# Eisner Award for Best Single Issue/One-Shot

The Eisner Award for Best Single Issue/One-Shot is an award for "creative achievement" in American comic books.

## Name Changes

The award was launched as "Best Single Issue" in 1988. In 1991 it was changed to "Best Story or Single Issue." In 1992 it was changed to "Best Single Issue or Story" and multi-issue stories were eligible. In 1993 it was changed to "Best Single Issue (Self-Contained Story)." In 2002 it was changed to "Best Single Issue." In 2003 it was changed to "Best Single Issue or One-Shot." In 2022 it was changed to "Best Single Issue/One-Shot (must be able to stand alone)."

## Winners and nominees

| Year | Title | Authors | Ref. |
| 1980s ||||
| 1988 | Gumby Summer Fun Special #1 (Comico: The Comic Company) | Bob Burden and Art Adams | |
| 1988 | Concrete #5 (Dark Horse Comics) | Paul Chadwick | |
| 1988 | Eddy Current #1 (Mad Dog Graphics) | Ted McKeever | |
| 1988 | Grendel #12 (Comico: The Comic Company) | Matt Wagner, Arnold Pander, Jacob Pander, and Jay Geldof | |
| 1988 | Justice League International #1 (DC Comics) | Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, Kevin Maguire, and Terry Austin | |
| 1988 | Zot! #14 (Eclipse Comics) | Scott McCloud | |
| 1989 | Kings in Disguise #1 (Kitchen Sink Press) | James Vance and Dan Burr | |
| 1989 | Animal Man #5 (DC Comics) | Grant Morrison, Chas Truog, and Doug Hazlewood | |
| 1989 | Batman: The Killing Joke (DC Comics) | Alan Moore and Brian Bolland | |
| 1989 | Swamp Thing #75 (DC Comics) | Rick Veitch | |
| 1989 | Twist #2 (Kitchen Sink Press) | Various creators | |
| 1990s ||||
| 1990 | There was no Eisner Award ceremony, or awards distributed, in 1990, due to widespread balloting mix-ups. | There was no Eisner Award ceremony, or awards distributed, in 1990, due to widespread balloting mix-ups. | There was no Eisner Award ceremony, or awards distributed, in 1990, due to widespread balloting mix-ups. |
| 1991 | Concrete Celebrates Earth Day (Dark Horse Comics) | Paul Chadwick, Charles Vess, and Jean "Moebius" Giraud | |
| 1991 | BLAB! #5 (Kitchen Sink Press) | edited by Monte Beauchamp | |
| 1991 | Marshall Law: Kingdom of the Blind (Apocalypse Ltd) | Pat Mills and Kevin O'Neill | |
| 1991 | Zot! #33 (Eclipse Comics) | Scott McCloud | |
| 1992 | Sandman #22-#28 (DC Comics) | Neil Gaiman and various artists | |
| 1992 | American Splendor #16 (Tundra Publishing) | Harvey Pekar and various artists | |
| 1992 | Dark Horse Presents "Sin City" (Dark Horse Comics) | Frank Miller | |
| 1992 | Groo the Wanderer #78 (Marvel Comics/Epic Comics) | Mark Evanier and Sergio Aragonés | |
| 1992 | Swamp Thing #113 (DC Comics) | Nancy A. Collins, Thomas Yeates, and Shepherd Hendrix | |
| 1993 | Nexus: The Origin (Dark Horse Comics) | Mike Baron and Steve Rude | |
| 1993 | Bloodlines: A Tale from the Heart of Africa (Epic Comics) | Cindy Goff, Rafael Nieves, and Seitu Hayden | |
| 1993 | Hellblazer #56: "Diary of Danny Drake" (DC Comics) | Garth Ennis and David Lloyd | |
| 1993 | Peepshow #1 (Drawn & Quarterly) | Joe Matt | |
| 1993 | Sandman #40: "The Parliament of Rooks" (DC Comics) | Neil Gaiman and Jill Thompson | |
| 1993 | Sandman #39: "Soft Places" (DC Comics) | Neil Gaiman and John Watkiss | |
| 1994 | The Batman Adventures: Mad Love (DC Comics) | Paul Dini and Bruce Timm | |
| 1994 | Spawn #10: "Crossing Over" (Image Comics) | Dave Sim and Todd McFarlane | |
| 1994 | Groo the Wanderer #100: "A Little Knowledge" (Marvel Comics) | Mark Evanier and Sergio Aragonés | |
| 1994 | Marvels #2: "Monsters" (Marvel Comics) | Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross | |
| 1994 | Sandman #50: "Ramadan" (DC Comics/Vertigo Comics) | Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell | |
| 1995 | The Batman Adventures Holiday Special (DC Comics) | Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, Ronnie del Carmen, and others | |
| 1995 | Acme Novelty Library #1 (Fantagraphics) | Chris Ware | |
| 1995 | Bone #16: "Eyes of the Storm" (Cartoon Books) | Jeff Smith | |
| 1995 | The Dance of Lifey Death (Dark Horse Comics) | Eddie Campbell | |
| 1995 | Sandman Mystery Theatre Annual #1 (DC Comics/Vertigo Comics) | Matt Wagner, Steven T. Seagle, and various artists | |
| 1996 | Kurt Busiek's Astro City" #4: "Safeguards (Jukebox Productions/Image Comics) | Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson | |
| 1996 | Acme Novelty Library #4 (Fantagraphics) | Chris Ware | |
| 1996 | Bacchus Color Special (Dark Horse Comics) | Eddie Campbell and Teddy Kristiansen | |
| 1996 | Eightball #16 (Fantagraphics) | Daniel Clowes | |
| 1996 | Stray Bullets #3: "The Party" (El Capitan Books) | David Lapham | |
| 1997 | Kurt Busiek's Astro City vol. 2 #1: "Welcome to Astro City" (Jukebox Productions/Homage Comics) | Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson, and Will Blyberg | |
| 1997 | Giant THB Parade (Horse Press) | Paul Pope | |
| 1997 | Kane #13: "Point of View" (Dancing Elephant Press) | Paul Grist | |
| 1997 | Elric #0: Neil Gaiman's "One Life Furnished in Early Moorcock" (Topps) | adapted by P. Craig Russell | |
| 1997 | Optic Nerve #3 (Drawn & Quarterly) | Adrian Tomine | |
| 1997 | Sandman #75: "The Tempest" (DC Comics/Vertigo Comics) | Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess | |
| 1997 | Stray Bullets #10: "Here Comes the Circus" (El Capitan Books) | David Lapham | |
| 1998 | Kurt Busiek's Astro City vol. 2 #10: "Show `Em All" (Jukebox Productions/Homage Comics) | Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson, and Will Blyberg | |
| 1998 | Batgirl Adventures #1 (DC Comics) | Paul Dini and Rick Burchett | |
| 1998 | The Dreaming #15: "Day's Work, Night's Rest" (DC Comics/Vertigo Comics) | Jeff Nicholson | |
| 1998 | Sof' Boy and Friends #1 (Drawn & Quarterly) | Archer Prewitt | |
| 1998 | Superman Adventures #3: "Distant Thunder (DC Comics) | Scott McCloud, Rick Burchett, and Terry Austin | |
| 1999 | Hitman #34: "Of Thee I Sing" (DC Comics) | Garth Ennis, John McCrea, and Garry Leach | |
| 1999 | The Clowns (I Pagliacci) (Dark Horse Comics) | P. Craig Russell and Galen Showman | |
| 1999 | Empty Love Stories (Funny Valentine Press) | Steve Darnall and various artists | |
| 1999 | From Hell: Dance of the Gull Catchers (Kitchen Sink Press) | Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell | |
| 1999 | Kane #22: "Fwankie's Big Night Out" (Dancing Elephant Press) | Paul Grist | |
| 2000s ||||
| 2000 | Tom Strong #1: "How Tom Strong Got Started" (America's Best Comics) | Alan Moore, Chris Sprouse, and Al Gordon | |
| 2000 | I Die at Midnight (DC Comics/Vertigo Comics) | Kyle Baker | |
| 2000 | Promethea #3: "Misty Magicland" (America's Best Comics) | Alan Moore, J. H. Williams III, and Mick Gray | |
| 2000 | Stray Bullets #19: "Live Nude Girls!" (El Capitan Books) | David Lapham | |
| 2000 | Transmetropolitan #27: "Monstering" (DC Comics/Vertigo Comics) | Warren Ellis, Darick Robertson, and Rodney Ramos | |
| 2001 | Promethea #10: "Sex, Stars and Serpents" (America's Best Comics) | Alan Moore, J. H. Williams III, and Mick Gray | |
| 2001 | Finder #19: "Talisman" (Lightspeed Press) | Carla Speed McNeil | |
| 2001 | Hey Mister: The Trouble with Jesus (Top Shelf Productions) | Pete Sickman-Garner | |
| 2001 | Lucifer #4: "Born with the Dead" (Vertigo Comics/DC Comics) | Mike Carey, Warren Pleece, and Dean Ormston | |
| 2001 | Paul in the Country (Drawn & Quarterly) | Michel Rabagliati | |
| 2001 | Sock Monkey, vol. 3 #2 (Dark Horse Comics/Maverick) | Tony Millionaire | |
| 2002 | Eightball #22 (Fantagraphics) | Daniel Clowes | |
| 2002 | The Fall (Drawn & Quarterly) | Ed Brubaker and Jason Lutes | |
| 2002 | Finder #22: "Fight Scene" (Lightspeed Press) | Carla Speed McNeil | |
| 2002 | 100 Bullets #27: "Idol Chatter" (DC Comics/Vertigo Comics) | Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso | |
| 2002 | Optic Nerve #8: "Bomb Scare" (Drawn & Quarterly) | Adrian Tomine | |
| 2003 | The Stuff of Dreams (Fantagraphics) | Kim Deitch | |
| 2003 | The Castaways (Absence of Ink) | Rob Vollmar and Pablo Callejo | |
| 2003 | Fleep (Sparkplug Comics) | Jason Shiga | |
| 2003 | My Friend Dahmer (Derfcity Comics) | Derf Backderf | |
| 2003 | My Uncle Jeff (Origin) | Damon Hurd and Pedro Camello | |
| 2004 | Conan: The Legend #0 (Dark Horse Comics) | Kurt Busiek and Cary Nord | |
| 2004 | The Goon #1 (Dark Horse Comics) | Eric Powell | |
| 2004 | Finder #30: "Beware of Dog" (Lightspeed Press) | Carla Speed McNeil | |
| 2004 | Giant THB v.2 #1 (Horse Press) | Paul Pope | |
| 2004 | Global Frequency #5: "Big Sky" (WildStorm/DC Comics) | Warren Ellis and Jon J Muth | |
| 2004 | Usagi Yojimbo #65: "Usagi and the Tengu" (Dark Horse Comics) | Stan Sakai | |
| 2005 | Eightball #23: "The Death Ray" (Fantagraphics) | Daniel Clowes | |
| 2005 | Demo #7: "One Shot, Don't Miss" (AiT/Planet Lar) | Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan | |
| 2005 | Ex Machina #1: "The Pilot" (WildStorm/DC Comics) | Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, and Tom Feister | |
| 2005 | Global Frequency #12: "Harpoon" (WildStorm/DC Comics) | Warren Ellis and Gene Ha | |
| 2005 | The Goon #6: "Ilagarto Hombre!" (Dark Horse Comics) | Eric Powell | |
| 2006 | Solo #5 (DC Comics) | Darwyn Cooke | |
| 2006 | The Bakers (Kyle Baker Publishing) | Kyle Baker | |
| 2006 | Ex Machina #11: "Fortune Favors" (WildStorm/DC Comics) | Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, and Tom Feister | |
| 2006 | The Innocents (Fantagraphics/Coconino Press) | Gipi | |
| 2006 | Promethea #32: "Wrap Party" (America's Best Comics) | Alan Moore and J. H. Williams III | |
| 2007 | Batman/The Spirit #1: "Crime Convention" (DC Comics) | Jeph Loeb and Darwyn Cooke | |
| 2007 | A Late Freeze | Danica Novgorodoff | |
| 2007 | The Preposterous Adventures of IronHide Tom (AdHouse Books) | Joel Priddy | |
| 2007 | Skyscrapers of the Midwest #3 (AdHouse Books) | Joshua Cotter | |
| 2007 | They Found the Car (Fantagraphics) | Gipi | |
| 2008 | Justice League of America #11: "Walls" (DC Comics) | Brad Meltzer and Gene Ha | |
| 2008 | Amelia Rules! #18: "Things I Cannot Change" (Renaissance Press) | Jimmy Gownley | |
| 2008 | Delilah Dirk and the Treasure of Constantinople | Tony Cliff | |
| 2008 | Johnny Hiro #1 (AdHouse Books) | Fred Chao | |
| 2008 | The Sensational Spider-Man Annual #1: "To Have or to Hold" (Marvel Comics) | Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca | |
| 2009 | No award given out in 2009. | No award given out in 2009. | No award given out in 2009. |
| 2010s ||||
| 2010 | Captain America #601: “Red, White and Blue-Blood" (Marvel Comics) | Ed Brubaker and Gene Colan | |
| 2010 | The Brave and the Bold #28: “Blackhawk and the Flash: Firing Line" (DC Comics) | J. Michael Straczynski and Jesus Saiz | |
| 2010 | Ganges #3 (Fantagraphics) | Kevin Huizenga | |
| 2010 | The Unwritten #5: “How the Whale Became" (Vertigo Comics/DC Comics) | Mike Carey and Peter Gross | |
| 2010 | Usagi Yojimbo #123: “The Death of Lord Hikiji” (Dark Horse Comics) | Stan Sakai | |
| 2011 | Hellboy: Double Feature of Evil (Dark Horse Comics) | Mike Mignola and Richard Corben | |
| 2011 | The Cape (IDW Publishing) | Joe Hill, Jason Ciaramella, and Zack Howard | |
| 2011 | Fables #100 (Vertigo Comics/DC Comics) | Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, and others | |
| 2011 | Locke & Key: Keys to the Kingdom #1: “Sparrow" (IDW Publishing) | Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez | |
| 2011 | Unknown Soldier #21: “A Gun in Africa" (Vertigo Comics/DC Comics) | Joshua Dysart and Rick Veitch | |
| 2012 | Daredevil #7 (Marvel Comics) | Mark Waid, Paolo Rivera, and Joe Rivera | |
| 2012 | Ganges #4 (Fantagraphics) | Kevin Huizenga | |
| 2012 | Locke & Key: Guide to the Known Keys (IDW Publishing) | Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez | |
| 2012 | Princeless #3 (Action Lab Comics) | Jeremy Whitley and Mia Goodwin | |
| 2012 | The Unwritten #24: "Stairway to Heaven" (Vertigo Comics/DC Comics) | Mike Carey, Peter Gross, and Al Davison | |
| 2013 | The Mire | Becky Cloonan | |
| 2013 | Lose #4: "The Fashion Issue" (Koyama Press) | Michael DeForge | |
| 2013 | Pope Hats #3 (AdHouse Books) | Ethan Rilly | |
| 2013 | Post York #1 (Uncivilized Books) | James Romberger and Crosby | |
| 2013 | Tales Designed to Thrizzle #8 (Fantagraphics) | Michael Kupperman | |
| 2014 | Hawkeye #11: “Pizza Is My Business" (Marvel Comics) | Matt Fraction and David Aja | |
| 2014 | Demeter | Becky Cloonan | |
| 2014 | Love and Rockets: New Stories #6 (Fantagraphics) | Gilbert Hernandez and Jaime Hernandez | |
| 2014 | Viewotron #2 | Sam Sharpe | |
| 2014 | Watson and Holmes #6 (New Paradigm Studios) | Brandon M. Easton and N. Steven Harris | |
| 2015 | Beasts of Burden: Hunters and Gatherers (Dark Horse Comics) | Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson | |
| 2015 | Astro City #16: “Wish I May” (Vertigo Comics/DC Comics) | Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson | |
| 2015 | Madman in Your Face 3D Special (Image Comics) | Mike Allred | |
| 2015 | Marvel 75th Anniversary Celebration #1 (Marvel Comics) | Various creators | |
| 2015 | The Multiversity: Pax Americana #1 (DC Comics) | Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely | |
| 2016 | Silver Surfer #11: “Never After" (Marvel Comics) | Dan Slott and Mike Allred | |
| 2016 | A Blanket of Butterflies (HighWater Press) | Richard Van Camp and Scott B. Henderson | |
| 2016 | I Love This Part (Avery Hill Publishing) | Tillie Walden | |
| 2016 | Mowgli’s Mirror (Retrofit Comics/Big Planet Comics) | Olivier Schrauwen | |
| 2016 | Pope Hats #4 (AdHouse Books) | Ethan Rilly | |
| 2017 | Beasts of Burden: What the Cat Dragged In (Dark Horse Comics) | Evan Dorkin, Sarah Dyer, and Jill Thompson | |
| 2017 | Babybel Wax Bodysuit (Retrofit Comics/Big Planet Comics) | Eric Kostiuk Williams | |
| 2017 | Blammo #9 (Kilgore Books) | Noah Van Sciver | |
| 2017 | Criminal 10th Anniversary Special (Image Comics) | Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips | |
| 2017 | Sir Alfred #3 (Pigeon Press) | Tim Hensley | |
| 2017 | Your Black Friend (Silver Sprocket) | Ben Passmore | |
| 2018 | Hellboy: Krampusnacht (Dark Horse Comics) | Mike Mignola and Adam Hughes | |
| 2018 | Barbara (ShortBox) | Nicole Miles | |
| 2018 | Pope Hats #5 (AdHouse Books) | Ethan Rilly | |
| 2018 | The Spotted Stone (Sun Comics) | Rick Veitch | |
| 2018 | What Is Left (ShortBox) | Rosemary Valero-O'Connell | |
| 2019 | Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #310 (Marvel Comics) | Chip Zdarsky | |
| 2019 | Beneath the Dead Oak Tree (ShortBox) | Emily Carroll | |
| 2019 | Black Hammer: Cthu-Louise (Dark Horse Comics) | Jeff Lemire and Emi Lenox | |
| 2019 | No Better Words (Silver Sprocket) | Carolyn Nowak | |
| 2019 | The Terrible Elisabeth Dumn Against the Devils In Suits (IHQ Studio/Image Comics) | Arabson Assis, translated by James Robinson | |
| 2020s ||||
| 2020 | Our Favorite Thing Is My Favorite Thing Is Monsters (Fantagraphics) | Emil Ferris | |
| 2020 | Coin-Op #8: Infatuation (Coin-Op Books) | Peter Hoey and Maria Hoey | |
| 2020 | The Freak (AdHouse Books) | Matt Lesniewski | |
| 2020 | Minotäar (ShortBox) | Lissa Treiman | |
| 2020 | Sobek (ShortBox) | James Stokoe | |
| 2021 | Sports is Hell (Koyama Press) | Ben Passmore | |
| 2021 | The Burning Hotels (Birdcage Bottom Books) | Thomas Lampion | |
| 2021 | Hedra (Image Comics) | Jesse Lonergan | |
| 2021 | The Other History of the DC Universe #1 (DC Comics) | John Ridley and Giuseppe Camuncoli | |
| 2021 | Stanley's Ghost: A Halloween Adventure (Storm Kids) | Jeff Balke, Paul Storrie, and Dave Alvarez | |
| 2022 | Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons (DC Comics) | Kelly Sue DeConnick and Phil Jimenez | |
| 2022 | Marvel’s Voices: Identity #1 (Marvel Comics) | edited by Darren Shan | |
| 2022 | Mouse Guard: The Owlhen Caregiver and Other Tales (Boom! Comics/Archaia) | David Petersen | |
| 2022 | Nightwing #87: "Get Grayson" (DC Comics) | Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo | |
| 2022 | Wolvendaughter (Quindrie Press) | Ver | |
| 2023 | Batman: One Bad Day: The Riddler (DC Comics) | by Tom King and Mitch Gerads | |
| 2023 | Mary Jane & Black Cat Beyond | Jed Mackay and C. F. Villa | |
| 2023 | Moon Knight: Black, White, and Blood #3 (Marvel Comics) | edited by Tom Brevoort | |
| 2023 | Star Trek #400 (IDW) | edited by Heather Antos | |
| 2023 | A Vicious Circle Book 1 (BOOM! Studios) | by Mattson Tomlin and Lee Bermejo | |