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1998 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees


The nominated creators have been recognized by their peers for having produced some of the outstanding achievements in comics in 1997.

Best Short Story

  • "The Eltingville Comic Book, Science-Fiction, Fantasy, Horror and Role-Playing Club In: The Marathon Men," Evan Dorkin, Dork! #4 (Slave Labor) *
  • "A Matter of Some Gravity," Don Rosa, Walt Disney's Comics & Stories #610 (Gladstone)
  • "The New European," Alan Moore, Gary Frank, and Cam Smith, Vampirella/Dracula: The Centennial (Harris)
  • "Penny Century," Jaime Hernandez, Penny Century #1 (Fantagraphics)
  • "The Willow Warriors," Ian Edgington and Eric Shanower, Weird War Tales #1 (DC)
  • "Wrong Turn," Frank Miller, Sin City: Sex & Violence (Dark Horse)

Best Single Issue

  • Batgirl Adventures #1, Paul Dini and Rick Burchett (DC)
  • The Dreaming #15: "Day's Work, Night's Rest," Jeff Nicholson (DC/Vertigo)
  • Kurt Busiek's Astro City vol. 2 #10: "Show `Em All," Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson, and Will Blyberg (Jukebox Productions/Homage) *
  • Sof' Boy and Friends #1, Archer Prewitt (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Superman Adventures #3: "Distant Thunder," Scott McCloud, Rick Burchett, and Terry Austin (DC)

Best Serialized Story

  • The Acme Novelty Library #6-9: "Jimmy Corrigan," Chris Ware (Fantagraphics)
  • Akiko #10-18: "The Wrath of Alia Rellapor," Mark Crilley (Sirius)
  • Kurt Busiek's Astro City vol. 2 #4-9: "Confession," Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson, and Will Blyberg (Jukebox Productions/Homage) *
  • Preacher #30-33: "Les Enfants Du Sang," Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon (DC/Vertigo)
  • Soulwind #1-4: "The Kid from Planet Earth," C. Scott Morse (Image)
  • Superman Adventures #11-12: "The War Within," Scott McCloud, Rick Burchett, and Terry Austin (DC)

Best Continuing Series

  • The Acme Novelty Library, Chris Ware (Fantagraphics)
  • Akiko, Mark Crilley (Sirius)
  • Bone, Jeff Smith (Cartoon Books)
  • Kurt Busiek's Astro City, Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson, and Will Blyberg (Jukebox Productions/Homage) *
  • Leave It to Chance, James Robinson and Paul Smith (Homage)
  • Preacher, Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon (DC/Vertigo)

Best Limited Series

  • Batman: The Long Halloween, Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale (DC) *
  • Destiny: A Chronicle of Deaths Foretold, Alisa Kwitney, Kent Williams, Michael Zulli, Scott Hampton, and Rebecca Guay (DC/Vertigo)
  • The Land of Nod, Jay Stephens (Dark Horse)
  • Red Rocket 7, Mike Allred (Dark Horse)
  • Terminal City: Aerial Graffiti, Dean Motter and Michael Lark (DC/Vertigo)
  • Uncle Sam, Steve Darnall and Alex Ross (DC/Vertigo)

Best New Series

  • Castle Waiting, Linda Medley (Olio) *
  • Lost Stories, John Riley, Garrett Berner, and Dave Sharpe (Creative Frontiers)
  • Soulwind, C. Scott Morse (Image)
  • Squee! Johnen Vasquez (Slave Labor)
  • A Touch of Silver, Jim Valentino (Image)

Best Comics Publication for a Younger Audience

  • Akiko, Mark Crilley (Sirius)
  • Batman & Robin Adventures, Ty Templeton, Brandon Kruse, Rick Burchett, and others (DC) *
  • Bone, Jeff Smith (Cartoon Books)
  • Gon Swimmin, Masahi Tanaka (Paradox Press)
  • Leave It to Chance, James Robinson and Paul Smith (Homage)
  • Whats Michael, Makoto Kobayashi (Dark Horse)

Best Humor Publication

  • Gon Swimmin', Masahi Tanaka (Paradox Press) *
  • Mystic Funnies, R. Crumb (Alex Wood, publisher)
  • Roswell, Little Green Man, Bill Morrison (Bongo)
  • The Seduction of Mike, R. Sikoryak and Michael Smith (Fantagraphics)
  • Squee! Jhonen Vasquez (Slave Labor)

Best Anthology

  • Blab #9, ed. Monte Beauchamp (Fantagraphics)
  • Hellboy Christmas Special, ed. Scott Allie (Dark Horse) *
  • Mind Riot, ed. Karen Hirsch (Simon & Schuster/Aladdin Paperbacks)
  • Two-Fisted Science, ed. Jim Ottaviani (General Tektronics)
  • Vertigo: Winters Edge, ed. Shelly Roeberg (DC/Vertigo)
  • Zero Zero, ed. Kim Thompson (Fantagraphics)

Best Graphic Album-New

  • Batman & Superman Adventures: World's Finest, Paul Dini, Joe Staton, and Terry Beatty (DC) *
  • The Borden Tragedy, Rick Geary (NBM)
  • A History of Violence, John Wagner and Vince Locke (Paradox Press)
  • A Jew in Communist Prague, vols. 1 and 2, Vittorio Giardino (NBM)
  • Scary Godmother, Jill Thompson (Sirius)
  • The Wizards Tale, Kurt Busiek and Dave Wenzel (Jukebox Productions/ Homage)

Best Graphic Album-Reprint

  • Age of Reptiles: The Hunt, Ricardo Delgado (Dark Horse)
  • Ghost World, Dan Clowes (Fantagraphics)
  • Sin City: That Yellow Bastard, Frank Miller (Dark Horse) *
  • The System, Peter Kuper (DC/Vertigo)
  • Terminal City, Dean Motter and Michael Lark (DC/Vertigo)

Best Archival Collection

  • The Complete Crumb, vol. 12, R. Crumb (Fantagraphics)
  • Corto Maltese, Hugo Pratt (NBM)
  • Jack Kirby's New Gods, Jack Kirby (DC) *
  • Essential Spider-Man, vol. 2, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (Marvel)
  • Wolverton in Space, Basil Wolverton (Dark Horse)

Best U.S. Edition of Foreign Material

  • Corto Maltese, Hugo Pratt (NBM)
  • Gon Swimmin', Masahi Tanaka (Paradox Press) *
  • A Jew in Communist Prague, Vittorio Giardino (NBM)
  • Nausica of the Valley of the Wind, Hayao Miyazaki (Viz)
  • Whats Michael? Makoto Kobayashi (Dark Horse)

Best Writer

  • Kurt Busiek, Kurt Busiek's Astro City; The Wizard's Tale (Jukebox Productions/Homage)
  • Garth Ennis, Hitman (DC); Preacher; Unknown Soldier (DC/Vertigo); Blood Mary: Lady Liberty (DC/Helix) *
  • Scott McCloud, Superman Adventures (DC)
  • John Ostrander, The Spectre; Kents; Tangent Comics: Nightwing (DC)
  • James Robinson, Starman; The Shade; Tangent Comics: Green Lantern (DC); Leave It to Chance (Homage)

Best Writer/Artist

  • Dan Clowes, Eightball (Fantagraphics)
  • Rick Geary, The Borden Tragedy (NBM)
  • Vittorio Giardino, A Jew in Communist Prague (NBM)
  • David Lapham, Stray Bullets, Amy Racecar Color Special #1 (El Capitan)
  • Jason Lutes, Berlin (Black Eye)
  • Linda Medley, Castle Waiting (Olio)
  • Mike Mignola, Hellboy: Almost Colossus; Hellboy Christmas Special; Hellboy Jr. Halloween Special (Dark Horse) *

Best Writer/Artist-Humor

  • R. Crumb, Self-Loathing (Fantagraphics); Mystic Funnies (Alex Wood, publisher)
  • Bill Morrison, Roswell, Little Green Man (Bongo)
  • Jeff Smith, Bone (Cartoon Books) *
  • Masashi Tanaka, Gon (Paradox Press)
  • Chris Ware,The Acme Novelty Library (Fantagraphics)

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team

  • Brent Anderson/Will Blyberg, Kurt Busiek's Astro City (Jukebox Productions/Homage)
  • Rick Burchett, Batgirl Adventures; Rick Burchett/Terry Austin, Superman Adventures (DC)
  • Dave Gibbons, Martha Washington Saves the World #1 (Dark Horse)
  • Michael Lark, Terminal City: Aerial Graffiti (DC/Vertigo); The Little Sister (Byron Priess Visual Productions)
  • P. Craig Russell, Elric: Stormbringer (Dark Horse/Topps); Dr. Strange: What Is It That Disturbs You, Stephen? (Marvel) *
  • Paul Smith, Leave It to Chance (Homage)

Best Painter

  • John Bolton, Menz Insana; "The Flowers of Romance,"Vertigo: Winter's Edge (DC/Vertigo)
  • Gene Ha, "Free Fall,"Marvel Shadows and Light (Marvel)
  • Scott Hampton, Batman: Dark Knight Dynasty (DC); Destiny: A Chronicle of Deaths Foretold, Book Two (DC/Vertigo)
  • Alex Ross, Uncle Sam (DC/Vertigo) *
  • David Wenzel, The Wizard's Tale (Homage)

Best Coloring

  • Laura Allred, Red Rocket 7 (Dark Horse)
  • Jeromy Cox, Leave It to Chance (Homage); Mage (Image)
  • Sarah Dyer, Amy Racecar Color Special #1 (El Capitan)
  • Lovern Kindzierski, Elric: Stormbringer (Dark Horse/Topps); Dr. Strange: What Is It That Disturbs You, Stephen? (Marvel)
  • Archer Prewitt, Sof' Boy and Friends (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Chris Ware, The Acme Novelty Library (Fantagraphics) *

Best Lettering

  • Dan Clowes, Eightball (Fantagraphics)
  • Tim Harkins, Roswell, Little Green Man (Bongo); Adventures in the DC Universe (DC)
  • Todd Klein, Batman, Batman: Poison Ivy (DC); The Dreaming, House of Secrets, The Invisibles, Uncle Sam (DC/Vertigo); Uncle Scrooge Adventures (Gladstone); Castle Waiting (Olio) *
  • Archer Prewitt, Sof' Boy and Friends (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Chris Ware, The Acme Novelty Library (Fantagraphics)

Best Cover Artist

  • Mike Allred, Red Rocket 7 (Dark Horse)
  • Mark Crilley, Akiko (Sirius)
  • Glenn Fabry, Preacher; Preacher Specials (DC/Vertigo)
  • Jerry Ordway, Power of Shazam (DC)
  • Alex Ross, Kurt Busiek's Astro City (Jukebox Productions/Homage); Uncle Sam (DC/Vertigo) *
  • Steve Rude, Nexus: Nightmare in Blue; Nexus: God Con (Dark Horse)
  • Ty Templeton, Batman & Robin Adventures (DC)

Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition

  • Bob Fingerman (Minimum Wage/Fantagraphics)
  • Paul Grist (Kane/Dancing Elephant Press)
  • Linda Medley (Castle Waiting/Olio) *
  • Bill Morrison (Roswell, Little Green Man/Bongo)
  • Gary and Rhoda Shipman (Pakkins' Land/Caliber)
  • Jill Thompson (Scary Godmother/Sirius)

Best Comics-Related Periodical

  • Comic Book Marketplace (Gemstone)
  • The Comics Journal (Fantagraphics) *
  • Feature (Charles Brownstein)
  • Jack Kirby Collector (TwoMorrows)
  • The Staros Report (Star House)

Best Comics-Related Book

  • Alter Ego, ed. Roy Thomas and Bill Schelly (Hamster Press)
  • Cerebus Guide to Self-Publishing, Dave Sim (Aardvark-Vanaheim)
  • The Collected Jack Kirby Collector, vol. 1, ed. John Morrow (TwoMorrows)
  • The R. Crumb Coffee Table Art Book, ed. Pete Poplaski (Kitchen Sink) *
  • Tijuana Bibles, Bob Adelman (Simon & Schuster)

Best Comics-Related Product

  • Acme Novelty Library display stand, designed by Chris Ware (Fantagraphics) *
  • Batgirl cold-cast statue, sculpted by William Paquet, based on designs by Brian Stelfreeze (DC)
  • Destiny cold-cast statue, sculpted by William Paquet, based on designs by Michael Zulli (DC/Vertigo)
  • McFarlane Spawn and Kiss action figures (McFarlane Toys)
  • Bone Red Dragon cold-cast statue, sculpted by Randy Bowen, based on designs by Jeff Smith (Graphitti Designs)
  • Scenes from the Xenozoic Age Portfolio: Deluxe Boxed Edition, Mark Schultz (Kitchen Sink)
  • Turok videogame (Acclaim)

Best Publication Design

  • Isaac Mizrahi Presents The Adventures of Sandee the Supermodel, Isaac Mizrahi and William Frawley (Simon & Schuster)
  • Kingdom Come deluxe slipcover edition, art director Bob Chapman/DC design director Georg Brewer (DC Comics/Graphitti Designs) *
  • R. Crumb Coffee Table Art Book, designed by Pete Poplaski (Kitchen Sink)
  • The Sandman Dust Covers: The Collected Sandman Covers, 1989-1996, designed by Dave McKean (DC/Vertigo)
  • Scary Godmother designed by Jill Thompson (Sirius)

Hall of Fame

  • Neal Adams *
  • Charles Biro
  • Vaughn Bode
  • Jack Davis
  • Al Feldstein
  • Bill Finger
  • Gardner Fox
  • Archie Goodwin *
  • Joe Kubert *
  • Sheldon Mayer
  • Jean "Moebius" Giraud *
  • Jerry Robinson
  • Alex Schomburg
  • Joe Simon
  • art spiegelman
  • Dick Sprang
  • Jim Steranko
  • Al Williamson
  • Basil Wolverton