Fanbase Press’ coverage of the 2019 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards continues with the “Countdown to the Eisners” series. From Wednesday, May 29, through Wednesday, July 10, 2019, Fanbase Press will highlight each of the Eisner Awards’ 31 nomination categories, providing comic book industry members and readers alike the opportunity to learn more about the nominees and their work. Stay tuned for Fanbase Press’ continued coverage of the Eisner Awards, including live coverage of the ceremony at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday, July 19.
Originally part of the Best Digital Comic Award, the Eisner Award for Best Webcomic spun off into its own category in 2017 and honors the best of online comics. Prior comics which have received the award include Scott Kurtz’s PvP, Katie O’Neill’s the Tea Dragon Society, and Steve Purcell’s Sam & Max: The Big Sleep.
Here are the 2019 Eisner Award nominees for the Best Webcomic category:
The Contradictions by Sophie Yanow
The Contradictions is an ongoing, black-and-white comic by San Francisco-based artist Sophie Yanow. The webcomic is about a fictionalized version of Yanow who is studying abroad in France and juggles topics of queer identity, politics, and radical ideologies. Currently on its 50th page, the series is planned to run for 200 pages until it is adapted in a graphic novel format by Drawn & Quarterly.
Click here to read the webcomic: www.thecontradictions.com
Lavender Jack by Dan Schkade
Lavender Jack is a weekly episodic webcomic by artist Dan Schkade that pits the titular Lavender Jack, a masked crusader who has been exposing the secret illegal activities of Gallery City’s elite class, against Theresa Ferrier, an accomplished detective, though in her twilight years, who is still astute and cunning. Lavender Jack embraces the old-school Holmes’ flavor, with a tiny hint of steampunk and a dosage of Batman, while at the same time wholeheartedly embracing diversity by having the comic’s primary characters be of color.
Click here to read the webcomic: https://www.webtoons.com/en/thriller/lavender-jack/list?title_no=1410&page=1
Let’s Play by Mongie
There are many video game-centric webcomics online, but Mongie’s Let’s Play takes a different route than the lot of them. While most video game comics concentrate on white young adolescent males, parodying gamer culture and specific video games, Let’s Play focuses on burgeoning video game developer Sam Young and her trials and tribulations at not only becoming a developer, but dealing with work place toxicity, health issues (both mental health in the form of social anxiety and physical health in the form of asthma), and living next door to a popular video game streamer who inadvertently caused a mass of internet outrage against Sam’s game. Complementing Let’s Play is a robust cast of characters with an emphasis on marginalized peoples (a dead character, an African American character in a leadership position, etc.).
Click here to read the webcomic: https://www.webtoons.com/en/romance/letsplay/list?title_no=1218&page=1
Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe
Lore Olympus, by Rachel Smythe, is a neo-peplum comic that is a drastic retelling of the Geek myth of Hades and Persephone. This iteration takes place in a modern setting, with the Greek gods and goddesses both affluent and fashion-forward, each portrayed in a single, dark color: Hades – blue, Persephone – pink, Hera – gold, Zeus – purple, and so on. In this version, Hades is rich, but lonely, attending a party hosted by Zeus, though he lacks a date. He becomes smitten with Persephone, and his adoration catches the jealous attention of Aphrodite (Purple) who attempts to arrange a social faux pas by placing an intoxicated Persephone in the back of Hades’ car. And from there, the myth is remixed and rewritten.
Click here to read the webcomic: https://www.webtoons.com/en/romance/lore-olympus/list?title_no=1320&page=1
Tiger, Tiger by Petra Erika Nordlund
Erika Nordlund’s Tiger, Tiger is a lighthearted comic about a young lady of wealth, Ludovica, who disguises herself as her brother Remy and commandeers the family ship to search for adventure (and study sea sponges). Along for the ride is her fiance Jamis who is also the ship’s first mate. The story takes place in a fantastic iteration of the Golden Age of Sail, with an a black/white/grayscale art style that borrows from the best whimsical manga and nautical art. The strip is currently in its third chapter with constant updates each week.
Click here to read the webcomic: http://www.tigertigercomic.com/
Stay tuned to the Fanbase Press website each day as we continue our “Countdown to the Eisners” coverage! Plus, follow Fanbase Press’ Facebook, Twitter (@Fanbase_Press), and Instagram (@fanbasepress) with the hashtag #FPSDCC to stay up to date on our SDCC and Eisner Awards updates, including a live-tweet of the 2019 Eisner Award Ceremony from the Hilton Bayfront Hotel at San Diego Comic-Con on the evening of Friday, July 19th!
