LUCIDMEDIA

Lucid Comics – April 8th

Written by Adam A. Donaldson Wednesday, 08 April 2009 14:33

Just as movie awards season is winding down, comic awards season is heating up with the announcement of nominees for both the Eisners and the Shusters. Scroll down to see the full list of nominees, as well as your usual Lucid Comics extras.

In the News

BOOM! Goes back to 28 Days Later

The recently solidified partnership between BOOM! Studios and Fox Atomic begins to bare fruit this July with the release of a 28 Days Later comic. A press release describes it thusly: “Initial launch story will be firmly based in 28 DAYS LATER continuity with the first arc focusing on Selena. Bridging the gap between 28 DAYS LATER and 28 WEEKS LATER, a few key questions will be answered along the way: what happened to Selena after 28 DAYS LATER? How did Selena happen upon the machete she wields in 28 DAYS LATER?” Attached you can see small versions of the first issue’s two variant covers.

Dark X-Men join the Reign

Marvel released this image, most likely the cover for the upcoming first issue of Dark X-Men. Presumably the title will be similar to the Dark Avengers title, where in Norman Osborn puts together a team of mutants and publicly dubs them The X-Men, or rather his X-Men. No details were given, not even a writer, artist or release date. From the looks of it though it seems that the team is going to be made up of Namor, Emma Frost (as the Black Queen?), Professor Xavier, Daken (Dark Avengers’ Wolverine), Mimic, Weapon Omega and Cloak and Dagger. The artist of this piece, as you’ll note from the signature between Daken and Namor, is Terry Dobson.

In the News Special – Award nominees announced

The Eisners

The nominees for the 21st annual Eisner were announced Tuesday, and it’s chock full of new faces and returning favourites. Dark Horse is the publisher with the most nominations at 13 individual nominations and 5 shared with Hellboy and Umbrella Academy titles singled out especially. DC Comics came in second with 10 individual nominations and 2 shared, followed closely by Marvel with 9 individual nods and 2 shared. Canadian published Drawn & Quarterly had a total of 10 nominations. The hardware will be handed out during the San Diego Comic Con at the end of July. Here’s the full list of categories and nominees.

2009 Eisner Awards Nominees

Best Short Story
“Actual Size” by Chris Ware, in Kramers Ergot 7 (Buenaventura Press)
“Chechen War, Chechen Women,” by Joe Sacco, in I Live Here (Pantheon)
“Freaks,” by Laura Park, in Superior Showcase #3 (AdHouse)
“Glenn Ganges in ‘Pulverize,’” by Kevin Huizenga, in Ganges #2 (Fantagraphics)
“Murder He Wrote,” by Ian Boothby, Nina Matsumoto, and Andrew Pepoy, in The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror #14 (Bongo)

Best Continuing Series
All Star Superman. by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (DC)
Fables, by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, Niko Henrichon, Andrew Pepoy, and Peter Gross (Vertigo/DC)
Naoki Urasawa’s Monster, by Naoki Urasawa (Viz)
Thor, by J. Michael Straczynski, Olivier Coipel, Mark Morales, and various (Marvel)
Usagi Yojimbo, by Stan Sakai (Dark Horse)

Best Limited Series Groo: Hell on Earth, by Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier (Dark Horse)
Hellboy: The Crooked Man, by Mike Mignola and Richard Corben (Dark Horse)
Locke & Key, by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (IDW)
Omega the Unknown, by Jonathan Lethem, Karl Rusnak, and Farel Dalrymple (Marvel)
The Twelve, by J. Michael Straczynski and Chris Weston (Marvel)

Best New Series
Air, by. G. Willow Wilson and M. K. Perker (Vertigo/DC)
Echo, by Terry Moore (Abstract Studio)
Invincible Iron Man, by Matt Fraction and Salvador Larocca (Marvel)
Madame Xanadu, by Matt Wagner, Amy Reeder Hadley, and Richard Friend (Vertigo/DC)
Unknown Soldier, by Joshua Dysart and Alberto Ponticelli (Vertigo/DC)

Best Publication for Kids
Amulet, Book 1: The Stonekeeper, by Kazu Kabuishi (Scholastic Graphix)
Cowa! by Akira Toriyama (Viz)
Princess at Midnight, by Andi Watson (Image)
Stinky, by Eleanor Davis (RAW Junior)
Tiny Titans, by Art Baltazar and Franco (DC)

Best Publication for Teens/Tweens
Coraline, by Neil Gaiman, adapted by P. Craig Russell (HarperCollins Children’s Books)
Crogan’s Vengeance, by Chris Schweizer (Oni)
The Good Neighbors, Book 1: Kin, by Holly Black and Ted Naifeh (Scholastic Graphix)
Rapunzel’s Revenge, by Shannon and Dean Hale and Nathan Hale (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)
Skim, by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki (Groundwood Books)

Best Humor Publication
Arsenic Lullaby Pulp Edition No. Zero, by Douglas Paszkiewicz (Arsenic Lullaby)
Chumble Spuzz, by Ethan Nicolle (SLG)
Herbie Archives, by “Sean O’Shea” (Richard E. Hughes) and Ogden Whitney (Dark Horse)
Petey and Pussy, by John Kerschbaum (Fantagraphics)
Wondermark: Beards of Our Forefathers, by David Malki (Dark Horse)

Best Anthology
An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, and True Stories, vol. 2, edited by Ivan Brunetti (Yale University Press)
Best American Comics 2008, edited by Lynda Barry (Houghton Mifflin)
Comic Book Tattoo: Narrative Art Inspired by the Lyrics and Music of Tori Amos, edited by Rantz Hoseley (Image)
Kramers Ergot 7, edited by Sammy Harkham (Buenaventura Press)
MySpace Dark Horse Presents, edited by Scott Allie and Sierra Hahn (Dark Horse)

Best Digital Comic
Bodyworld, by Dash Shaw, www.dashshaw.com
Finder, by Carla Speed McNeil, www.shadowlinecomics.com/webcomics/#/finder/
The Lady’s Murder, by Eliza Frye, http://theladysmurder.elizafrye.com
Speak No Evil: Melancholy of a Space Mexican, by Elan Trinidad, www.theoryofeverythingcomics.com/SNE/
Vs., by Alexis Sottile & Joe Infurnari, www.smithmag.net/nextdoorneighbor/2008/12/08/story-18/

Best Reality-Based Work
Alan’s War, by Emmanuel Guibert (First Second)
Blue Pills: A Positive Love Story, by Frederik Peeters (Houghton Mifflin)
Fishtown, by Kevin Colden (IDW)
A Treasury of XXth Century Murder: The Lindbergh Child, by Rick Geary (NBM)
What It Is, by Lynda Barry (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Graphic Album—New
Alan’s War, by Emmanuel Guibert (First Second)
Paul Goes Fishing, by Michel Rabagliati (Drawn & Quarterly)
Skim, by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki (Groundwood Books)
Swallow Me Whole, by Nate Powell (Top Shelf)
Three Shadows, by Cyril Pedrosa (First Second)

Best Graphic Album—Reprint
Berlin Book 2: City of Smoke, by Jason Lutes (Drawn & Quarterly)
Hellboy Library Edition, vols. 1 and 2, by Mike Mignola (Dark Horse)
Sam & Max Surfin’ the Highway anniversary edition HC, by Steve Purcell (Telltale Games)
Skyscrapers of the Midwest, by Joshua W. Cotter (AdHouse)
The Umbrella Academy, vol. 1: Apocalypse Suite deluxe edition, by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá (Dark Horse)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips
The Complete Little Orphan Annie, by Harold Gray (IDW)
Explainers, by Jules Feiffer (Fantagraphics)
Little Nemo in Slumberland, Many More Splendid Sundays, by Winsor McCay (Sunday Press Books)
Scorchy Smith and the Art of Noel Sickles (IDW)
Willie & Joe, by Bill Mauldin (Fantagraphics)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books
Breakdowns: Portrait of the Artist as a Young %@&*! by Art Spiegelman (Pantheon)
Creepy Archives, by various (Dark Horse)
Elektra Omnibus, by Frank Miller and Bill Sienkiewicz (Marvel)
Good-Bye, by Yoshihiro Tatsumi (Drawn & Quarterly)
Herbie Archives, by “Sean O’Shea” (Richard E. Hughes) and Ogden Whitney (Dark Horse)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material
Alan’s War, by Emmanuel Guibert (First Second)
Gus and His Gang, by Chris Blain (First Second)
The Last Musketeer, by Jason (Fantagraphics)
The Rabbi’s Cat 2, by Joann Sfar (Pantheon)
Tamara Drewe, by Posy Simmonds (Mariner/Houghton Mifflin)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Japan
Cat Eyed Boy, by Kazuo Umezu (Viz)
Dororo, by Osamu Tezuka (Vertical)
Naoki Urasawa’s Monster, by Naoki Urasawa (Viz)
The Quest for the Missing Girl, by Jiro Taniguchi (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)
Solanin, by Inio Asano (Viz)

Best Writer
Joe Hill, Lock & Key (IDW)
J. Michael Straczynski, Thor, The Twelve (Marvel)
Mariko Tamaki, Skim (Groundwood Books)
Matt Wagner, Zorro (Dynamite); Madame Xanadu (Vertigo/DC)
Bill Willingham, Fables, House of Mystery (Vertigo/DC)

Best Writer/Artist
Ricky Geary, A Treasury of XXth Century Murder: The Lindbergh Child (NBM); J. Edgar Hoover (Hill & Wang)
Emmanuel Guibert, Alan’s War (First Second)
Jason Lutes, Berlin (Drawn & Quarterly)
Cyril Pedrosa, Three Shadows (First Second)
Nate Powell, Swallow Me Whole (Top Shelf)
Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library (Acme)

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
Gabriel Bá, The Umbrella Academy (Dark Horse)
Mark Buckingham/Steve Leialoha, Fables (Vertigo/DC)
Olivier Coipel/Mark Morales, Thor (Marvel)
Guy Davis, BPRD (Dark Horse)
Amy Reeder Hadley/Richard Friend, Madame Xanadu (Vertigo/DC)
Jillian Tamaki, Skim (Groundwood Books)

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist
Lynda Barry, What It Is (Drawn & Quarterly)
Eddie Campbell, The Amazing Remarkable Monsieur Leotard (First Second)
Enrico Casarosa, The Venice Chronicles (Ateliér Fio/AdHouse)
Scott Morse, Tiger! Tiger! Tiger! (Red Window)
Jill Thompson, Magic Trixie, Magic Trixie Sleeps Over (HarperCollins Children’s Books)

Best Cover Artist
Gabrial Bá, Casanova (Image); The Umbrella Academy (Dark Horse)
Jo Chen, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Serenity (Dark Horse); Runaways (Marvel)
Amy Reeder Hadley, Madame Xanadu (Vertigo/DC)
James Jean, Fables (Vertigo/DC); The Umbrella Academy (Dark Horse)
Matt Wagner, Zorro (Dynamite); Grendel: Behold the Devil (Dark Horse)

Best Coloring
Steve Hamaker, Bone: Ghost Circles, Bone: Treasure Hunters (Scholastic Graphix)
Trish Mulvihill, Joker (DC), 100 Bullets (Vertigo/DC)
Val Staples, Criminal, Incognito (Marvel Icon)
Dave Stewart, Abe Sapien: The Drowning, BPRD, The Goon, Hellboy, Solomon Kane, The Unbrella Academy (Dark Horse); Body Bags (Image); Captain America: White (Marvel)
Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library #19 (Acme)

Best Lettering
Faryl Dalrymple, Omega: The Unknown (Marvel)
Jimmy Gownley, Amelia Rules! (Renaissance)
Scott Morse, Tiger! Tiger! Tiger! (Red Window)
Nate Powell, Swallow Me Whole (Top Shelf)
Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library #19 (Acme)

Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism
Comic Book Resources, produced by Jonah Weiland (www.comicbookresources.com)
The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth, Michael Dean, and Kristy Valenti (Fantagraphics)
The Comics Reporter, produced by Tom Spurgeon and Jordan Raphael (www.comicsreporter.com)
Comics Comics, edited by Timothy Hodler and Dan Nadel (www.comicscomicsmag.com) (PictureBox)

Best Comics-Related Book
Bill Mauldin: A Life Up Front, by Todd DePastino (Norton)
Brush with Passion: The Art and Life of Dave Stevens, edited by Arnie and Cathy Fenner (Underwood)
Drawing Words and Writing Pictures, by Jessica Abel and Matt Madden (First Second)
Kirby: King of Comics, by Mark Evanier (Abrams)
The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How It Changed America, by David Hajdu (Picador/Farrar, Straus & Giroux)

Best Publication Design
Breakdowns: Portrait of the Artist as a Young %@&*! designed by Art Spiegelman (Pantheon)
Comic Book Tattoo, designed by Tom Muller, art direction by Rantz Hoseley (Image)
Hellboy Library Editions, designed by Cary Grazzini and Mike Mignola (Dark Horse)
What It Is, designed by Lynda Barry (Drawn & Quarterly)
Willie and Joe, designed by Jacob Covey (Fantagraphics)

The Shusters

The Canadian equivalent of the Eisners, the Shusters, were announced last week. The Joe Shuster Canadian Comic Book Creator Awards began in 2005 as a way of honouring comic book writers and artists, as well as cartoonists, that make their living right here in Canada. The criteria for nominees is described by the Shusters’ website: “Between January and March 2009, the Nominees were selected from master lists of eligible works originally published in English and/or French in 2008. Canadian citizens living at home or abroad, as well as permanent residents were eligible for consideration. Now that the list of nominees has been finalized, nominated creators will have their work reviewed by a jury, who will ultimately decide the winners.” Members of the public will be able to find out the winners at an awards ceremony in Toronto on June 27th, time and location to follow.

2009 Shuster Award Nominees

Artist
Marc Delafontaine - Les Nombrils, Tome 3: Les liens de l’amitié (Dupuis)
Dale Eaglesham - Justice Society of America (DC Comics)
David Finch - Ultimatum #1-2 (Marvel Comics)
Karl Kerschl & Serge LaPointe - Teen Titans: Year One (DC Comics)
Jacques Lamontagne - Les Druides, Tome 4: La Ronde des Géants (Soleil Productions)
Steve McNiven - Amazing Spider-Man, Wolverine (Marvel Comics)
Steve Rolston - Emiko Superstar (DC/Minx), House of Mystery #4 (DC/Vertigo)
Stephen Sadowski - Avengers/Invaders (Marvel Comics/Dynamite Entertainment)

Cartoonist
Grégoire Bouchard - Vers les Mondes Lointains (Paquet)
Darwyn Cooke - Justice League: The New Frontier Special #1, The Spirit (DC Comics)
Francis Descharnais - Burquette (Les 400 coups)
Jean-Paul Eid - Des tondeuses et des hommes (La Pastèque)
Michel Gagne - Flight Vol. 5 (Ballantyne Books)
Faith Erin Hicks - The War at Ellsmere (Slave Labor Graphics)
Jeff Lemire - Essex County Vol. 3: The Country Nurse (Top Shelf)
Seth - Kramer’s Ergot 7 (Buenaventura Press)
Dave Sim - Glamourpuss #1-4 (Aardvark-Vanaheim)

Colourist
Jean-Francois Beaulieu - G.I. Joe: America’s Elite (Devil’s Due), Marvel Zombies 3 (Marvel Comics)
Blond - Witchblade: Takeru Manga (Image/Top Cow), Ultimate Fantastic Four #50-59 (Marvel Comics)
Chris Chuckry - Brave and the Bold, (DC Comics), The Twelve (Marvel Comics)
Maryse Dubuc - Les Nombrils, Tome 3: Les liens de l’amitié (Dupuis)
Nathan Fairbairn - Fear Agent 21 (Dark Horse), Guardians of the Galaxy (Marvel Comics)
Lovern Kindzierski - Sandman: The Dream Hunters (DC Comics), Giant-Size Incredible Hulk #1 (Marvel Comics)
François Lapierre - Contes et légendes du Québec (Glénat Québec), Magasin général 4 (Casterman)
Dave McCaig - Star Wars: Dark Times (Dark Horse), Action Comics (DC Comics)

Writer
Ian Boothby - Futurama, Simpsons Comics (Bongo Comics)
Cecil Castellucci - Janes in Love (DC/Minx)
Darwyn Cooke - Justice League: The New Frontier Special, Superman Confidential (DC Comics)
Maryse Dubuc - Les Nombrils, Tome 3: Les liens de l’amitié (Dupuis)
Ray Fawkes - The Apocalipstix (Oni Press)
François Lapierre - Contes et légendes du Québec (Glénat Québec)
Mariko Tamaki - Emiko Superstar (DC/Minx), Skim (Groundwood Books)
J. Torres - The Family Dynamic, Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century (DC Comics)

Cover
Adrian Alphona - Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane Season Two #1 Variant (Marvel Comics)
Darwyn Cooke - The Spirit #12 (DC Comics)
Marc Delafontaine - Les Nombrils, Tome 3: Les liens de l’amitié (Dupuis)
Dale Eaglesham - Justice Society of America #14 Variant (DC Comics)
David Finch -Amazing Spider-Man #572 Variant (Marvel Comics)
Philippe Girard - Les Ravins (Mécanique Générale)
Niko Henrichon - Hostile Tome 1 (Dupuis)
Steve McNiven - Kick-Ass #1 Variant (Marvel Comics)
Dean Motter - Mister X: The Condemned #1 (Dark Horse)
David Sim - Glamourpuss #4 Zombie Variant (Aardvark-Vanaheim)

Webcomics
Kate Beaton - Hark! A Vagrant http://harkavagrant.com
Michael Cho – Papercut http://www.transmission-x.com/_papercut
Lar De Souza & Ryan Sohmer - Least I Could Do http://www.leasticoulddo.com / Looking for Group http://www.lfgcomic.com/
Kathryn & Stuart Immonen - Moving Pictures http://www.immonen.ca/comics
Karl Kerschl - The Abominable Charles Christopher http://www.abominable.cc
Gisele Lagace - Menage A 3 http://www.menagea3.net/
Ramón K. Pérez– Kukuburi http://www.kukuburi.com / Butternut Squash (w/Robert Coughler) http://www.butternutsquash.net
Cameron Stewart - Sin Titulo http://www.sintitulocomic.com/

Publisher
Aardvark-Vanaheim
Arcana Studio
Conundrum Press
Drawn & Quarterly
La Pastèque
Les 400 Coups/Mécanique Générale
Red 5 Comics
Udon Entertainment