Eisner Awards

American comic book award

Eisner Awards

Awarded for| Creative achievement in American comic books
Location| San Diego Comic-Con
Country| United States
First award| 1988; 37 years ago (1988)
Website| www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards-current-info

<- Kirby Awards

The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, are awards for creative achievement in American comic books. They are regarded as the most prestigious and significant awards in the comic industry and often referred to as the industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards.[1][2]

The first Eisners were conferred in 1988, for works published in 1987. The Eisner Awards ceremony has been held at San Diego Comic-Con every year since 1991.[3] The awards are named in honor of pioneering cartoonist and writer Will Eisner, who was a regular participant in the ceremony until his death in 2005.[4]

The nominations in each category are generated by a five- to six-member jury, then voted on by comic book professionals. The jury often consists of at least one comics retailer, one librarian (since 2005), and one academic researcher, among other comic experts. As of 2021[update], awards are presented in 32 categories.

## History

[edit]

The Eisner Awards and Harvey Awards were first conferred in 1988, both created in response to the discontinuation of the Kirby Awards in 1987.[4] Dave Olbrich started the non-profit organization.[3]

There was no Eisner Awards ceremony, or awards distributed, in 1990, due to widespread balloting mix-ups.[5] The previous administrator, Dave Olbrich, left the position,[5] and Jackie Estrada has been the award administrator since 1990.[3] The Eisner Awards ceremony has been held at San Diego Comic-Con every year since 1991.[3]

In 2006, it was announced that the archives of the Eisner Awards would be housed at the James Branch Cabell Library of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.[6]

## Categories

[edit]

The Eisner Awards are awarded in the following categories:

### Current

[edit]

As of 2021[update], awards are presented in 32 categories for works published in 2020.[7]

* Best Short Story (1993–present)
* Best Single Issue/One-Shot (1988–2008, 2010–present)
* Best Continuing Series (1988–present)
* Best Limited Series (1988–present)
* Best New Series (1988–present)
* Best Publication for Early Readers (2012–present)
* Best Publication for Kids (2008–present)
* Best Publication for Teens (2008–present)
* Best Humor Publication (1992–present)
* Best Anthology (1992–present)
* Best Reality-Based Work (2006–present)
* Best Graphic Memoir (2021–present)
* Best Graphic Album — New (1991–present)
* Best Graphic Album — Reprint (1991–present)
* Best Adaptation from Another Medium (2013–2014, 2016, 2018–present)
* Best U.S. Edition of International Material (1998–present)
* Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia (2010–present)
* Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips (2006–present)
* Best Archival Collection/Project — Comic Books (2006–present)
* Best Writer (1988–present)
* Best Writer/Artist (1988–present)
* Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team (1994–present)
* Best Painter/Digital Artist (1993–2011, 2013–present)
* Best Cover Artist (for multiple covers) (1992–present)
* Best Coloring (1992–present)
* Best Lettering (1993–present)
* Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism (2008–present)
* Best Comics-Related Book (1992–present)
* Best Academic/Scholarly Work (2012–present)
* Best Publication Design (1993–present)
* Best Digital Comic (2005–present)[8]
* Best Webcomic (2017–present)[9]

### Past awards

[edit]

* Best Graphic Album (1988–1989)
* Best Art Team (1988–1989)
* Best Black-and-White Series (1988–1991)
* Best Editor (1992–1999)
* Best Comics-Related Product/Item (1992, 1994–2002)
* Best Comics-Related Periodical/Publication (1992–2000, 2002–2007)
* Best Archival Collection/Project (1993–2005)
* Best Serialized Story (1993–2006)
* Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition (1995–2006)[10]
* Best Writer/Artist — Humor (1995–2008)
* Best Title for Younger Readers/Best Comics Publication for a Younger Audience (1996–2007)
* Best Writer/Artist — Drama (1997–2008)
* Best Comics-Related Sculpted Figures (1999)
* Best Comics-Related Publication (Periodical or Book) (2003)
* Best U.S. Edition of International Material–Japan (2007–2009)
* Special Recognition (2007–2008)[10]
* Best Writer/Artist–Nonfiction (2010)
* Best Adaptation from Another Work (2010–2011)

## Past winners

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Main article: List of Eisner Award winners

See also: Category:Eisner Award winners

## See also

[edit]

Other comic-related awards given at San Diego Comic-Con:

* Inkpot Award (1974–present)
* Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award (1982–present)
* Kirby Award (1985–1987)
* The Bill Finger Award For Excellence In Comic Book Writing (2005–present)

Other comics-related awards:

* Alley Award
* Eagle Award
* GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book
* Harvey Award
* Ignatz Award
* Inkwell Awards
* National Comics Award
* Ringo Award
* Shazam Award

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The Eisner Awards". worldofsuperheroes.com. April 8, 2011. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
2. ^ Albert, Aaron. "The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Profile". about.com. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
3. ^ a b c d "The Eisner Awards: A Brief History" Archived 2011-05-20 at the Wayback Machine, Comic-con.org. WebCitation archive (requires scrolldown).
4. ^ a b "The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards", Comic-con.org. WebCitation archive (requires scrolldown).
5. ^ a b "Eisners Cancelled," The Comics Journal #137 (Sept. 1990), p. 16.
6. ^ Eisner Awards Archives to Be Housed at Virginia Commonwealth University. February 16, 2006. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
7. ^ "Eisner Awards Current Info". Comic-Con International: San Diego. 2021-06-09. Archived from the original on 2017-06-07. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
8. ^ Thorne, Amy (2010). "25 Webcomics and Libraries". In Robert G. Weiner (ed.). Graphic Novels and Comics in Libraries and Archives: Essays on Readers, Research, History and Cataloging. Elizabeth (FRW) Figa and Derek Parker Royal (forewords); Stephen Weiner (afterword) (illustrated ed.). McFarland. p. 211\. ISBN 978-0-7864-4302-4. "Librarians also can consult ... the Eisner Awards, which have had a Best Digital Comic entry since 2005"
9. ^ Blake, Corey (2013-08-28). "25 Years of the Eisner Awards". Comic Book Resources.
10. ^ a b "2007 Eisner Nominations announced". Comic Book Resources. 2007-04-19. Retrieved 2016-07-14.

## External links

[edit]

* Eisner Awards from 1988 - 2007. WebCitation archive.
* Archive of 2005 Eisner awards from Comic-Con.org. WebCitation archive. Original page.
* 2006 Eisner Award winners, Comic-Con.org. WebCitation archive.
* 2007 Eisner Award winners, Comic-Con.org. WebCitation archive.
* 2008 Eisner Award winners, Comic-Con.org. WebCitation archive.
* 2009 Eisner Award winners, Comic-Con.org. WebCitation archive.
* 1985-1989 Eisner Award winners, Comic-Con International San Diego. Archived from the original on July 3, 2013.
* 1991-1999 Eisner Award winners, Comic-Con International San Diego. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014
* 2000-2009 Eisner Award winners, Comic-Con International San Diego. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015.
* 2010-2020 Eisner Award winners, Comic-Con International San Diego. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020.

* v
* t
* e

American comic book industry awards

Current|

* Bill Finger
* Dwayne McDuffie
* Don Rico
* Eisner
* list
* Ignatz (Small Press Expo)
* Inkwell
* Inkpot
* Glyph
* Harvey
* list
* Ringo
* Reuben
* Sergio
* Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning
* Russ Manning

Former|

* Alley
* Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Awards
* Don Thompson
* Goethe
* Howard E. Day
* Ignatz (OrlandoCon)
* Kirby
* Lulu
* list
* Shazam
* Wizard

* v
* t
* e

Eisner Awards

Current Awards|

| Awards for People|

* Coloring
* Cover Artist (multiple covers)
* Lettering
* Painter/Digital Artist
* Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
* Writer
* Writer/Artist

|

Awards for Works|

* Academic/Scholarly Work
* Adaptation from Another Medium
* Anthology
* Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books
* Archival Collection/Project—Strips
* Comics-Related Book
* Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism
* Continuing Series
* Digital Comic
* Early Readers
* Humor
* Graphic Album—New
* Graphic Album—Reprint
* Graphic Memoir
* Kids
* Limited Series
* New Series
* Publication Design
* Reality-Based Work
* Short Story
* Single Issue/One-Shot
* Teens
* U.S. Edition of International Material
* U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia
* Webcomic

Special Awards|

* Spirit of Comics Retailer Award
* Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award
* Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame

Former awards|

| Awards for People|

* Art Team
* Artist
* Editor
* Inker
* Penciller
* Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition
* Writer/Artist — Humor
* Writer/Artist — Drama
* Writer/Artist–Nonfiction
* Special Recognition

|

Awards for Works|

* Adaptation from Another Work
* Archival Collection/Project
* Black-and-White Series
* Comics-Related Periodical/Publication
* Comics-Related Product/Item
* Comics-Related Publication
* Comics-Related Sculpted Figures
* Graphic Album
* Serialized Story
* U.S. Edition of International Material—Japan
* Younger Readers/Younger Audience

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