Posted in: Comics | Tagged: awards, comic con, Comics, eisner, eisners, san diego, sdcc

Countdown To The Eisners by Cameron Hatheway – Best Graphic Album

Yesterday was Mother's Day, and I got my own mother a copy of Crossed. Since then she has disowned me, and called me 'ungodly' and 'an accident'. Maybe I'll just stick to the flowers and chocolates next year. This week we'll be looking at Best Graphic Album, both New and Reprinted. If you need a reminder of what's been nominated, you can find the entire list right here, and see what I chose last week right here.

Who is not eligible to vote?

• Comics press or reviewers (unless they are nominees)
• Non-creative publisher staff members (PR, marketing, assistants, etc.)
• Fans

Before I go back to baking cookies for the entire staff at Comic-Con International so I can be eligible to vote next year, let us return to the nominees!

Best Graphic Album – New

Bubbles & Gondola, by Renaud Dillies (NBM)
Freeway, by Mark Kalesniko (Fantagraphics)
Habibi, by Craig Thompson (Pantheon)
Ivy, by Sarah Olekysk (Oni)
Jim Henson's Tale of Sand, adapted by Ramón K. Pérez (Archaia)
One Soul, by Ray Fawkes (Oni)

Who I think should win:

Jim Henson's Tale of Sand, adapted by Ramón K. Pérez (Archaia)

Jim Henson was without a doubt one of the most imaginative individuals of the past century. Taken away from us far before his time, the man will forever be remembered for his contributions in puppetry, and his extremely creative vision. Unfortunately, not every vision of his came to life on the big and small screens. Enter the lost screenplay Tale of Sand by Henson and his longtime writing partner Jerry Juhl, and being reborn in the graphic novel format by Archaia and Ramón K. Pérez.

Relying on very little dialogue, Pérez's art takes you on a whimsical and fantastic journey through the wild wild (and wacky) west, leaving you absolutely breathless from start to finish. I enjoyed that throughout the story you could see pages from the screenplay pop-up from time to time, giving you a slight view into what the scenes originally called for.

Following a confused individual named Mac on a quest to Eagle Mountain, the story really feels like something familiar, like from out of a dream. Mac's given a mission he doesn't remember signing-up for, and no one will explain to him why it's so important that he arrives at his final destination in time. Being pursued by a ruthless one-eyed individual and a bombshell beauty, Mac can't seem to catch a break in this constantly changing landscape. He can't even find a light for his cigarette! Riddled with sight-gags and humor throughout, the ending left me with a smile on my face, and a sense of wonder for what an adaptation to film would have looked like. Pérez definitely had Henson's vision when working on this project, and the end product is a thing of excellence.

Who could win: Habibi, by Craig Thompson (Pantheon)

Who I think should have been nominated:Infinite Kung Fu, by Kagan McLeod (Top Shelf)

Best Graphic Album – Reprint

Big Questions, by Anders Nilsen (Drawn & Quarterly)
The Death Ray, by Dan Clowes (Drawn & Quarterly)
Richard Stark's Parker: The Martini Edition, by Darwyn Cooke (IDW)
WE3: The Deluxe Edition, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (Vertigo/DC)
Zahra's Paradise, by Amir and Khalil (First Second)

Who I think should win:

Richard Stark's Parker: The Martini Edition, by Darwyn Cooke (IDW)

Darwyn Cooke won Eisners across the board in 2010 and 2011 for his work on both Richard Stark's Parker books The Hunter and The Outfit, so it only feels fitting that he wins it once again for Best Graphic Album – Reprint. While both books are great reads individually, together as one they read wonderfully as one long and complete story.

The oversized edition (14"x10") really does a spectacular job highlighting Cooke's artwork, and you'll find yourself getting lost in ecstasy on every page. It feels like there should be a rule that Darwyn Cooke's art can only be allowed to be viewed in oversized formats, because anything smaller should be considered a crime. Packed with new material, artwork and interviews, The Martini Edition is a massive homerun, and the boys over at IDW Publishing once again set the bar a little higher.

It's obvious that Cooke has put his blood, sweat, and tears into this universe over the past few years, and that kind of passion is what continues winning you awards. Also, it makes for a great tool in your arsenal for bludgeoning small mammals to death with.

Who could win: WE3: The Deluxe Edition, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (Vertigo/DC)

Who I think should have been nominated: The Nightly News: Anniversary Edition, by Jonathan Hickman (Image)

Who do you think should win / been nominated?

Cameron Hatheway is the host of Cammy's Comic Corner, a weekly audio podcast. You can see what he thinks of adopted people on Twitter @CamComicCorner.

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