Fanbase Press’ coverage of the 2018 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards continues with the “Countdown to the Eisners” series. From Monday, June 4, through Friday, July 13, 2018, 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 20.
As one of the inaugural categories of the Eisner Awards, the Best Writer category has come to recognize some of the best and brightest talent in the comic book industry (albeit only men to date). This year’s nominees include accomplished writers who are utilizing the sequential art medium to tell poignant, impactful, and daring stories that have made readers take notice. Here are the 2018 Eisner Award nominees for the Best Writer category:
Tom King, Batman, Batman Annual #2, Batman/Elmer Fudd Special #1, Mister Miracle (DC)
Tom King is an American comic book writer and author. Having originally interned at both Marvel and DC in the 1990s, King went on to write for both publishers, with titles including The Vision and The Sheriff of Babylon. He is nominated this year for his exemplary work on the DC Comics titles Batman, Batman Annual #2, Batman/Elmer Fudd Special #1, and Mister Miracle.
The AV Club noted of King’s work, “Fans who have only checked out King’s tentpole titles like Batman might not be as familiar with his penchant for emotionally wrenching comics that unfold slowly, with ragged stories that invite repeated rereads to really dig in. Grayson hinted at this, but Vision and The Omega Men and especially The Sheriff Of Babylon pulled far fewer punches, delivering nuanced and layered characters that embrace ambiguity without abandoning what few moral truths they do hold.”
Matt Kindt, Grass Kings (BOOM! Studios), Ether (Dark Horse), Eternity, X-O Manowar (Valiant)
Matt Kindt is an American comic book writer, author, illustrator, and teacher. Having started in the comic book industry by self-publishing his own zines, Kindt now holds an impressive body of work, having publishing with DC Comics, Valiant, Dark Horse Comics, Top Shelf Productions, and various other companies. He is nominated this year for his exemplary work on Grass Kings (BOOM! Studios), Ether (Dark Horse), and Eternity, X-O Manowar (Valiant).
Fanbase Press’ Phillip Kelly noted of Kindt’s work on Grass Kings, “This is one of two murder mysteries on the shelves with Kindt’s name on it. They are each incredibly different in tone and style, but both told with the even hand of a master storyteller.”
Jeff Lemire, Black Hammer (Dark Horse), Descender (Image)
Jeff Lemire is a Canadian comic book writer and cartoonist. Starting his comic book career with the Xeric Award-winning comic book, Lost Dogs, Lemire has continued an impressive and award-winning career in the comic book industry, having written for publishers Marvel, DC Comics/Vertigo, Dark Horse, Top Shelf Productions, Image Comics, and various other companies. He is nominated this year for his exemplary work on Black Hammer (Dark Horse) and Descender (Image).
Fanbase Press’ Phillip Kelly noted of Lemire’s work on Black Hammer, “The more I read, the more I want to read, and the more engrossed I become in the world that writer Jeff Lemire and artist Dean Ormston have created. It’s a mystery that unfolds page by page, issue by issue, full of incredible characters and brilliant twists. I can’t recommend this comic enough.”
Marjorie Liu, Monstress (Image)
Marjorie Liu is an American author and comic book writer focusing on paranormal romance and fantasy. Having started her writing career focusing on poetry, short stories, and non-fiction, Liu then published two novels before writing an X-Men tie-in novel for Marvel. Liu’s career has blossomed in various mediums, as she has written for Marvel’s X-23 and Astonishing X-Men, as well as her award-winning Monstress series with Image Comics, for which she is nominated in the Best Writer category of the Eisner Awards this year.
Fanbase Press’ Madeleine Holly-Rosing noted of Liu’s work on Monstress, “Ms. Liu’s storytelling takes us to another level. You normally see this type of world building in a novel since it is so rich and diverse. The fact that she can pull it off is a lesson to all comic writers.”
Mark Russell, The Flintstones (DC)
Mark Russell is an American comic book writer, author, and cartoonist. Having started his career in the comic book industry working on the series, Prez, for DC Comics, Russell is well known for his work on God Is Disappointed in You, the modern re-telling of the Bible, along with its sequel, Apocrypha Now. Russell noted in an interview with Innovation & Tech Today, “I try to rely on my interest in things like history, politics, anthropology, and so on for my storylines and character ideas when writing comics. Using comics to write about the outside world enriches both realms, I think.” He is nominated this year for his exemplary work on The Flintstones from DC Comics.
Booklist notes of Russell’s work on The Flintstones, “a unique commodity: a comic with an honest-to-god stance on the underpinnings of civilization and the true meaning of life.”
Stay tuned to the Fanbase Press website tomorrow 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 2018 Eisner Award Ceremony from the Hilton Bayfront Hotel at San Diego Comic-Con on the evening of Friday, July 20th!
