Hey Kids! Comics!: San Diego Edition by Janet L. Hetherington

This week we follow special PCA correspondent Janet Hetherington from the front lines of the San Diego Comic Con!

2010 Eisner Winners and More

One of the joys of Comic-Con is trolling the exhibit floor and snapping up limited-edition comics and sketchbooks by favorite comic book artists.

"Shi" creator Billy Tucci comes face to face with his creation

This year’s con is no different. Billy Tucci, creator of the lovely but deadly heroine Shi, is offering a Comic-Con special sketchbook limited to 50 signed and numbered copies. Comic collectors love sketchbooks like this because they present sketches, pencil art and never-before-seen drawings of various characters.

This year’s sketchbook by Tucci, titled World War Tucci, offers both babes and military themes. The artist’s latest project is Sgt. Rock for DC Comics. As a special bonus, Tucci does an original sketch right on the cover.

John Gallagher brings back "go go checks" in Buzzboy!

At Comic-Con, Tucci was absolutely delighted when a fan dressed as Shi dropped by his booth. And as for the long-anticipated Shi movie, Tucci advised that news will be coming soon!

Another comic creator, John Gallagher, is offering a special Comic-Con exclusive collection of his Buzzboy stories. For those pop culture addicts who haven’t discovered Gallagher’s work, check it out (www.buzzboy.com). Buzzboy is a comical super-hero book with a retro feel. Gallagher digs those go-go checks!

And the winners are…

On Friday night, Bill Morrison (Bongo Comics), one of this year’s master of ceremonies for the 2010 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, encouraged a packed crowd at the Hilton Bayside Indigo Room to check out the Eisner-nominated comics at the show. For the full list of nominees, visit the Comic-Con website (http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_main.php).

Morrison was joined by voice-over actor Maurice LaMarche (Pinky and the Brain) and Morrison’s lovely wife Kayre to oversee the awards presentations.

Eisner Awards hosts Kayre Morrison, Maurice LaMarche and Bill Morrison

Before the awards got underway, it was announced that Eisner’s graphic novel A Contract with God will be coming to the big screen.  “The challenge is to bring a faithful adaptation to the screen,” said writer-producer Darren Dean. “We look forward to coming back next year with something to show you.”

The cast from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (based on the mega-popular Oni comic) was on hand to give out the first Eisners of the night. It was fitting that Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O’Malley won for Best Humor Publication.

“I guess I won an Eisner,” O’Malley said. “I’m flabbergasted. Everyone here is way funnier than I am.”

2010 Eisner Award Winners

Best Short Story

"Captain America #601" wins the Eisner for "Best Single Issue" and writer Ed Brubaker wins "Best Writer"

“Urgent Request,” by Gene Luen Yang and Derek Kirk Kim, in The Eternal Smile (First Second)

Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)
Captain America #601: “Red, White, and Blue-Blood,” by Ed Brubaker and Gene Colan (Marvel)

Best Continuing Series
The Walking Dead, by Robert Kirkman and Charles Adlard (Image)

Best Limited Series or Story Arc
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by Eric Shanower and Skottie Young (Marvel)

Best New Series
Chew, by John Layman and Rob Guillory (Image)

Best Publication for Teens
Beasts of Burden, by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson (Dark Horse)

Best Humor Publication
Scott Pilgrim vol. 5: Scott Pilgrim vs. the Universe, by Bryan Lee O’Malley (Oni)

Best Anthology
 vol. 3, edited by Mark Andrew Smith, D. J. Kirkbride, and Joe Keatinge (Image)

Robert Kirkman's "The Walking Dead" wins "Best Ongoing Series"

Popgun

Best Digital Comic
Sin Titulo, by Cameron Stewart, www.sintitulocomic.com

Best Reality-Based Work
A Drifting Life, by Yoshihiro Tatsumi (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Graphic Album—New
Asterios Polyp, by David Mazzuccheilli (Pantheon)

Best Graphic Album—Reprint
Absolute Justice, by Alex Ross, Jim Krueger, and Doug Braithewaite (DC)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips
Bloom County: The Complete Library, vol. 1, by Berkeley Breathed, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books
 deluxe edition, by Dave Stevens, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW)

Bryan Lee O'Malley's "Scott Pilgrim" takes "Best Humor Publication"

The Rocketeer: The Complete Adventures

Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia
A Drifting Life, by Yoshihiro Tatsumi (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Writer
Ed Brubaker, Captain America, Daredevil, Marvels Project (Marvel) Criminal, Incognito (Marvel Icon)

Best Writer/Artist  – David Mazzuccheilli, Asterios Polyp (Pantheon)

Best Writer/Artist–Nonfiction
Joe Sacco, Footnotes in Gaza (Metropolitan/Holt)

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
J. H. Williams III, Detective Comics (DC)

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)
Jill Thompson, Beasts of Burden (Dark Horse); Magic Trixie and the Dragon (HarperCollins Children’s Books)

Best Cover Artist
J. H. Williams III, Detective Comics (DC)

Best Coloring

IDW's representation of "Bloom County" takes the Eisner for "Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips"

Dave Stewart, Abe Sapien, BPRD, The Goon, Hellboy, Solomon Kane, Umbrella Academy, Zero Killer (Dark Horse); Detective Comics (DC); Luna Park (Vertigo)

Best Lettering
David Mazzuccheilli, Asterios Polyp (Pantheon)

Best Publication Design
 , designed by Curtis King and Josh Beatman (DC)

J. H. Williams III wins two Eisners for "Best Cover Artist" and "Best Penciller" for his work on "Detective Comics"

Absolute Justice

Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award
Vault of Midnight, Ann Arbor, Michigan

HALL OF FAME

- Burne Hogarth
- Bob Montana
- Steve Gerber
- Dick Giordano
- Michael Kaluta
- Mort Weisinger

Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award
Jeannie Schulz

Russ Manning Most Promising Newcomer Award
Marian Churchland (Beast)

Comic-Con Photo of the Day

Cosplayer Tran Huyah creates magic all of her own as Zatanna the Magician!

Lacigam! A tip of the top hat to Tran Huyah of Los Angeles for this marvelous Zatanna costume.

Janet L. Hetherington is a writer, screenwriter and graphic storyteller. She is a pop culture addict who shares a studio in Ottawa, Canada, with artist Ronn Sutton and a ginger cat, Heidi.  For more of Janet’s musings make visit @ Best Destiny