2013 Eisner Award Winners

Winners of the 2013 Eisner Awards Announced at Comic-Con

July 30, 2013  •   by Troy Dove    •    Subculture Comics

The winners for the 25th annual Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards were announced on July 19, during this year’s Comic-Con International (Comic-Con), in San Diego, California.

One of the night’s biggest winners was Chris Ware’s critically acclaimed Building Stories (published by Pantheon) which won for Best Graphic Album–New, Best Writer/Artist, Best Coloring, Best Lettering, and Best Publication Design. Also of note was Image Comics' Saga which took home awards for Best Continuing Series and Best New Series Best Writer. 
 

Building Stories (Pantheon)

Dark Horse received Eisners for Best Anthology for Dark Horse Presents and for Best U.S. Edition of International Material for Blacksad: Silent Hell - with artist Juanjo Guarnido winning Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art).

Artist David Aja was honored for his work in Marvel's Hawkeye with two Eisners, including Best Cover Artist and Best Inker/Penciller. Earning his fifth Eisner with IDW, Darwyn Cooke received the award for Best Adaptation From Another Medium, an award that was re-introduced this year, for his graphic novel, Parker: The Score.

Below is the full list of this year’s winners as chosen by comics creators, editors, publishers, and retailers.

2013 Eisner Award Winners:

Best Short Story: “Moon 1969: The True Story of the 1969 Moon Launch,” by Michael Kupperman, in Tales Designed to Thrizzle #8 (Fantagraphics)

Best Single Issue (or One-Shot): The Mire, by Becky Cloonan (self-published)

Best Continuing Series: Saga, by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (Image)

Best New Series: Saga, by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (Image)

Best Publication for Early Readers (up to age 7): Babymouse for President, by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm (Random House)

Best Publication for Kids (ages 8–12): Adventure Time, by Ryan North, Shelli Paroline, and Braden Lamb (kaboom!)

Best Publication for Teens (ages 13–17): A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle, adapted by Hope Larson (FSG)

Best Humor Publication: Darth Vader and Son, by Jeffrey Brown (Chronicle)

Best Digital Comic: Bandette, by Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover (Monkeybrain)

Best Anthology: Dark Horse Presents, edited by Mike Richardson (Dark Horse)

Best Reality-Based Work (tie): Annie Sullivan and the Trials of Helen Keller, by Joseph Lambert (Center for Cartoon Studies/Disney Hyperion); The Carter Family: Don’t Forget This Song, by Frank M. Young and David Lasky (Abrams ComicArts)

Best Graphic Album—New: Building Stories, by Chris Ware (Pantheon)

Best Adaptation from Another Medium: Richard Stark’s Parker: The Score, adapted by Darwyn Cooke (IDW)

Best Graphic Album—Reprint: King City, by Brandon Graham (TokyoPop/Image)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips: Pogo, vol. 2: Bona Fide Balderdash, by Walt Kelly, edited by Carolyn Kelly and Kim Thompson (Fantagraphics)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books: David Mazzucchelli’s Daredevil Born Again: Artist’s Edition, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW

Best U.S. Edition of International Material: Blacksad: Silent Hell, by Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido (Dark Horse)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia: Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, by Naoki Urasawa (VIZ Media)

Best Writer: Brian K. Vaughan, Saga (Image)

Best Writer/Artist: Chris Ware, Building Stories (Pantheon)

Best Penciler/Inker (tie): David Aja, Hawkeye (Marvel), Chris Samnee, Daredevil (Marvel); Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom (IDW)

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art): Juanjo Guarnido, Blacksad (Dark Horse)

Best Cover Artist: David Aja, Hawkeye (Marvel)

Best Coloring: Dave Stewart, Batwoman (DC); Fatale (Image); BPRD, Conan the Barbarian, Hellboy in Hell, Lobster Johnson, The Massive (Dark Horse)

Best Lettering: Chris Ware, Building Stories (Pantheon)

Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism: The Comics Reporter, edited by Tom Spurgeon, www.comicsreporter.com

Best Comics-Related Book: Marvel Comics: The Untold Story, by Sean Howe (HarperCollins)

Best Educational/Academic Work: Lynda Barry: Girlhood Through the Looking Glass, by Susan E. Kirtley (University Press of Mississippi)

Best Publication Design: Building Stories, designed by Chris Ware (Pantheon)

Hall of Fame: Judges' Choices: Lee Falk, Al Jaffee, Mort Meskin, Trina Robbins, Spain Rodriguez, Joe Sinnott

Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award: Russel Roehling

Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award: Chris Sparks and Team Cul deSac

Bill Finger Excellence in Comic Book Writing Award: Steve Gerber, Don Rosa

Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award: Challengers Comics + Conversation, Chicago, IL

SDCC 2013 Wrap Up

2013 San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) Feature Film Wrap Up

July 27, 2013  •   by Troy Dove    •    Subculture Comics

Well over 100,000 comic fans descended upon the Gas Lamp district of San Diego last weekend (July 18-24) for Comic-Con International’s annual convention. The San Diego Comic-Con has grown to become the world’s third largest comic convention drawing distributors, vendor, celebrities, news agencies, movie studios, and fans from all over the world to the four day Fan-Fest.

DC Comics and Marvel Studios delighted audiences this year with an array of release dates for upcoming products, including a line-up of feature films that stretches all the way out to 2015.

Keeping up with all the new characters, story arcs, and release dates for all these new feature films can be difficult, even for the most die-hard fan, so we have compiled a short list of some of the most important feature film announcements from this year’s event.

Feature Film News:

Thor: The Dark World: Attendees got a sneak peek at the upcoming film and had the opportunity to ask questions. Scheduled for release August 8, 2013.

Thor: The Dark World: Scheduled for Release August 8, 2013.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier: Attendees were treated to footage of the upcoming film and a Q&A session with members of the cast. Scheduled for release April 4, 2014.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier: Scheduled for Release April 4, 2014.

Amazing Spider-Man 2: Attendees got a sneak peek at the upcoming film and had the opportunity to ask Andrew Garfield (Spider-Man) and Jamie Foxx (Electro) questions. Scheduled for release May 2, 2014.

 

Amazing Spider-Man 2: Scheduled for Release May 2, 2014.

X-Men: Days of Future Past: Marvel revealed that Hugh Jackman's Wolverine would appear as the time traveler sent back through time to change history instead of Ellen Page's Kitty Pryde. Attendees got their first glimpse of the Sentinels. Scheduled for release July 18, 2014.

X-Men: Days of Future Past: Scheduled for Release July 18, 2014.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Marvel released the list of cast members for the upcoming feature. Scheduled for release August, 2014.

Chris Pratt as Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord; Zoe Saldana as Gamora; Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer; Lee Pace as Ronan the Accuser; Michael Rooker as Yondu; Karen Gillan as Nebula; Djimon Hounsou as Korath; Benicio del Toro as The Collector; John C. Reilly as Rhomann Dey; Glenn Close as Nova Prime

Guardians of the Galaxy: Scheduled for Release August, 2014.

Avengers 2: Age of Ultron: Marvel announced the new villain for the Avenger’s sequel will be Ultron. Scheduled for release May 1, 2015.

Avengers 2: Age of Ultron: Scheduled for Release May 1, 2015.

Superman: Man of Steel 2: In an incredibly well received bombshell, DC announced that Superman and Batman will team up in the Man of Steel sequel. Scheduled for release Summer, 2015.

Superman: Man of Steel 2: Scheduled for Release Summer, 2015.

World's Oldest Book Found in Scotland

The World's Oldest Comic Book has been Found...in Scotland?

June 24, 2013  •   by Troy Dove    •    Subculture Comics

Most comic book collectors credit DC Comics for giving birth to the industry when they published Action Comics #1 in June, 1938. But, a recent discovery, from halfway around the world, may change what everyone believes they know about the origin of the comic books.

The world's oldest comic book was recently discovered in Glasgow, Scotland. The Glasgow Looking Glass, published in 1825, nearly 200 years ago, predates all other known comics.
  

The Glasgow Looking Glass, published in Scotland in 1825, is the World's oldest comic book. (Photo Credit: PA Wire)

While Golden Age comics (1930s-1955) get the most media attention, astute collectors know that comics began much earlier than the 1930s. Most of the comics created prior to 1900 were political or satirical in nature and appeared most often as single-frames or multi-paneled comic strips, more than in book form. This early period of comic art is labeled the Victorian Age. Examples from this era are rarely ever encountered and, given their rarity and value, they are not as widely collected as those of more recent eras.

The comic casts a satirical eye over 19th century Scottish society. (Photo Credit: PA Wire)

The Glasgow Looking Glass, casts a satirical eye over 19th century Scottish society, poking fun at the fashions and politics of the era and is considered a predecessor of Punch and other popular satirical comics of the Victorian Age. 

A scene from The Glasgow Looking Glass. (Photo Credit: PA Wire)

The discovery will be reported and discussed at the International Graphic Novel and International Bande Dessinee Society Joint Conference 2013 at Glasgow University this week (June 24, 2013).

The Glasgow Looking Glass is a predecessor of popular satirical comics of the Victorian age. (Photo Credit: PA Wire)

Dr Laurence Grove, conference organizer from the University of Glasgow, said: "Work being presented at the conference shows that not only is Scotland, and particularly Glasgow, right at the forefront of the comic book industry today, but it has been so throughout history. By hosting major events such as this we are really helping to re-conceptualise comic books. We're changing the cultural canon in a way."(credit itv)

Original or Reprint: Analysis of Action Comics #1

Original or Reprint: Analysis of Action Comics #1

June 21, 2013  •   by Troy Dove    •    Subculture Comics

Original Action Comics #1 from 1938.

Considered the Holy Grail of Golden Age comics, comic book collectors can spot the cover of Action Comics #1 from across a crowded room. But, while most serious collectors can easy distinguish an original issue from the multitude of reprints issued over the past 75 years, every once and a while you still hear of a collector purchasing an ‘original’ issue, only to find out that it is actually a  vintage reprint. While a few reprints do have some value in the collector market, it is nowhere near the value of an original issue.

The original 1938 issue of Action Comics #1, was 68 pages in length and featured an array of characters starring in a multiple original stories. Superman was the first story in the book, and was only about 12 pages in length, the remainder of the book featured characters such as Chuck Dawson, Zatara Master Magician, Pep Morgan, and Tex Thompson. (Most reprints focus only on the original Superman story and are therefore only about 12-16 pages in length, so they are easy to distinguish from the original 68-page issue.)

The most common reprint that is mistaken for an original issue is the 1978 DC Comics reprint entitled Famous 1st Edition, which is a page-by-page reprint of the original. Throughout the 1970s DC published a series of famous golden age comics under the Famous 1st Edition title, not just Action Comics.

While DC intended for the Famous 1st Edition release of Action Comics #1 to be an exact reproduction of the original, there are a few differences that make it easily distinguishable from the 1938 issue.

Listed below is a quick guide to help distinguish between the 1978 Famous 1st Edition reprint and the original issue from 1938.

1.  All DC Comics’ Famous 1st Edition reprints were originally sold with two covers, an outer and an inner cover. The outer cover clearly stated that it was an issue from the Famous 1st Edition reprint series. Underneath the outer cover was an inner cover, which was a replica of the 1938 original. Often, the Famous 1st Edition reprint issue is found without the external cover, making it appear more like an original issue.

The 1978 reprint of Action Comics #1 as part of DC Comics' Famous 1st Edition series. The outer cover (left) clearly indicates the issue is a reprint, but with the outer cover removed, the inner cover (right) can be deceiving.

2.  The outer cover of the 1978 reprint was printed on heavy paper stock which was held together with three staples on the spine (the original 1938 issue had only two staples).

3.  If the outer cover of the Famous 1st Edition has been removed, it will very closely resemble the original 1938 issue, but a quick way to distinguish between the two is that the 1978 reprint was issued on ‘slick’ paper and the 1938 original was issued on standard matte paper.

4.  The slick paper cover of the reprint is also missing a few art elements that appear on the original 1938 issue (see below).

The Famous 1st Edition reprint from 1978 (lower panel) is missing art elements that appeared on the original 1938 cover (upper panel). 1. The broken stones from the front of the crushed car (A); 2. Highlights on the car's fender (B); 3. The two beads of sweat off the brow of from the man in the foreground.

5.  The 1978 reprint was also slightly oversized from the original issue, measuring 10” x 13.5” whereas the original measured 7.25” x 10.25”.

 6.  Finally, the back cover of the original 1938 issue had an advertisement for Johnson Smith Company, the 1978 reprint does not.

While this quick guide is not meant to be all-inclusive, it should help collectors easily distinguish between the 1978 Famous 1st Edition reprint of Action Comics #1, and the original issue from 1938.