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2003 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards

The nominated creators have been recognized by their peers for having produced some of the outstanding achievements in comics in 2002.
(Winners are in bold and marked with *)

Best Short Story

  • "Between Two Worlds: The Strange and Sad Story of Erich Wolfgang Korngold," by P. Craig Russell, in Comics Journal Summer Special 2002 (Fantagraphics)
  • "Green Tea," by J. Sheridan LeFanu, adapted by Kevin Huizenga, in Orchid (Sparkplug)
  • "The Magician and the Snake," by Katie Mignola and Mike Mignola, in Dark Horse Maverick: Happy Endings (Dark Horse) *
  • "Untitled" (first story in book) by Jason, in Sshhhh! (Fantagraphics)
  • "Telekinetic," by Tomer Hanuka, in Bipolar #3 (Alternative Comics)

Best Single Issue or One-Shot

  • The Castaways, by Rob Vollmar and Pablo Callejo (Absence of Ink)
  • Fleep, by Jason Shiga (Sparkplug)
  • My Friend Dahmer, by Derf (Derfcity Comics)
  • My Uncle Jeff, by Damon Hurd and Pedro Camello (Origin)
  • The Stuff of Dreams, by Kim Deitch (Fantagraphics) *

Best Serialized Story

  • Daredevil #32-37: "Out," by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev (Marvel)
  • Fables #1-5: "Legends in Exile," by Bill Willingham, Lan Medina, and Steve Leialoha (DC/Vertigo) *
  • Finder #25-29: "Dream Sequence," by Carla Speed McNeil (Lightspeed Press)
  • Incredible Hulk #34-39: "Return of the Monster," by Bruce Jones, John Romita, Jr., and Tom Palmer (Marvel)
  • Queen & Country #8-12: "Operation: Crystal Ball," by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernandez (Oni)

Best Continuing Series

  • Age of Bronze, by Eric Shanower (Image)
  • Daredevil, by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev (Marvel) *
  • Fables, by Bill Willingham, Lan Medina, Mark Buckingham, and Steve Leialoha (DC/Vertigo)
  • Louis Riel, by Chester Brown (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Strangers in Paradise, by Terry Moore (Abstract Studio)
  • True Story, Swear to God, by Tom Beland (Clib's Boy Comics)

Best Limited Series

  • Courtney Crumrin & the Night Things, by Ted Naifeh (Oni)
  • Hellboy: Third Wish, by Mike Mignola (Dark Horse)
  • League of Extraordinary Gentleman, vol. 2, by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill (ABC) *

Best New Series

  • Fables, by Bill Willingham, Lan Medina, Mark Buckingham, and Steve Leialoha (DC/Vertigo) *
  • Forlorn Funnies, by Paul Hornscheimeier (Absence of Ink)
  • Gotham Central, by Ed Brubaker, Greg Rucka, and Michael Lark (DC)
  • Nowhere Girl, by Justine Shaw (nowheregirl.com)
  • Y: The Last Man. by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, and Jose Marzan (DC/Vertigo)

Best Title for a Younger Audience

  • Amelia Rules!, by Jimmy Gownley (Renaissance)
  • Growing Up Enchanted, by Jack Briglio and Alex Szewczuk (Too Hip Gotta Go Graphics)
  • Herobear and the Kid, by Mike Kunkel (Astonish Comics) *
  • Pinky & Stinky, by James Kochalka (Top Shelf)
  • Ug: Boy Genius of the Stone Age, by Raymond Briggs (Knopf)
  • Wind in the Willows, vol. 4, by Kenneth Grahame, adapted by Michel Plessix (NBM)

Best Humor Publication

  • The Amazing Screw-On Head, by Mike Mignola (Dark Horse) *
  • Dork, by Evan Dorkin (SLG)
  • Fred the Clown, by Roger Langridge (Hotel Fred Press)
  • The House at Maakies Corner, by Tony Millionaire (Fantagraphics)
  • The Pro, by Garth Ennis, Amanda Conner, and Jimmy Palmiotti (Image)
  • Zippy Annual 2002, by Bill Griffith (Fantagraphics)

Best Anthology

  • Orchid, edited by Ben Catmull and Dylan Williams (Sparkplug)
  • Rosetta: A Comics Anthology, edited by Ng Suat Tong (Alternative)
  • SPX 2002 (CBLDF) *
  • Super Manga Blast, edited by Tim Ervin-Gore (Dark Horse)

Best Graphic Album--New

  • Epileptic, vol. 1, by David B. (L'Association)
  • Garlands of Moonlight, by Jai Sen and Rizky Wasisto Edi (Shoto Press)
  • One! Hundred! Demons! by Lynda Barry (Sasquatch Books) *
  • Pulpatoon Pilgrimage, by Joel Priddy (AdHouse Books)
  • The Yellow Jar, by Patrick Atangan (NBM)

Best Graphic Album--Reprint

  • After the Snooter, by Eddie Campbell (Eddie Campbell Books)
  • Batman: Black and White, vol. 2, edited by Mark Chiarello and Nick J. Napolitano (DC) *
  • Beg the Question, by Bob Fingerman (Fantagraphics)
  • Bone vol. 8: Treasure Hunters, by Jeff Smith (Cartoon Books)
  • Boulevard of Broken Dreams, by Kim Deitch (Pantheon)
  • Fair Weather, by Joe Matt (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Archival Collection/Project

  • The Complete Crumb Comics, vol. 16, by R. Crumb (Fantagraphics)
  • Enemy Ace Archives, vol. 1, by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert (DC)
  • Hysteria in Remission: The Comix and Drawings of Robert Williams, edited by Eric Reynolds (Fantagraphics)
  • Krazy & Ignatz, by George Herriman (Fantagraphics) *
  • Sugar and Spike #1, by Sheldon Mayer (DC)

Best U.S. Edition of Foreign Material

  • Dead End, by Thomas Ott (Fantagraphics)
  • Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson, adapted by Jerry Kramsky and Lorenzo Mattotti (NBM) *
  • Epileptic, vol. 1, by David B. (L'Association)
  • Invisible Frontier, vol. 1, by Benoit Peeters and Francois Schuiten (NBM)
  • Sshhhh!, by Jason (Fantagraphics)
  • Uzumaki, vols. 2-3, by Junji Ito (Viz)

Best Writer

  • Brian Michael Bendis, for Powers (Image); Alias, Daredevil, Ultimate Spider-Man (Marvel) *
  • Ed Brubaker, for Catwoman, Detective Comics, Gotham Central (DC)
  • Bruce Jones, for Incredible Hulk (Marvel)
  • Greg Rucka, for Queen & Country (Oni) Gotham Central, Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia (DC)
  • Bill Willingham, for Fables (DC/Vertigo)

Best Writer/Artist

  • Jessica Abel, for La Perdida (Fantagraphics)
  • Patrick Antangan, for The Yellow Jar (NBM)
  • Lynda Barry, for One! Hundred! Demons! (Sasquatch Books)
  • Carla Speed McNeil, for Finder (Lightspeed Press)
  • Eric Shanower, for Age of Bronze (Image) *

Best Writer/Artist--Humor

  • Kim Deitch, for Stuff of Dreams (Fantagraphics)
  • Derf (John Beckderf), for Trashed: True Tales from the Back of a Garbage Truck (SLG)
  • Roger Langridge, for Fred the Clown (Hotel Fred Press)
  • Tony Millionaire, for House at Maakies Corner (Fantagraphics) *

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team

  • Seth Fisher, for Vertigo Pop: Tokyo (DC/Vertigo); The Flash: Time Flies (DC)
  • Bryan Hitch/Andrew Currie, for The Ultimates (Marvel)
  • Michael Lark, for Batman: Nine Lives; Gotham Central (DC)
  • Kevin O'Neill, for League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (ABC) *
  • J. H. Williams III/Mick Gray, for Promethea (ABC)

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)

  • Eric Drooker, for Blood Song (Harcourt)
  • David Mack, for Kabuki: The Ghost Play (Image)
  • Lorenzo Mattotti, for Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (NBM)
  • George Pratt, for Wolverine: Netsuke (Marvel) *

Best Coloring

  • Jeromy Cox, for Promethea (ABC); Leave It to Chance (Image)
  • Matt Hollingsworth, for Alias, Daredevil (Marvel); The Filth #1-3 (DC/Vertigo); Batman: Nine Lives, Catwoman, Catwoman: Selina's Big Score (DC)
  • Paul Hornschemeier, for Forlorn Funnies (Absence of Ink)
  • Laura DePuy Martin, for Ruse (CrossGen)
  • Patricia Mulvihill, for Gotham Girls, Wonder Woman (DC); 100 Bullets, Hellblazer Special: Lady Constantine (DC/Vertigo)
  • Dave Stewart, for Hellboy: Third Wish, The Amazing Screw-on Head, Star Wars: Empire (Dark Horse); Human Target: Final Cut, Doom Patrol (DC/Vertigo); Tom Strong (ABC); Captain America (Marvel) *

Best Lettering

  • Todd Klein, for Dark Knight Strikes Again, Detective Comics, Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia (DC); Fables, Human Target: Final Cut (DC/Vertigo); Promethea, Tom Strong (ABC); Castle Waiting (Olio) *
  • Richard Starkings/Comicraft, for Action Comics, Adventures of Superman, Batman, Legion, The Power Company, Supergirl, Superman, Wonder Woman (DC); The Crusades, Hunter: The Age of Magic, Lucifer, Vertigo Pop: Tokyo (DC/Vertigo); Wildcats version 3.0 (WildStorm); Decoy, Victorian (Penny Farthing); Hip Flask: Unnatural Selection (Comicraft)
  • John Workman, for Batman Family, Detective Comics, Orion, Superman: Day of Doom (DC); 100% (DC/Vertigo)

Best Cover Artist

  • Kaare Andrews, for Incredible Hulk (Marvel)
  • Adam Hughes, for Wonder Woman (DC) *
  • Dave Johnson, for Detective Comics (DC), 100 Bullets (DC/Vertigo)
  • Terry Moore, for Strangers in Paradise (Abstract Studio)
  • J. H. Williams III, for Promethea (ABC)

Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition

  • Richard Hahn, for Lumakick (Lumakick Studio)
  • Myatt Murphy and Scott Dalrymple, for Fade From Blue (Second 2 Some Studios)
  • Tyler Page, for Stylish Vittles (Dementian Comics)
  • Justine Shaw, for Nowhere Girl (nowheregirl.com)
  • Jason Shiga, for Fleep (Absence of Ink) *

Best Comics-Related Publication (Periodical or Book)

  • B. Krigstein, vol. 1, by Greg Sadowski (Fantagraphics) *
  • Comic Art, edited by M. Todd Hignite (Comic Art)
  • Curt Swan: A Life in Comics, by Eddie Zeno (Vanguard)
  • The Imp #4, edited by Dan Raeburn (Daniel K. Raeburn)
  • Rebel Visions: The Underground Comix Revolution, 1963-1975, by Patrick Rosenkranz (Fantagraphics)
  • Tintin: The Complete Companion, by M. Farr (Last Gasp)

Best Publication Design

  • Batman: Nine Lives, designed by Amie Brockway-Metcalf (DC) *
  • Beg the Question, designed by Bob Fingerman (Fantagraphics)
  • Corpus Monstrum, designed by Gary Gianni and Jim Keegan (Hieronymous Press)
  • House at Maakies Corner, designed by Chip Kidd (Fantagraphics)
  • One! Hundred! Demons!, designed by Lynda Barry (Sasquatch Books)

Hall of Fame

    Judges' Choices: (Automatically inducted)
  • Herge *
  • Bernard Krigstein *

    Voters choices:

  • Otto Binder
  • Johnny Craig
  • Reed Crandall
  • Jack Davis *
  • Will Elder *
  • Al Feldstein *
  • Ramona Fradon
  • René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo
  • Floyd Gottfredson
  • Robert Kanigher
  • Jerry Robinson
  • John Severin *

2003 Eisner Awards Judges

  • Andrew D. Arnold (weekly comics columnist for Time magazine's website)
  • Jennifer M. Contino (writer for the online comics news magazine The Pulse, and contributor to Sequential Tart, Wizard, Anime Invasion, and several other comic & toy industry magazines)
  • Steve Leaf (product manager for Diamond Comic Distributors)
  • Jeremy Shorr (owner and operator of Titan Comics in Dallas Texas)
  • Charles Vess (writer/artist)