The finalists for the 2026 Annual Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards for works published between January 1 and December 31, 2025, given for creative achievement in American comic books, often referred to as the Comics Industry's equivalent of the Oscar Awards, have been announced.
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 RK 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)
- Coin-Op no. 10: Wet Cement, by Peter and Maria Hoey (Coin-Op Books)
- Ice Cream Man #43: "One Page Horror Stories," by W Maxwell Prince and others (Image)
- Something Is Killing the Children: A Monster Walks into a Bar #1, by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell'Edera (BOOM! Studios)
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)
- FML, by Kelly Sue DeConnick and David Lopez (Dark Horse)
- The Power Fantasy, by Kieron Gillen and Caspar Wijngaard (Image)
- Storm, by Murewa Ayodele, Lucas Werneck, and others (Marvel)
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)
- Bronze Faces, by Shobo, Shof, and Alexanre Tefenkgi (BOOM! Studios)
- Crownsville, by Rodney Barnes and Elia Bonetti (Oni Press)
- Everything Dead and Dying, by Tate Brombal and Jacob Phillips (Image)
- Out of Alcatraz, by Christopher Cantwell & Tyler Crook (Oni Press)
Best New Series
- Assorted Crisis Events, by Deniz Camp and Eric Zawadski (Image)
- Batman Vol. 4, by Matt Fraction and Jorge Jiménez (DC)
- Black Cat, by G. Willow Wilson and Gleb Melnikov (Marvel)
- Exquisite Corpses, by James Tynion IV, Pornsak Pichetshote, Michael Walsh, and others (Image)
- Ghost Pepper, by Ludo Lullabi (Image)
- Temporal, by Stephanie Williams and Asiah Fulmore (Mad Cave)
Best Publication for Early Readers
- All the Hulk Feels, by Dan Santat (Abrams Fanfare / Marvel)
- The Faraway Forest: Wally's Route, by Debbie Fong (Chronicle Books)
- The Fire-Breathing Duckling, by Frank Cammuso (TOON Books)
- Night Light, by Michael Emberley (Holiday House)
- Steve, A Rare Egg, by Kelly Collier (Kids Can Press)
Best Publication for Kids
- The Cartoonists Club, by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud (Scholastic Graphix)
- Chickenpox, by Remy Lai (Henry Holt Books for Young Readers)
- Creature Clinic, by Gavin Aung Than (First Second)
- Night Chef: An Epic Tale of Friendship with a Side of Deliciousness! By Mika Song (Random House Graphic)
- Oasis, by Guojing (Godwin Books/Henry Holt Books for Young Readers)
- A Song for You and I, by K O'Neill (Random House Graphic)
Best Publication for Teens
- Angelica and the Bear Prince, by Trung Le Nguyen (Random House Graphic)
- Clementine: Book Three, by Tillie Walden (Image Skybound)
- Everyone Sux But You, by K Wroten (Henry Holt Books for Young Readers)
- Hello Sunshine, by Keezy Young (Little, Brown Ink)
- This Place Kills Me, by Mariko Tamaki and Nicole Goux (Abrams Fanfare)
- Trumpets of Death, by Simon Bournel-Bosson, translated by Edward Gauvin (Graphic Universe/Lerner)
Best Humour Publication
- And to Think We Started as a Book Club, by Tom Toro (Andrews McMeel Universal)
- Ew, It's Beautiful: A False Knees Comics Collection, by Joshua Barkman (Andrews McMeel Universal)
- The Great British Bump-Off: Kill or Be Quilt, by John Allison and Max Sarin (Dark Horse)
- Jeff the Land Shark, by Kelly Thompson and Tokitokoro (Marvel)
- Physics for Cats, by Tom Gauld (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Spent: A Comic Novel, by Alison Bechdel (Mariner Books)
Best Anthology
- Come Out and Play: The Queer Sports Project, edited by Meghan Kemp-Gee and Megan Praz (Stacked Deck Press)
- DC Pride 2025, edited by Andrea Shea and Jillian Grant (DC)
- Noir Is the New Black Season 2 (FairSquare Graphics)
- Stardust the Super Wizard Anthology, edited by Van Jensen (Blue Creek Creative)
- 2000AD 2026 Annual Featuring Judge Dredd, edited by Oliver Pickles (Rebellion)
Best Reality-Based Work
- Black Arms to Hold You Up: A History of Black Resistance, by Ben Passmore (Pantheon)
- Do Admit: The Mitford Sisters and Me, by Mimi Pond (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Fela: Music Is the Weapon, by Jibola Fagbamiye and Conor McCreery (Amistad)
- Globetrotters: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland's World Tour, by Julian Voloj and Julie Rocheleau (Abrams ComicArts)
- Muybridge, by Guy Delisle, translated by Helge Daschert and Rob Aspinal (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Surrounded: America's First School for Black Girls, 1832, by Wilfrid Lupano and Stéphane Fert (ABLAZE)
Best Graphic Memoir
- The Ephemerata: Shaping the Exquisite Nature of Grief, by Carol Tyler (Fantagraphics)
- My Life in 24 Frames Per Second, by Rintaro (Kana Manga US)
- It Rhymes with Takei, by George Takei, Harmony Becker, Steven Scott, and Justin Eisinger (Top Shelf)
- Precious Rubbish, by Kayla E (Fantagraphics)
- Raised by Ghosts, by Briana Loewinsohn (Fantagraphics)
- Talking to My Father's Ghost: An Almost True Story, by Alex Krokus (Chronicle)
Best Graphic Album: New
- Cannon, by Lee Lai (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Drome, by Jesse Lonergan (23rd St. Books)
- The Fable of Erkling Woods, by Juni Ba (Goats Flying Press)
- A Garden of Spheres, by Linnea Sterte (Peow2)
- More Weight: A Salem Story, by Ben Wickey (Top Shelf)
- Shadows of the Sea, by Cathy Malkasian (Fantagraphics)
Best Graphic Album: Reprint
- Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Storybook Edition, by Patrick Horvath (IDW)
- Ginseng Roots: A Memoir, by Craig Thompson (Pantheon)
- Goes Like This, by Jordan Crane (Fantagraphics)
- Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen: The Deluxe Edition, by Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber (DC)
- Tongues, by Anders Nilsen (Pantheon)
Best Adaptation from Another Medium
- Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, Book 1), by Tamora Pierce, adapted by Vita Ayala and Sama Beck (Abrams Fanfare)
- The Compleat Angler: A Graphic Adaptation, by Izaak Walton, adapted by Gareth Brookes (SelfMadeHero)
- Dead Man Walking: Graphic Edition, by Sister Helen Prejean, adapted by Rose Vines and Catherine Anyango Grünewald (Random House)
- Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel, by Jewell Parker Rhodes and Setor Fiadzigbey (Little, Brown Ink)
- Lord of the Flies: The Graphic Novel, by William Golding, adapted by Aimée De Jongh (Penguin Classics)
- A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel, by Ursula K Le Guin, adapted by Fred Fordham (Clarion Books)
Best US Edition of International Material
- Buff Soul, by Moa Romanova, translated by Melissa Bowers (Fantagraphics)
- Cornelius: The Merry Life of a Wretched Dog, by Marc Torices, translated by Andrea Rosenberg (Drawn & Quarterly)
- In the End We All Die, by Tobias Aeschbacher, translated by Andrew Shields (Helvetiq)
- Nocturnos, by Laura Perez, translated by Andrea Rosenberg (Fantagraphics)
- Raging Clouds, by Yudori (Fantagraphics)
- Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, by Anaïs Flogny, translated by Dan Christensen (Abrams ComicArts)
Best US Edition of International Material: Asia
- Hirayasumi, vols. 4–7, by Keigo Shinzo, translated by Jan Mitsulo Cash (VIZ Media)
- Land, vol. 1, by Kazumi Yamashita, translated by Kevin Gifford (Yen Press)
- Purgatory Funeral Cakes, by Sanho, translated by Danny Lim (Dark Horse)
- Tokyo Alien Bros., vols. 1–3, by Keigo Shinzo, translated by Casey Loe (VIZ Media)
- Yan, vols. 1–2, by Chang Sheng, translated by Vanessa Liu (Titan Manga)
- Best Archival Collection/Project—StripsArthur Ferrier's Pin-Up Parade Box Set, edited by Rian Hughes (Korero Press)
- Barnaby, vol. 5: 1950–1952, by Crockett Johnson, edited by Eric Reynolds and Philip Nel (Fantagraphics)
- The George Herriman Library: Krazy & Ignatz 1928–1930, edited by J Michael Catron and Bill Blackbeard (Fantagraphics)
- Rea Irvin's The Smythes, edited by R. Kikuo Johnson and Dash Shaw (NYRC)
- Terminal Exposure: Comics, Sculpture, and Risky Behavior, by Michael McMillan, edited by Lucas Adams (NYRC)
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)
- The Atlas Comics Library No. 7: Girl Comics, edited by Dr. Michael J Vassallo (Fantagraphics)
- Comics of the Movement #1, by Courtland Cox, Jennifer Lawson, Alfred Hassler, and Benton Resnik (Good Trouble Comics)
- Hothead Paisan, by Diane DiMassa, organized by Anika Banister (NYRC)
- Scream! The Specials 1985–2024, edited by Chiara Mestieri (Rebellion)
- Weird Science Vol. 1 XXL, edited by Grant Geissman (TASCHEN)
Best Academic / Scholarly Work
- Comic Art in Korea, by John A. Lent (University Press of Mississippi)
- Comics of the Anthropocene: Graphic Narrative at the End of Nature, by José Alaniz (University Press of Mississippi)
- Graphic Narratives of Resistance, by Jennifer Boum Make and Charly Verstraet (Edinburgh University Press)
- Latinx Comics Studies: Critical and Creative Crossings, edited by Fernanda Díaz-Basteris and Maite Urcaregui (Rutgers University Press)
- 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
- CANON, by Colin Blanchette and Alex Eklund
- Comic Book Creator, edited by Jon B. Cooke (TwoMorrows)
- Dummy, edited by John Kelly (The Dummy Corporation)
- Shelfdust, edited by Steve Morris, www.shelfdust.com
- SKTCHD, by David Harper, www.sktchd.com
- SOLRAD: The Online Literary Magazine for Comics, edited by Daniel Elkin, www.solrad.co (Fieldmouse Press)
Best Comics-Related Book
- Crumb: A Cartoonist's Life, by Dan Nadel (Scribner)
- Facing Feelings: Inside the World of Raina Telgemeier, by Raina Telgemeier (Scholastic)
- How Comics Are Made, by Glenn Fleishman (Andrews McMeel)
- Making Nonfiction Comics: A Guide to Graphic Narrative, by Eleri Harris and Shay Mirk (Abrams ComicArts)
- Only What's Necessary: Charles M. Schultz and the Art of Peanuts, by Chip Kidd (Abrams ComicArts)
- Ooops…I Just Catharted!: Fifty Years of Cathartic Comics, by Rupert Kinnard, edited by William O. Tyler (Stacked Deck Press)
Best Publication Design
- The Art of Manga, designed by Tessa Lee (Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco / VIZ Media)
- The Essential Peanuts, designed by Shawn Dahl with Chip Kidd (Abrams ComicArts)
- Fruits Basket: The Complete Box Set (Collector's Edition #13), designed by Wendy Chan (Yen Press)
- Red Light Properties: Unfinished Business, designed by Dan Goldman (Kinjin Storylab)
- The Marvel Art of Michael Allred Slipcase Edition, designed by Kurtis Findlay (Clover Press)
- Weird Science Vol. 1 XXL, designed by Anna-Tina Kessler (TASCHEN)
Best Webcomic
- The Accidental Undergrad by Christian Giroux (Fieldmouse Press)
- Keeping Time by Kody Okamoto (keepingtimecomic.com)
- The Legend of Parvaterra by Raúl Arnáiz (WEBTOON)
- Sable: A Ghost Story, by Ethan M. Aldridge (sablecomic.com)
- Superfish, by Peglo (WEBTOON)
- Terran Omega: The Ghosts of War, by PJ Holden (pauljholden.com)
- Tiger, Tiger by Petra Erika Nordlund (tigertigercomic.com)
Best Digital Comic
- DeadAss, by hakei (VIZ Media)
- In the Real Dark Night, by Jimmy Gownley (G-Ville Comics)
- The Lycan, by Mike Carey, Thomas Jane, David James Kelly, and Diego Yapur (Comixology Originals)
- Overwatch 2: Against the Tide, by Brandon Chen and Velinxi (Blizzard Entertainment)
- Practical Defense Against Piracy, by Tony Cliff (delilahdirk.com)
- The World of Lublu, by Charbak Dipta (The Charbax Store)
Best Writer
- Deniz Camp, Absolute Martian Manhunter (DC); Assorted Crisis Events (Image); The Ultimates (Marvel)
- Scott Snyder, Absolute Batman, Batman/Deadpool (DC); By a Thread: Book 2 (Comixology Originals), You Won't Feel a Thing (DSTLRY)
- Mariko Tamaki, This Place Kills Me (Abrams Fanfare)
- Kelly Thompson, Absolute Wonder Woman, Birds of Prey (DC); Jeff the Land Shark (Marvel)
- James Tynion IV, Something Is Killing the Children, Wynd: The Power of the Blood (BOOM! Studios); Let This One Be a Devil, Red Book (Dark Horse); The City Beneath Her Feet (DSTLRY); The Department of Truth, Exquisite Corpses, W0RLDTR33 (Image); Universal Monsters: The Invisible Man (Image Skybound)
- Stephanie Williams, Street Sharks (IDW); Roots of Madness (Ignition Press); Temporal (Mad Cave)
Best Writer / Artist
- Juni Ba, The Boy Wonder (DC); The Fable of Erkling Woods (Goats Flying Press); Monkey Meat Summer Batch (Image)
- Jamal Campbell, Zatanna (DC)
- Jesse Lonergan, Drome (23rd St. Books)
- Chang Sheng, Yan, vols. 1–2 (Titan Manga)
- Linnea Sterte, A Garden of Spheres (Peow2)
- Kazumi Yamashita, Land, vol. 1 (Yen Press)
Best Penciller / Inker
- Elsa Charetier, The City Beneath Her Feet (DSTLRY)
- Sean Phillips, Giant Size Criminal #1, The Knives: A Criminal Book (Image)
- Javier Rodriguez, Absolute Martian Manhunter (DC)
- Chris Samnee, Batman and Robin: Year One (DC)
- Hayden Sherman, Absolute Wonder Woman, Batman: Dark Patterns (DC)
- Eric Zawadzki, Assorted Crisis Events (Image)
Best Painter / Multimedia Artist
- Teddy Kristiansen, Black Hammer: Spiral City (Dark Horse)
- Cathy Malkasian, Shadows of the Sea (Fantagraphics)
- Qu, Slices of Life: A Comic Montage (Bulgilhan Press)
- Martin Simmonds, The Department of Truth (Image)
- Mika Song, Night Chef: An Epic Tale of Friendship with a Side of Deliciousness! (Random House Graphic)
- Linnea Sterte, A Garden of Spheres (Peow)
Best Cover Artist
- Juni Ba, The Boy Wonder (DC); The Fable of Erkling Woods (Goats Flying Press); TMNT Nightwatcher, TMNT Godzilla (IDW); Monkey Meat Summer Batch (Image)
- Nick Dragotta, Absolute Batman, Absolute Batman 2025 Annual, Batman #1, Batman/Deadpool (DC)
- Francesco Francavilla, Cyberpunk 2077, Star Wars: Tales from the Nightlands (Dark Horse); Absolute Batman, Absolute Martian Manhunter, Batman: Full Moon, Nightwing variants (DC); Green Hornet/Miss Fury (Dynamite); Star Trek: The Last Starship, Twilight Zone (IDW); Dick Tracy (Mad Cave)
- Mateus Manhanini, Absolute Superman, Absolute Wonder Woman, Mr. Terrific: Year One variants (DC); Doctor Strange, Ironheart: Bad Chemistry, Miles Morales: Spider-Man, Phases of the Moon Knight, Star Wars: The High Republic, Storm, The Ultimates (Marvel)
- Javier Rodriguez, Absolute Martian Manhunter, Batman & Robin: Year One #7, The New Gods #8 (DC)
- Hayden Sherman, Absolute Wonder Woman, Batman: Dark Patterns #3-12 (DC)
Best Colouring
- 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)
- Ninakupenda Gaillard, Chickenpox (Henry Holt Books for Young Readers)
- Jesse Lonergan, Drome (23rd St. Books)
- Matheus Lopes, Batman and Robin Year One (DC); The Seasons (Image)
- Javier Rodriguez, Absolute Martian Manhunter (DC)
- José Villarrubia, This Ink Runs Cold (Alan Spiegel Fine Arts); Ghostbox (Comixology Originals); Dracula Book 2: The Brides, The Witcher: The Bear and the Butterfly (Dark Horse); It Rhymes with Takei (Top Shelf)
Best Lettering
- Janice Chiang, Acro and the Cat, All Upon a Time, Beyond the Aural Vault, Republica, Solarblader (Sandstorm); John Carpenter's Blood of the Taken: Next of Kin, Pause, Tales of Science Fiction (Storm King)
- Clayton Cowles, Absolute Batman, Batman, Batman & Robin: Year One, Birds of Prey, Black Canary: Best of the Best, Trinity: Daughter of Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman, (DC); Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #1-3 (Marvel)
- 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)
- Nate Piekos, American Caper #1, Archie Vs. Minor Threats, Black Hammer: Spiral City, The Brood, Minor Threats: The Last Devil Left Alive, Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons, The Umbrella Academy Plan B, Welcome to Twilight (Dark Horse); I Hate Fairyland (Image)
- Ben Wickey, More Weight: A Salem Story (Top Shelf)
