Were The Eisner Choices Good?

Today, the winners of the Eisner Awards were chosen.

I will list the nominees, then the winner and then whether I thought it was a good pick.

Best Short Story

NOMINEES

“Eve O’ Twins,” by Craig Thompson, in Rosetta 2 (Alternative)
“Glenn Ganges: Jeepers Jacobs,” by Kevin Huizenga, in Kramer’s Ergot 5 (Gingko Press)
“God” (story on wrap-around dust jacket) by Chris Ware, in McSweeney’s Quarterly #13 (McSweeney’s)
“The Price,” by Neil Gaiman and Michael Zulli, in Creatures of the Night (Dark Horse Books)
“Unfamiliar,” by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson, in The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft (Dark Horse Books)
“Where Monsters Dine,” by Troy Hickman, Angel Medina, and Jon Holdredge, in Common Grounds #5 (Top Cow/Image)

WINNER

“Unfamiliar,” by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson, in The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft (Dark Horse Books)

GOOD?

Of the stories above, this was my favorite, so I think this was a good pick. Although, as usual, the choices in this category were strong, and I would not have had a problem with almost any story winning...except maybe Hickman's piece, as that was NOT one of the best Common Grounds pieces and Gaiman's, which did not seem all that extraordinary to me.

Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)

NOMINEES

Demo #7: “One Shot, Don’t Miss,” by Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan (AiT/Planet Lar)
Eightball #23: “The Death Ray,” by Dan Clowes (Fantagraphics)
Ex Machina #1: “The Pilot,” by Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, and Tom Feister (WildStorm/DC)
Global Frequency #12: “Harpoon,” by Warren Ellis and Gene Ha (WildStorm/DC)
The Goon #6: “Ilagarto Hombre!,” by Eric Powell (Dark Horse)

WINNER

Eightball #23: "The Death Ray," by Dan Clowes (Fantagraphics)

GOOD?

No argument from me. First off, Global Frequency #12 was not even the best issue of that series. I liked Ex Machina #1, but I think Clowes' two biggest competitors were Powell and Wood and Cloonan. Since Powell was going to have other opportunities later, I have no problem with this pick.

Best Serialized Story

NOMINEES

Astonishing X-Men #1-6: “Gifted,” by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday (Marvel)
Ex Machina #2-5: “State of Emergency,” by Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, and Tom Feister (WildStorm/DC)
Fables #19-27: “March of the Wooden Soldiers,” by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, and Steve Leialoha (Vertigo/DC)
Planetary #19-20: “Mystery in Space/Rendezvous,” by Warren Ellis and John Cassaday (WildStorm/DC)
Y: The Last Man #18-20: “Safeword,” by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, and José Marzan Jr. (Vertigo/DC)

WINNER

Fables #19-27: “March of the Wooden Soldiers,” by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, and Steve Leialoha (Vertigo/DC)

GOOD?

Wow...not exactly the greatest category here. Of the group, I enjoyed the winner the most, so I can't complain...but I CAN sorta complain about this story being the best of the year. Seems hard to believe (I DID like it, though!).

Best Continuing Series

NOMINEES

Astonishing X-Men, by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday (Marvel)
Ex Machina, by Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, and Tom Fesiter (WildStorm/DC)
The Goon, by Eric Powell (Dark Horse)
Stray Bullets, by David Lapham (El Capitan)
Y: The Last Man, by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, and José Marzan Jr. (Vertigo/DC)

WINNER

The Goon, by Eric Powell (Dark Horse)

GOOD?

I liked this pick a lot. I think the only real challenger to the Goon would be Stray Bullets, and, well, let's be honest...we all know Stray Bullets is good. Powell could use the Eisner more than Lapham. I like Y and Ex Machina both, but not nearly as much as Goon.

Best Limited Series

NOMINEES

DC: The New Frontier, by Darwyn Cooke (DC)
Demo, by Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan (AiT/Planet Lar)
30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow, by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith (IDW)
WE3, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (Vertigo/DC)
Wanted, by Mark Millar and J. G. Jones (Top Cow/Image)

WINNER

DC: The New Frontier, by Darwyn Cooke (DC)

GOOD?

OUCH...what a tough call this was. I think I would go with the winner here, over WE3...but MAN, was this a tough category.

Best New Series

NOMINEES

Astonishing X-Men, by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday (Marvel)
Doc Frankenstein, by the Wachowski Brothers and Steve Scroce (Burlyman)
Ex Machina, by Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, and Tom Fesiter (WildStorm/DC)
The Shaolin Cowboy, by Geof Darrow (Burlyman)

WINNER

Ex Machina, by Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, and Tom Fesiter (WildStorm/DC)

GOOD?

The Burlyman books are fun, but I think Ex Machina was a fine pick here. I would concur with the selection (although, did nothing else good start new this year? Only four nominees?!)

Best Publication for a Younger Audience

NOMINEES

Amelia Rules!, (Renaissance Press) and Amelia Rules! What Makes You Happy (iBooks) by Jimmy Gownley
Courtney Crumrin in the Twilight Kingdom, by Ted Naifeh (Oni)
Owly, by Andy Runton (Top Shelf)
Plastic Man, by Kyle Baker and Scott Morse (DC)
Tommysaurus Rex, by Doug TenNapel (Image)

WINNER

Plastic Man, by Kyle Baker and Scott Morse (DC)

GOOD?

I totally agree with Plastic Man being the best of this group, but I didn't know Plastic Man was FOR a younger audience. If we WERE to not count Plas, I would go with Courtney Crumrin JUST a bit over Owly.

Best Humor Publication

NOMINEES

Angry Youth Comix, by Johnny Ryan (Fantagraphics)
Birth of a Nation, by Aaron McGruder, Reginald Hudlin, and Kyle Baker (Crown)
The Goon, by Eric Powell (Dark Horse)
Kyle Baker, Cartoonist, by Kyle Baker (Kyle Baker Publishing)
Plastic Man, by Kyle Baker and Scott Morse (DC)

WINNER

The Goon, by Eric Powell (Dark Horse)

GOOD?

Definitely one of the best books out there, so I enjoyed this pick, although I do like Kyle Baker a lot (as does the Eisner nominating committee...hehe).

Best Anthology

NOMINEES

Common Grounds, by Troy Hickman and others, edited by Jim McLauchlin (Top Cow/Image)
The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft, edited by Scott Allie (Dark Horse Books)
The Matrix Comics, vol. 2, edited by Spencer Lamm (Burlyman)
McSweeney’s Quarterly #13, edited by Chris Ware (McSweeney’s)
Michael Chabon Presents The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist, edited by Diana Schutz and David Land (Dark Horse)

WINNER

Michael Chabon Presents The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist, edited by Diana Schutz and David Land (Dark Hors

GOOD?

If the category was "best collection of talent," then yes, I would agree, but I do not think the Escapist was as good as the Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft OR McSweeney's Quarterly #13 OR Common Grounds!

To be fair, though, I really enjoyed Book of Witchcraft, Common Grounds and McSweeney's Quarterly, so that is not meant as an insult of the Escapist, which I have enjoyed.

Best Digital Comic

NOMINEES

Athena Voltaire, by Steve Bryant www.athenavoltaire.com
Bento & Starchky, by zer0 (Peter Branting) http://www.noapologiespress.com/zer0comics/bento.htm
Copper, by Kazu www.boltcity.com/copper_home.htm
Jonny Crossbones, by Les McClaine www.evilspacerobot.com/comics/jonnycrossbones/index.htm
Mom's Cancer, by Brian Fies www.momscancer.com/eisner.htm
ojingogo, by matt forsythe www.comingupforair.net/comics/ojingogo.html

WINNER

Mom's Cancer, by Brian Fies www.momscancer.com/eisner.htm

GOOD?

I would have chosen Copper, because I think it is super cool, but Mom's Cancer is a good choice as well. I believe it is being collected into print soon...well deserved.

Best Graphic Album—New

NOMINEES

Blacksad Book 2: Arctic Nation, by Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido (iBooks)
It’s a Bird . . ., by Steven T. Seagle and Teddy Kristiansen (Vertigo/DC)
The Originals, by Dave Gibbons (Vertigo/DC)
Suspended in Language, by Jim Ottaviani and Leland Purvis (GT Labs)
Tommysaurus Rex, by Doug TenNapel (Image)

WINNER

The Originals, by Dave Gibbons (Vertigo/DC)

GOOD?

I wrote here about how much I liked the Originals, but I think I would have gone with It's a Bird...

But Originals is good, so I cannot quibble much.

Best Graphic Album—Reprint

NOMINEES

Age of Bronze: Sacrifice, by Eric Shanower (Image)
Bone One Volume Edition, by Jeff Smith (Cartoon Books)
The Book of Ballads, by Charles Vess and others (Tor)
Clyde Fans, by Seth (Drawn & Quarterly)
In the Shadow of No Towers, by art spiegelman (Pantheon)
Locas, by Jaime Hernandez (Fantagraphics)

WINNER

Bone One Volume Edition, by Jeff Smith (Cartoon Books)

GOOD?

This was really a no-brainer. No offense to the other nominees, but the ENTIRE run in one volume!!! Who can beat that??!?

Best Archival Collection/Project

NOMINEES

The Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker, edited by Robert Mankoff (Black Dog & Leventhal)
The Complete Peanuts, edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)
DC Comics Rarities Archives, vol. 1, edited by Dale Crain (DC)
Krazy and Ignatz, edited by Bill Blackbeard and Derya Ataker (Fantagraphics)
Russ Manning’s Magnus, Robot Fighter, vol. 1, edited by Katie Moody, Mike Carriglitto, and David Land (Dark Horse Books)

WINNER

The Complete Peanuts, edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)

GOOD?

This is another one where the frontrunner was going to be hard to beat, and I agree with the decision, although Dark Horse's Gold Key remakes are beautiful.

Best U.S. Edition of Foreign Material

NOMINEES

Barefoot Gen: A Cartoon Story of Hiroshima, vols. 1-2, by Keiji Nahazawa (Last Gasp)
Blacksad Book 2: Arctic Nation, by Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido (iBooks)
Buddha, vols. 3-4 by Osamu Tezuka (Vertical)
Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return, by Marjane Satrapi (Pantheon)
Tokyo Tribes, by Santa Inoue (TOKYOPOP)

WINNER

Buddha, vols. 3-4 by Osamu Tezuka (Vertical)

GOOD?

I would have preferred Blacksad, but I cannot quibble much with Buddha, as it is a fine title.

Best Writer

NOMINEES

Steve Niles, 30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow; 30Days of Night: Bloodsucker Tales; Aleister Arcane (IDW); Freaks of the Heartland; Last Train to Deadsville (Dark Horse)
Greg Rucka, Queen & Country (Oni); Gotham Central (DC)
Brian K. Vaughan, Y: The Last Man (Vertigo/DC); Ex Machina (WildStorm/DC); Runaways (Marvel)
Joss Whedon, Astonishing X-Men (Marvel)
Bill Willingham, Fables (Vertigo/DC)

WINNER

Brian K. Vaughan, Y: The Last Man (Vertigo/DC); Ex Machina (WildStorm/DC); Runaways (Marvel)

GOOD?

From the amount of nominations his titles got, this seemed clear. Of those choices, he is probably the best pick. Willingham is rocking on Fables, but is disappointing on Robin. Niles continues his (in my mind) impressive stretch of writing, but his highlight series of the year (Return to Barrow) just wasn't that good, I do not think. His non-30 Days work, though, has been excellent.

Best Writer/Artist

NOMINEES

Paul Chadwick, Concrete: The Human Dilemma (Dark Horse)
Dan Clowes, Eightball #23 (Fantagraphics)
David Lapham, Stray Bullets (El Capitan)
Stan Sakai, Usagi Yojimbo (Dark Horse)
Adrian Tomine, Optic Nerve #9 (Drawn & Quarterly)

WINNER

Paul Chadwick, Concrete: The Human Dilemma (Dark Horse)

GOOD?

I like Chadwick, but I just don't get this pick. I would have figured it would go to Clowes or Tomine...mainly because I think they are better than Chadwick.

Best Writer/Artist—Humor

NOMINEES

Kyle Baker, Plastic Man (DC); Kyle Baker, Cartoonist (Kyle Baker Publishing)
Phil Foglio, Girl Genius (Airship Entertainment)
Scott Kurtz, PvP (Image)
Eric Powell, The Goon (Dark Horse)
Johnny Ryan, Angry Youth Comix (Fantagraphics)

WINNER

Eric Powell, The Goon (Dark Horse)

GOOD?

Poor Baker. He is excellent, but this year at least, Powell is doing a bit better. Good pick.

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team

NOMINEES

Charles Adlard, The Walking Dead (Image)
John Cassaday, Astonishing X-Men (Marvel); Planetary (WildStorm/DC); I Am Legion: The Dancing Faun (Humanoids/DC)
Geof Darrow, Shaolin Cowboy (Burlyman)
Cary Nord/Thomas Yeates, Conan (Dark Horse)
Frank Quitely, WE3 (Vertigo/DC)

WINNER

John Cassaday, Astonishing X-Men (Marvel); Planetary (WildStorm/DC); I Am Legion: The (Edited to add: Frank Quitely, WE3 (Vertigo/DC))

GOOD?

Well, there's got to be SOME reason why Astonishing keeps popping up on the nominees list, and Cassaday is as good a reason as any. I think Quitely did a better job on WE3 than Cassaday, but Cassaday also did quite a bit more work than Quitely this year (and his art IS quite good), so I have no problem with this win. (EDITED TO ADD: Apparently, Quitely tied Cassaday, so I have no complaints...hehe).

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)

NOMINEES

Juanjo Guarnido, Blacksad, Book 2: Arctic Nation (iBooks)
Teddy Kristiansen, It’s a Bird . . . (Vertigo/DC)
David Mack, Kabuki (Marvel)
Ben Templesmith, 30 Days of Night: Return to Barrow (IDW)
Michael Zulli, Creatures of the Night (Dark Horse Books)

WINNER

Teddy Kristiansen, It's a Bird... (Vertigo/DC)

GOOD?

It is good to see It's a Bird... get attention, but I don't think there is an artist out there who is doing better paint/multimedia work than Mack.

Best Coloring

NOMINEES

Peter Doherty, Shaolin Cowboy (Burlyman)
Steven Griffen, Hawaiian Dick: The Last Resort (Image)
Laura Martin, Astonishing X-Men (Marvel); Ministry of Space (Image); Planetary (WildStorm/DC); I Am Legion: The Dancing Faun (Humanoids/DC)
J. D. Mettler, Ex Machina (WildStorm/DC)
Dave Stewart, Daredevil, Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Six, Captain America (Marvel); Conan, BPRD (Dark Horse)l DC: The New Frontier (DC)

WINNER

Dave Stewart, Daredevil, Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Six, Captain America (Marvel); Conan, BPRD (Dark Horse)l DC: The New Frontier (DC)

GOOD?

Stewart is doing amazing work on Conan...just ay-may-zing. One of the best ARTISTS in comics today, I think...so yeah, I think this was a good pick.

Best Lettering

NOMINEES

Todd Klein, Promethea; Tom Strong; Tom Strong’s Terrific Tales (ABC); Wonder Woman (DC); Books of Magick: Life During Wartime; Fables; WE3 (Vertigo/DC); Creatures of the Night (Dark Horse)
Stan Sakai, Usagi Yojimbo (Dark Horse)
Dave Sim, Cerebus (Aardvark Vanaheim)
Craig Thompson, Carnet de Voyage (Top Shelf); “Eve O’ Twins” in Rosetta 2 (Alternative)

WINNER

Todd Klein, Promethea; Tom Strong; Tom Strong’s Terrific Tales (ABC); Wonder Woman (DC); Books of Magick: Life During Wartime; Fables; WE3 (Vertigo/DC); Creatures of the Night (Dark Horse)

GOOD?

The sun rises in the east, sets in the west, Todd Klein is a great letterer...some of the facts of life. Fine pick.

Best Cover Artist

NOMINEES

Kieron Dwyer, Remains (IDW)
James Jean, Fables (Vertigo/DC); Green Arrow, Batgirl (DC)
Tony Moore, The Walking Dead (Image)
Frank Quitely, Bite Club; WE3 (Vertigo/DC)
Michael Turner, Identity Crisis (DC)

WINNER

James Jean, Fables (Vertigo/DC); Green Arrow, Batgirl (DC)

GOOD?

Michael Turner wuz robbed!!

Seriously, Jean is also amazing. Great pick.

Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition

NOMINEES

Frank Cammuso (Max Hamm, Fairy Tale Detective)
Bosch Fawstin (Table for One)
Matt Kindt (Two Sisters; Pistolwhip)
Sean McKeever (A Waiting Place; Mary Jane; Inhumans; Sentinels)
Raina Telgemeier (“Smile,” Takeout)

WINNER

Sean McKeever (A Waiting Place; Mary Jane; Inhumans; Sentinels)

GOOD? I didn't like this one. I like McKeever and all, but the guy is MAINSTREAM! How do you give "needs more recognition" to the guy who is mainstream?!? It just seems so unfair and against the purpose of the award. He IS good, though.

I wrote about the nominees here.

Best Comics-Related Periodical

NOMINEES

Comic Art, edited by M. Todd Hignite (Comic Art)
Comic Book Artist, edited by Jon B. Cooke (Top Shelf)
Draw!, edited by Mike Manley (TwoMorrows)
Indy Magazine online (www.indyworld.com), edited by Bill Kartalopoulos (Alternative)

WINNER

Comic Book Artist, edited by Jon B. Cooke (Top Shelf)

GOOD? I like all the nominees here, so CBA is fine by me.

Best Comics-Related Book

NOMINEES

The Art of Usagi Yojimbo, by Stan Sakai (Dark Horse Books)
Chris Ware, by Daniel Raeburn (Monographics/Yale University Press)
Give Our Regards to the Atom Smashers, edited by Sean Howe (Pantheon)
Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth of the Comic Book, by Gerard Jones (Basic Books)
Strangers in Paradise Treasury Edition, by Terry Moore (HarperCollins Perennial)

WINNER

Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth of the Comic Book, by Gerard Jones (Basic Books)

GOOD? I liked his book (he is a much better author than he was comic book writer), but I thought it was missing a bit in some areas. Still, good book, and a deserving winner, I think.

Best Publication Design

NOMINEES

The Art of Usagi Yojimbo, designed by Cary Grazzini (Dark Horse Books)
Clyde’s Fans, designed by Seth (Drawn & Quarterly)
The Complete Peanuts, designed by Seth (Fantagraphics)
In the Shadow of No Towers, designed by art spiegelman (Pantheon)
McSweeney’s Quarterly #13, designed by Chris Ware (McSweeney’s)

WINNER

The Complete Peanuts, designed by Seth (Fantagraphics)

GOOD?

Seth is a fine artist, so this was no surprise. Striking design. I enjoyed it a lot.

Hall of Fame

Judges’ Choices: Lou Fine; René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo

NOMINEES (Four will be selected from them)

Matt Baker
Wayne Boring
Nick Cardy
Yves Chaland
Gene Colan
Johnny Craig
Reed Crandall
Floyd Gottfredson
Frank Hampson
Graham Ingels
Robert Kanigher
William Moulton Marston
Hugo Pratt
Frank Robbins

WINNERS

Nick Cardy, Gene Colan, Johnny Craig, Hugo Pratt

GOOD?

Colan and Craig are no-brainers.

As for the last two, Pratt and Cardy are fine, although I would have substituted Boring for Cardy and Crandall for Pratt. But the four choices are fine. No real shocks.

All in all, I thought the voters did a fine choice. Most of the ones I thought SHOULD win DID win, which was nice.

Well, that's it for me.

How about the rest of you?

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