2012 Eisner Award Nominees Announced, Winners to be Named at Comic-Con

One of the most anticipated lists in comics was released today, with the nominees for the 2012 Eisner Awards being announced to the public.  The list covers a wide range of publishers, with a bit of a diminished presence from the "big two", Marvel and DC.  While the two companies are featured in a couple of categories, smaller publishers represent the vast majority of the awards.  For those unfamiliar, the awards, named after comic book legend Will Eisner, are meant to recognize outstanding achievement in comic books for the past year.  Below is a list of this year's nominees.  The winners will be announced at the 2012 Comic-Con in San Diego.

"A Brief History of the Art Form Known as Hortisculpture," by Adrian Tomine, in Optic Nerve#12 (Drawn & Quarterly) "Harvest of Fear," by Jim Woodring, in The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror #17 (Bongo) "The Phototaker," by Guy Davis, in Metal Hurlantvol. 2 (Humanoids) "The Seventh," by Darwyn Cooke, in Richard Stark'sParker: The Martini Edition (IDW) "The Speaker," by Brandon Graham, in Dark Horse Presents #7 (Dark Horse) Best Single Issue (or One-Shot) Daredevil #7, by Mark Waid, Paolo Rivera, and Joe Rivera (Marvel) Ganges #4, by Kevin Huizenga (Fantagraphics) Locke & Key: Guide to the Known Keys, by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez (IDW) Princeless #3, by Jeremy Whitley and M. Goodwin (Action Lab) The Unwritten #24: "Stairway to Heaven" by MikeCarey, Peter Gross, and Al Davison (Vertigo/DC) Best Continuing Series Daredevil, by Mark Waid, Marcos Martin, Paolo Rivera, and Joe Rivera (Marvel) Naoki Urasawa's 20th Century Boys, by Naoki Urasawa (VIZ Media) Rachel Rising, by Terry Moore (Abstract Studio) Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, by Brian MichaelBendis and Sara Pichelli (Marvel) Usagi Yojimbo, by Stan Sakai (Dark Horse) Best Limited Series Atomic Robo and the Ghost of Station X, by Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegener (Red 5) Criminal: The Last of the Innocent, by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Marvel Icon) Flashpoint: Batman—Knight of Vengeance, by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso (Vertigo/DC) The New York Five, by Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly (Vertigo/DC) Who Is Jake Ellis? by Nathan Edmondson & TonciZonjic (Image) Best Publication for Early Readers (up to age 7) Beauty and the Squat Bears, by Émile Bravo (YenPress) Benjamin Bear in Fuzzy Thinking, by Philippe Coudray (Candlewick/Toon Books) Dragon Puncher Island, by James Kochalka (Top Shelf) Nursery Rhyme Comics, edited by Chris Duffy (First Second) Patrick in a Teddy Bear's Picnic, by Geoffrey Hayes(Candlewick/Toon Books) Best Publication for Kids (ages 8–12) The All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold, by Sholly Fisch, Rick Burchett, and Dan Davis (DC) Amelia Rules: The Meaning of Life . . . And Other Stuff, by Jimmy Gownley (Atheneum) The Ferret's a Foot, by Colleen AF Venable andStephanie Yue (Graphic Universe/Lerner) Princeless, by Jeremy Whitley and M. Goodwin (Action Lab) Snarked, by Roger Langridge (kaboom!) Zita the Space Girl, by Ben Hatke (First Second) Best Publication for Young Adults (Ages 12–17) Anya's Ghost, by Vera Brosgol (First Second) Around the World, by Matt Phelan (Candlewick) Level Up, by Gene Yang and Thien Pham (First Second) Life with Archie, by Paul Kupperberg, Fernando Ruiz, Pat & Tim Kennedy, Norm Breyfogle et al. (Archie) Mystic, by G. Willow Wilson and David Lopez (Marvel) Best Anthology Dark Horse Presents, edited by Mike Richardson (Dark Horse) Nelson, edited by Rob Davis and Woodrow Phoenix (Blank Slate) Nursery Rhyme Comics, edited by Chris Duffy (First Second) The Someday Funnies, edited by Michel Choquette (Abrams ComicArts) Yiddishkeit: Jewish Vernacular and the New Land,edited by Harvey Pekar and Paul Buhle (Abrams ComicArts) Best Humor Publication The Art of Doug Sneyd: A Collection of Playboy Cartoons (Dark Horse Books) Chimichanga, by Eric Powell (Dark Horse) Coffee: It's What's for Dinner, by Dave Kellett(Small Fish) Kinky & Cosy, by Nix (NBM) Milk & Cheese: Dairy Products Gone Bad, by Evan Dorkin (Dark Horse Books) Best Digital Comic Bahrain, by Josh Neufeld, www.cartoonmovement.com/comic/24 Battlepug, by Mike Norton, www.battlepug.com Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant, by Tony Cliff, www.delilahdirk.com Outfoxed, by Dylan Meconis, www.dylanmeconis.com/outfoxed Sarah and the Seed, by Ryan Andrews, www.ryan-a.com/comics/sarahandtheseed01.htm Best Reality-Based Work Around the World, by Matt Phelan (Candlewick) Green River Killer: A True Detective Story, by Jeff Jensen and Jonathan Case (Dark Horse Books) Marzi: A Memoir, by Marzena Sowa and Sylvain Savoia (Vertigo/DC) Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths, by Shigeru Mizuki (Drawn & Quarterly) Vietnamerica, by GB Tran (Villard) Best Graphic Album—New Bubbles & Gondola, by Renaud Dillies (NBM) Freeway, by Mark Kalesniko (Fantagraphics) Habibi, by Craig Thompson (Pantheon) Ivy, by Sarah Olekysk (Oni) Jim Henson's Tale of Sand, adapted by Ramón K. Pérez (Archaia) One Soul, by Ray Fawkes (Oni) Best Graphic Album—Reprint Big Questions, by Anders Nilsen (Drawn & Quarterly) The Death Ray, by Dan Clowes (Drawn & Quarterly) Richard Stark's Parker: The Martini Edition, by Darwyn Cooke (IDW) WE3: The Deluxe Edition, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (Vertigo/DC) Zahra's Paradise, by Amir and Khalil (First Second) Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips Flash Gordon and Jungle Jim, by Alex Raymond and Don Moore, edited by Dean Mullaney (IDW/Library of American Comics) Forgotten Fantasy: Sunday Comics 1900–1915,edited by Peter Maresca (Sunday Press) Prince Valiant vols. 3-4, by Hal Foster, edited by Kim Thompson (Fantagraphics) Tarpé Mills's Miss Fury Sensational Sundays, 1944–1949, edited by Trina Robbins (IDW/Library of American Comics) Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse vols. 1-2, by Floyd Gottfredson, edited by David Gerstein and Gary Groth (Fantagraphics) Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books Government Issue: Comics for the People: 1940s–2000s, edited by Richard L. Graham (Abrams ComicArts) The MAD Fold-In Collection, by Al Jaffee(Chronicle) PS Magazine: The Best of Preventive Maintenance Monthly, by Will Eisner (Abrams ComicArts) The Sugar and Spike Archives, vol. 1, by Sheldon Mayer (DC) Walt Simonson's The Mighty Thor Artist's Edition(IDW) Best U.S. Edition of International Material Bubbles & Gondola, by Renaud Dillies (NBM) Isle of 100,000 Graves, by Fabien Vehlmann and Jason (Fantagraphics) Like a Sniper Lining Up His Shot, by Jacques Tardi and Jean-Patrick Manchette (Fantagraphics) The Manara Library, vol. 1: Indian Summer and Other Stories, by Milo Manara with Hugo Pratt (Dark Horse Books) Night Animals: A Diptych About What Rushes Through the Bushes, by Brecht Evens (Top Shelf) Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia A Bride's Story, by Kaoru Mori (Yen Press) Drops of God, by Tadashi Agi and Shu Okimoto(Vertical) Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths, by Shigeru Mizuki (Drawn & Quarterly) Saturn Apartments, vols. 3-4, by Hisae Iwaoka (VIZ Media) Stargazing Dog, by Takashi Murakami (NBM) Wandering Son, vol. 1, by Shimura Takako(Fantagraphics) Best Writer Cullen Bunn, The Sixth Gun (Oni) Mike Carey, The Unwritten (Vertigo/DC) Jeff Jensen, Green River Killer: A True Detective Story (Dark Horse Books) Jeff Lemire, Animal Man, Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown, Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. (DC); Sweet Tooth(Vertical/DC) Mark Waid, Irredeemable, Incorruptible (BOOM!);Daredevil (Marvel) Best Writer/Artist Rick Geary, The Lives of Sacco and Vanzetti (NBM) Terry Moore, Rachel Rising (Abstract Studio) Sarah Oleksyk, Ivy (Oni) Craig Thompson, Habibi (Pantheon) Jim Woodring, Congress of the Animals(Fantagraphics), "Harvest of Fear," in The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror #17 (Bongo) Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team Michael Allred, iZombie (Vertigo/DC); Madman All-New Giant-Size Super-Ginchy Special (Image) Ramón K. Pérez, Jim Henson's Tale of Sand(Archaia) Chris Samnee, Captain America and Bucky, Ultimate Spider-Man #155 (Marvel) Marcos Martin, Daredevil (Marvel) Paolo Rivera/Joe Rivera, Daredevil (Marvel) Best Cover Artist Michael Allred, iZombie (Vertigo/DC) Francesco Francavilla, Black Panther (Marvel); Lone Ranger, Lone Ranger/Zorro, Dark Shadows, Warlord of Mars (Dynamite); Archie Meets Kiss(Archie) Victor Kalvachev, Blue Estate (Image) Marcos Martin, Daredevil, Amazing Spider-Man(Marvel) Sean Phillips, Criminal: The Last of the Innocent(Marvel Icon) Yuko Shimizu, The Unwritten (Vertigo/DC) Best Coloring Laura Allred, iZombie (Vertigo/DC); Madman All-New Giant-Size Super-Ginchy Special (Image) Bill Crabtree, The Sixth Gun (Oni) Ian Herring and Ramón K. Pérez, Jim Henson's Tale of Sand (Archaia) Victor Kalvachev, Blue Estate (Image) Cris Peter, Casanova: Avaritia, Casanova: Gula(Marvel Icon) Best Lettering Deron Bennett, Billy Fog, Jim Henson's Dark Crystal, Jim Henson's Tale of Sand, Mr. Murder Is Dead (Archaia); Helldorado, Puss N Boots, Richie Rich (APE Entertainment) Jimmy Gownley, Amelia Rules! The Meaning of Life . . . And Other Stuff (Atheneum) Laura Lee Gulledge, Page by Paige (Amulet Books/Abrams) Tom Orzechowski, Manara Library, with L. Lois Buholis (Dark Horse); Manga Man (Houghton Mifflin); Savage Dragon (Image) Stan Sakai, Usagi Yojimbo (Dark Horse) Best Comics-Related Journalism The AV Club Comics Panel, by Noel Murray, Oliver Sava et al., www.avclub.com/features/comics-panel/ The Beat, produced by Heidi MacDonald et al., www.comicsbeat.com The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth, and The Comics Journal website, www.tcj.com, edited byTimothy Hodler and Dan Nadel (Fantagraphics) The Comics Reporter, produced by Tom Spurgeon,www.comicsreporter.com TwoMorrows Publications: Alter Ego edited by Roy Thomas, Back Issue edited by Michael Eury, Drawedited by Mike Manley, and Jack Kirby Collectoredited by John Morrow Best Educational/Academic Work Alan Moore: Conversations, ed. by Eric Berlatsky(University Press of Mississippi) Cartooning: Philosophy & Practice, by Ivan Brunetti (Yale University Press) Critical Approaches to Comics: Theories and Methods, edited by Matthew J. Smith and Randy Duncan (Routledge) Hand of Fire: The Comics Art of Jack Kirby, by Charles Hatfield (University Press of Mississippi) Projections: Comics and the History of 21st Century Storytelling, by Jared Gardner (Stanford University Press) Best Comics-Related Book Archie: A Celebration of America's Favorite Teenagers, edited by Craig Yoe (IDW/Yoe Books) Caniff: A Visual Biography, edited by Dean Mullaney (IDW/Library of American Comics) Drawing Power: A Compendium of Cartoon Advertising, edited by Rick Marschall and Warren Bernard (Fantagraphics/Marschall Books) Genius Isolated: The Life and Art of Alex Toth,designed by Dean Mullaney (IDW/Library of American Comics) MetaMaus, by Art Spiegelman (Pantheon) Best Publication Design Genius Isolated: The Life and Art of Alex Toth,designed by Dean Mullaney (IDW/Library of American Comics) Jim Henson's Tale of Sand, designed by Eric Skillman (Archaia) Kinky & Cosy, designed by Nix (NBM) The MAD Fold-In Collection, designed by Michael Morris (Chronicle) Richard Stark's Parker: The Martini Edition,designed by Darwyn Cooke (IDW)