Awarding

The nominees for this year's Eisner Awards have been announced. As usual, there are quite a few items that I've never read, and a good number I've never even heard of (although I'm getting much better at hearing about things, thanks to the blogosphere). Here's the ones I feel like commenting on (the full list is here):

Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)

Conan The Legend #0, by Kurt Busiek and Cary Nord (Dark Horse)

Finder #30: "Beware of Dog," by Carla Speed McNeil (Lightspeed Press)

Giant THB 1.v.2, by Paul Pope (Horse Press)

Global Frequency #5: "Big Sky," by Warren Ellis and Jon J. Muth (WildStorm/DC)

The Goon #1, by Eric Powell (Dark Horse)

Usagi Yojimbo #65: "Usagi and the Tengu," by Stan Sakai (Dark Horse)

I've only read Conan and Usagi, and I'd give it to Usagi by a nose out of those two.

Best Limited Series

Arrowsmith, by Kurt Busiek, Carlos Pacheco, and Jesús Meriño (WildStorm/DC)

Empire, by Mark Waid, Barry Kitson, and James Pascoe (DC)

Global Frequency, by Warren Ellis and various artists (WildStorm/DC)

JSA: The Unholy Three, by Dan Jolley, Tony Harris, and Ray Snyder (DC)

Superman: Red Son, by Mark Millar, Dave Johnson/Andrew Robinson, and Kilian Plunkett/Walden Wong (DC)

Unstable Molecules, by James Sturm and Guy Davis (Marvel)

Well, hey! I've actually read four of these. I think I like Arrowsmith the best, but Superman: Red Son is a very close second.

Best New Series - Just one thought, how did Plastic Man get on this list?!??

Best Graphic Album—New

Blacksad, by Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido (ibooks)

Blankets, by Craig Thompson (Top Shelf)

The Fixer: A Story from Sarajevo, by Joe Sacco (Drawn & Quarterly)

Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi (Pantheon)

Yossel, April 19, 1943, by Joe Kubert (ibooks)

I've read three of them, and I'd give it to Persepolis of the three.

Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition

Derek Kirk Kim (writer/artist, Same Difference and Other Stories)

Chrstine Norrie (Cheat)

Jeff Parker (writer/artist, The Interman)

Ben Towele (writer/artist, Farewell Georgia)

Brian Wood (writer, The Couriers; Channel Zero: Jennie One, Demo)

Go Jeff! Go Brian!

HALL OF FAME - Judges’ Choices: Otto Binder

Just gotta give a wave and a YAH! for Otto, here.