DC Comics and Fantagraphics dominated this year's Eisner Awards. DC won Best Serialized Story (Fables, Bill Willingham), Best Limited Series (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 2, Alan Moore, Kevin O'Neill), Best New Series (Fables, Bill Willingham), Best Penciller/Inker (Kevin O'Neill), Best Lettering (Todd Klein), Best Cover Artist (Adam Hughes, Wonder Woman), and Best Publication Design (Batman: Nine Lives). Fantagraphics won Best Single Issue (Kim Deitch, The Stuff Of Dreams), Best Archival Collection (Krazy & Ignatz), Best Writer/Artist -- Humor (Tony Millionaire, House at Maakies Corner), and Best Comics-Related Publication (B. Krigstein, Vol. 1 by Greg Sadowski).
Dark Horse garnered two awards, Best Short Story ('The Magician and the Snake' by Mike and Katie Mignola), and Best Humor Publication (The Amazing Screw-On Head by Mike Mignola), as did Marvel, which scored with Best Continuing Series (Daredevil by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev) and Best Painter (George Pratt, Wolverine Netsuke).
Other key awards included: Best Writer (Brian Michael Bendis), Best Title For a Younger Audience (Herobear and the Kid, Mike Kunkel), Best Anthology (SPX 2002, CBDLF), Best New Graphic Novel (One! Hundred! Demons! by Lynda Barry), Best U.S. Edition of Foreign Material (Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Lorenzo Mattoti, NBM), Best Writer/Artist (Eric Shanower, Age of Bronze, Image), Best Coloring (Dave Stewart), and Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition (Jason Shiga, Fleep, Sparkplug).
In their own modest way the Eisner Awards can perform the same function for the stars of the American comic book world that the Academy Awards provide for Hollywood. Savvy retailers use the awards to draw attention to key titles with signage and displays that can draw the interest of dedicated comics fans and newcomers alike.
