The 2003 Eisner Award Nominations include an unprecedented number of titles from small press, alternative, and non-direct market publishers -- an orientation that is not all that surprising considering the composition of this year's Eisner panel that included Andrew D. Arnold of Time.com (known for his esoteric end-of-the-year lists), artist Charles Vess, Steve Leaf of Diamond, reporter Jen Contino of The Pulse, and retailer Jeremy Shorr of Titan Comics in Dallas, Texas.   Still this year's nominations don't represent that much of a break with the past since the Eisner Awards have always valued 'art' over 'commerce' and the traditional powers, DC Comics (23 nominations) and Fantagraphics (18 nominations), still dominate the list.  Bill Willingham received the most nominations (4), while Lynda Barry, Brian Michael Bendis, Kim Deitch, and Mike Mignola all received three nominations.  Ballots go out to 4,000 publishers, creators, and retailers early next month and the winners will be announced at the San Diego ComiCon on July 18.

Willingham's new Vertigo series Fables led the DC contingent with four nominations, but Gotham Central (Ed Brubaker, Michael Lark), Batman: Nine Lives (Michael Lark, Matt Hollingsworth), League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Kevin O'Neill), Promethea (J.H. Williams III and Mick Gray) and 100 Bullets (Trish Mulvihill, Dave Johnson) all received multiple nominations.  Fantagraphics dominated the Archival Collection category thanks to their excellent Krazy & Ignatz, Complete Crumb, and Robert Williams collections, but also scored well in Best Publication Design (Rob Fingerman's Beg the Question and Tony Millionaire's House At Maakies Corner), and the humor categories where Millionaire and Kim Deitch garnered several nominations.

Marvel had its best showing in years with seven nominations including four for the Brian Bendis/Alex Maleev Daredevil and three for Bruce Jones' new version of the Incredible Hulk.  NBM was right behind with six nominations thanks to two each for Patrick Antangan's The Yellow Jar and Lorenzo Mattotti's brilliant adaptation of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.  Dark Horse (thanks largely to Mike Mignola) and Image (Eric Shanower's Age of Bronze) each landed four nominations (as did the indie publisher Sparkplug) while Oni Press, Sasquatch and Absence of Ink each received three, and Alternative Comics, Drawn & Quarterly, Top Shelf, and Slave Labor Graphics got two each.  Among self-publishers Terry Moore of Abstract Studios led the way with two nominations for Strangers in Paradise, while Jeff Smith (Bone) and Mike Kunkel (Herobear and the Kid) were also honored.