Eisner Awards

Last updated
Eisner Awards
Eisner Award Trophy.png
Awarded forCreative achievement in American comic books
Location San Diego Comic-Con
CountryUnited States
First award1988;37 years ago (1988)
Website www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-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]

Contents

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, awards are presented in 32 categories.

History

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

Awards are currently presented in 32 categories for works published in the previous year. [7]

Current

List of current Eisner Award categories
Year introducedCategory
1993 Best Short Story
1988 [note 1] Best Single Issue/One-Shot
1988 Best Continuing Series
1988Best Limited Series
1988Best New Series
2012 Best Publication for Early Readers
2008 Best Publication for Kids
2008 Best Publication for Teens
1992Best Humor Publication
1992 Best Anthology
2006 Best Reality-Based Work
2021 Best Graphic Memoir
1991Best Graphic Album—New
1991Best Graphic Album—Reprint
2013 [note 2] Best Adaptation from Another Medium
1998 Best U.S. Edition of International Material
2010 Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia
2006 Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips
2006Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books
1988 Best Writer
1988Best Writer/Artist
1994 Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
1993 [note 3] Best Painter/Digital Artist
1992 Best Cover Artist
1992 Best Coloring
1993 Best Lettering
2008Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism
1992Best Comics-Related Book
2012 Best Academic/Scholarly Work
1993Best Publication Design
2005 Best Digital Comic [8]
2017 Best Webcomic [9]

Past awards

List of discontinued Eisner Award categories
Year introducedDiscontinuedCategory
19881989Best Graphic Album
19881989Best Art Team
19881991Best Black-and-White Series
19921999Best Editor
1992 [note 4] 2002Best Comics-Related Product/Item
1992 [note 5] 2007Best Comics-Related Periodical/Publication
19932005Best Archival Collection/Project
19932006Best Serialized Story
19952006Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition [10]
19952008Best Writer/Artist: Humor
19962007Best Title for Younger Readers / Younger Audience
19972008Best Writer/Artist: Drama
19991999Best Comics-Related Sculpted Figures
20032003Best Comics-Related Publication (Periodical or Book)
20072009 Best U.S. Edition of International Material–Japan [10]
20072008Special Recognition
20102010Best Writer/Artist - Nonfiction
20102011 Best Adaptation from Another Work

Past winners

See also

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

Other comics-related awards:

Notes

  1. ↑ Not awarded in 2009.
  2. ↑ Not awarded in 2015 or 2017.
  3. ↑ Not awarded in 2012.
  4. ↑ Not awarded in 1993.
  5. ↑ Not awarded in 2001.

References

  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. 1 2 3 4 "The Eisner Awards: A Brief History" Archived 2011-05-20 at the Wayback Machine , Comic-con.org. WebCitation archive (requires scrolldown).
  4. 1 2 "The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards", Comic-con.org. WebCitation archive (requires scrolldown).
  5. 1 2 "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". Comic-Con International. Archived from the original on 2025-11-17. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  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. 1 2 "2007 Eisner Nominations announced". Comic Book Resources . 2007-04-19. Retrieved 2016-07-14.
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