Comic- Con international has announced the 2023 Eisner Award nominations. Image Comics and DC received the most nominations. The big I had 20 individual and 6 shared against DC’s 11 individual and 5 shared. All in all, this year’s awards represent the 150 print and online comics and graphic novels published from January 1 to December 31, 2022. The winners will be announced at the San Diego Hilton Bayfront Hotel on the evening of July 20th.
Here are my picks, based on what I’ve read and am familiar with:
1. Best Short Story: Finding Batman.
2. Best Single Issue/One Shot: I want to say Moon Knight, because it was excellent. I haven’t read Star Trek or A Vicious Circle, so they may come in swinging and I wouldn’t expect it. I will say, though, as a Tom King fan: that Riddler story was just kind of meh. Batman: One Bad Day: Clayface would have deserved the nod more.
3. Best Continuing Series: Zdarsky’s Daredevil is up there with McKay’s Moon Knight as the best continuing capeshit book going, so I’m going to give it the nod, but I have a sneaking suspicion Tynion’s Department of Truth will take it.
4. Best Limited Series: The Human Target is probably my favorite thing King has written in awhile. I’m still guessing this goes Superman: Space Age’s way, but Animal Kingdom might come through with a surprise.
5. Best New Series: For the first time in a while, I’m only familiar with a couple of these. I wasn’t too sold on Love Everlasting, though I liked the premise and the art. I do very much like Zdarsky’s Public Domain, so I’ll pull for that. It’s pretty neat to see companies like Ablaze and Red 5 represented, proof again that smaller companies can crank out some interesting and fresh stuff.
6. Best Publication For Teens: I’m a little surprised DWJ’s Do a Powerbomb is here, considering how bloody it got, but it was absolutely rad as hell, so I’ll root for it.
7. Best Writer: Tynion IV. Or Mark Russell, I really REALLY loved The Incal, but Tynion’s work has been so consistently great across the board this year.
8. Best Peniciller/Inker: This could be any of them, genuinely. Bruno Redondo’s work is a delight. Alexander and Bueno’s books only have the atmosphere they do because of their work, and Phillips’ The Ghost in You is gorgeous. I’m going to go with Smallwood, but any of them could take it and deserve it.
9. Best Cover Artist Multiple: Alex Ross. Failing that, Sana Takeda.
10. Best Coloring: This is another wildcard. Jordie Bellaire has to be the hardest working colorist in the business, and I’d like to see them take it, but Ross/Johnson’s work on FF: Full Circle is simply the DOPEST. Dave McCaig is my third choice, but may surprise.
11. Best Lettering: I’m going to say Todd Klein specifically because of Fables and Miracleman.
An unusually large amount of work that I haven’t read this year, but that’s why I love the Eisners: because it’s an industry-wide award show, they pull from companies and talent that don’t get the attention they deserve to showcase the stories and work that deserve acclaim.