Francis Rothbart! The Tale Of A Fastidious Feral

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Marvel Comics received nine nominations (plus three shared), including two each in the Short Story, Single Issue, and Continued Series categories. Dark Horse had nine (plus two shared), led by two for Jeff Lemire’s Mazebook Dark Horse Direct Edition (Best Graphic Album–Reprint, Best Publication Design). But I Live: Three Stories of Child Survivors of the Holocaust, edited by Charlotte Schallié (University of Toronto Press)

The Deluxe Gimenez: The Fourth Power & The Starr Conspiracy, by Juan Gimenez, edited by Alex Donoghue and Bruno Lesigne (Humanoids) Especially in our era, where Florida and much of the country are demonizing LGBTQ+ teachers, and work, Tom’s graphic novel is remarkable and unique, a decade long undertaking that is unapologetically queer and about celebrating diversity. There have been too few LGBTQ+ Eisner nominees and winners, and too few queer graphic novels that have nominated/won…. We were children and he was supposed to nurture and empower us. Instead we were tools for him to inflate his own mangled sense of ego with. I’ll never forget the things he did to me, my classmates, and my teachers,” added DC editor Arianna Turturro.

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team

A Visit to Moscow by Rabbi Rafael Grossman, adapted by Anna Olswanger and Yevgenia Nayberg (Turner) The LGBTQ+ Comics Studies Reader: Critical Openings, Future Directions, edited by Alison Halsall and Jonathan Warren (University Press of Mississippi) Tom King, Batman: Killing Time, Batman: One Bad Day, Gotham City: Year One, The Human Target, Love Everlasting, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (DC) Bea:Hm… I remember him telling me that maybe I shouldn't make comics. And asked if I was getting upset while I was trying to concentrate on his critique of my work.

The Eisner Award trophies will be presented in a gala awards ceremony to be held at the San Diego Hilton Bayfront Hotel during Comic-Con on the evening of July 21. Fantagraphics has 13 nominations, led by Thomas Woodruff's Francis Rothbart! The Tale of a Fastidious Feral, which received nods for Best Graphic Album–new, Best Painter/Multimedia Artist, Best Lettering, and Best Publication Design. In addition, Fantagraphics dominated the Archival Collection categories, with 3 in the Comic Strip category and 2 in the Comic Book category. Named for acclaimed comics creator Will Eisner, the awards are celebrating their 35th year of bringing attention to and highlighting the best publications and creators in comics and graphic novels. The 2023 Eisner Awards judging panel consists of librarian Moni Barrette, educator/collector Peter Jones, retailer Jen King, journalist Sean Kleefeld, scholar/comics creator A. David Lewis, and comics instructor/curator TJ Shevlin. Tom King, Batman: Killing Time, Batman: One Bad Day, Gotham City: Year One, The Human Target, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow(DC); Love Everlasting (Image) One of the issues raised in the conversation around Woodruff's nominations is the fact that this year's (and many previous years') Eisner judging panel has consisted of all-white judges. Popverse's source commented on this, saying "The issue of it being an all-white panel was raised even before the voting and this controversy arose. The response was, essentially, that the judges were men and women, interfaith, geographically spread out, LGBTQ+, various professions, etc. There was diversity, though it may not have been in all the areas needed."In the days following the announcement, as a deeper understanding of the book and perspectives revealed by those who worked with Woodruff have come to light, Popverse has been talking with various individuals involved with the Francis Rothbart nominations. On Tuesday, we highlighted the criticism of the book and its author, along with statements from both Fantagraphics and Woodruff. Now, we provide a rare inside look at how this book came to the Eisner Awards judges' attention, how it was nominated, and the general reaction the judges have had following the nomination announcement from the perspective of someone in the proverbial "room where it happened." Tiki: A Very Ruff Year, by David Azencot and Fred Leclerc, translation by Nanette McGuinness (Life Drawn/Humanoids) Jonathan H. Gray: The way I am sitting at my desk casually side-eyeing all of this and unable to say anything lol A Visit to Moscow by Rabbi Rafael Grossman, adapted by Anna Olswanger and Yevgenia Nayberg (Turner) So Much for Love: How I Survived a Toxic Relationship, by Sophie Lambda, translation by Montana Kane (First Second/Macmillan)