Image Comics has swept the 2019 Eisner Award nominations for best new series.
Yes indeed, of the six titles in that category, all are published by Image. That’s right, all of them. The list is as follows:

  • Bitter Root, by David Walker, Chuck Brown, and Sanford Green (Image)
  • Crowded, by Christopher Sebela, Ro Stein, and Ted Brandt (Image)
  • Gideon Falls, by Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino (Image)
  • Isola, by Brenden Fletcher and Karl Kerschl (Image)
  • Man-Eaters, by Chelsea Cain and Kate Niemczyk (Image)
  • Skyward, by Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett (Image)

This is, of course, good news for any publisher, as it bestows hella bragging rights upon them. This is, perhaps, also ideal timing for Image. The publisher is getting ready to say goodbye to some of its flagship titles of the last decade, namely Paper Girls and The Wicked + The Divine. Meanwhile, critical darling Saga remains on a hiatus without an end, at least not one that’s been announced. An award sweep like this will likely bring these new books welcome attention (see last year and Monstress).
Where should the unfamiliar start? Well, Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino’s Gideon Falls just might be the best modern horror comic of all-time. Meanwhile, Christopher Sebela, Ro Stein, and Ted Brandt’s Crowded is arguably the best satire of the gig economy in any medium, extrapolating it into a fast-paced story of crowdsourced bounty hunting. Isola is a decompressed and utterly gorgeous fantasy comic. Skyward is impressively accessible and friendly to all ages, while Bitter Root follows a family of monster hunters in the Harlem Renaissance. Finally, Man-Eaters is a satire in which women turn into killer cats.
Excuse my exuberance, but I’m a fan of most of these books. It’s also just nice to see the future for Image Comics looking great.
Image also scored nominations in other categories, too. A full list is below:

  • Gasolina by Sean Mackiewicz and Niko Walter for Best Continuing Series
  • The Terrible Elisabeth Dumn Against the Devils In Suits, by Arabson, translated by James Robinson for Best Single Issue/One-Shot
  • “Get Naked in Barcelona,” by Steven T. Seagle and Emei Olivia Burrell, in Get Naked was nominated for Best Short Story
  • Get Naked, by Steven T. Seagle et al. for Best Humor Publication
  • Karl Kerschl for Best Cover Artist for Isola
  • Dustin Nguyen for Best Painter/Multi-Media Artist for Descender
  • My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies, by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips for Best Graphic Album New
  • Twisted Romance, edited by Alex de Campi for Best Anthology
  • Where We Live: A Benefit for the Survivors in Las Vegas, edited by Will Dennis, curated by J. H. Williams III and Wendy Wright-Williams for Best Anthology
  • Middlewest, by Skottie Young and Jorge Corona for Best Publication for Teens
  • Norroway, Book 1: The Black Bull of Norroway, by Cat Seaton and Kit Seaton for Best Publication for Teens
  •  Karl Kerschl, Isola for Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
  • Sean Phillips, Kill or Be Killed, My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies for Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team

Creators who worked on Image books last year in addition to books for other publishers also captured nominations in letter, coloring, writing, and more. All told, the publisher received 30 nominations total.
The winners will be announced Friday, July 19th at the San Diego Comic-Con.

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