DC Strikes Big at the 2026 Eisner Award Nominations!
The nominations for the 2026 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards have just dropped, and it’s looking like a massive year for DC Comics! Considered the Oscars of the comic world, the Eisner Awards shine a spotlight on the most exciting comic releases from the previous year, and this time, DC is stealing the show with a whopping 16 nominations, including 10 shared ones.
Much of this recognition comes from their Absolute Universe series, with “Absolute Martian Manhunter” snagging 6 nominations and “Absolute Batman” close behind with 5. Other publishers are also in the mix; Fantagraphics is not far behind with 14 nominations, while Image Comics and Abrams are contributing with 12 and 9 nominations, respectively.
Mark your calendars because the winners will be announced during a grand ceremony at the San Diego Comic-Con on July 24. Let’s check out some of the categories and nominees that are making waves this year!
Best Short Story
– “Blood Harvest” in Brain Damage by Shintaro Kago, translated by Zack Davisson (Fantagraphics)
– “The Curse Room” in Brain Damage by Shintaro Kago, translated by Zack Davisson (Fantagraphics)
– “Football Is Not War” by R.K. Russell and Wilfred Santiago in Come Out and Play: The Queer Sports Project (Stacked Deck Press)
– “Red Snapper in the Rea” by Michael D. Kennedy in Milk White Steed (Drawn & Quarterly)
– “trAPPed” by Anand RK, Suparna Sharma, and Natalie Obiko Pearson (Bloomberg News)
Best One-Shot/Single Issue
– Absolute Batman 2025 Annual #1 by Daniel Warren Johnson, James Harren, and Meredith McClaren (DC)
– Absolute Martian Manhunter #1 by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodriguez (DC)
– Assorted Crisis Events #4 by Deniz Camp and Eric Zawadski (Image)
Best Continuing Series
– Absolute Batman by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, and others (DC)
– Absolute Wonder Woman by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, and Mattia De Iulis (DC)
– The Department of Truth by James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds (Image)
Best Limited Series
– Absolute Martian Manhunter by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodriguez (DC)
– Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring by Patrick Horvath (IDW)
These are just a few highlights! The competition is fierce with many other talented creators and stories nominated across various categories, including Best New Series, Best Graphic Memoir, and Best Anthology.
With DC leading the charge, it’s clear that the comic book industry is thriving. Can’t wait to see who takes home the coveted awards at San Diego Comic-Con! Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the event!