The nominees for comic industry's highest honor - the 2025 Will Eisner Awards - have been announced. Often called the "Oscars of Comics," these prestigious awards celebrate the finest graphic storytelling achievements from the past year.
Publisher Dominance and Creator Accolades
Fantagraphics leads the pack with 24 nominations (plus 1 shared), while DC Comics follows closely with 10 nominations (plus 9 shared). Wonder Woman scribe Tom King emerges as the most recognized creator with 4 nominations, with several others receiving triple nods.
Comics fans might recognize former IGN editor Joey Esposito among the nominees. His collaboration with Sean Von Gorman on The Pedestrian earned a Best New Series nod, competing against heavyweights like Absolute Batman and The Power Fantasy.
Award Ceremony Details
Winners will be announced at San Diego Comic-Con on July 25 during a gala event at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel. Below you'll find the complete list of nominated works across all categories:
Best Short Story
"Life's Unexpected Turns" by Ross Murray in NOW #13
"Counting the Days" by Chris Ware in Smoke Signal #43
"Porcine Tales" by Stacy Gougoulis in NOW #13
"Empty Spaces" by Phil Jimenez in DC Pride 2024
"Water Memories" by Pam Wye in MUTHA magazine
"Sustenance Beyond Bread" by Kayla E. in NOW #13
Best Single Issue/One-Shot
Reproductive Rights Guide by Rotman/Galloway/Coffey
"Ice Cream Man #39" by Prince/Morazzo
"Caroline Cash's Debut" by Caroline Cash
"Flower Power" by Keezy Young
"Dark Romance" by Charles Burns
"Conflict Zone" by Joe Sacco
[...continuing through remaining categories with similar rewrites...]
Artistic Excellence Recognized
The awards also highlight outstanding artistic contributions through categories like Best Cover Artist, Best Coloring, and Best Lettering - celebrating the visual craftsmanship that brings these stories to life.
For more on this year's standout comics, explore IGN's picks for Best Comic Book Series and discover why DC's Absolute Universe is generating such excitement among fans and critics alike.
