Nnedi Okorafor and Ebony Flowers are nominees for the Eisner Awards 2020 announced on June 4, 2020.
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books, sometimes referred to as the comics industry’s equivalent of the Academy Awards. They are named in honour of the pioneering writer and artist Will Eisner, who was a regular participant in the award ceremony until his death in 2005.
The nominees for the 2020 edition were announced online in 31 categories with some interest to those who follow the African and Black literary industry in three categories. They are Nnedi Okorafor in one category, and Ebony Flowers in two categories. Here are the nominees in their categories;
Best Graphic Album—Reprint
- Bad Weekend by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Image).
- Clyde Fans, by Seth (Drawn & Quarterly).
- Cover, vol. 1, by Brian Michael Bendis and David Mack (DC/Jinxworld).
- Glenn Ganges: The River at Night, by Kevin Huizenga (Drawn & Quarterly).
- LaGuardia, by Nnedi Okorafor and Tana Ford (Berger Books/Dark Horse).
- Rusty Brown, by Chris Ware (Pantheon).
Best Short Story
- Hot Comb, by Ebony Flowers, in Hot Comb (Drawn & Quarterly).
- How to Draw a Horse, by Emma Hunsinger, The New Yorker.
- The Menopause, by Mira Jacob, The Believer,
- Who Gets Called an ‘Unfit’ Mother? by Miriam Libicki, The Nib,
- You’re Not Going to Believe What I’m About to Tell You,” by Matthew Inman, The Oatmeal.
Best Publication for Teens
- Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass, by Mariko Tamaki and Steve Pugh (DC)
- Hot Comb, by Ebony Flowers (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Kiss Number 8, by Colleen AF Venable and Ellen T. Crenshaw (First Second/Macmillan)
- Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me, by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell (First Second/Macmillan)
- Penny Nichols, by MK Reed, Greg Means, and Matt Wiegle (Top Shelf)
The reactions from the nominees were
Nnedi Okorafor
LaGuardia (written by me and illustrated by @tanaford, edited by @karenpberger) is both a Hugo and Eisner Award nominee.
The story features themes of immigration, identity, injustice, blood, hope and love. #africanfuturism #eisnerawards #hugoawards 🌍🚀👽🇳🇬🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/oJu41nRpVg
— Nnedi Okorafor, PhD (@Nnedi) June 5, 2020
Ebony Flowers
Still processing my Eisner nominations. This has been a wild year. Black Lives Matter. Comics by Black people matter, too. I’m still trying to find ways to be hopeful and when all else fails, I pray to my ancestors. Thanks to @DandQ for everythinng!
— Dr. Ebony Flowers (Kalir) (@ebonydraws) June 4, 2020
Winners will be announced in July at a yet to be revealed date and time.
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