert Howard, David Lockwood, Michael Burke, Somerville, MA

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IDW Publishing from Diamond Distributors for March 9, 2016

IDW PUBLISHING

JAN160509     D4VE2 TP VOL 02     $17.99
JAN160439     DIRK GENTLY A SPOON TOO SHORT #2     $3.99
JAN160458     DONALD DUCK #11     $3.99
JAN160462     DONALD DUCK TYCOONRAKER TP     $12.99
DEC150533     DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES TP VOL 03 DRAGONS OF SPRING DAWNING     $29.99
SEP150412     DRIVE #4     $3.99
JAN160415     GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #226     $3.99
JAN160518     GUTTER MAGIC #3     $3.99
JAN160503     HAUNTED LOVE #2     $4.99
JAN160516     INSUFFERABLE ON THE ROAD #2     $3.99
JAN160477     LUNA THE VAMPIRE #3     $3.99
DEC150513     MARCH OVERSIZED HC BOOK 01 LTD ED     $29.99
JAN160427     MARS ATTACKS OCCUPATION #1     $3.99
JAN160474     MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC TP VOL 09     $17.99
JAN160495     OCTOBER FACTION #14     $3.99
JAN160502     PARACUELLOS TP VOL 01     $24.99
JAN160444     SHERLOCK HOLMES 7 PER-CENT SOLUTION TP     $19.99
JAN160405     STAR TREK ONGOING #55     $3.99
JAN160494     STRING DIVERS TP     $19.99
JAN160435     TMNT ADVENTURES TP VOL 11     $19.99
JAN160431     TMNT AMAZING ADVENTURES #8     $3.99
JAN160433     TMNT COLOR CLASSICS SERIES 3 #15     $3.99
DEC150411     TRANSFORMERS MORE THAN MEETS EYE #50     $7.99
JAN160497     VICTORIE CITY #3     $3.99
JAN160380     X-FILES DEVIATIONS (ONE SHOT)     $4.99
DEC150468     X-FILES SEASON 11 HC VOL 01     $24.99

2014 Glyph Award Nominees - Complete List

The Glyph Awards recognize “the best in comics made by, for, and about people of color from the preceding calendar year.”  The nominees for the 2014 Glyph Awards (for comics released in 2013) were announced in early April.  The winners will be announced Friday, May 16, 2014 at the 13th annual East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention in Philadelphia.

The 2014 Glyph Comics Award nominees (for the year 2013):

Story of the Year
• March: Book One, by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell
• Watson and Holmes #6, by Brandon Easton and N. Steven Harris
• Watson and Holmes: A Study in Black, by Karl Bollers, Rick Leonardi and Larry Stroman

Best Cover
• Hass #1, by B. Alex Thompson
• Indigo, by Richard Tyler
• Life and Death in Paradise, by Nigel Lynch
• Nowhere Man, by Jerome Walford
• The Olympians, by Paulo Barrios and Luis Guerrero
• Route 3, by Robert Jeffrey

Best Writer
• Brandon Easton, Watson and Holmes #6
• Jamal Igle, Molly Danger
• Anthony Montgomery and Brandon Easton, Miles Away
• Whit Taylor, Boxes
• B. Alex Thompson, Hass #1

Best Artist
• B. Robert Bell, Radio Free Amerika
• Abel Garcia, P.B. Soldier
• N. Steven Harris, Watson and Holmes #6
• Jamal Igle, Molly Danger
• Mshindo Kuumba, Anikulapo
• Mase, Urban Shogun #3: Things Fall Apart
• Jerome Walford, Nowhere Man

Best Male Character
• Anikulapo, “He Who Has Death in His Pouch,” Anikulapo; Mshindo Kuumba
• Deakon Taylor, One Nation; Jason Reeves
• Dustan Knight/Stactic Shagz, Spirit Bear; Tristan Roach
• Force, Force; Yancey A. Reed
• Jack Maguire, Nowhere Man; Jerome Walford
• Maxwell Miles, Maxwell Miles; Brandon Easton
• Moses B. Verelea, Radio Free Amerika; Robert Jeffery

Best Female Character
• Ajala, Ajala: A Series of Adventures; N. Steven Harris and Robert Garrett
• Mary Freemen, Urban Shogun; James Mason
• Indigo, Indigo: Hit List 3.0; Richard Tyler

Rising Star Award
• Raymond Ayala, Urban Myth (New Olympians)
• Naseed Gifted, P.B. Soldier
• Turner Lange, The Adventures of Wally Fresh
• Chris Miller, Chronicles of Piye
• Jason Reeves, One Nation
• Tristian Roach, Spirit Bear
• Tony Robinson, The Descendent

Best Comic Strip or Webcomic
• The Adigun Ogunsanwo, by Charles C.J. Juzang
• Blackwax Boulevard, by Dmitri Jackson
• Love and Capes: What to Expect, by Thom Zahler
• Yes You Can, by Ian Herring and Dallas Penn

Best Reprint Publication
• Early Days, by Mshindo Kuumba
• Love and Capes: What to Expect, by Thomas Zahler
• Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story, by the Fellowship of Reconciliation

Fan Award for Best Work
• Boxes, by Whit Taylor
• Molly Danger, by Jamal Igle
• Urban Shogun, by James Mason
• Watson and Holmes #6, by Brandon Easton and N. Steven Harris

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2013 Top Shelf Massive $3 Sale is On!

Once again, it is that time of year when we have football, a chance to buy great comic books and graphic novels at bargain basement prices, and an opportunity to keep one of the best publishers in America from going in the basement:

The 2013 Top Shelf Massive $3 Sale

Welcome to the 2013 Top Shelf Massive $3 Graphic Novel Sale, where you can pick up the year's greatest graphic novels at incredibly low prices by ordering direct from Top Shelf!

For the next two weeks — through Friday, September 27th — Top Shelf is having our annual $3 web sale. When you visit our site, you'll find 150+ critically acclaimed graphic novels and comics on sale — with over 100 titles marked down to just $3 & $1!

Each year Top Shelf uses this sale to help spread the word about our incredible new releases, and raise funds to “kick start” a full rollout for next year. With your help, we'll keep publishing some of the most beloved graphic novels on earth — from award-winning masters and exciting new talents (and yes, even Members of Congress!). Now's your chance to support a great independent publisher and expand your graphic novel collection at the same time.

To go directly to the list of items on sale at the Top Shelf website, just click here:

Buy here or http://www.topshelfcomix.com/specialdeals

But here are a few examples to get you started:

Slashed prices on brand-new releases and beloved perennials!
-- Slashed Prices: March, A Matter of Life, Monster on the Hill, and more!
-- Slashed Prices: Nemo: Heart of Ice, God is Disappointed in You, and more!
-- Slashed Prices: Lost Girls, From Hell, League Century 1910/1969/2009, and more!
-- Slashed Prices: Blankets, The Underwater Welder, Any Empire, and more!
-- Slashed Prices: We Can Fix It, Blue, August Moon, Infinite Kung Fu, and more!
-- Slashed Prices: Unearthing (HC), Super Spy, Crater XV, Heck, and more!

Acclaimed graphic novels from world-class talents for $3!
-- $3 Titles: The From Hell Companion, Unearthing (SC), and more!
-- $3 Titles: The Lovely Horrible Stuff, Upside Down, The Ticking, and more!
-- $3 Titles: Ax, Voice of the Fire, The Homeland Directive, and more!
-- $3 Titles: Gingerbread Girl, Liar’s Kiss, Undeleted Scenes, and more!
-- $3 Titles: Incredible Change-Bots, Night Animals, Underwire, and more!
-- $3 Titles: Lucille, BB Wolf, Pirate Penguin, and more!

Discover a new favorite with these great $1 books!
-- $1 Titles: The Playwright,Tales of Woodsman Pete, Sulk (Vols 1/2/3), and more!
-- $1 Titles: Regards from Serbia, Lone Racer, Van Helsing's Night Off, and more!
-- $1 Titles: SuperF*ckers #1-#4, The Surrogates #1-#5, Beach Safari, and more!
-- $1 Titles: Hutch Owen, Hello Again, Okie Dokie Donuts, Yam, and more!
-- $1 Titles: The Octopi & the Ocean, Conversations #1 & #2, and more!
-- $1 Titles: Comic Diorama, The Man Who Loved Breasts, Hey Mister, and more!

Please note that Top Shelf accepts PayPal, as well as Visa, MasterCard, Amex, and Discover — all secure — and that this sale is good for retailers as well (and comic book shops will get their wholesale discount on top of these sale prices):

Buy here or http://www.topshelfcomix.com/specialdeals

And please feel free to share & re-post this announcement, so your friends can find out about it as well!  

Your friend thru comics,
Chris Staros

Top Shelf Productions
PO Box 1282
Marietta GA 30061-1282
USA

Review: MARCH: Book One

MARCH: BOOK ONE
TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS – @topshelfcomix

WRITERS: John Lewis and Andrew Aydin
ARTIST: Nate Powell
EDITORS: Chris Staros with Leigh Walton
ISBN: 978-1-60309-300-2; paperback (August 2013)
128pp, Black and White, $14.95 U.S.

Congressman John Lewis is Georgia’s Fifth Congressional District Representative (GA-5, Democrat).  Lewis was also one of the “Big Six” leaders of the American Civil Rights Movement (with the others being Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., James Farmer, A. Philip Randolph, Roy Wilkins, and Whitney Young).  Before such fame and accomplishments, he was born John Robert Lewis in February 1940 to sharecropper parents, Willie Mae (Carter) and Eddie Lewis.  His early life, from farm boy to activist college student, is the focus of March: Book One.

March: Book One is a comic book written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, drawn by artist Nate Powell, and published by Top Shelf Productions.  This is the first of three graphic novels recounting the life of Congressman John Lewis.  March: Book One is both a riveting history of the United States during the second half of the 20th century and an evocative personal story of a famous man’s life.

Lewis’ lifelong struggle for civil and human rights includes the key roles he played in the historic 1963 March on Washington and the 1965 Selma-Montgomery March.  March will apparently focus on Lewis’ personal story and on the highs and lows of the broader movement for civil rights in the U.S.

March: Book One opens on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama (part of the 1965 Selma-Montgomery March) on March 7, 1965, the date that would become known as “Bloody Sunday.”  The story moves forward to January 20, 2009, and sees Lewis share the story of his past with a mother and her two young sons.  The narrative moves back in time again, to the 1940s, where in first person, Lewis recounts the early events and incidents that shaped his life.

March: Book One’s co-writers John Lewis and Andrew Aydin recount Lewis’ life on a 110-acre cotton, corn, and peanut farm in Pike County, Alabama.  This section of the narrative covers Lewis’ time as a junior chicken farmer and chicken rights activist (of sorts) up to 1954.  Both reminiscence and personal history, it is as if Lewis and Aydin are spinning tales from the world of young John Lewis, yarns of childhood that go beyond the personal and intimate about Lewis and into the small world that his home and community.  So we learn about his family, their wishes, small incidents (like trading chickens for much-needed flour and sugar), their way of life (having to miss school to work the fields), and transformative moments (Lewis’ trip “up north” to Buffalo with his maternal uncle, Otis Carter).

In 1954, momentous events in the larger world outside of Lewis’ life as farm kid and ambitious country boy begin to transpire.  The Supreme Court rules “separate but equal” unconstitutional in Brown vs. the Board of Education of Topeka.  A young preacher named Martin Luther King, Jr. emerges.  Two adult white men kill a black child named Emmett Till, are acquitted of their crime, and publicly brag about (making them the original George Zimmermans).  On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat on a city bus.  The Civil Rights Movement is gaining momentum.

Lewis becomes a part of that movement when he becomes a student at American Baptist Theological Seminary.  He attends a workshop on non-violence taught by Jim Lawson.  Lewis later helps to organize sit-in demonstrations at segregated lunch counters in Nashville, Tennessee.  That begins with test sit-ins in 1959 and launches with the history changing real deal in February 1960, which culminates into an eventual public confrontation with Mayor Ben West of Nashville.

Obviously, John Lewis is a man who has made history.  However, in the humble and gentle way in which Lewis and Aydin tell this story, Lewis is as much a witness to history as he is a participant.  Lewis, the character in March: Book One, is not the hero who changed things.  He is also a participant, one among many; leader and organizer, yes, but also part of a fellowship.  This striking modesty brings the reader into the story, and in the retelling, allows the reader to be a quasi-witness to history.

I don’t think that I have ever seen any work by cartoonist and graphic novelist Nate Powell that was not published in black and white.  Powell’s black and white comics are not about the contrast of black and white – negative and positive space.  His storytelling is a graphical space in which black and white blends and unites to create nuance, subtlety, texture, complexity, ambiguity, and mystery.  For March: Book One, Powell creates a visual storytelling tapestry that is at once grand, earth-shattering history, but also singularly, personally intimate and deeply human.

In March: Book One, Lewis, Aydin, and Powell have created a story that wrestles grand history down to size so that it is not too big for anyone to grasp.  In this small-sized manner of storytelling, we can see the humanity in and importance of all the participants in our story we call history.

A+

For more information about March: Book One and to read a 14-page preview, visit here or http://www.topshelfcomix.com/march

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

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