# Eisner Awards

The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, are awards for creative achievement in American comic books. They are regarded as the most prestigious and significant awards in the comic industry and often referred to as the industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards.
The first Eisners were conferred in 1988, for works published in 1987. The Eisner Awards ceremony has been held at San Diego Comic-Con every year since 1991. The awards are named in honor of pioneering cartoonist and writer Will Eisner, who was a regular participant in the ceremony until his death in 2005.
The nominations in each category are generated by a five- to six-member jury, then voted on by comic book professionals. The jury often consists of at least one comics retailer, one librarian (since 2005), and one academic researcher, among other comic experts. As of 2021, awards are presented in 32 categories.

## History

The Eisner Awards and Harvey Awards were first conferred in 1988, both created in response to the discontinuation of the Kirby Awards in 1987. Dave Olbrich started the non-profit organization.
There was no Eisner Awards ceremony, or awards distributed, in 1990, due to widespread balloting mix-ups. The previous administrator, Dave Olbrich, left the position, and Jackie Estrada has been the award administrator since 1990. The Eisner Awards ceremony has been held at San Diego Comic-Con every year since 1991.
In 2006, it was announced that the archives of the Eisner Awards would be housed at the James Branch Cabell Library of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.

## Categories

The Eisner Awards are awarded in the following categories:

### Current

As of 2021, awards are presented in 32 categories for works published in 2020.
* Best Short Story (1993–present)
* Best Single Issue/One-Shot (1988–2008, 2010–present)
* Best Continuing Series (1988–present)
* Best Limited Series (1988–present)
* Best New Series (1988–present)
* Best Publication for Early Readers (2012–present)
* Best Publication for Kids (2008–present)
* Best Publication for Teens (2008–present)
* Best Humor Publication (1992–present)
* Best Anthology (1992–present)
* Best Reality-Based Work (2006–present)
* Best Graphic Memoir (2021–present)
* Best Graphic Album — New (1991–present)
* Best Graphic Album — Reprint (1991–present)
* Best Adaptation from Another Medium (2013–2014, 2016, 2018–present)
* Best U.S. Edition of International Material (1998–present)
* Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia (2010–present)
* Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips (2006–present)
* Best Archival Collection/Project — Comic Books (2006–present)
* Best Writer (1988–present)
* Best Writer/Artist (1988–present)
* Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team (1994–present)
* Best Painter/Digital Artist (1993–2011, 2013–present)
* Best Cover Artist (for multiple covers) (1992–present)
* Best Coloring (1992–present)
* Best Lettering (1993–present)
* Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism (2008–present)
* Best Comics-Related Book (1992–present)
* Best Academic/Scholarly Work (2012–present)
* Best Publication Design (1993–present)
* Best Digital Comic (2005–present)
* Best Webcomic (2017–present)

### Past awards

* Best Graphic Album (1988–1989)
* Best Art Team (1988–1989)
* Best Black-and-White Series (1988–1991)
* Best Editor (1992–1999)
* Best Comics-Related Product/Item (1992, 1994–2002)
* Best Comics-Related Periodical/Publication (1992–2000, 2002–2007)
* Best Archival Collection/Project (1993–2005)
* Best Serialized Story (1993–2006)
* Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition (1995–2006)
* Best Writer/Artist — Humor (1995–2008)
* Best Title for Younger Readers/Best Comics Publication for a Younger Audience (1996–2007)
* Best Writer/Artist — Drama (1997–2008)
* Best Comics-Related Sculpted Figures (1999)
* Best Comics-Related Publication (Periodical or Book) (2003)
* Best U.S. Edition of International Material–Japan (2007–2009)
* Special Recognition (2007–2008)
* Best Writer/Artist–Nonfiction (2010)
* Best Adaptation from Another Work (2010–2011)