Eisner Nominees
Lance Squiddie Smith
Here are the Eisner Award nominees as reported in the most
recent issue of the CBG. (Any mistakes are probably my fault.
It's this darn Macintosh keyboard.) The ballots are sent out
to comic pros in May and the awards are handed out at the
San Diego Comic Con.
I'll add some of my own comments.
1. Best Single Issue
The Acme Novelty Library #1 by Chris Ware (Fantagraphics)
Batman Adventures Holiday Special by Paul Dinni, Bruce Timm, Ronnie Del
Carmen, and others (DC)
Bone #16: "Eyes of the Storm," by Jeff Smith (Cartoon Books)
The Dance of Lifey Death, by Eddie Campbell (Dark Horse)
Sandman Mystery Theatre Annual #1, by Matt Wagner, Steven Seagle, and
various artists (DC/Vertigo)
Comment: A good selection. I think I might have included Books of Magic #5
instead of one of these, but these are all good. I'd probably go with
The Dance of Lifey Death even though it's a bit of a hodgepodge.
2. Best Short Story
"The Babe Wore Red," by Frank Miller, Sin City: The Babe Wore Red and
Other Stories (Dark Horse/Legend)
"The Hannah Story," by Carol Tyler, Drawn & Quarterly, Vol. 2, #2
(Drawn & Quarterly)
"Laughter After Midnight," by Paul Dini and John Byrne, The Batman
Adventures Annual #1 (DC)
"The Lot," by John Ney Rieber and Gary Amaro, Vertigo Rave (DC/Vertigo)
"The Virgin," by Peter Kuper, Wild Life #1 (Fantagraphics)
"We Can Get Them For You Wholesale," based on a story by Neil Gaiman,
adapted by Joe Pruett and Ken Meyer Jr., Negative Burn #11 (Caliber
Press)
Comment: I always have trouble with this category as short stories are
hard to find in the absence of good anthologies. I have no real choice
here.
3. Best Serialized Story
Grendel Tales: Devils and Deaths, by Darko Macan and Edvin Biukovic
(Dark Horse)
"Hellboy: Wolves of St. August," by Mike Mignola, Dark Horse Presents
#88-91 (Dark Horse)
"It's A Good Life If You Don't Weaken," by Seth, Palooka-ville #4-8
(Drawn & Quarterly)
"The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck," by Don Rosa, Uncle Scrooge
#285-296 (Gladstone)
"Sacrifices," by John Ney Rieber and Peter Gross, Books of Magic #6-8
(DC/Vertigo)
"Sins of the Father," by James Robinson and Tony Harris, Starman #0-3
(DC)
Comment: Again, a very strong field. I'd vote for Devils and Deaths,
but I liked all of these.
4. Best Continuing Series
Bone, by Jeff Smith (Cartoon Books)
Books of Magic, by John Ney Rieber, Gary Amaro, and Peter Gross
(DC/Vertigo)
Icon, by Dwayne McDuffie and M.D. Bright (Milestone)
Starman, by James Robinson and Tony Harris (DC)
Strangers in Paradise, by Terry Moore (Abstract Studio)
Uncle Scrooge, by Don Rosa and others (Gladstone)
Comment: I read all of these regularly. They're all excellent. I'd
say Starman here.
5. Best Limited Series
Concrete: Killer Smile, by Paul Chadwick (Dark Horse/Legend)
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, by Frank Miller (Dark Horse/Legend)
The Tale of One Bad Rat, by Bryan Talbot (Dark Horse)
Witchcraft, by James Robinson, Teddy Kristiansen, Peter Snejberg,
Steve Yeowell, and Michael Zulli (DC/Vertigo)
Comment: The Tale of One Bad Rat here, though Killer Smile was a
strong return for Concrete.
6. Best New Series
Don Simpson's Bizarre Heroes, by Don Simpson (Fiasco)
Roarin' Rick's Rare Bit Fiends, by Rick Veitch (King Hell)
S. R. Bissette's Tyrant, by Steve Bissette (Spiderbaby Graphix)
THB, by Paul Pope (Horse Press)
Too Much Coffeeman, by Shannon Wheeler (Adhesive)
Comment: Um, I dunno. Doesn't Starman count as a new series? I'll
pass on this.
7. Best Anthology
Big Book of Urban Legends, edited by Andy Helfer (Paradox Press)
Dark Horse Presents, edited by Randy Stradley and Bob Schreck (Dark
Horse)
Drawn & Quarterly, edited by Chris Oliveros (Drawn & Quarterly)
Twisted Sisters Comics, edited by Diane Noomin (Kitchen Sink)
Comment: DHP in a weaker field. Action Girl next year.
8. Best Graphic Novel - New
Ballad of Doctor Richardson, by Paul Pope (Horse Press)
Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde Vol. 2, by P. Craig Russell (NBM)
Introducing Kafka, by D. Z. Mairowitz and R. Crumb (Kitchen Sink)
Jar of Fools Part I, by Jason Lutes (Penny Dreadful)
Our Cancer Year, by Havey Pekar, Joyce Brabner, and Frank Stack (Four
Walls, Eight Windows)
Paul Auster's City of Glass, by Paul Karasik andDavid Mazzucchelli
(Avon/NeonLit)
Comment: No Mr Punch? I don't think I'd call Jar of Fools a Graphic
Novel as it's a strip that's been collected. Anyway, these are all
good. Our Cancer Year or City of Glass.
9. Best Graphic Album - Reprint
Andrew Vachss' Hard Looks Book I, edited by Jerry Prosser (Dark Horse)
The Collected Strangers in Paradise, by Terry Moore (Abstract Studio)
The Complete Concrete, by Paul Chadwick (Dark Horse)
Hellboy: Seeds of Destruction, by Mike Mignola (Dark Horse)
Love and Rockets 12: Poison River, by Gilbert Hernandez (Fantagraphics)
Comment: Strangers in Paradise. I like the original mini-series a bit
more than the current series. The Complete Concrete almost feels more
like an archival collection. I wonder how they differentiate.
10. Best Archival Collection
The Christmas Spirit, by Wil Eisner (Kitchen Sink)
The Comic Strip Art of Lyonel Feininger (Kitchen Sink)
Legion of Superheroes Archives Vol. 5, by Curt Swan and others (DC)
Pogo Vol. 2, by Walt Kelly (Fantagraphics)
Prince Valiant Vols. 20-22, by Hal Foster (Fantagraphics)
Comment: The Fantagraphic Pogo collections are very nice and more
affordable than some of these other collections.
11. Best Humor Publications
Bone, by Jeff Smith (Cartoon Books)
Groo, by Sergio Aragones with Mark Evanier (Epic/Image)
Hate, by Peter Bagge (Fantagraphics)
Radioactive Man, by Steve Vance, Bill Morrison and Cindy Vance (Bongo)
Ranma 1/2, by Rumiko Takahashi (Viz)
Comment: It's a wide range of titles for the humor category. It's a complete
toss up.
12. Best Writer
Dwayne McDuffie, Icon (Milestone)
Alan Moore, From Hell (Kitchen Sink)
Harvey Pekar, American Splendor: A Step Out of the Nest (Dark Horse)
Pekar/Joyce Brabner, Our Cancer Year (4 Walls/8 Windows)
James Robinson, Starman (DC); Witchcraft (DC/Vertigo)
Matt Wagner/Steven Seagle, Sandman Mystery Theatre (DC/Vertigo)
Comment: So where's John Ney Rieber's name? For that matter, I still
think Gaiman is still doing top stuff. I'll say Robinson.
13. Best Writer/Artist
Paul Chadwick, Concrete: Killer Smile (Dark Horse/Legend)
Jason Lutes, Jar of Fools (Penny Dreadful)
Mike Mignola, Hellboy: Seeds of Destruction (Dark Horse/Legend)
Terry Moore, Strangers in Paradise (Abstract Studio)
Bryan Talbot, The Tale of One Bad Rat (Dark Horse)
Comment: Frightenling good field. Jason Lutes or Bryan Talbot.
14. Best Writer/Artist, Humor
Sergio Aragones, Groo (Epic/Image)
Nina Paley, Nina's New & Improved All-Time Greatest Collector's
Item Classics Comics #1 (Dark Horse)
Don Rosa, Uncle Scrooge (Gladstone)
Jeff Smith, Bone (Cartoon Books)
Rumiko Takahashi, Ranma 1/2 (Viz)
Chris Ware, The Acme Novelty Library (Fantagraphics)
Comment: Chris Ware and Nina Paley are a bit of a surprise. They
both have a serious side to their work. Tough choice. I'd go with
Aragones. The humor categories are definitely the most competetive
this year.
15. Best Painter
Christoper Moeller, Shadow Empires: Faith Conquers (Dark Horse)
Jon J. Muth, Mystery Play (DC/Vertigo)
Miguelanxo Prado, Streak of Chalk (NBM)
Jim Silke, Rascals in Paradise (Dark Horse)
Jim Woodring, Jim (Fantagraphics)
Comment: Muth probably. I'd forgotten that Mystery Play came out in
1994.
16. Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
Edvin Biukovic, Grendel Tales: Devils and Deaths (Dark Horse)
Dave Gibbons, Martha Washington Goes to War (Dark Horse)
Tony Harris/Wade von Grawbadger, Starman (DC)
David Mazzucchelli, Paul Auster's City of Glass (Avon/NeonLit)
Mike Parobeck/Rich Burchett, The Batman Adventures (DC)
P. Craig Russell, Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde Vol. 2 (NBM)
Comment: All good and very different styles. My personal
favorite is Biukovic.
17.Best Coloring
Peter Bagge/Mary Woodring, Hate (Fantagraphics)
Elizabeth Chadwick, Concrete: Killer Smile (Dark Horse/Legend)
Susan Daigle-Leach, Uncle Scrooge (Gladstone)
Angus McKie, Martha Washington Goes to War (Dark Horse)
Chris Ware, The Acme Novelty Library (Fantagraphics)
Comment: None of the big coloring shops this year. Not sure
about some of these choices.
18. Best Lettering
Todd Klein, Batman vs. Predator II (DC/Dark Horse); The Demon (DC)
The Sandman (DC/Vertigo); Uncle Scrooge (Gladstone)
Stan Sakai, Groo (Epic/Image); Usagi Yojimbo (Mirage)
Dave Sim, Cerebus (Aardvark-Vanaheim)
Chris Ware, The Acme Novelty Library (Fantagraphics)
Comment: Normally, I'd say Sim. However, he didn't do much in 1994.
Klein's range of titles and the different styles involved is the most
impressive.
19. Best Cover Artist
Glenn Fabry, Hellblazer (DC/Vertigo)
Tony Harris, Starman (DC)
Terry Moore, Strangers in Paradise (Abstract Studio)
Don Rosa, Uncle Scrooge (Gladstone)
Rick Veitch, Roarin' Rick's Rare Bit Fiends (King Hell)
Charles Vess, Books of Magic (DC/Vertigo)
Comment: Charles Vess just because of his sidebars.
20. Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition
Evan Dorkin, Milk and Cheese, Hectic Planet, Dork, Instant Piano
Paul Grist, Kane, Grendel Tales
Nina Paley, Nina's Adventures
Don Simpson, Don Simpson's Bizarre Heroes
Rumiko Takahashi, Ranma 1/2, Mermaid Forest
Comment: I don't understand this category or the selections. There are
other nominees who have received far less recognition than most of the
people listed here. None of these nominees are really obscure. I'll
pass.
21. Best Editor
Karen Berger, The Sandman, Sandman Mystery Theatre (DC/Vertigo)
Andy Helfer, Big Book of Urban Legends (Paradox Press)
Dwayne McDuffie, Worlds Collide, Xombi, Shadow Cabinet (Milestone)
Bob Schreck, Madman, Dark Horse Presents, Rascals in Paradise (Dark Horse)
Diana Schutz, Grendel Tales, American Splendor, The Dance of Lifey
Death (Dark Horse)
Comment: Diana Schutz for no particular reason.
22. Best Comics-Related Publication
Getting into the Business of Comics, by Lurene Haines (Starbur)
Hero Illustrated (Warrior Publications)
Kitchen Sink Press: The First 25 Years, by David Schreiner (Kitchen Sink)
Masters of Imagination, by Mike Benton (Taylor)
Superman and Batman Magazine (DC/Welsh Publishing)
Comment: Whatever.
23. Best Comics-Related Items
Bone figurine, sculpted by Jeff Smith and Randy Bowen (Dark Horse)
Eightball and Hate Zippo lighters (Smoke King)
Madman trading cards, by various artists (Dark Horse/Legend)
The Complete Maus CD-ROM, produced by Elizabeth Scarborough (Voyager)
R. Crumb's Devil Girl Choco-Bars and display box, designed by
R. Crumb (Kitchen Sink)
Sandman Arabian Nights statue, designed by P. Craig Russell and
sculpted by Randy Bowen (DC/Graphitti Designs)
Comment: The lighters are way cool. I loved the idea of the Devil
Girl Choco-Bar. If you got one that was well-painted, the Sandman
statue is the nicest of the recent statue craze. I'd go with the
lighters, but only if they include the Wolverton and Jimbo lighters
in the mix.
24.Best Publication Design
The Acme Novely Library, designed by Chris Ware (Fantagraphics)
The Crow limited edition book & CD package, designed by John Bergin
(Graphitti)
Drawn & Quarterly (Drawn & Quarterly)
Paul Auster's City of Glass, designed by Art Spiegelman (Avon/NeonLit)
Violent Cases signed and numbered deluxe hardcover edition, designed by
Dave McKean (Kitchen Sink)
Worlds Collide #1, designed by Curtis King (Milestone)
Comments: I love what Ware is doing with the Acme Novelty Library.
Certainly the most inventive of the nominees.
25. Hall of Fame
Dan DeCarlo
Al Feldstein
Gardner Fox
Frank Frazetta
Herge'
Walt Kelly
Joe Kubert
Winsor McCay
Mac Raboy
Joe Simon
Comments: I think we get to pick two.
Walt Kelly and Winsor McCay. Herge' next year.
=============================
Lance "Cr2O3.2H2O" Smith | "Say, Jeeves. Have you seen my chum Nutty about?"
(lsm...@cs.umn.edu) | "I'm afraid, sir, the larder was a bit low and so
Accordionist at | I used him to make a sandwich for your lunch."
the Gates of Dawn | "Ah, quick thinking." _Jeeves goes Nuts_
bart
>
> Here are the Eisner Award nominees as reported in the most
> recent issue of the CBG
Thanks for typing all of this up. I let my CBG sub lag recently and
haven't bothered to renew since I've been getting less and less out
of it recently. I'm glad to see these hear, let's try and generate
some interest in some of these titles:
> 1. Best Single Issue
>
> The Acme Novelty Library #1 by Chris Ware (Fantagraphics)
>
> Batman Adventures Holiday Special by Paul Dinni, Bruce Timm
>
> Bone #16: "Eyes of the Storm," by Jeff Smith (Cartoon Books)
>
> The Dance of Lifey Death, by Eddie Campbell (Dark Horse)
>
> Sandman Mystery Theatre Annual #1, by Matt Wagner, Steven Seagle
Acme Novelty is surely the pick of this litter. The rest is all good stuff, not
the best of the year though.
Should win: Acme Will win: Batman Adventures
> 2. Best Short Story
>
> "The Babe Wore Red," by Frank Miller, Sin City: The Babe Wore Red
>
> "The Hannah Story," by Carol Tyler, Drawn & Quarterly, Vol. 2, #2
>
> "Laughter After Midnight," by Paul Dini and John Byrne,
>
> "The Lot," by John Ney Rieber and Gary Amaro, Vertigo Rave (DC/Vertigo)
>
> "The Virgin," by Peter Kuper, Wild Life #1 (Fantagraphics)
>
> "We Can Get Them For You Wholesale," by Joe Pruett and Ken Meyer Jr.,
This is a weak selection. Four of these I thought were really unremarkable,
the only good stories are the Tyler and the Dini/Byrne and neither of those
were the best stories in the books in which they appeared. The NB piece
isn't even close to being among the better stories they published last year,
and the Kuper story is one of his worst :( Bad selections here
Should win: The Hannah Story Will win: Babe Wore Red
> 3. Best Serialized Story
>
> Grendel Tales: Devils and Deaths, by Darko Macan and Edvin Biukovic
>
> "Hellboy: Wolves of St. August," by Mike Mignola, Dark Horse Presents
>
> "It's A Good Life If You Don't Weaken," by Seth, Palooka-ville #4-8
>
> "The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck," by Don Rosa, Uncle Scrooge
>
> "Sacrifices," by John Ney Rieber and Peter Gross, Books of Magic #6-8
>
> "Sins of the Father," by James Robinson and Tony Harris, Starman #0-3
Pretty stratified imo. Seth and Rosa are both working levels above anyone
else here. This category gives us some of the better mainstream stuff, but
they're dwarfed by two tremendous talents. Extremely tough choice, but
Should win: Seth Will win: Starman
> 4. Best Continuing Series
>
> Bone, by Jeff Smith (Cartoon Books)
>
> Books of Magic, by John Ney Rieber, Gary Amaro, and Peter Gross
>
> Icon, by Dwayne McDuffie and M.D. Bright (Milestone)
>
> Starman, by James Robinson and Tony Harris (DC)
>
> Strangers in Paradise, by Terry Moore (Abstract Studio)
>
> Uncle Scrooge, by Don Rosa and others (Gladstone)
For '94 Uncle Scrooge is outstanding, but nothing else here rises to that
level. Acme, Hepcats, Jim, Love and Rockets. Palookaville...There's a
dozen books I'd put above these in this category.
Should win: Uncle Scrooge Will win: Bone
> 5. Best Limited Series
>
> Concrete: Killer Smile, by Paul Chadwick (Dark Horse/Legend)
>
> Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, by Frank Miller (Dark Horse/Legend)
>
> The Tale of One Bad Rat, by Bryan Talbot (Dark Horse)
>
> Witchcraft, by James Robinson, Teddy Kristiansen, Peter Snejberg,
Hello? From Hell? Palestine? THB? Anyone out there?
Should win: One Bad Rat Will win: Sin City
> 6. Best New Series
>
> Don Simpson's Bizarre Heroes, by Don Simpson (Fiasco)
>
> Roarin' Rick's Rare Bit Fiends, by Rick Veitch (King Hell)
>
> S. R. Bissette's Tyrant, by Steve Bissette (Spiderbaby Graphix)
>
> THB, by Paul Pope (Horse Press)
>
> Too Much Coffeeman, by Shannon Wheeler (Adhesive)
THB is a limited series, TMCM isn't what I'd define as new in '94
since the first issue shipped in July '93 (Hello?) These aren't
bad choices really but Acme and True Swamp are better. None
of these are very Eisner awards-ish nominees, very strange.
Should win: THB Will win:THB
> 7. Best Anthology
>
> Big Book of Urban Legends,
>
> Dark Horse Presents,
>
> Drawn & Quarterly
>
> Twisted Sisters Comics
Drawn & Quarterly gets the nod over TS for better production quality.
The other two aren't really in the running as far as I'm concerned. I'm
not sure how the committee can forget to nominate Negative Burn after
selecting a short story from there and how they can forget to nominate
anything from Twisted Sisters after giving it the nod here. Weird.
Should win: DQ Will win: Big Book
> 8. Best Graphic Novel - New
>
> Ballad of Doctor Richardson, by Paul Pope (Horse Press)
>
> Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde Vol. 2, by P. Craig Russell (NBM)
>
> Introducing Kafka, by D. Z. Mairowitz and R. Crumb (Kitchen Sink)
>
> Jar of Fools Part I, by Jason Lutes (Penny Dreadful)
>
> Our Cancer Year, by Havey Pekar, Joyce Brabner, and Frank Stack
>
> Paul Auster's City of Glass, by Paul Karasik andDavid Mazzucchelli
By far the best all around choices of any category thus far, including four
things that were simply outstanding: Doc Richardson, OCY, Cof Glass,
and Jar (part 2 from Black Eye in July!). These books have the type of
quality that people lose sleep over trying to make choices.
Should: Ballad Will: Our Cancer Year
> 9. Best Graphic Album - Reprint
>
> Andrew Vachss' Hard Looks Book I, edited by Jerry Prosser (Dark Horse)
>
> The Collected Strangers in Paradise, by Terry Moore (Abstract Studio)
>
> The Complete Concrete, by Paul Chadwick (Dark Horse)
>
> Hellboy: Seeds of Destruction, by Mike Mignola (Dark Horse)
>
> Love and Rockets 12: Poison River, by Gilbert Hernandez (Fantagraphics)
What won best miniseries last year? That'll win this year :) They left out
Chester Brown's _I Never Liked You_ and Woodring's _Frank_, and that
doesn't leave us with a whole lot left to go on.
Should: Poison River Will: Strangers in Paradise
> 10. Best Archival Collection
>
> The Christmas Spirit, by Wil Eisner (Kitchen Sink)
>
> The Comic Strip Art of Lyonel Feininger (Kitchen Sink)
>
> Legion of Superheroes Archives Vol. 5, by Curt Swan and others (DC)
>
> Pogo Vol. 2, by Walt Kelly (Fantagraphics)
>
> Prince Valiant Vols. 20-22, by Hal Foster (Fantagraphics)
Everyone should have the Feininger. It's waaaaay out in front, that stuff
is impossible to find other than in this collection and that's why it should
get it. It won't get it because no one knows who the hell Feininger is so
it'll probably go to either LSH or Pogo
Should: Feininger Will: LSH
> 11. Best Humor Publications
>
> Bone, by Jeff Smith (Cartoon Books)
>
> Groo, by Sergio Aragones with Mark Evanier (Epic/Image)
>
> Hate, by Peter Bagge (Fantagraphics)
>
> Radioactive Man, by Steve Vance, Bill Morrison and Cindy Vance (Bongo)
>
> Ranma 1/2, by Rumiko Takahashi (Viz)
Can't say that I spend a lot of time thinking about any of these books. What
happened to Don Rosa, he was doing so well.
Should: Bone Will: Bone
> 12. Best Writer
>
> Dwayne McDuffie, Icon (Milestone)
>
> Alan Moore, From Hell (Kitchen Sink)
>
> Harvey Pekar, American Splendor: A Step Out of the Nest (Dark Horse)
> Pekar/Joyce Brabner, Our Cancer Year (4 Walls/8 Windows)
>
> James Robinson, Starman (DC); Witchcraft (DC/Vertigo)
>
> Matt Wagner/Steven Seagle, Sandman Mystery Theatre (DC/Vertigo)
Clowes, Brown, Pope, Ware???? Moore and Pekar/Brabner are miles
out front of the DC guys, of course one of the DC guys will undoubtedly get
it. Question is which one? Go where you'll draw no flames in racdu for
the answer.
Should: Pekar/Brabner Will: Robinson
> 13. Best Writer/Artist
>
> Paul Chadwick, Concrete: Killer Smile (Dark Horse/Legend)
>
> Jason Lutes, Jar of Fools (Penny Dreadful)
>
> Mike Mignola, Hellboy: Seeds of Destruction (Dark Horse/Legend)
>
> Terry Moore, Strangers in Paradise (Abstract Studio)
>
> Bryan Talbot, The Tale of One Bad Rat (Dark Horse)
Mignola didn't write any of the dialogue in SoD, Byrne did. Good choics,
folks (it also had some of the cheesiest dialogue I've read in recent years)
Chadwick's writing in KS was nowhere near what he's capable of, Moore
is still trying to find his voice imo. Lutes is a narrow pick over Talbot
Should: Lutes Will: Talbot
> 14. Best Writer/Artist, Humor
>
> Sergio Aragones, Groo (Epic/Image)
>
> Nina Paley, Nina's New & Improved All-Time Greatest Collector's
>
> Don Rosa, Uncle Scrooge (Gladstone)
>
> Jeff Smith, Bone (Cartoon Books)
>
> Rumiko Takahashi, Ranma 1/2 (Viz)
>
> Chris Ware, The Acme Novelty Library (Fantagraphics)
The Eisner Committee thinks Ware is a humour writer primarily.
Weird. How do you compare Don Rosa and Chris Ware?
Is Nina Paley only the second woman to be nominated at this
point? That's probably par for the course in this industry.
Should: Ware Will: Smith
> 15. Best Painter
>
> Christoper Moeller, Shadow Empires: Faith Conquers (Dark Horse)
>
> Jon J. Muth, Mystery Play (DC/Vertigo)
>
> Miguelanxo Prado, Streak of Chalk (NBM)
>
> Jim Silke, Rascals in Paradise (Dark Horse)
>
> Jim Woodring, Jim (Fantagraphics)
I've never even heard of Silke and Moeller (the first nominees where that's
happened). Doesn't really matter Prado's book was one of the best things
of the last few years. An easy choice for me
Should: Prado Will: Moeller (If that's a Star Wars thing)
> 16. Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
>
> Edvin Biukovic, Grendel Tales: Devils and Deaths (Dark Horse)
>
> Dave Gibbons, Martha Washington Goes to War (Dark Horse)
>
> Tony Harris/Wade von Grawbadger, Starman (DC)
>
> David Mazzucchelli, Paul Auster's City of Glass (Avon/NeonLit)
>
> Mike Parobeck/Rich Burchett, The Batman Adventures (DC)
>
> P. Craig Russell, Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde Vol. 2 (NBM)
They sure have weird tastes over on that committee. Try to picture
these colour books without colours and a lot of them lose some of
their allure. Mazzuchelli, on the other hand, is solid with everything he
touches and City is purely outstanding. Miles ahead of the pack
Should: Mazzuchelli Will: Gibbons
> 17.Best Coloring
>
> Peter Bagge/Mary Woodring, Hate (Fantagraphics)
>
> Elizabeth Chadwick, Concrete: Killer Smile (Dark Horse/Legend)
>
> Susan Daigle-Leach, Uncle Scrooge (Gladstone)
>
> Angus McKie, Martha Washington Goes to War (Dark Horse)
>
> Chris Ware, The Acme Novelty Library (Fantagraphics)
Killer Smile had some effects that actually worked well, Scrooge is just
a solid job all around, Ware's duotones aren't in the same league.
The other two give me headaches just looking at them.
Should: Chadwick Will: McKie
> 18. Best Lettering
>
> Todd Klein, Batman vs. Predator II (DC/Dark Horse); The Demon (DC)
>
> Stan Sakai, Groo (Epic/Image); Usagi Yojimbo (Mirage)
>
> Dave Sim, Cerebus (Aardvark-Vanaheim)
>
> Chris Ware, The Acme Novelty Library (Fantagraphics)
Sim got nominated for what? Type-setting? Anyways they left off the
current king of lettering: Dave Cooper. His letters are better than most
people's entire books.
Should: Klein Will: Klein
> 19. Best Cover Artist
>
> Glenn Fabry, Hellblazer (DC/Vertigo)
>
> Tony Harris, Starman (DC)
>
> Terry Moore, Strangers in Paradise (Abstract Studio)
>
> Don Rosa, Uncle Scrooge (Gladstone)
>
> Rick Veitch, Roarin' Rick's Rare Bit Fiends (King Hell)
>
> Charles Vess, Books of Magic (DC/Vertigo)
I could think of about 50 people I'd rather see in this category.
Normally I'd say Vess, but I can't even recall a single cover he did
last year. In fact none of these causes images to leap into my
eyes. Oh well, not the best selection
Should: Rosa Will: Harris
> 20. Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition
>
> Evan Dorkin, Milk and Cheese, Hectic Planet, Dork, Instant Piano
>
> Paul Grist, Kane, Grendel Tales
>
> Nina Paley, Nina's Adventures
>
> Don Simpson, Don Simpson's Bizarre Heroes
>
> Rumiko Takahashi, Ranma 1/2, Mermaid Forest
What's wider mean? There's good recognition here, just not good
sales (except for Takahashi whose audience is enormous). All of these
people (and half the nominees in the other categories) deserve both
better recognition and sales. I don't get this category at all
Should: I guess I'll go with Grist Will: Takahashi (she's best known :) )
> 21. Best Editor
>
> Karen Berger, The Sandman, Sandman Mystery Theatre (DC/Vertigo)
>
> Andy Helfer, Big Book of Urban Legends (Paradox Press)
>
> Dwayne McDuffie, Worlds Collide, Xombi, Shadow Cabinet (Milestone)
>
> Bob Schreck, Madman, Dark Horse Presents, Rascals in Paradise (Dark Horse)
>
> Diana Schutz, Grendel Tales, American Splendor, The Dance of Lifey
There are good editors? Chris Oliveros does a better job on DQ than most
of these people. I say give it to Schreck just for shaking up Dark Horse a
little bit
Should: Schreck Will: Berger
> 22. Best Comics-Related Publication
>
> Getting into the Business of Comics, by Lurene Haines (Starbur)
>
> Hero Illustrated (Warrior Publications)
>
> Kitchen Sink Press: The First 25 Years, by David Schreiner (Kitchen Sink)
>
> Masters of Imagination, by Mike Benton (Taylor)
>
> Superman and Batman Magazine (DC/Welsh Publishing)
Whoa. Ouch. That hurts.
Should: KSP Will: Hero
> 23. Best Comics-Related Items
>
> Bone figurine, sculpted by Jeff Smith and Randy Bowen (Dark Horse)
>
> Eightball and Hate Zippo lighters (Smoke King)
>
> Madman trading cards, by various artists (Dark Horse/Legend)
>
> The Complete Maus CD-ROM, produced by Elizabeth Scarborough (Voyager)
>
> R. Crumb's Devil Girl Choco-Bars and display box,
>
> Sandman Arabian Nights statue, designed by P. Craig Russell
None of these struck me as much more than shameless opportunism,
but you can set things on fire with a Zippo, so let's go with that
Should: Zippo Will: Maus
> 24.Best Publication Design
>
> The Acme Novely Library, designed by Chris Ware (Fantagraphics)
>
> The Crow limited edition book & CD package, designed by John Bergin
> (Graphitti)
>
> Drawn & Quarterly (Drawn & Quarterly)
>
> Paul Auster's City of Glass, designed by Art Spiegelman (Avon/NeonLit)
>
> Violent Cases signed and numbered deluxe hardcover edition,
>
> Worlds Collide #1, designed by Curtis King (Milestone)
Worlds Collide? Huh? DQ is lovely all around, I've never even seen the Crow
thing or the Violent Cases thing. Acme's cool, but not in the DQ league really.
Should: DQ Will: Violent Cases (it's numbered right?)
> 25. Hall of Fame
>
> Dan DeCarlo
> Al Feldstein
> Gardner Fox
> Frank Frazetta
> Herge'
> Walt Kelly
> Joe Kubert
> Winsor McCay
> Mac Raboy
> Joe Simon
McCay's not in the Hall of Fame yet? What are they nuts?
Herge's not in the Hall of Fame yet? What are they nuts?
bart
Mike zimbouski
Lance "Squiddie" Smith (lsm...@giga.cs.umn.edu) wrote:
: 14. Best Writer/Artist, Humor
: Chris Ware, The Acme Novelty Library (Fantagraphics)
: Comment: Chris Ware and Nina Paley are a bit of a surprise. They
: both have a serious side to their work. Tough choice. I'd go with
I don't see Ware's ANL as a humor book at all. I'm surprised that
anyone who's given one issue more than a cursory reading could come away with
that perception. I'm not even sure there's a literary equivalent to what
Ware's doing, which involves juggling confessional autobiography, a very
sublime, low-key form of tragedy (exemplified best IMO by the ending of issue
#3, were the potato-man's rocketship has taken off without him, and robbed him
of his eyes once again in the process), and satire as vicious as Swift's "A
Modest Proposal," but with a slant towards personal neuroses rather than
society as a whole. It is one of the most disturbing books I have come across
in some time, and to label it a humor book is to completely miss the majority
of the subtext it contains.
I do think it deserves to win Best Publication Design, tho; the work
that goes into making the ads pages alone demonstrates painstaking labor.
Mike Z
--
"How much worse off would we be if our leaders were chosen by lottery instead
of expertocracy?"--Jello Biafra
"665.5; not quite evil."--Rachel K. Warren
Ketchum before they discover the wonders of dioxin.
dgl...@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
> 1. Best Single Issue
>
> The Acme Novelty Library #1 by Chris Ware (Fantagraphics)
>
> Batman Adventures Holiday Special by Paul Dinni, Bruce Timm, Ronnie Del
> Carmen, and others (DC)
>
> Bone #16: "Eyes of the Storm," by Jeff Smith (Cartoon Books)
>
> The Dance of Lifey Death, by Eddie Campbell (Dark Horse)
>
> Sandman Mystery Theatre Annual #1, by Matt Wagner, Steven Seagle, and
> various artists (DC/Vertigo)
I'll go with this one. SMT is the best series out and this was one of many fine
stories.
>
>
> Comment: A good selection. I think I might have included Books of Magic #5
> instead of one of these, but these are all good. I'd probably go with
> The Dance of Lifey Death even though it's a bit of a hodgepodge.
>
I have been reading BoM since it began and I just can't get into it for more
than every third issue. I think it assumes we know what they want us to know
but don't tell us. Maybe I just don't read closely enough, but it usually
doesn't beg me to reread it. JB's Next Men didn't tell you everything (and
things changed) but that was one that I enjoyed rereading to find out all of
the details (especially regarding the M4 storyline that came and went).
But with BoM, they pissed me off from the outset by giving him supernatural
parents (which I guess they just said never happened). I liked him much better
as a plain old kid with a huge capacity for magic.
> 2. Best Short Story
>
> "The Babe Wore Red," by Frank Miller, Sin City: The Babe Wore Red and
> Other Stories (Dark Horse/Legend)
This was really the only decent Sin City story since the first one. I hope it
doesn't win. Miller needs a kick in the creative pants.
>
> 3. Best Serialized Story
What is this category? Best story arc? Just about every story is serialized.
>
> Grendel Tales: Devils and Deaths, by Darko Macan and Edvin Biukovic
> (Dark Horse)
>
> "Hellboy: Wolves of St. August," by Mike Mignola, Dark Horse Presents
> #88-91 (Dark Horse)
>
> "It's A Good Life If You Don't Weaken," by Seth, Palooka-ville #4-8
> (Drawn & Quarterly)
>
> "The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck," by Don Rosa, Uncle Scrooge
> #285-296 (Gladstone)
>
> "Sacrifices," by John Ney Rieber and Peter Gross, Books of Magic #6-8
> (DC/Vertigo)
>
If they need a vertigo arc, they should take a Sandman Mystery Theater one. The
last three have been spectacular.
> "Sins of the Father," by James Robinson and Tony Harris, Starman #0-3
> (DC)
>
> 4. Best Continuing Series
>
> Bone, by Jeff Smith (Cartoon Books)
>
> Books of Magic, by John Ney Rieber, Gary Amaro, and Peter Gross
> (DC/Vertigo)
>
> Icon, by Dwayne McDuffie and M.D. Bright (Milestone)
>
> Starman, by James Robinson and Tony Harris (DC)
>
> Strangers in Paradise, by Terry Moore (Abstract Studio)
>
> Uncle Scrooge, by Don Rosa and others (Gladstone)
>
> Comment: I read all of these regularly. They're all excellent. I'd
> say Starman here.
No Sandman (or SMT) here? Surprising. Unless Gaiman has won so many they are
sick of him.
>
> 5. Best Limited Series
>
> Concrete: Killer Smile, by Paul Chadwick (Dark Horse/Legend)
>
> Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, by Frank Miller (Dark Horse/Legend)
Pure kindling. Absolute shit. Should have had Radioactive Man.
>
> The Tale of One Bad Rat, by Bryan Talbot (Dark Horse)
Hands down.
> 6. Best New Series
Preacher should get this next year.
> 11. Best Humor Publications
>
> Bone, by Jeff Smith (Cartoon Books)
>
> Groo, by Sergio Aragones with Mark Evanier (Epic/Image)
>
> Hate, by Peter Bagge (Fantagraphics)
>
> Radioactive Man, by Steve Vance, Bill Morrison and Cindy Vance (Bongo)
One of the best books I've ever read. This was nearly perfect in every regard.
>
> Ranma 1/2, by Rumiko Takahashi (Viz)
>
> Comment: It's a wide range of titles for the humor category. It's a complete
> toss up.
>
> 12. Best Writer
>
> Dwayne McDuffie, Icon (Milestone)
>
> Alan Moore, From Hell (Kitchen Sink)
>
> Harvey Pekar, American Splendor: A Step Out of the Nest (Dark Horse)
> Pekar/Joyce Brabner, Our Cancer Year (4 Walls/8 Windows)
>
> James Robinson, Starman (DC); Witchcraft (DC/Vertigo)
>
> Matt Wagner/Steven Seagle, Sandman Mystery Theatre (DC/Vertigo)
>
> Comment: So where's John Ney Rieber's name? For that matter, I still
> think Gaiman is still doing top stuff. I'll say Robinson.
>
I must go with SMT. Starman is very good, but just not as engaging as SMT.
> 13. Best Writer/Artist
>
> Paul Chadwick, Concrete: Killer Smile (Dark Horse/Legend)
>
> Jason Lutes, Jar of Fools (Penny Dreadful)
>
> Mike Mignola, Hellboy: Seeds of Destruction (Dark Horse/Legend)
>
> Terry Moore, Strangers in Paradise (Abstract Studio)
>
> Bryan Talbot, The Tale of One Bad Rat (Dark Horse)
>
If not for the already strong field, I'd say "Where's Byrne for JBNM?"
> 17.Best Coloring
>
> Peter Bagge/Mary Woodring, Hate (Fantagraphics)
>
> Elizabeth Chadwick, Concrete: Killer Smile (Dark Horse/Legend)
>
> Susan Daigle-Leach, Uncle Scrooge (Gladstone)
>
> Angus McKie, Martha Washington Goes to War (Dark Horse)
>
> Chris Ware, The Acme Novelty Library (Fantagraphics)
>
> Comment: None of the big coloring shops this year. Not sure
> about some of these choices.
I'm more impressed with an average Vertigo book than any of these.
>
> 18. Best Lettering
>
> Todd Klein, Batman vs. Predator II (DC/Dark Horse); The Demon (DC)
> The Sandman (DC/Vertigo); Uncle Scrooge (Gladstone)
>
Should win for Sandman alone.
> Stan Sakai, Groo (Epic/Image); Usagi Yojimbo (Mirage)
>
> Dave Sim, Cerebus (Aardvark-Vanaheim)
>
> Chris Ware, The Acme Novelty Library (Fantagraphics)
>
> Comment: Normally, I'd say Sim. However, he didn't do much in 1994.
> Klein's range of titles and the different styles involved is the most
> impressive.
>
> 19. Best Cover Artist
>
> Glenn Fabry, Hellblazer (DC/Vertigo)
>
> Tony Harris, Starman (DC)
>
> Terry Moore, Strangers in Paradise (Abstract Studio)
>
> Don Rosa, Uncle Scrooge (Gladstone)
>
> Rick Veitch, Roarin' Rick's Rare Bit Fiends (King Hell)
>
> Charles Vess, Books of Magic (DC/Vertigo)
>
> Comment: Charles Vess just because of his sidebars.
>
No McKean for Sandman? Those are the best covers out.