The 16th annual Eisner Award nominees have been announced, and as usual, there are a number of book format products that represent opportunities for retailers to re-merchandise titles that consumers may have missed. 
 
Ibooks received two of the five nominations for Best Graphic Album-New, with Blacksad (which also was nominated for Best U.S. Edition of Foreign Material) and Yossel, by comics legend Joe Kubert.
 
Also nominated in the Best Graphic Album-New category are a couple of titles that have already generated major sales: Blankets, by Craig Thompson, from Top Shelf (see 'Blankets Sales Hit 20,000') and Persepolis (see 'Persepolis:  The Stealth Hit').  Drawn & Quarterly's The Fixer:  A Story from Sarajevo, by Joe Sacco, rounds out the category.
 
Fantagraphics grabbed three of the six nominations in a category they perennially excel in, Best Graphic Album-Reprint, with The Frank Book, by Jim Woodring, Palomar:  The Heartbreak Soup Stories, by Gilbert Hernandez, and Quimby the Mouse, by Chris Ware.  In addition, Fantagraphics had Krazy and Ignatz, 1929-1930 nominated in the Best Archival Collection/Project category.
 
Both DC Comics (with the most nominations at 35, plus five shared) and Dark Horse (second with fifteen, plus one shared) had numerous book titles nominated that are currently available.
 
Among smaller publishers, Drawn & Quarterly had a nomination in three different book categories;  Drawn & Quarterly 5 in Best Anthology, The Fixer:  A Story From Sarajevo in Best Graphic Album-New and Louis Riel:  A Comic-Strip Biography in Best Graphic Album-Reprint.  NBM placed Happy Halloween, Li'l Santa in the Best Title for a Younger Audience category and The P. Craig Russell Library of Opera Adaptations in Best Graphic Album--Reprint.
 
Other book products that may have been overlooked include Little Lit:  It Was a Dark and Stormy Night (Volume 3 in the series, see 'Little Lit Series Provides Comics for Kids'), Little Vampire Does Kung FU, Peanutbutter and Jeremy's Best Book Ever!, Project:  Telstar, Osamu Tezuka's Buddha (see 'Tezuka's Buddha Out in October'), and Chaland Anthology:  Freddy Lombard, and others listed below.
 
Creators with the most nominations were Brian Michael Bendis (up for Best Writer, which he won last year, see 'DC, Fantagraphics Dominate Eisner Awards') and Greg Rucka, with five each.
 
Ballots will be mailed to retailers, creators, editors and publishers by late April with the award winners announced on Friday, July 23rd at the San Diego ComiCon Convention Center.
 
This year's Will Eisner Comic Industry Award nominees, for 2003 publications, are:
 
Best Short Story

'Death,' by Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell, in The Sandman: Endless Nights (Vertigo/DC)

'It Was a Dark and Silly Night . . .' by Lemony Snicket and Richard Sala, in Little Lit: It Was a Dark and Silly Night (HarperCollins)

'It Was a Dark and Silly Night,' by Carlos Nine, in Little Lit: It Was a Dark and Silly Night (HarperCollins)

'Monsieur Jean,' by Philippe Dupuy and Charles Berberian, in Drawn & Quarterly 5 (Drawn & Quarterly)

'Same Difference,' by Derek Kirk Kim, in Same Difference and Other Stories (Small Stories)

'There Are No Flowers in the Real World,' by David Lapham, in The Matrix Comics (Burlyman Entertainment)

 

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)

 

Best Serialized Story

Alias #22-28: 'The Secret Origin of Jessica Jones' & 'Purple,' by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos (Marvel)

Daredevil #46-50: 'Hardcore,' by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev (Marvel)

Forlorn Funnies  #2-4: 'Mother Come Home,' by Paul Hornschemeier (Absence of Ink)

Gotham Central #6-10: 'Half a Life,' by Greg Rucka and Michael Lark (DC)

Queen and Country #13-15: 'Operation Blackwall,' by Greg Rucka and Jason Alexander (Oni)

 

Best Continuing Series

Alias, by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos (Marvel)

Daredevil, by Brian Michael Bendis/Alex Maleev and David Mack (Marvel)

The Goon, by Eric Powell (Dark Horse)

Gotham Central, by Ed Brubaker, Greg Rucka, Michael Lark, Brian Hurtt, and Stefano Gaudiano (DC)

100 Bullets, by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso (Vertigo/DC)

Queen & Country, by Greg Rucka, Jason Alexander, Carla Speed McNeil, and Mike Hawthorne (Oni)

 

Best Limited Series

Arrowsmith, by Kurt Busiek, Carlos Pacheco, and Jes?s Meri?o (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)

 

Best New Series

El Cazador, by Chuck Dixon and Steve Epting (CrossGen)

Invincible, by Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker (Image)

The Losers, by Andy Diggle and Jock (Vertigo/DC)

Plastic Man, by Kyle Baker (DC)

Sleeper, by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (WildStorm/DC)

The Walking Dead, by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore (Image)

 

Best Title for a Younger Audience

Astro Boy, by Osamu Tezuka (Dark Horse)

Happy Halloween, Li'l Santa, by Thierry Robin and Lewis Trondheim (NBM)

Little Lit: It Was a Dark and Silly Night, edited by art spiegelman and Francoise Mouly (HarperCollins)

Little Vampire Does Kung Fu!, by Joann Sfar (Simon & Schuster)

Peanutbutter and Jeremy's Best Book Ever!, by James Kochalka (Alternative)

Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge, by various (Gemstone)

 

Best Humor Publication

Circling the Drain (The Collected Dork, vol. 2), by Evan Dorkin (SLG)

Formerly Known as the Justice League, by Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, Kevin Maguire, and Joe Rubinstein (DC)

The Goon, by Eric Powell (Dark Horse)

The New Baker, by Kyle Baker (Kyle Baker Publishing)

What's Michael vols. 7 and 8, by Makoto Kobayashi (Dark Horse)

 

Best Anthology

AutobioGraphix, edited by Diana Schutz (Dark Horse)

The Dark Horse Book of Hauntings, edited by Scott Allie (Dark Horse)

Drawn & Quarterly 5, edited by Chris Oliveros (Drawn & Quarterly)

Little Lit: It Was a Dark and Silly Night, edited by art spiegelman and Francoise Mouly (HarperCollins)

Project: Telstar, edited by Chris Pitzer (AdHouse)

The Sandman: Endless Nights, by Neil Gaiman, Dave McKean, P. Craig Russell, Miguelanxo Prado, Barron Storey, Frank Quitely, Glenn Fabry, Milo Manara, and Bill Sienkiewicz; co-edited by Karen Berger and Shelly Bond (Vertigo/DC)

 

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)

 

Best Graphic Album -- Reprint

Batman Adventures: Dangerous Dames and Demons, by Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, and others (DC)

The Frank Book, by Jim Woodring (Fantagraphics)

Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Biography, by Chester Brown (Drawn & Quarterly)

The P. Craig Russell Library of Opera Adaptations, vols. 1 and 2, by P. Craig Russell (NBM)

Palomar: The Heartbreak Soup Stories, by Gilbert Hernandez (Fantagraphics)

Quimby the Mouse, by Chris Ware (Fantagraphics)

 

Best Archival Collection/Project

Al Capp's L'il Abner: The Frazetta Years, by Al Capp, edited by Denis Kitchen (Dark Horse)

Buddha, vols. 1 and 2, by Osamu Tezuka (Vertical)

Challengers of the Unknown Archives, vol. 1, by Dave Wood and Jack Kirby, edited by Dale Crain (DC)

The Chronicles of Conan, vols. 1 and 2, by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith, edited by Jeremy Barlow (Dark Horse)

Krazy and Ignatz, 1929-1930, by George Herriman, edited by Bill Blackbeard (Fantagraphics)

The Spirit Archives, vol. 12, by Will Eisner, edited by Dale Crain (DC)

 

Best U.S. Edition of Foreign Material

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

Buddha, vols. 1 and 2, by Osamu Tezuka (Vertical)

Chaland Anthology: Freddy Lombard, vols. 1 and 2, by Yves Chaland (Humanoids)

Little Vampire Does Kung Fu!, by Joann Sfar (Simon & Schuster)

Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi (Pantheon)

 

Best Writer

Brian Azzarello, 100 Bullets, Sgt. Rock: Between Hell and Hard Place (Vertigo/DC); Batman (DC)

Brian Michael Bendis, Alias, Daredevil, Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate X-Men (Marvel); Powers (Image)

Ed Brubaker, Catwoman, Detective Comics, Gotham Central (DC); Sleeper (WildStorm/DC)

Warren Ellis, Orbiter (Vertigo/DC); Global Frequency, Red, Planetary, Planetary/Batman: Night on Earth (WildStorm/DC)

Alan Moore, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Promethea, Smax, Tom Strong, Tom Strong's Terrific Tales (ABC)

Greg Rucka, Queen & Country (Oni); Gotham Central, Wonder Woman (DC); Wolverine (Marvel)

 

Best Writer/Artist

Jaime Hernandez, Love and Rockets (Fantagraphics)

Paul Hornschemeier, Forlorn Funnies (Absence of Ink)

Takehiko Inoue, Vagabond (Viz)

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

Craig Thompson, Blankets (Top Shelf)

 

Best Writer/Artist -- Humor

Kyle Baker, Plastic Man (DC); The New Baker (Kyle Baker Publishing)

Tony Millionaire, Sock Monkey (Dark Horse)

Eric Powell, The Goon (Dark Horse)

Joann Sfar, Little Vampire Does Kung Fu!, Little Vampire Goes to School (Simon & Schuster)

Jeff Smith, Bone (Cartoon Books)

 

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team

John Cassaday, Planetary, Planetary/Batman: Night on Earth (WildStorm/DC); Hellboy Weird Tales (Dark Horse)

Tan Eng Huat, Doom Patrol, JLA #91 (DC)

Alex Maleev, Daredevil (Marvel)

Jim Lee/Scott Williams, Batman (DC)

Eduardo Risso, 100 Bullets (Vertigo/DC); Batman (DC); Boy Vampire: The Resurrection (SAF)

 

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)

Juanjo Guarnido, Blacksad (ibooks)

Ladronn, Hip Flask: Elephantmen (Comicraft)

Miguelanxo Prado, 'Dream,' in The Sandman: Endless Nights (Vertigo/DC)

Frank Quitely, 'Destiny,' in The Sandman: Endless Nights (Vertigo/DC)

Jill Thompson, 'Stray,' in The Dark Horse Book of Hauntings (Dark Horse)

 

Best Coloring

Steven Griffin, Hawaiian Dick (Image)

Matt Hollingsworth, Catwoman (DC)

Paul Hornschemeier, Forlorn Funnies (Absence of Ink)

Jason Keith, El Cazador (CrossGen)

Patricia Mulvihill, Batman, Wonder Woman (DC), 100 Bullets (Vertigo/DC)

 

Best Lettering

Todd Klein, Detective Comics( DC); Fables, The Sandman: Endless Nights (Vertigo/DC); Tom Strong, Promethea (ABC); 1602 (Marvel)

Bill Oakley, Hawkman, JSA (DC); League of Extraordinary Gentlemen vol. 2 (ABC); Sleeper (WildStorm/DC)

Dave Sim, Cerebus (Aardvark-Vanaheim)

Richard Starkings, Batman (DC); Planetary (WildStorm/DC);  Hulk: Gray (Marvel); Hip Flask: Elephantmen (Comicraft)

 

Best Cover Artist

James Jean, Fables (Vertigo/DC); Batgirl (DC)

Dave Johnson, Batman #620-622 (DC); 100 Bullets (Vertigo/DC)

Scott McKowen, 1602 (Marvel)

Joshua Middleton, NYX, X-Men Unlimited, New Mutants (Marvel)

Sean Phillips, Sleeper (WildStorm/DC)

Brian Wood, Global Frequency (WildStorm/DC)

 

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)

 

Best Comics-Related Periodical

Alter Ego, edited by Roy Thomas (TwoMorrows)

Comic Art, edited by M. Todd Hignite (Comic Art)

Comic Book Artist, edited by Jon B. Cooke (Top Shelf)

The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth and Milo George (Fantagraphics)

 

Best Comics-Related Book

The Acme Novelty Library Datebook, 1986-1995, by Chris Ware (Drawn & Quarterly)

The Art of Hellboy, by Mike Mignola (Dark Horse)

Black Images in the Comics,  by Fredrik Str?mberg (Fantagraphics)

Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross, by Chip Kidd (Pantheon)

Stan Lee and the Rise and Fall of the American Comic Book, by Jordan Raphael and Tom Spurgeon (Chicago Review Press)

 

Best Publication Design

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Absolute Edition, vol. 1, designed by Todd Klein, Alex Sinclair, and Larry Berry (ABC)

Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Biography, designed by Chester Brown (Drawn & Quarterly)

Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross, designed by Chip Kidd (Pantheon)

Project: Telstar, designed by Chris Pitzer (AdHouse)

Quimby the Mouse, designed by Chris Ware (Fantagraphics)

Top Shelf Asks the Big Questions, designed by Brett Warnock (?) (Top Shelf)

 

Hall of Fame

Judges' Choices: Otto Binder, John Stanley

Voters will select four from:

Bill Blackbeard

Wayne Boring

Al Capp

Jules Feiffer

Lou Fine

Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo

Floyd Gottfredson

Graham Ingels

Kaauo Koike and Goseki Kojima

Don Martin

Jerry Robinson

Gilbert Shelton