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Ed Brubaker News

January 31, 1998
Detour nominated for Harvey "Best New Series" Award

With the announcement of the 1997 Harvey Award nominations for excellence in the comics medium in twenty major categories, independent publishers look to get the nod for many of the top honors on April 17, 1998 at The Harvey Award presentation ceremony at WonderCon in Oakland, California. At the head of the pack in nominations for these prestigious awards are a number of independent publishing companies lead by Fantagraphics Books, self proclaimed "Publishers of The World's Greatest Cartoonists." With a massive 22 nominations this year, with eight coming from critically acclaimed Chris Ware, their claim of greatness seems to be shared by the rest of the comic book industry.

Although industry giants DC Comics, Marvel Comics, and Image had a very respectable showing in nominations (with 20, 18, and 8 nominations respectively) it was the independent publishers that took the bulk of the nominations. Dark Horse Comics had 16 nominations spread over their rather wide selection of publications. Kitchen Sink had 8 nominations, with the majority of them for Charles Burns' Black Hole which is now being published by nominations-leading Fantagraphics Books.

Industry newcomer Alternative Press, Inc., rang in with a surprising 4 nominations that would signal a bright future for the company. "Best New Series" nominations were given to both Ed Brubaker's Detour and Steven Weissman's Yikes. Steven Weissman was also nominated for "Best New Talent" for his work on Yikes. Alternative's fourth nomination is "Best Biographic, Historical, or Journalistic Work contributing to the understanding of comics as an artform" for their indy Magazine, which itself covers the independent comic book industry. "I am overjoyed that our first year of publishing comics has garnered such a large number of nominations," said Alternative Press, Inc., publisher and indy Magazine Co-Editor Jeff Mason, "This really puts us on the map within the industry and gives us a great kickstart to our second year in publishing." Mason sees the race for the final Harvey Award prizes as a tough one. "I think that this year's nominees are indeed some of the finest that were published last year with perhaps a small handful of interesting exceptions that surprisingly weren't nominated in some categories." said Mason, "I feel that we actually have a legitimate shot at winning the categories in which we have nominations except for one. Although I am delighted that indy Magazine was nominated for 'Best Publication', I always have, and will again this year, vote for The Comics Journal, my hat is off to them."

Independent stalwarts Dave Sim and Jeff Smith received two nominations apiece. Other independent publishers receiving nominations include Drawn & Quarterly, Olio, Caliber, Chaos, and Sirius.

The entire list of nominations:

Best Writer

• Kurt Busiek (for his body of work in 1997, including Kurt Busiek's Astro City [Image/Homage], Avengers[Marvel Comics], and Thunderbolts [Marvel Comics])
  
• Garth Ennis (for his body of work in 1997, including Preacher, Hitman [DC], and Darkness [Image/Top Cow])
  
• Lovern Kindzierski (for his body of work in 1997, including Edgar Rice Burroughs's Tarzan [Dark Horse Comics])
  
• James Robinson (for his body of work in 1997, including Starman [DC], Leave it to Chance [Image/Homage], and Cable [Marvel Comics])
  
• Mark Waid (for his body of work in 1997, including Captain America, Ka-Zar [Marvel Comics], and Impulse [DC])
  

• Charles Burns (for his body of work in 1997, including Black Hole [Kitchen Sink])
  
• Alan Davis (for his body of work in 1997, including Fantastic Four (Vol.3) [Marvel Comics] and Gen 13 Bootleg [Image/Wildstorm])
  
• Mike Mignola (for his body of work in 1997, including Hellboy: Almost Colossus, [Dark Horse Comics])
  
• P. Craig Russell (for his body of work in 1997, including Elric: Stormbringer [Dark Horse Comics/Topps Comics], and Dr. Strange: What Is It That Disturbs You, Stephen? [Marvel Comics])
  
• Chris Ware (for his body of work in 1997, including Acme Novelty Library, [Fantagraphics])
  

• Sergio Aragones (for his body of work in 1997, including Sergio Aragones' Louder than Words [Dark Horse Comics])
  
• Dan Clowes (for his body of work in 1997, including Eightball [Fantagraphics])
  
• Dave Sim (for his body of work in 1997, including Cerebus [Aardvark-Vanaheim])
  
• Jeff Smith (for his body of work in 1997, including Bone [Cartoon Books])
  
• Chris Ware (for his body of work in 1997, including Acme Novelty Library [Fantagraphics])

• Sergio Aragones
  
• Peter Bagge
  
• Jeff Smith
  
• Jay Stephens
  
• Chris Ware
  

• Charles Burns (for his body of work in 1997, including Black Hole [Kitchen Sink])
  
• Digital Chameleon (for their body of work in 1997, including Legends of the Dark Knight #100 [DC Comics])
  
• Mark Farmer (for his body of work in 1997, including Fantastic Four (Vol. 3) and The Incredible Hulk [Marvel Comics])
  
• Gary Martin (for his body of work in 1997, including Nexus [Dark Horse Comics])
  
• Tim Townsend (for his body of work in 1997, including The Uncanny X-Men [Marvel Comics])

• Dan Clowes (for his body of work in 1997, including Eightball [Fantagraphics])
  
• Comicraft (for their body of work in 1997, including Kurt Busiek's Astro City [Image/Homage], Batman: Long Halloween [DC Comics], and Avengers [Marvel Comics])
  
• Todd Klein (for his body of work in 1997, including Ka-Zar [Marvel Comics], Castle Waiting [Olio Press], U.S. [DC Comics])
  
• Dave Sim (for his body of work in 1997, including Cerebus [Aardvark-Vanaheim])
  
• Chris Ware (for his body of work in 1997, including Acme Novelty Library [Fantagraphics])
  

• Laura Allred (for her body of work in 1997, including Red Rocket 7 [Dark Horse Comics])
  
• Matt Hollingsworth (for his body of work in 1997, including Preacher and Batman: The Gauntlet [DC Comics])
  
• Lovern Kindzierski (for his body of work in 1997, including Elric: Stormbringer [Dark Horse Comics])
  
• Joe Rosas (for his body of work in 1997, including Ka-Zar and Captain America [Marvel Comics])
  
• Chris Ware (for his body of work in 1997, including Acme Novelty Library [Fantagraphics])

• Brian Bolland (The Invisibles [DC Comics])
  
• John Bolton (Menz Insana, Seekers [DC Comics])
  
• Glenn Fabry (Preacher [DC Comics])
  
• Alex Ross (Kurt Busiek's Astro City [Image/Homage], Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #100 [DC Comics], Squadron Supreme [Marvel Comics])
  
• Chris Ware (Acme Novelty Library [Fantagraphics])
  

• Acme Novelty Library by Chris Ware by Chris Ware, edited by Kim Thompson, art directed by Chris Ware (Fantagraphics)
  
• Batman B&W Collected by various creators, edited by Bob Kahan, art directed by Robbin Brosterman, Mark Chiarello, Georg Brewer (DC Comics)
  
• Blab #9 by various creators, edited and art directed by Monte Beauchamp (Fantagraphics)
  
• Kingdom Come Deluxe Slipcover Edition by Mark Waid and Alex Ross, edited by Bob Kahan, art directed by Bob Chapman (DC Comics/Graphitti Designs)
  
• R. Crumb Coffee Table Art Book by Robert Crumb, edited and art directed by Pete Poplaski (Kitchen Sink Press)
  

• 20/20 Visions by various creators, co-edited by Axel Alonso and Karen Berger (DC/Vertigo)
  
• Detour by Ed Brubaker (Alternative Press, Inc.)
  
• Mage: The Hero Defined by Matt Wagner (Image)
  
• Penny Century by Jaime Hernandez, edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)
  
• The Lost by Marc Andreyko, Mark Ricketts, Jay Geldof & Galen Showman, edited by Joe Martin(Caliber/Chaos)
  
• Yikes by Steven Weissman, edited by Charissa Chu (Alternative Press, Inc.)
  

• Acme Novelty Library by Chris Ware (Fantagraphics)
  
• Black Hole by Charles Burns (Kitchen Sink Press)
  
• Elric: Stormbringer by P. Craig Russell, edited by Scott Allie & Jim Salicrup (Dark Horse Comics/Topps Comics)
  
• Hellboy by Mike Mignola, edited by Scott Allie (Dark Horse Comics)
  
• Kurt Busiek's Astro City by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson (Image/Homage)

• Black Hole #4 by Charles Burns, edited by Robert Boyd (Kitchen Sink Press)
  
• Deadpool #11 by Pete Woods and Joe Kelly, edited by Matt Idelson (Marvel Comics)
  
• Eightball #18 by Dan Clowes, edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)
  
• The Incredible Hulk #Minus One by Peter David and Adam Kubert, edited by Bobbie Chase (Marvel Comics)
  
• Starman #37 by James Robinson,Tony Harris and Wade von Grawbadger, edited by Archie Goodwin (DC Comics)
  

• Dr. Strange: What Is It That Disturbs You, Stephen? By P. Craig Russell and Marc Andreyko (Marvel Comics)
  
• Scary Godmother by Jill Thompson (Sirius Entertainment)
  
• Sin City: Family Values by Frank Miller, edited by Diana Schutz (Dark Horse Comics)
  
• Why did Pete Duel Kill Himself ? By Mark Kalesniko, edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)
  
• Wonder Woman: Amazonia by William Messner-Loebs and Phil Winslade, edited by Paul Kupperberg (DC Comics)
  

• Batman Black & White Collected by various creators, edited by Bob Kahan, art directed by Robbin Brosterman, Mark Chiarello, and Georg Brewer (DC Comics)
  
• Frank Vol.2 by Jim Woodring, edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)
  
• Ghostworld by Dan Clowes, edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)
  
• Hellboy: Wake the Devil, by Mike Mignola, edited by Scott Allie (Dark Horse Comics)
  
• The R. Crumb Coffee Table Art Book by Robert Crumb, edited and art directed by Pete Poplaski, (Kitchen Sink Press)
  

• Dark Horse Presents edited Bob Schreck & Jamie S. Rich, (Dark Horse Comics)
  
• Drawn & Quarterly by various creators, edited by Chris Oliveros, Marina Lesenko, Steve Solomos (Drawn & Quarterly)
  
• Top Shelf by various creators, edited by Brett Warnock (Top Shelf)
  
• Weird War Tales by various creators, edited by Axel Alonso (DC Comics/Vertigo)
  
• Zero Zero by various creators, edited by Kim Thompson (Fantagraphics)

• Dilbert by Scott Adams (United Feature Syndicate)
  
• Fox Trot by Bill Amend (Unversal Press Syndicate)
  
• Mutts by Patrick McDonnell (King Feature Syndicate)
  
• Peanuts by Charles Schulz (United Feature Syndicate)
  
• Zippy by Bill Griffith (King Feature Syndicate)

• Comics Journal edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)
  
• indy Magazine co-edited by Jeff Mason and Chris Waldron (Alternative Press, Inc.)
  
• The Jack Kirby Collector edited by John Morrow (Two Morrows Advertising)
  
• The R. Crumb Coffee Table Art Book edited by Pete Poplaski (Kitchen Sink Press)
  
• The Staros Report edited by Chris Staros (The Star Group)
  

• Blade of the Immortal by Hiroaki Samura, edited by Dave Chipps (Dark Horse / Studio Proteus)
  
• Drawn & Quarterly by various creators, edited by Chris Oliveros, Marina Lesenko, Steve Solomos (Drawn & Quarterly)
  
• Gon Swimmin' by Masashi Tanaka, edited by Andy Helfer (DC/Paradox Press)
  
• Oh, My Goddess! by Kosuke Fujishima, edited by Dave Chipps (Dark Horse / Studio Proteus)
  
• Spider Man Manga edited by Tom Brevoort (Marvel Comics)
  

• Complete Crumb V. 12 by R. Crumb, edited by Ilse Thompson (Fantagraphics)
  
• Jack Kirby's New Gods by Jack Kirby, and edited by Bob Kahan (DC Comics)
  
• Li'l Abner by Al Capp and Frank Frazetta, edited by N. C. Christopher Couch (Kitchen Sink Press)
  
• Squadron Supreme by Mark Gruenwald, John Buscema, Paul Ryan, Bob Hall, Paul Neary, and edited by Tom Brevoort and Glenn Greenberg (Marvel Comics)
  
• Wolverton in Space by Basil Wolverton, edited by Suzanne Taylor (Dark Horse Comics)
  

• Joe Kelley (writer, Daredevil, Deadpool, X-Men [Marvel Comics])
  
• Jose Ladronn (artist, Cable [Marvel Comics])
  
• Robert Teranishi (artist Xena [Topps])
  
• Steven Weissman (Yikes [Alternative Comics])
  
• Doug Wheatley (artist, Eternal Warrior [Acclaim] Myst [Dark Horse Comics])
  

The Harvey Awards are held every year at the WonderCon convention in April. The Harveys are named in honor of cartoonist Harvey Kurtzman, whose life and career exemplified excellence in the comics medium. The 1998 winners will be announced on April 17, 1998. in the Calvin Simmons Ballroom of the Oakland Marriott. The ceremony will be open to the public, and will begin at 9:00 PM. The sponsors of the 1998 Harvey Awards include: WonderCon, Diamond Comics Distribution, Dark Horse Comics, Graphitti Designs, Kitchen Sink Press, DC Comics, Oni Press, Comix Experience, Quebecor Printing, and Slave Labor Graphics. Thanks are due to the sponsors, because they're the ones who make these awards possible!

For more information, visit the Harvey Awards at: http://www.wondercon.com/harveys.htm.

Images, characters and likenesses © and TM Ed Brubaker