Posted in: Comics | Tagged: chris roberson, Comics, dc

Countdown To The Eisners by Cameron Hatheway: Best Writer, Best Writer/Artist, and Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team

It's Memorial Day here in the colonies, which means the majority of us have the day off. Most will BBQ and drink heartily, while the rest of us will take this opportunity to catch-up on reading, organizing, buying and selling comics. This week we'll be looking at Best Writer, Best Writer/Artist, and Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team. If you need a reminder of what's been nominated, you can find the entire list right here, and see what I chose last week right here.

Who is not eligible to vote?

• Comics press or reviewers (unless they are nominees)
• Non-creative publisher staff members (PR, marketing, assistants, etc.)
• Fans

Before I go get plastered and have a fever dream of being eligible to vote next year, let us return to the nominees!

Best Writer
Cullen Bunn, The Sixth Gun (Oni)
Mike Carey, The Unwritten (Vertigo/DC)
Jeff Jensen, Green River Killer: A True Detective Story (Dark Horse Books)
Jeff Lemire, Animal Man, Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown, Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. (DC); Sweet Tooth (Vertigo/DC)
Mark Waid, Irredeemable, Incorruptible (BOOM!); Daredevil (Marvel)

Who I think should win:

Jeff Lemire, Animal Man, Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown, Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. (DC); Sweet Tooth (Vertigo/DC)

Going from the indie darling of the comics community, to one of the top writers at DC today, Jeff Lemire has proven himself a fantastic writer these past few years. 2011 was a good year for Lemire in particular, because it really showcased his range as a writer. While still carrying on with his hit series Sweet Tooth, Lemire was simultaneously flexing his superhero and horror muscles with events and new series like Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown, to Animal Man.

Even more spectacular is the foundations he's helping create in this new DC Universe. Collaborating with Scott Snyder and Dan DiDio, Lemire has helped pave the way with multiple crossovers in titles such as O.M.A.C. and the eagerly anticipated Swamp Thing meet-up. He works well with others, and yet at the same time stays true to his way of storytelling.

He should win this award for Sweet Tooth alone, and everything else is just more concrete proof for his deserved victory.

Who could win: Mark Waid, Irredeemable, Incorruptible (BOOM!); Daredevil (Marvel)

Who I think should have been nominated: Scott Snyder, American Vampire (Vertigo); Detective Comics, Batman: Gates of Gotham, Batman, Swamp Thing (DC); Severed (Image)

Best Writer/Artist
Rick Geary, The Lives of Sacco and Vanzetti (NBM)
Terry Moore, Rachel Rising (Abstract Studio)
Sarah Oleksyk, Ivy (Oni)
Craig Thompson, Habibi (Pantheon)

Who I think should win:

Terry Moore, Rachel Rising (Abstract Studio)

With a creator like Terry Moore, you don't get much of the same with his stories. Moore is the type of creator who is constantly evolving his style and awing his readers, making sure you can never get an exact bearing on where his story might be headed. With Strangers in Paradise the focus was on relationships, with Echo he went all-out with science-fiction, and now with his latest series Rachel Rising, Moore is introducing us to his take on horror, all while sticking to his M.O. of strong female characters.

Moore's art works best in black and white, because then you're able to truly enjoy his crisp and clean style throughout. Everything from the highly detailed backgrounds to the outfits and appearances of the characters, Moore makes sure his players are distinguishable, just like the scenes they're set in. Already a few issues in, and it's obvious that Moore has another hit on his hands. It could go twenty issues, it could go eighty issues; either way I'm definitely onboard for this gem of a series.

Who could win: Craig Thompson, Habibi (Pantheon)

Who I think should have been nominated: Jeff Lemire, Sweet Tooth (Vertigo)

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
Michael Allred, iZombie (Vertigo/DC); Madman All-New Giant-Size Super–Ginchy Special (Image)
Ramón K. Pérez, Jim Henson's Tale of Sand (Archaia)
Chris Samnee, Captain America and Bucky, Ultimate Spider-Man #155 (Marvel)
Marcos Martin, Daredevil (Marvel)
Paolo Rivera/Joe Rivera, Daredevil (Marvel)

Who I think should win:

Paolo Rivera/Joe Rivera, Daredevil (Marvel)

When Daredevil was relaunched, it was a smart idea to pair a talented artist with an equally talented writer such as Mark Waid. Together, Rivera and Waid made Daredevil a fun title again, with overwhelming praise from Daredevil fans of old and new. Just that first issue alone is jam-packed with so much beautiful art, that you can only imagine how long it took the Riveras to illustrate it with such perfection. With Daredevil's vision consisting of nothing but contour lines, the execution feels flawless when Rivera gives us a glimpse of Matt's world.

One of my favorite moments from the first issue was the battle between Daredevil and The Spot, with The Spot being riddled with teleportation energy, causing him to appear to Matt like a constantly moving/melting Rorschach test with limbs, with no apparent weaknesses. The cat-and-mouse game between the two looks so energetic, that I truly couldn't figure out who would come out on top at the end.

The magic of Paolo Rivera and Mark Waid is the reason I chose Daredevil for the Best Continuing Series back in Week 2.

Who could win: Ramón K. Pérez, Jim Henson's Tale of Sand (Archaia)

Who I think should have been nominated: Duncan Fegredo, Hellboy: The Fury (Dark Horse)

Who do you think should win / been nominated?

Cameron Hatheway is the host of Cammy's Comic Corner, a weekly audio podcast. You can compare his life to the series Peep Show on Twitter @CamComicCorner.

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