The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books, sometimes referred to as the Comics Industry's equivalent of the Oscar Awards. They are named in honor of the pioneering writer and artist Will Eisner, who was a regular participant in the award ceremony until his death in 2005. The Eisner Awards include the Comic Industry's Hall of Fame.
The nominations in each category are generated by a five-member panel, then voted on by comic book professionals and presented at the annual San Diego Comic-Con International convention held in July, usually on a Friday.
The Eisner Awards were first conferred in 1988, created in response to the discontinuation of the Kirby Awards after 1987.
There was no Eisner Award ceremony, or awards distributed, in 1990, due to widespread balloting mix-ups. The previous administrator, Dave Olbrich, left the position, and Jackie Estrada has been the award administrator since 1990. The Eisner Award ceremony returned to the San Diego Comic Con beginning in 1991.
In 2006 it was announced that the archives of the Eisner Awards would be housed at the James Branch Cabell Library of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA.
Awards are given out in the following categories:
Best Writer (1988-1989,1991–present)Best Writer/Artist (1988-1989,1991–present)Best Artist/Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team (1988-1989,1991–present)Best New Series (1988-1989,1991-present)Best Continuing Series (1988-present)Best Colorist/Coloring (1992–present)Best Letterer/Lettering (1993–present)Best Cover Artist (1992–present)Best Limited Series or Story Arc (2010–present)Best Single Issue (or One-Shot) (2010–present)Best Short Story (1993–present)Best Anthology (1992–present)Best Digital Comic (2005–present)Best Publication for Early Readers (up to age 7) (2012–present)Best Publication for Kids (ages 8–12) (2012–present)Best Publication for Young Adults (ages 12–17) (2012–present)Best Graphic Album: New (1991–present)Best Graphic Album: Reprint (1991–present)Best Humor Publication (1992–present)Best Educational/Academic Work (2012–present)Best Reality-Based Work (2007–present)Best Publication Design (1993–present)Best Comics-Related Book (1992–present)Best Archival Collection/Project - Comic Books (2006–present)Best Archival Collection/Project — Strips (2010–present)Best U.S. Edition of International Material (1998–present)Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism (2008–present)The Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame (1987-1989,1991–present)Best Graphic Album (1988-1989)Best Art Team (1988-1989)Best Black-and-White Series (1988-1989,1991)Best Single Issue/Single Story (1988-1989,1991-2008)Best Finite Series/Limited Series (1988-1989,1991-2009)Best Comic Strip Collection (1992-1993)Best Editor (1992-1997)Best Comics-Related Product/Item (1992,1994-2002)Best Comics-Related Periodical/Publication (1992-2000,2002-2007)Best Archival Collection/Project (1993-2005)Best Serialized Story (1993-2006)Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (Interior) (1993-2011)Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition (1995-2006)Best Writer/Artist: Humor (1995-2008)Best Title for Younger Readers/Best Comics Publication for a Younger Audience (1996-2007)Best Writer/Artist: Drama (1997-2008)Best Comics-Related Sculpted Figures (1999)Best Comics-Related Publication (Periodical or Book) (2003)Best Archival Collection/Project - Comic Strips (2006-2009)Best U.S. Edition of International Material - Japan (2007-2009)Special Recognition (2007-2008)Best Publication for Kids (2008-2011)Best Publication for Teens (2008,2010-2011)Best Publication for Teens/Tweens (2009)Best Webcomic (2009)Best Writer/Artist–Nonfiction (2010)Best Adaptation from Another Work (2010-2011)Best U.S. Edition of International Material - Asia (2010-2012)Best Spin-off