2026 Eisner Awards Winners Announced

Absolute Martian Manhunter Takes Home Top Honors

Comic-Con International has announced the winners of the 38th annual Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards. The ceremony was held Friday night, July 24 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. Named for the pioneering comics creator and graphic novelist Will Eisner, the Eisner Awards, considered the “Oscars” of the comic book industry, were given out in 32 categories for works published in 2025.

Topping this year’s winners is DC’s Absolute Martian Manhunter by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodriguez, which took home the trophies for Best Limited Series and Best Penciller/Inker as well as sharing in Best Cover Artist for Rodriguez and Best Lettering for Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. The only other title with multiple wins was This Place Kills Me, by Mariko Tamaki and Nicole Goux (Abrams Fanfare), for Best Publication for Teens and Best Writer.

Including Absolute Martian Manhunter, DC garnered the most wins for a publisher: 8 plus 2 shared. Other publishers with multiple wins included Abrams (4), Fantagraphics (3), and Image (2 plus 2 shared).  

Hosting the ceremony this year were voice actor Phil LaMarr (Futurama, Samurai Jack, Justice League) and actor/writer/director Thomas Lennon (Reno 911, Balls of Fury, Night at the Museum). The presenters included actors Doug Jones and Ivana Baquero (Pan’s Labyrinth); voice actors Jim Cummings (Winnie the Pooh) and Candi Milo (Dexter, Dr. Nora Wakeman); actors Sung Kang and Tamara Braun (Drifter); comics writers/screenwriters AJ Mendez, Ildy Modrovich, and Aimee Garcia (Day of the Dead Girl, Blade of the 47 Ronin); Felicia Day, Jeff Lewis, and Vincent Caso of The Guild; Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson (writer of The Mandrake Project graphic novel); actor/comics writer David Dastmalchian (Suicide Squad, Murderbot, Count Crowley); Hypefriend podcasters Ashley Eckstein (voice of Ahsoka Tano; Her Universe Fashion Show) and Michael James Scott (the Genie in Broadway’s Aladdin); actor/director/writer Thomas Jane (The Punisher, The Expanse, The Lycan comics series); actor Eli “Weevil” Navarro (Veronica Mars); CBLDF director Jeff Trexler; and British comic book artist Mark Buckingham (Fables, Miracleman, Dead Boy Detectives).

The Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award was presented by Bob’s daughter Ruth to Richard and Wendy Pini. The Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award went to artist Stipan Morian; it was presented by past Russ Manning assistant William Stout.

The 19th annual Bill Finger Award for Excellence in Comic Book Writing was presented by Mark Evanier and Bill Finger’s granddaughter Athena Finger to two recipients: Jenny Blake Isabella and Martin Pasko. Maggie Thompson introduced the special In Memoriam video salute to those from the Comic-Con family who died in the past year.

The Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award, given to a store that has done an outstanding job of supporting the comics art medium both in the community and within the industry at large, was awarded by Joe Ferrara to ??? .

Jim Thompson and Karen Green provided a recap of the Hall of Fame ceremony held earlier in the day. In addition to the 19 judges’ choices who were previously announced, this year’s voters selected Colleen Doran, Jeff Smith, Akira Toriyama, and Chris Ware for induction.

The major sponsor of the 2026 Eisner Awards is Lunar Distribution. The pre-show sponsor is ComicsPro. The principal sponsors are Arsenal Comics & Games, Cape & Cowl Comics, Comic Shop Assistant, Comixology Originals, DSTLRY/Neon Ichiban, Fantasy Books Inc, mycomicshop.com, and Pan-Universal Galactic Worldwide. Supporting sponsors are Alternate Reality Comics (Las Vegas), Atlantis Fantasyworld (Santa Cruz, CA), and Midwest Tape/Hoopla Distribution. The print sponsor is Tiny Onion. The afterparty is sponsored by HarperAlley/Morrow.

Eisner Award Winners 2026

Best Short Story: “Blood Harvest,” in Brain Damage, by Shintaro Kago, translated by Zack Davisson (Fantagraphics)

Best One-Shot/Single Issue: Absolute Batman 2025 Annual #1, by Daniel Warren Johnson, James Harren, and Meredith McClaren (DC)

Best Continuing Series: Absolute Batman, by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, and others (DC)

Best Limited Series: Absolute Martian Manhunter, by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodriguez (DC)

Best New Series: Assorted Crisis Events, by Deniz Camp and Eric Zawadski (Image)

Best Publication for Early Readers: All the Hulk Feels, by Dan Santat (Abrams Fanfare/Marvel)

Best Publication for Kids: The Cartoonists Club, by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud (Scholastic Graphix)

Best Publication for Teens: This Place Kills Me, by Mariko Tamaki and Nicole Goux (Abrams Fanfare)

Best Humor Publication: Physics for Cats, by Tom Gauld (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Anthology: DC Pride 2025, edited by Andrea Shea and Jillian Grant (DC)

Best Reality-Based Work: Black Arms to Hold You Up: A History of Black Resistance, by Ben Passmore (Pantheon)

Best Graphic Memoir: It Rhymes with Takei, by George Takei, Harmony Becker, Steven Scott, and Justin Eisinger (Top Shelf)

Best Graphic Album–New: Drome, by Jesse Lonergan (23^rd St. Books)

Best Graphic Album–Reprint: Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen: The Deluxe Edition, by Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber (DC)

Best Adaptation from Another Medium: Lord of the Flies: The Graphic Novel, by William Golding, adapted by Aimée De Jongh (Penguin Classics)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material: Nocturnos, by Laura Perez, translated by Andrea Rosenberg (Fantagraphics)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material–Asia: Purgatory Funeral Cakes, by Sanho, translated by Danny Lim (Dark Horse)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips: The George Herriman Library: Krazy & Ignatz 1928–1930, edited by J. Michael Catron and Bill Blackbeard (Fantagraphics)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books: AKIRA Volumes 1–5 Hardcover Collection, by Katsuhiro Otomo, edited by Haruko Hashimoto, Ajani Oloye, and Lauren Scanlan (Kodansha USA Publishing)

Best Academic/Scholarly Work: Manga’s First Century: How Creators and Fans Made Japanese Comics, 1905–1989, by Andrea Horbinski (University of California Press)

Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism: SKTCHD, by David Harper, www.sktchd.com

Best Comics-Related Book: Crumb: A Cartoonist’s Life, by Dan Nadel (Scribner)

Best Publication Design: The Essential Peanuts, designed by Shawn Dahl with Chip Kidd (Abrams ComicArts)

Best Webcomic: Tiger, Tiger, by Petra Erika Nordlund (tigertigercomic.com)

Best Digital Comic: Practical Defense Against Piracy, by Tony Cliff (delilahdirk.com)

Best Writer: Mariko Tamaki, This Place Kills Me (Abrams Fanfare)

Best Writer/Artist: Jamal Campbell, Zatanna (DC)

Best Penciller/Inker: Javier Rodriguez, Absolute Martian Manhunter (DC)

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist: Martin Simmonds, The Department of Truth (Image)

Best Cover Artist: Javier Rodriguez, Absolute Martian Manhunter, Batman & Robin: Year One #7, The New Gods #8 (DC)

Best Coloring: Jordie Bellaire, Absolute Wonder Woman, The Nice House by the Sea (DC); The Exorcism at 1600 Penn (IDW); Assorted Crisis Events, The Department of Truth, Exquisite Corpses, W0RLDTR33 (Image); GI Joe (Image/Skybound); EC Catacomb of Torment, EC Epitaphs from the Abyss (Oni Press)

Best Lettering: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, Ill Vacation, Stillman (Comixology Originals); Absolute Martian Manhunter, Challengers of the Unknown, DC K.O., The Flash, Green Arrow, Poison Ivy (DC); Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, The Exorcism at 1600 Penn, Starship Godzilla, (IDW); Author Immortal (Image); Our-Soot-Stained Heart (Mad Cave)

Hall of Fame:

Judges’ Choices Bob Bolling, Gerry Conway, Denys Cowan, Edwina Dumm, Mike Friedrich, Oliver Harrington, Don Heck, Abe Kanegson, Lee Marrs, Go Nagai, Paul S. Newman, Hector German Osterheld, Tom Palmer Sr., Bud Plant, Mike Royer, Dave Sim, Jimmy Swinnerton, Carol Tyler, and Rick Veitch.

Voters’ Choices: Colleen Doran, Jeff Smith, Akira Toriyama, Chris Ware

Spirit of Comics Retailer Award: Books with Pictures, Eugene Oregon

[from a press release]