2011 Eisner Award Nominees Announced

Nominees Announced for 2011 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards

Nominations Span Full Range of Works

SAN DIEGO -- Comic-Con International (Comic-Con) is proud to announce the nominations for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards 2011. The nominees, chosen by a blue-ribbon panel of judges, reflect the wide range of material being published in comics and graphic novel form today, from heartfelt autobiographical works to books aimed at kids and teens to deluxe hardcover archival editions. Unlike in past years, superheroes are very much in the minority in this year's selections.

Topping the 2011 nominees with 5 nominations is Return of the Dapper Men, a fantasy hardcover by writer Jim McCann and artist Janet Lee, published by Archaia. It has nods for Best Publication for Teens, Best Graphic Album–New, Best Writer, Best Artist, and Best Publication Design. Two comics series have 4 nominations: Morning Glories by Nick Spencer and Joe Eisma (published by Shadowline/Image) and Locke & Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (published by IDW). A variety of titles have received 3 nominations, including the manga Naoki Urasawa's 20th Century Boys (VIZ Media), John Layman and Rob Guillory's series Chew (Image), Daniel Clowes's graphic novel Wilson (Drawn & Quarterly), and Mike Mignola's Hellboy titles (Dark Horse).

The creator with the most nominations is Mignola with 5 (including cover artist), followed by Spencer and Hill, each with 4. Several creators have 3: McCann & Lee, Rodriquez, Urasawa, and Clowes, plus writer Ian Boothy (for Comic Book Guy: The Comic Book and other Bongo titles) and cartoonist Jimmy Gownley (for Best Publication for Kids plus coloring and lettering on his Amelia Rules! series). A record 15 creators have 2 nominations each.

DC Comics has the most nominations for a publisher, with its various imprints (DCU, Vertigo, WildStorm) garnering 14 nominations (plus 3 shared). The DC Universe has 5 of those nominations, while the Vertigo imprint has 9, all spread among multiple titles and creators. In addition, 75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking by Paul Levitz, published by TASCHEN, has two nominations.

The publishers emerging with the second-most nominations this year with 12 each are Image (led by Chew and Morning Glories) and IDW, which in addition to Locke & Key has double nods for four titles: Dave Stevens' The Rocketeer Artist's Edition, Polly & Her Pals Sundays, and Darwyn Cooke's Parker: The Outfit. Close behind with 11 nominations each are alt/indy comics publishers Fantagraphics and Drawn & Quarterly. Fantagraphics dominates the U.S. Edition of International Material category with 3 nominees and has 2 nominations each for Carol Tyler's You'll Never Know: Collateral Damage and Jacques Tardi's It Was the War of the Trenches. Besides Wilson, D&Q is on the ballot with two nominations each for Lynda Barry's Picture This, James Sturm's Market Day, and Chris Ware's Acme Novelty Library 20.

Other publishers with multiple nominations include Dark Horse (9, plus 2 shared), Archaia (9), VIZ Media (4), and Marvel (3, plus 2 shared); six publishers with 3 nominations: Abrams Comicarts, Bongo, Atheneum/Simon & Schuster, First Second, NBM, and Scholastic/Graphix; and five with 2 nominations: Abstract Studio (Terry Moore's Echo), Disney/Hyperion, McClelland & Stewart (Scott Chantler's Three Generals), TASCHEN, and Vertical. Another two dozen publishers had 1 nomination each. Notably, many of these publishers are mainstream publishing houses and not standard comics industry companies. In addition to the ones mentioned above, they include Amulet Books, Andrews McMeel, Bloomsbury, Crown, Fulcrum Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Lee & Low, The Library of America, and Yale University Press.

Among this year's nontraditional "discoveries" by the judges are Seymour Chwast's adaptation of Dante's Divine Comedy (Bloomsbury), the "mocumentary" Finding Frank and His Friends by "Clarence 'Otis' Dooley" (Curio & Co.), the Native American anthology Trickster (Fulcrum), Lucidity Press's The Anthology Project, and cartoonist Dave Kellett's Literature: Unsuccessfully Competing Against TV Since 1953.

Named for acclaimed comics creator Will Eisner, the awards are in their 23rd year of highlighting the best publications and creators in comics and graphic novels. The 2011 Eisner Awards judging panel consists of comics store rep John Berry (Metropolis Comics, Bellflower, California), Comic-Con board of director Ned Cato (geekroundtable.com), librarian Karen Green (Columbia University), comics writer/editor Andy Helfer (The Shadow; Paradox Press), publishing consultant Rich Johnson (previously with DC Comics and Yen Press), and retail manager Chris Powell (Lone Star Comics, Dallas, Texas).

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 22 at Comic-Con International.

Voting in one Eisner Awards category, the Hall of Fame, is already completed. The judges chose the nominees earlier this year, and voting was conducted solely online, with voting ending on March 24.

The Eisner Awards are presented under the auspices of Comic-Con International, a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to creating awareness of and appreciation for comics and related popular artforms, primarily through the presentation of conventions and events that celebrate the historic and ongoing contributions of comics to art and culture. Jackie Estrada has been administrator of the Awards since 1990. She can be reached at jackie@comic-con.org.

Blue Exorcist, Kekkaishi Among New VIZ App Titles

VIZ MEDIA EXPANDS iPad DIGITAL LIBRARY WITH A NEW ROUND OF MANGA UPDATES FOR FIRST HALF OF APRIL

ABSOLUTE BOYFRIEND, BLACK BIRD, BLUE EXORCIST And KEKKAISHI Join The Latest Additions To 12 Other Popular VIZ Media Manga Titles

VIZ Media continues the expansion of its digital manga manga (graphic novel) library available exclusively for the VIZ MANGA APP for the Apple® iPad™ mobile device with several new series that will premiere during the first half of April.

The latest update features the launch of the shojo series ABSOLUTE BOYFRIEND and the fantasy-action of KEKKAISHI on April 4th. Another popular shojo manga series, BLACK BIRD, and the supernatural adventure BLUE EXORCIST will premiere on April 11th. The VIZ MANGA APP is available for free through the iTunes Store and all manga volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada within the application for $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) per volume. More than 100 manga volumes are now available for download.

ABSOLUTE BOYFRIEND (rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) is the romantic shojo drama created by Yuu Watase (ARATA: THE LEGEND, FUSHIGI YUGI, CERES: CELESTIAL LEGEND). Rejected way too many times by good-looking (and unattainable) guys, shy Riiko Izawa goes online to sign up for a free trial of a mysterious Nightly Lover "figure." The very next day a cute naked guy is delivered to her door, and he wants to be her boyfriend! Has Riiko died and gone to heaven? The cute guy turns out to be sweet, smart, a great cook, and lots more. And he looks like a million bucks, which is what he's going to cost Riiko if she doesn't return him in time...

KEKKAISHI (rated ‘T’ for Teens) is an action series created by Yellow Tanabe. By night, junior high student Yoshimori Sumimura is a “kekkaishi” – a demon-hunter who specializes in creating magical barriers around his prey. By day, Yoshimori’s got some other demons to battle: an addiction to sweets and a seriously crotchety grandfather! Yoshimori’s pretty 16-year-old neighbor and childhood friend, Tokine Yukimura, is also a kekkaishi, but their families are feuding over who is the “true practitioner” of the art. In the opening volume, Yoshimori couldn’t care less about catching demons… until he realizes that his apathetic attitude is taking a toll on his friendship with Tokine. Just as he decides to take matters into his own hands, a couple of amphibious demons and the pesky ghost of a pastry-chef show up to complicate matters!

BLACK BIRD (rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) is the award-winning shojo manga series by Kanoko Sakurakoji. There is a world of myth and magic that intersects ours, and only a special few can see it. Misao Harada is one such person, and she wants nothing to do with magical realms. She just wants to have a normal high school life and maybe get a boyfriend. But she is the bride of demon prophecy, and her blood grants incredible powers, her flesh immortality. Now the demon realm is fighting over the right to her hand...or her life!

BLUE EXORCIST (Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) was created by Kazue Kato and introduces Rin Okumura, a boy who is the son of a famous exorcist but never knew his real father. One day a fateful argument with Father Fujimoto, the priest who raised Rin, forces the boy to face a terrible truth – the blood of the demon lord Satan runs in Rin’s veins! Rin swears to defeat Satan, but doing that means entering the mysterious True Cross Academy and becoming an exorcist himself. Can Rin fight the demons and keep his infernal bloodline a secret? It won't be easy, especially when drawing his father’s sword releases the demonic power within him!

April updates also include new additions to 12 other popular VIZ Media series currently available. Readers should check the app regularly, as new additions and free Chapter 1 previews of forthcoming manga series for the iPad are also featured.

Twenty-four series will be available on the VIZ Manga App; additional new manga volumes available the weeks of April 4th and April 11th include:

April 4th:
DEATH NOTE Vol. 10
DRAGON BALL Z Vol. 3
NARUTO Vol. 20
ONE PIECE Vol. 20
OTOMEN Vol. 5
OURON HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB Vol. 5
ROSARIO + VAMPIRE Vol. 3
RUROUNI KENSHIN Vol. 10

April 11th:
BLEACH Vol. 12
CAPTIVE HEARTS Vol. 4
CLAYMORE Vol. 7
D. GRAY MAN Vol. 8
DRAGON BALL Z Vols 4
NARUTO Vol. 21
ONE PIECE Vol. 21

For more information on the VIZ MANGA APP, please visit www.VIZ.com/apps/.

Green Lantern's Ryan Reynolds Gets a Comic Book Bio

GREEN LANTERN’S “SECRET IDENTITY” RYAN REYNOLDS POWERS OWN COMIC BOOK BIO

 

Catapulted from obscure roles and modest television credits to one of Hollywood’s reigning male “A” list stars, Ryan Reynolds is making a star turn in an upcoming Bluewater Productions biography comic book based on his life and career.

Scheduled for an May 2011 release, “Fame: Ryan Reynolds” follows the actor from his up and coming days in Canada through his 2002 breakthrough role in “National Lampoon’s Van Wilder” to his ascendancy to leading man status in such films as “The Proposal” and the upcoming super hero blockbuster “Green Lantern.”

“Ryan Reynolds is one of those rare actors who appeals to both men and women. Women love him for his obvious good looks and charm, but his humor and action role turns is what bring in the men. It's no wonder he's headlining one of the hottest films of the summer,” said writer Mark Poulton. “He’s definitely proving himself to be a force at the box office.”

Poulton, the creator of Koni Waves, teams up with fellow Koni Waves artist Dexter Weeks to showcase People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive for 2010 in a standard 32-page issue.

“Mark and Dexter have such a strong partnership going with their own book, that their cohesion gave the Reynolds book a great flow of word and art,” said Bluewater president Darren Davis.

The issue retails for $3.99. It will be available through local comic book stores and several online venues including Amazon.com and the Barnes and Noble and Borders online stores. It is scheduled to be released two weeks before the U.S. premiere of Reynold’s latest movie, “Green Lantern.”

The “Fame” series was launched earlier in 2010 as a companion piece to the successful “Female Force” and “Political Power” biography titles. The comic allows Bluewater to delve into the celebrity culture and understand how a person rises to fame, deals with the new-found celebrity and continue to produce in the public eye. That includes actors, sports figures, recording artists and royals.


About Bluewater Productions
Bluewater Productions Inc. is one of the top independent production studios of comic books, young adult books and graphic novels. Its extensive catalog of titles includes the bestsellers “10th Muse” and “The Legend of Isis” ”Bluewater publishes comic books in partnership with entertainment icon William Shatner (“TekWar Chronicles”), legendary filmmaker Ray Harryhausen (“Wrath of the Titans,” “Sinbad: Rogue of Mars,” “Jason and the Argonauts,” et al) and celebrated actor Vincent Price (“Vincent Price Presents”), Additionally, Bluewater publishes a highly successful line of biographical comics under the titles “Female Force” and “Political Power.”

Bluewater aims to unite cutting-edge art and engaging stories produced by its stable of the publishing industry’s top artists and writers.

Following its commitment to green publishing, Bluewater comic books are printed on Forest Stewardship Council certified paper. FSC certification guarantees that the paper used in Bluewater books contains fiber from well-managed and responsibility harvested forests that meet strict environmental and socioeconomic standards.

For more information, visit http://www.bluewaterprod.com/.

Leroy Douresseaux Revews "BLACK DYNAMITE: Slave Island"

BLACK DYNAMITE

APE ENTERTAINMENT/ARS NOVA

WRITER: Brian Ash

STORY: Michael Jai White, Byron Minns, Scott Sanders
ARTIST/COVER: Jun Lofamia
COLORS: JM Ringuet
PREVIEW PIN-UP: Ed LaRoche and Dustin Evans (colors)
ADDITIONAL ART: Scott Fuselier and Brian Ash
46pp, Color, $5.95

The next great Black comic book character may be a character that originated in film. But this character’s first comic book appearance is so damn good that his cinematic origin in not a hindrance for his place in comic books. We need comic book super Negroes wherever we can get them. Let’s welcome Black Dynamite.

Black Dynamite was a 2009 independent feature film that was simultaneously a send-up of and homage to the Black exploitation (blaxploitation) films of the 1970s. The film starred Michael Jai White as the title character, Black Dynamite, a cross between Shaft and Marvel Comics’ Luke Cage, out to stop a plot to rob Black men of their manhood.

In fact, the film’s director, Scott Sanders, guides the film so smoothly that Black Dynamite also works as a straight action comedy. The script, written by Sanders, Michael Jai White and Byron Minns, even manages pointed political commentary and some rather subversive and occasionally racially charged humor.

Published by Ape Entertainment, Black Dynamite brings the character from the world of film to the world of comic books. Also known as Black Dynamite: Slave Island, the comic book is written by Brian Ash (from a story by the film’s screenwriters, Michael Jai White, Byron Minns, and Scott Sanders) and drawn by Jun Lofamia. Slave Island is also a direct sequel to the movie.

The story begins when Black Dynamite gets a call for help from a doctor friend of his, Alex Haley (seriously). From one of Haley’s patients, Black Dynamite learns about an impossible resort named Slave Island. There, the evil slave owner, Noah Hicks, runs a plantation as if it were a hellish Disney resort or bizarre bed and breakfast. There, slaves will wait on guests, and guests can watch slaves work in fields or get beaten with a whip. Black Dynamite is determined to burn the place down, but he can’t do it alone. Perhaps, the buxom lady Mandingo, Betty, will help him start a revolution.

If you liked Black Dynamite the movie, but don’t like the comic book after reading it, then, you just don’t like comic books, because this is one dynamite comic book. Slave Island has the exact same comical tone as the film, and the style, wit, and subversive humor of the comic book is a carbon copy of the film. I don’t know Brian Ash, but I do know that he has written one bad mutha f****ing comic book, and he has scripted a Black Dynamite tale that should make this character’s creators happy.

Meanwhile, artist Jun Lofamia has channeled 1970s Marvel. Lofamia’s cover for Slave Island recalls Luke Cage comic book covers, and his interiors recapture all the funky glory of Marvel’s “black” comic books like Black Panther and the various Blade comics. Lofamia’s storytelling is strong thanks to his compositional and design skills.

Black Dynamite: Slave Island is a one-shot, but hopefully there will be more.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux - support on Patreon.

You can read my review of the movie Black Dynamite here.

Win Mark Texeira Original Art

WIN THE ORIGINAL COVER OF RED SPIKE #1 BY MARK TEXEIRA

You ever wanted to own an original piece of artwork by a legendary comic book artist but found it too expensive? Well, what if I told you that for just $1 you could be entered into a contest to win the original cover art for RED SPIKE #1 by the legendary Mark Texeira?

Well you can! NO JOKE!

All you have to do is pick up a copy of RED SPIKE #1 on May 4 for JUST $1, take a photo of yourself outside your local comic shop with the book and post it to the RED SPIKE Facebook fan page (http://www.facebook.com/ProjectRedSpike) and you’re entered!

But as if that wasn’t enough, the shop where our lucky winner purchased RED SPIKE #1 also wins an interior page by himself!

So head out on May 4 and pick up your copy of RED SPIKE #1! Who knows, that lucky winner could be you!

Diamond Order No.: MAR110530.

Check out the rules:
THE PRIZE
Winner will receive the original cover artwork to RED SPIKE #1 by legendary comic book artist Mark Texeira. The comic shop where the comic was purchased will also win an original interior page from RED SPIKE drawn by Mark Texeira.

HOW TO ENTER
When RED SPIKE #1 hits stores on May 4 head over and purchase a copy of the book for just $1.00 USD. Take a photo of yourself and RED SPIKE #1 in front of the comic shop where you purchased it. Then, head over to RED SPIKE on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ProjectRedSpike), ‘Like’ the RED SPIKE Fan Page and upload your photo to the site to enter. This will enter not only you but also the comic shop. Winner will be chosen at random.

WHEN IT BEGINS
May 4th, 2011

SUBMISSIONS END
May 27th, 2011 @ 11:59 P.M. PST

WHO’S ELIGIBLE
The Sweepstakes is open to all residents of the and the who are 13 years of age or older at time of entry to be eligible for the Grand Prize. Void where prohibited by law. Employees of B & P Company, LLC, Benaroya Publishing, Benaroya Pictures, Image Comics, Inc. (collectively, “The Sponsor”) or any of their affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising or promotion agencies are not eligible, nor are members of these employees' families (defined as parents, children, siblings, spouse, and life partners).

THE ODDS
The odds of winning are dependent on the number or submissions. One (1) submission per person. Multiple submissions will invalidate all entries by participant. Winner will be chosen at random.

THE LEGALITIES
The Sweepstakes is governed by the laws of the United States and the State of California, and participants in the Sweepstakes hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of courts (state and federal) for any causes or controversies arising out of the Sweepstakes. Each participant waives any and all objectives to jurisdiction and venue in these courts. All applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes may only be entered in or from the and entries originating from any other jurisdiction are not eligible for entry.

Except where prohibited by law, the Winner grants to Sponsor and its advertising agencies the right to use and publish their photos, proper names, likeness, opinions, and city and state in any media to promote Sponsor and the Sweepstakes without additional compensation.

By entering, participants release and hold harmless Sponsor, its subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents from any and all liability for any injuries, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with the Sweepstakes or receipt or use and/or misuse of any prize.

Sponsor reserves the right to cancel or modify the Sweepstakes if fraud or any other factor impairs the integrity of the Sweepstakes as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion.

Sponsor assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction of unauthorized access to, or alternation of, entries. Sponsor is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers, or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any e-mail or entry received by Sponsor on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any web site, any combination thereof, or otherwise, including any injury or damage to entrant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from participation or downloading any materials in the Sweepstakes.


ABOUT BENAROYA PUBLISHING
Founded in 2009 by Michael Benaroya, Benaroya Publishing is a company dedicated to the creation and cultivation of intellectual property by focusing on thrilling and compelling storytelling. Based in , Benaroya Publishing launches their debut titles this Spring under the Image Comics label. With David Elliott (FALL OUT TOY WORKS and co-founder of RADICAL PUBLISHING) at the helm as in-house Editor-in-Chief, Benaroya Publishing promises to bring fresh new ideas, and uniquely told stories to the comics literary world.

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the . Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of four major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit http://www.imagecomics.com/.

Cross Game 3 is Cross Games 6 and 7

I read Cross Game, Vol. 3

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps).

Yakitate!! Japan the Final Volume

I read Yakitate!! Japan, Vol. 26

I posted a review in the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps).