DC Dominates 2026 Eisner Awards at San Diego Comic-Con

The 2026 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards arrived at San Diego Comic-Con International on July 24 with DC taking the lion's share of recognition, sweeping across 10 categories and cementing its position as the night's biggest winner.

Image Comics held its own with four awards, including Best New Series for Assorted Crisis Events—a solid showing that underscores the publisher's continued momentum in the industry.

The win for Best Publication for Teens and Best Writer went to This Place Kills Me by Mariko Tamaki and Nicole Goux, a recognition that spotlights the creative partnership's resonance with younger readers and critics alike.

Beyond the main categories, the Eisners honored lifetime achievement and service to the medium. The Bill Finger Award for Excellence in Comic Book Writing was presented to Jenny Blake Isabella and the late Martin Pasko, recognizing their contributions to the craft. The Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award went to Wendy and Richard Pini for their donation to Columbia University, a nod to their commitment to supporting the next generation of creators. The Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award was presented to Books with Pictures in Eugene, Oregon, celebrating the vital work of independent shops in sustaining comics culture.

The Eisners remain the industry's most prestigious honors, and this year's ceremony reflected the full spectrum of what the medium values—from narrative excellence to institutional support and the brick-and-mortar spaces that keep comics alive at ground level.

Here's the full list:

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 (23rd 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

Sources: San Diego Comic Con International, Comics Beat