Will Eisner Awards 2009

Comic-Con International, the largest comic book and popular arts event in the United States, announced today that submissions are now being accepted for consideration by the judges for the 2009 Will Eisner Comics Industry Awards. Publishers wanting to submit entries should send one copy each of the comics or books they wish to nominate and include a cover letter indicating what is being submitted and in what categories. There are no entry fees for any submissions.

Categories include best single issue, best short story, best continuing comic book series (at least two issues must have been published in 2008), best limited comic book series (at least half of the series must have been published in 2008), best new series, best publication for kids, best publication for teens, best humor publication, best anthology, best digital comic, best graphic album—new material, best graphic album—reprint, best reality-based work, best archival collection, best U.S. edition of foreign material, best writer, best writer/artist, best penciler/inker (individual or team), best painter (interior art), best lettering, best coloring, best comics-related book, best comics journalism periodical or website, and best publication design. The judges may add, delete, or combine categories at their discretion. The cover letter should include both a mailing address and an e-mail address.

Comic-Con Celebrates Its 40th Year

Comic-Con's 40th looks to be the biggest and best convention ever!It's not too early to start planning for Comic-Con 2009! Roaring back into the San Diego Convention Center July 23–26 —- with the popular Preview Night on Wednesday, July 22.
It all started in 1970 with a one-day minicon (think of it as "Comic-Con Zero") at the U.S. Grant Hotel in downtown San Diego. The first guests were Forrest J Ackerman (Famous Monsters of Filmland's famous editor) and Mike Royer, best known for his work inking Jack Kirby's "Fourth World" books. That one-day event tested the waters -— and raised funds —- for the first ever San Diego Comic-Con (then called "San Diego's West Coast Comic-Con") in August of the same year, which featured comics legend Jack Kirby and science fiction authors Ray Bradbury and A. E. van Vogt. And the rest, as they say, is history -— including Kirby, Bradbury, and Ackerman going on to become three of Comic-Con's favorite guests over the years (both Ray and Forry were present again in 2008).

That first show and its logo set the groundwork for what would become, over the next 39 years, the country's leading comics and popular arts convention. From the very beginning the event has focused on "comic art, films, and science fiction."

As we gear up over the coming months to celebrate the momentous 40th convention, you'll learn a lot more about Comic-Con's exciting history, from those early days through the "Toucan years" (when Rick Geary's colorful bird was Comic-Con's mascot and logo), up to the present day. 2009 promises to be another amazing year.