Three Eisner Nominations for BLUFFTON!

I was beyond thrilled to learn that Bluffton has been nominated for THREE Eisner Awards. The Eisners are the "Oscars" of the comics industry and are named after the great Will Eisner, creator of The Spirit and the artist most often credited with the creation of the modern graphic novel.

Bluffton is nominated in the categories of Best New Graphic Album, Best Writer/Artist, and Best Publication for Teens. Here is the press release.

VOTING for the award winners will close on Friday, June 13th at midnight PDT. Comics professionals, retailers, and... LIBRARIANS are all eligible to cast a vote. VOTE HERE.

It is indeed an honor to be recognized in these categories and to stand beside such amazing fellow nominees. I'll be at the awards ceremony on July 25th. It's my first time at San Diego Comic Con.

Two Eisner Nominations for Around the World!

I am thrilled that Around the World has received two nominations for the prestigious Eisner Award (known as the Oscars of the Comics Industry). ATW is up for both Best Publication for Young Adults and Best Reality-Based Work (which includes books for adults as well). I'm in some amazing company and this is definitely one of those "it's an honor just to be nominated" kinds of things.

The Eisners are named after the great Will Eisner, creator of The Spirit and one of pioneers in what has become the modern Graphic Novel (although I don't think he liked that term). My introduction to Eisner came as a young boy in the seventies reading and rereading my copy of The Great Comic Book Heroes by Jules Feiffer. Among the origin stories of Superman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and others I had heard of, was this strange comic called The Spirit and it was my favorite of the bunch.

Here's my yellowed copy of Feiffer's book, which I of course still have. It sits on my studio bookshelf. (Note the price: $6.95!). I'm pretty sure they recently reprinted this great book. Pick it up if you can.

Here is the complete list of Eisner Nominations.

And here is a great article from Brigid Alverson about the experience of being one of this year's Eisner Judges.

If all goes well, I'll be at the award ceremony this July in San Diego...