2013 Eisner Nomations

Best Short Story

• “A Birdsong Shatters the Still,” by Jeff Wilson and Ted May, in Injury #4 (Ted May/Alternative)
• “Elmview” by Jon McNaught, in Dockwood (Nobrow)  
• “Moon 1969: The True Story of the 1969 Moon Launch,” by Michael Kupperman, in Tales Designed to Thrizzle #8 (Fantagraphics)
• “Moving Forward,” by drewscape, in Monsters, Miracles, & Mayonnaise (Epigram Books)
• “Rainbow Moment,” by Lilli Carré, in Heads or Tails (Fantagraphics)

Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)

• Lose #4: “The Fashion Issue,” by Michael DeForge (Koyama Press)
• The Mire, by Becky Cloonan (self-published)
• Pope Hats #3, by Ethan Rilly (AdHouse Books)
• Post York #1, by James Romberger and Crosby (Uncivilized Books)
• Tales Designed to Thrizzle #8, by Michael Kupperman (Fantagraphics)

Best Continuing Series

• Fatale, by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Image)
• Hawkeye, by Matt Fraction and David Aja (Marvel)
• The Manhattan Projects, by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra (Image)
• Prophet, by Brandon Graham and Simon Roy (Image)
• Saga, by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (Image)

Best New Series

• Adventure Time, by Ryan North, Shelli Paroline, and Braden Lamb (kaboom!)
• Bandette, by Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover (Monkeybrain)
• Fatale, by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Image)
• Hawkeye, by Matt Fraction and David Aja (Marvel)
• 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)
• Benny and Penny in Lights Out, by Geoffrey Hays (Toon Books/Candlewick)
• Kitty & Dino, by Sara Richard (Yen Press/Hachette)
• Maya Makes a Mess, by Rutu Modan (Toon Books/Candlewick)
• Zig and Wikki in The Cow, by Nadja Spiegelman and Trade Loeffler (Toon Books/Candlewick)

Best Publication for Kids (ages 8-12)

• Adventure Time, by Ryan North, Shelli Paroline, and Braden Lamb (kaboom!)
• Amulet Book 5: Prince of the Elves, by Kazu Kibuishi (Scholastic)
• Cow Boy: A Boy and His Horse, by Nate Cosby and Chris Eliopoulos (Archaia)
• Crogan’s Loyalty, by Chris Schweizer (Oni)
• Hilda and the Midnight Giant, by Luke Pearson (Nobrow)
• Road to Oz, by L. Frank Baum, adapted by Eric Shanower and Skottie Young (Marvel)

Best Publication for Teens (ages 13-17)

• Adventure Time: Marceline and the Scream Queens, by Meredith Gran (kaboom!)
• Annie Sullivan and the Trials of Helen Keller, by Joseph Lambert (Center for Cartoon Studies/Disney Hyperion)
• Ichiro, by Ryan Inzana (Houghton Mifflin)
• Spera, vol. 1, by Josh Tierney et al. (Archaia)
• A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle, adapted by Hope Larson (FSG)

Best Humor Publication

• Adventure Time, by Ryan North, Shelli Paroline, and Braden Lamb (kaboom!)
• BBXX: Baby Blues Decades 1 & 2, by Jerry Scott and Rick Kirkman (Andrews McMeel)
• Darth Vader and Son, by Jeffrey Brown (Chronicle)
• Naked Cartoonists, edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)

Best Digital Comic

• Ant Comic, by Michael DeForge
• Bandette, by Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover
• It Will All Hurt, by Farel Dalrymple
• Our Bloodstained Roof, by Ryan Andrews
• Oyster War, by Ben Towle

Best Anthology

• Dark Horse Presents, edited by Mike Richardson (Dark Horse)
• No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics, edited by Justin Hall (Fantagraphics)
• Nobrow #7: Brave New World, edited by Alex Spiro and Sam Arthur (Nobrow)
• 2000 AD, edited by Matt Smith (Rebellion)
• Where Is Dead Zero?, edited by Jeff Ranjo (Where Is Dead Zero?)

Best Reality-Based Work

• 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)
• A Chinese Life, by Li Kunwu and P. Ôtié (Self Made Hero)
• The Infinite Wait and Other Stories, by Julia Wertz (Koyama Press)
• Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo & Me, by Ellen Forney (Gotham Books)
• You’ll Never Know, Book 3: A Soldier’s Heart, by C. Tyler (Fantagraphics)

Best Graphic Album—New

• Building Stories, by Chris Ware (Pantheon)
• Goliath, by Tom Gauld (Drawn & Quarterly)
• The Hive, by Charles Burns (Pantheon)
• Unterzakhn, by Leela Corman (Schocken)
• You’ll Never Know, Book 3: A Soldier’s Heart, by C. Tyler (Fantagraphics)

Best Adaptation from Another Medium

• Chico and Rita, by Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal (Self Made Hero)
• Homer’s Odyssey, adapted by Seymour Chwast (Bloomsbury)
• Richard Stark’s Parker: The Score, adapted by Darwyn Cooke (IDW)
• Road to Oz, by L. Frank Baum, adapted by Eric Shanower and Skottie Young (Marvel)
• A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle, adapted by Hope Larson (FSG)

Best Graphic Album—Reprint

• Cruisin’ with the Hound, by Spain (Fantagraphics)
• Ed the Happy Clown, by Chester Brown (Drawn & Quarterly)
• Everything Together: Collected Stories, by Sammy Harkham (PictureBox)
• Heads or Tails, by Lilli Carré (Fantagraphics)
• King City, by Brandon Graham (TokyoPop/Image)
• Sailor Twain, or The Mermaid in the Hudson by Mark Siegel (First Second)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips

• Alex Raymond’s Flash Gordon and Jungle Jim, vol. 2, edited by Dean Mullaney (IDW/Library of American Comics)
• Mister Twee Deedle: Raggedy Ann’s Sprightly Cousin, by Johnny Gruelle, edited by Rick Marschall (Fantagraphics)
• Percy Crosby’s Skippy, vol. 1, edited by Jared Gardner and Dean Mullaney (IDW/Library of American Comics)
• Pogo, vol. 2: Bona Fide Balderdash, by Walt Kelly, edited by Carolyn Kelly and Kim Thompson (Fantagraphics)
• Roy Crane’s Captain Easy: The Complete Sunday Newspaper Strips, vol. 3, edited by Rick Norwood (Fantagraphics)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books

• Crime Does Not Pay Archives, edited by Philip Simon and Kitchen, Lind & Associates (Dark Horse)
• David Mazzucchelli’s Daredevil Born Again: Artist’s Edition, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW)
• Wally Wood’s EC Stories: Artist’s Edition, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW)
• Walt Disney’s Uncle Scrooge: Only a Poor Old Man, by Carl Barks, edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)
• Young Romance: The Best of Simon & Kirby’s Romance Comics, edited by Michel Gagné (Fantagraphics)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material

• Abelard, by Régis Hautiere and Renaud Dillies (NBM)
• Athos in America, by Jason (Fantagraphics)
• Blacksad: Silent Hell, by Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido (Dark Horse)
• The Making of, by Brecht Evens (Drawn & Quarterly)
• Monsieur Jean: The Singles Theory, by Philippe Dupuy and Charles Berberian (Humanoids)
• New York Mon Amour, by Benjamin LeGrand, Dominique Grange, and Jacques Tardi (Fantagraphics)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia

• Barbara, by Osamu Tezuka (Digital Manga)
• A Chinese Life, by Li Kunwu and P. Ôtié (Self Made Hero)
• Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, by Naoki Urasawa (VIZ Media)
• Nonnonba, by Shigeru Mizuki (Drawn & Quarterly)
• Thermae Romae, by Mari Yamazaki (Yen Press/Hachette)

Best Writer

• Ed Brubaker, Fatale (Image)
• Matt Fraction, Hawkeye  (Marvel); Casanova: Avaritia (Marvel Icon)
• Brandon Graham, Multiple Warheads, Prophet (Image)
• Jonathan Hickman, The Manhattan Projects (Image)
• Brian K. Vaughan, Saga (Image)
• Frank M. Young, The Carter Family (Abrams ComicArts)

Best Writer/Artist

• Charles Burns, The Hive (Pantheon)
• Gilbert Hernandez, Love and Rockets New Stories, vol. 5 (Fantagraphics)
• Jaime Hernandez, Love and Rockets New Stories, vol. 5 (Fantagraphics)
• Luke Pearson, Hilda and the Midnight Giant, Everything We Miss (Nobrow)
• C. Tyler, You’ll Never Know, Book 3: A Soldier’s Heart (Fantagraphics)
• Chris Ware, Building Stories (Pantheon)

Best Penciller/Inker

• David Aja, Hawkeye (Marvel)
• Becky Cloonan, Conan the Barbarian (Dark Horse); The Muse (self-published)
• Colleen Coover, Bandette (Monkeybrain)
• Sean Phillips, Fatale (Image)
• Joseph Remnant, Harvey Pekar’s Cleveland (Zip Comics/Top Shelf)
• Chris Samnee, Daredevil (Marvel); Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom (IDW)

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)

• Brecht Evens, The Making Of (Drawn & Quarterly)
• Juanjo Guarnido, Blacksad (Dark Horse)
• Teddy Kristiansen, The Red Diary/The RE[a]D Diary (MAN OF ACTION/Image)
• Lorenzo Mattotti, The Crackle of the Frost (Fantagraphics)
• Katsuya Terada, The Monkey King vol. 2 (Dark Horse)

Best Cover Artist

• David Aja, Hawkeye (Marvel)
• Brandon Graham, King City, Multiple Warheads, Elephantmen #43 (Image)
• Sean Phillips, Fatale (Image)
• Yuko Shimizu, The Unwritten (Vertigo/DC)
• J, H. Williams III, Batwoman (DC)

Best Coloring

• Charles Burns, The Hive (Pantheon)
• Colleen Coover, Bandette (Monkeybrain)
• Brandon Graham, Multiple Warheads (Image)
• Dave Stewart, Batwoman (DC); Fatale  (Image); BPRD, Conan the Barbarian, Hellboy in Hell, Lobster Johnson, The Massive (Dark Horse)
• Chris Ware, Building Stories (Pantheon)

Best Lettering

• Paul Grist, Mudman (Image)
• Troy Little, Angora Napkin 2: Harvest of Revenge (IDW)
• Joseph Remnant, Harvey Pekar’s Cleveland (Zip Comics/Top Shelf)
• C. Tyler, You’ll Never Know, Book 3: A Soldier’s Heart (Fantagraphics)
• Chris Ware, Building Stories (Pantheon)

Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism

• Alter Ego, edited by Roy Thomas (TwoMorrows)
• ComicsAlliance, edited by Joe Hughes, Caleb Goellner, and Andy Khouri
• The Comics Reporter, edited by Tom Spurgeon
• Robot Six, produced by Comic Book Resources
• tcj.com, edited by Timothy Hodler and Dan Nadel (Fantagraphics)

Best Comics-Related Book

• The Art of Daniel Clowes: Modern Cartoonist, edited by Alvin Buenaventura (Abrams ComicArts)
• Marie Severin: The Mirthful Mistress of Comics, by Dewey Cassell (TwoMorrows)
• Marvel Comics: The Untold Story, by Sean Howe (HarperCollins)
• Mastering Comics, by Jessica Abel and Matt Madden (First Second)
• Team Cul De Sac: Cartoonists Draw the Line at Parkinson’s, edited by Chris Sparks (Andrews McMeel)
• Woodwork: Wallace Wood 1927–1981, edited by Frédéric Manzano (CasalSolleric/IDW)

Best Educational/Academic Work

• Autobiographical Comics: Life Writing in Pictures, by Elisabeth El Refaie (University Press of Mississippi)
• Comics Versus Art, by Bart Beaty (University of Toronto Press)
• Crockett Johnson & Ruth Krauss: How an Unlikely Couple Found Love, Dodged the FBI, and Transformed Children’s Literature, by Philip Nel (University Press of Mississippi)
• Lynda Barry: Girlhood Through the Looking Glass, by Susan E. Kirtley (University Press of Mississippi)
• The Poetics of Slumberland, by Scott Bukatman (University of California Press)

Best Publication Design

• Building Stories, designed by Chris Ware (Pantheon)
• Dal Tokyo, designed by Gary Panter and Family Sohn (Fantagraphics)
• David Mazzucchelli’s Daredevil Born Again: Artist’s Edition, designed by Randy Dahlk (IDW)
• Mister Twee Deedle: Raggedy Ann’s Sprightly Cousin, designed by Tony Ong (Fantagraphics)
• Wizzywig, designed by Ed Piskor and Chris Ross (Top Shelf)

Pop Culture Talk: Episode 6-The Walking Game of Thrones of M. Night Shyamalan

In this episode we give you a quick update on our new comic (617), we discuss the polarizing finale of The Walking Dead, the much anticipated return of Game of Thrones, the many ups and downs of M. Night Shyamalan's films and close with our usual must buy comics for next week.

You can listen to The Illumi-Nerdi: Pop Culture Talk on PodOmatic or you can download and listen to our episodes on iTunes

Episode 6: The Walking Game of Thrones of M. Night Shyamalan

00:48-617 Update

3:03-Drunk on Comics' March Madness Superhero bracket

14:05-Our review on the polarizing Walking Dead Season 3 finale.

33:51- Game of Thrones is BACK and we discuss the Season 3 premiere.

46:25- Our "Director of the Week" segment focuses on M. Night Shyamalan.
     46:48-Phil doesn't think that Sixth Sense is a horror movie and Brian believes he's wrong.
     52:41-Can you find anything wrong with Signs? The answer is...maybe but probably not.
     56:18 Why did the aliens invade a planet that is 77% water? Brian has the answer for you.
     60:00 Phil's in the minority because most movie goers didn't enjoy The Village.
     70:30-Brian watched Lady in the Water but Phil forgot to and he apologizes.
     73:36- In honor of Roget Ebert, we are giving The Happening "Two Thumbs Down".
     79:49-Phil argues that The Happening was not a horror story but a love story.

80:06- Our "Must Buy" comics for 4/10/13. 

C. Robert Cargill's Dreams and Shadows

Dreams and Shadows, by C. Robert Cargill.

       In this highly imaginative debut, C. Robert Cargill (reviewer for film.com and Ain’t it Cool News and screenwriter of the uber creepy Sinister) builds a world that is quite close to our own, but unseen by most of the human world: Austin (yes, that Austin).  In it dwell fairies and angels, sorcerers and djinns. It is a world most children would give up anything to be a part of; which brings us to our protagonist Colby Stevens, who does just that. Though the premise itself may sound like a story perfect for lovers of Harry Potter or Narnia, this one is certainly not for kids. The audience for Dreams and Shadows is far more adult (think more Neil Gaiman meets Clive Barker).

        It starts the way any fantastical story should, with those four magic words: once upon a time. From there, Cargill sends the reader unprotected through his dark fairy tale, exploring some characters and creatures you may or may not be familiar with (the leprechaun’s not-so- distant cousin the Clurichaun, the beautiful and dangerous Sidhe and remember those Bendith Y Mamau stories we all grew up with? No? Just me?).

       It truly is an expert reworking of traditional folklore (particularly Irish mythology) and Cargill does not leave the reader lost for a moment. Throughout the novel, especially the first half, there are excerpts from the fictional “Dr. Thaddeus Ray’s” various novels written on the fantastic inhabitants. These serve as explanations for some of the less familiar dreamfolk and fairies in Cargill’s strange Austin, TX. These excerpts show us how talented of a writer he really is. He writes this book through so many different points of view including this “non-fiction” one. 

       This book is a true page turner. Though the exposition does run a bit long, Cargill is simply drawing his audience in and establishing the world in which they are about to immersed. Once he does this, a fairly simple question is presented which serves as the plot for the remainder of the novel: what happens when the traditional “young boy” protagonist grows up? He has already seen too much of the world (in a way that most people will never get to see) and can never feel as if he belongs. This is just what happens to the adult Colby Stevens. The result is a sort of John Constantine-type character, forced to walk the world knowing and seeing far more than he should (some might say a cursed existence). It is a story of love and loyalty, pain and loss; and it does it beautifully.

       I always had a theory, and perhaps it was just one aspiring writer’s defense against critics but I believed it anyway: those who cannot do, teach. Those who cannot do or teach, criticize. While this may be true for many, it does not seem to ring true for C. Robert Cargill. He has proven his worth as a critic and has made the extremely successful leap to novelist. If his debut is any indication, I think it will be only a matter of time before you’ll be hearing his name again, with an equally impressive follow-up. 

Verdict: A-

The Reverse Flash is..........

This weekend, Scott Lobdell shared a little secret with fanboys at WonderCon. According to Scott, the characters do not have plans to form the next Justice League nor does that mean they will be superheroes when they become adults. He even hinted that certain members from Teen Titans might turn out to be super-villains.

Who from the Teen Titans roster could become a super-villain? 

Possible Villain Turns: 

Superboy: He has Lex Luthor's DNA in his genetic code but his villain turn has already been done in the last decade. 

Wonder Girl: In the first fifteen issues of Teen Titans, Scott Lobdell did an entire story arc focusing on Wonder Girl's inability to control her superpowers. 

Red Robin: He has Nightwing's leadership skills but has Batman's personality. Red Robin is the type of hero that is willing to sacrifice himself and his friendships for the greater good. 

These three characters standout as Teen Titans' Trinity. Because DC has already done arcs exploring these characters' dark side, the readers should expect the unexpected when it comes to a hero joining the dark side. 

Anyways, Scott Lobdell also announced that Kid Flash, Bart Allen will be shot back into the future. For those who have not been reading the book, one of the big secrets within the Teen Titans is Bart Allen's origin. Prior to the New 52, Bart Allen is from the future and the grandson of DC's Flash, Barry Allen. So far, Kid Flash and the Flash have yet to meet. Also, it seems Kid Flash has amnesia and throughout the series there have been hints that he's from the 30th century. Starting in Flash #19, Barry Allen is attacked by the Reverse Flash. According to DC, the Reverse Flash is hunting and killing everyone that is connected with the speed force. By #21, Flash and Kid Flash are united for the first time ever. 

For the past few months, people have been making their guesses about who the Reverse Flash is. Actually there's only one guess: Wally West. However, I think everyone might be wrong. Before you start making another guess, go back and reread the beginning of the blog and start connecting the dots.

Which Teen Titan will turn heel? 

Who is the Reverse Flash? 

Why did Kid Flash lose his memory? 

Phil's Reverse Flash Theory: I believe that when Kid Flash grows up he will become the Reverse Flash. Someone from the 30th century realized that Kid Flash would grow up to be bad, erased his memory and placed him in the 21st century. However, the past does tend to repeat itself. Bart Allen still became Kid Flash and joined the Teen Titans. Because Kid Flash's existence and heel turn still occurred,  the future yanks him back in hoping to eliminate the birth of the Reverse Flash.