The winners of the 2009 Eisners were announced at the San Diego Comic-Con. There weren’t a lot of surprises at the Eisners this year. Dark Horse’s Hellboy collected three awards and Chris Ware won two. DC appeared to have garnered fewer than normal, but they were big ones including “Best Writer,” “Best Continuing Series,” and “Best Publication for Kids.” As they continue their push into the world of comics, mainstream publishers made their presence felt with Harper’s Childrens Book winning two awards and Vertical earning the “Manga” award for its edition of Tezuka’s Dororo. while Abrams took home the "Best Comics-Related Book" award for Mark Evanier's Kirby: King of Comics. And the ladies did well--Jill Thompson (“Best Painter”), Carla Speed McNeil (“Best Digital Comic” for Finder), Lynda Barry (“Best Reality-Based Work for What it Is) and Eleanor Davis all won well-deserved awards.
Here are the 2009 winners. For a complete list of Eisner Award nominees see “Eisner Nominations Released.”
Best Writer
Bill Willingham, Fables, House of Mystery (Vertigo/DC)
Best Writer/Artist
Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library (Acme)
Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
Guy Davis, BPRD (Dark Horse)
Best Continuing Series
All Star Superman, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (DC)
Best Limited Series
Hellboy: The Crooked Man, by Mike Mignola and Richard Corben (Dark Horse)
Best New Series
Invincible Iron Man, by Matt Fraction and
Best Short Story
Murder He Wrote,” by Ian Booth by, Nina Matsumoto, and Andrew Pepoy, in The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror #14 (Bongo)
Best Publication for Kids
Tiny Titans, by Art Baltazar and Franco (DC)
Best Publication for Teens/Tweens
Coraline, by Neil Gaiman, adapted by P. Craig Russell (HarperCollins Children’s Books)
Best Humor Publication
Herbie Archives, by “Sean O’Shea” (Richard E. Hughes) and
Best Anthology
Comic Book Tattoo: Narrative Art Inspired by the Lyrics and Music of Tori Amos, edited by Rantz Hoseley (Image)
Best Digital Comic
Finder, by Carla Speed McNeil
Best Reality-Based Work
What It Is, by Lynda Barry (Drawn & Quarterly)
Best Graphic Album—New
Swallow Me Whole, by Nate Powell (Top Shelf)
Best Graphic Album—Reprinted Material
Hellboy Library Edition, vols. 1 and 2, by Mike Mignola (Dark Horse)
Best Archival Collection/Project--Strips
Little Nemo in Slumberland, Many More Splendid Sundays, by Winsor McCay (Sunday Press Books)
Best Archival Collection/Project—Comics
Creepy Archives, by various (Dark Horse)
Best
The Last Musketeer, by Jason (Fantagraphics)
Best
Dororo, by Osamu Tezuka (Vertical)
Best Painter/Multimedia Artist
Jill Thompson, Magic Trixie, Magic Trixie Sleeps Over (HarperCollins Children’s Books)
Best Cover Artist
James Jean, Fables (Vertigo/DC); The
Best Coloring
Dave Stewart, Abe Sapien: The Drowning, BPRD, The Goon, Hellboy, Solomon Kane, The
Best Lettering
Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library #19 (Acme)
Best Comics-Related Periodical—Journalism
Comic Book Resources, produced by Jonah Weiland
Best Comics-Related Book
Kirby: King of Comics, by Mark Evanier (Abrams)
Best Publication Design
Hellboy Library Editions, designed by Cary Grazzini and Mike Mignola (Dark Horse)
Hall of Fame
Harold Gray, Graham Ingalls, Matt Baker, Reed Crandall, Russ Heath.
Russ Manning Award Winner
Eleanor Davis
Will Eisner Spirit of Retailing Award
Tate’s Comics,
