The nominations for the 2025 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards have been revealed, and several manga titles are in the running for the prestigious awards. Often called the “Oscars of the comic book industry,” the Eisners highlight the best and most noteworthy releases of the past year. The winners will be announced at San Diego Comic-Con on July 25th.
Manga Nominees Shine in “Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia” Category
Several manga series have been nominated in the “Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia” category. The nominees are:
- Ashita no Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow by Asao Takamori and Tetsuya Chiba, translated by Asa Yonola (Kodansha).
- Hereditary Triangle by Fumiya Hayashi, translated by Alethea and Athena Nibley (Yen Press).
- Kagurabachi, vol. 1 by Takeru Hokazono, translated by Camellia Nieh (VIZ Media).
- Last Quarter, vol. 1 by Ai Yazawa, translated by Max Greenway (VIZ Media).
- Search and Destroy vol. 1 by Atsushi Kaneko, based on the work of Osamu Tezuka, translated by Ben Applegate (Fantagraphics).
- Tokyo These Days, vols. 1–3 by Taiyo Matsumoto, translated by Michael Arias (VIZ Media).
This category recognizes outstanding manga releases in the United States, showcasing the breadth and depth of translated works available to English-speaking audiences.
Other Nominees
- My Journey to Her by Yūna Hirasawa (Kodansha) is nominated for Best Digital Comic.
- X-Men: The Manga Remastered (Viz Media) is nominated for Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books.
A Closer Look at the Nominees
Here’s a little more information about each of the nominated manga:
Ashita no Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow
Ashita no Joe is a classic boxing manga created by Asao Takamori and Tetsuya Chiba. This nomination recognizes Kodansha’s recent release of this iconic series in English. Ashita no Joe tells the story of Joe Yabuki, an orphan who becomes a professional boxer and fights his way to the top. The series is known for its gritty realism and emotional depth, and remains influential in the sports manga genre.
Kagurabachi
Kagurabachi is a more recent manga series by Takeru Hokazono. The series has gained significant popularity, with over 1.3 million copies sold. Kagurabachi follows Chihiro, a young swordsman seeking revenge for the murder of his father. The manga is known for its action and dark themes.
Tokyo These Days
Tokyo These Days is a series by Taiyo Matsumoto, a critically acclaimed manga artist known for his unique style and storytelling. Matsumoto has won multiple Eisner Awards, including one for Tekkonkinkreet. Tokyo These Days explores the relationships between a manga editor, manga creators, and the art they produce. The series offers a glimpse into the manga industry and the lives of those who work in it. The story revolves around Kazuo Shiozawa, a manga editor who quits his job after 30 years. Despite his retirement, Shiozawa remains involved in the manga world, assisting creators and grappling with the challenges of the industry.
Other Nominees
- Hereditary Triangle by Fumiya Hayashi.
- Last Quarter, vol. 1 by Ai Yazawa.
- Search and Destroy vol. 1 by Atsushi Kaneko, based on the work of Osamu Tezuka.
Other Eisner Award Categories and Nominees
Besides the manga nominations, the Eisner Awards cover a wide range of categories. Some notable categories and nominees include:
Best Short Story
- “Anything Sinister,” by Ross Murray, in NOW #13 (Fantagraphics).
- “Day 1703,” by Chris Ware, in Smoke Signal #43 (Desert Island).
- “Pig” by Stacy Gougoulis, in NOW #13 (Fantagraphics).
- “Spaces,” by Phil Jimenez, in DC Pride 2024 #1 (DC).
- “Water I’ve Loved: Moving Day” by Pam Wye, in MUTHA magazine.
- “You Cannot Live on Bread Alone” by Kayla E., in NOW #13 (Fantagraphics).
Best Single Issue/One-Shot
- Abortion Pill Zine: A Community Guide to Misoprostol and Mifepristone by Isabella Rotman, Marnie Galloway, and Sage Coffey (Silver Sprocket).
- Ice Cream Man #39: “”Decompression in a Wreck, Part One,” by W. Maxwell Prince and Martin Morazzo (Image Comics).
- PeePee PooPoo #1, by Caroline Cash (Silver Sprocket).
- Sunflowers, by Keezy Young (Silver Sprocket).
- Unwholesome Love, by Charles Burns (co-published with Partners and Son).
- The War on Gaza, by Joe Sacco (Fantagraphics).
Best Continuing Series
- Detective Comics, by Ram V, Tom Taylor, Riccardo Federici, Stefano Raffaele, Javier Fernandez, Christian Duce, March, and Mikel Janín (DC).
- Wonder Woman, by Tom King and Daniel Sampere (DC).
Best Limited Series
- Alan Scott: The Green Lantern, by Tim Sheridan and Cian Tormey (DC).
- Animal Pound, by Tom King and Peter Gross (BOOM! Studios).
- The Deviant, by James Tynion IV and Joshua Hixson (Image).
- Helen of Wyndhorn, by Tom King and Bilquis Evely (Dark Horse).
- Rare Flavours, by Ram V and Filipe Andrade (BOOM! Studios).
- Zatanna: Bring Down the House, by Mariko Tamaki and Javier Rodriguez (DC).
Best New Series
- Absolute Batman, by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta (DC).
- Absolute Wonder Woman, by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman (DC).
- Minor Arcana, by Jeff Lemire (BOOM! Studios).
- The Pedestrian, by Joey Esposito and Sean Von Gorman (Magma Comix).
- The Power Fantasy, by Kieron Gillen and Caspar Wijngaard (Image).
- Uncanny Valley, by Tony Fleecs and Dave Wachter (BOOM! Studios).
Best Graphic Album—Reprint
- Breaking the Chain: The Guard Dog Story, by Patrick McDonnell (Abrams ComicArts).
- Lackadaisy, vols. 1–2, by Tracy J. Butler (Iron Circus).
- The One Hand and The Six Fingers, by Ram V, Dan Watters, Laurence Campbell, and Sumit Kumar (Image).
- Rescue Party: A Graphic Anthology of COVID Lockdown, edited by Gabe Fowler (Pantheon).
- Seattle Samurai: A Cartoonist’s Perspective of the Japanese American Experience, by Kelly Goto and Sam Goto (Chin Music Press).
- UM Volume One, by buttercup (Radiator Comics).
Other Categories
The Eisner Awards also recognize outstanding achievements in writing, art, lettering, coloring, cover art, and adaptation from other mediums. The awards ceremony will be held at the San Diego Hilton Bayfront Hotel during Comic-Con on July 25.
