The 2025 Eisner Awards at San Diego Comic-Con

The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, widely regarded as the "Oscars" of the comics world, continue to shine a spotlight on the most innovative, creative, and impactful works in the industry. Named after legendary cartoonist Will Eisner, these prestigious awards celebrate everything from groundbreaking storytelling to stunning artistry. In 2025, the ceremony took place on July 25 during the electrifying San Diego Comic-Con International (SDCC), one of the world's largest and most beloved pop culture conventions. Held at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel, the event drew thousands of fans, creators, and industry professionals to honor the best in comics from the previous year. SDCC itself, running from July 24-27, 2025, featured panels, exhibits, celebrity appearances, and exclusive reveals, making it the perfect backdrop for the Eisners. If you're a comics enthusiast, attending SDCC is a must—it's where the magic of storytelling comes alive!

This year's winners represent a diverse array of talent, with standout publishers like Fantagraphics leading the pack with multiple victories in categories such as Best Short Story, Best Single Issue/One-Shot, and Best Writer/Artist. First Second/Macmillan also dominated, especially in youth-oriented categories, showcasing heartwarming and inclusive stories. Dark Horse, IDW, and others rounded out the list, proving the industry's breadth and vitality. Whether you're into graphic memoirs, superhero epics, or experimental webcomics, the 2025 winners offer something for everyone. Dive into these acclaimed titles from top publishers—many are available now at your local comic shop or online, and they're perfect for expanding your collection or gifting to fellow fans!

Here’s a complete rundown of the 2025 Eisner Award winners, highlighting the creators, works, and publishers:

Story and Series Categories

• Best Short Story: “Pig” by Stacy Gougoulis, in NOW #13 (Fantagraphics)
• Best Single Issue/One-Shot: The War on Gaza by Joe Sacco (Fantagraphics)
• Best Continuing Series: Santos Sisters by Greg & Fake, Graham Smith, Dave Landsberger, and Marc Koprinarov (Floating World)
• Best Limited Series: Helen of Wyndhorn by Tom King and Bilquis Evely (Dark Horse)
• Best New Series: Absolute Wonder Woman by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman (DC)
• Best Anthology: Godzilla’s 70th Anniversary, edited by Jake Williams and others (IDW)
• Best Humor Publication: Processing: 100 Comics That Got Me Through It by Tara Booth (Drawn & Quarterly)

Youth and Educational Categories

• Best Publication for Early Readers: Poetry Comics by Grant Snider (Chronicle Books)
• Best Publication for Kids: Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol (First Second/Macmillan)
• Best Publication for Teens: Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham (First Second/Macmillan)
• Best Graphic Album—New: Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham (First Second/Macmillan)

Memoir and Adaptation Categories

• Best Reality-Based Work: Suffrage Song: The Haunted History of Gender, Race, and Voting Rights in the U.S. by Caitlin Cass (Fantagraphics)
• Best Graphic Memoir: Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir by Tessa Hulls (MCD/Farrar, Straus & Giroux)
• Best Graphic Album—Reprint: Lackadaisy, vols. 1–2, by Tracy J. Butler (Iron Circus)
• Best Adaptation from Another Medium: The Worst Journey in the World, Volume 1: Making Our Easting Down by Apsley Cherry-Garrard, adapted by Sarah Airriess (Iron Circus)

International and Archival Categories

• Best U.S. Edition of International Material: Return to Eden by Paco Roca; translated by Andrea Rosenberg (Fantagraphics)
• Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia: Tokyo These Days, vols. 1–3, by Taiyo Matsumoto, translated by Michael Arias (VIZ Media)
• Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips: Frank Johnson, Secret Pioneer of American Comics, vol. 1, edited by Chris Byrne and Keith Mayerson (Fantagraphics)
• Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books: David Mazzucchelli’s Batman Year One Artist’s Edition by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW)

Journalism and Scholarship Categories

• Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism: The Beat, edited by Heidi MacDonald and others
• Best Comics-Related Book: Tell Me a Story Where the Bad Girl Wins: The Life and Art of Barbara Shermund by Caitlin McGurk (Fantagraphics)
• Best Academic/Scholarly Work: Singular Sensations: A Cultural History of One-Panel Comics in the United States by Michelle Ann Abate (Rutgers University Press)
• Best Publication Design: David Mazzucchelli’s Batman Year One Artist’s Edition, designed by Chip Kidd (IDW)

Digital Categories

• Best Digital Comic: My Journey to Her by Yuna Hirasawa (Kodansha)
• Best Webcomic: Motherlover by Lindsay Ishihiro (Iron Circus)

Individual Achievement Categories

• Best Writer: Gene Luen Yang, Lunar New Year Love Story (First Second/Macmillan)
• Best Writer/Artist: Charles Burns, Kommix (Fantagraphics); Final Cut (Pantheon); Unwholesome Love (co-published with Partners & Son)
• Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team: Bilquis Evely, Helen of Wyndhorn (Dark Horse)
• Best Painter/Multimedia Artist: Leela Corman, Victory Parade (Pantheon)
• Best Cover Artist: Tula Lotay, various titles including Helen of Wyndhorn #1 (Dark Horse), Somna (DSTLRY), and others
• Best Coloring: Jordie Bellaire, various titles including Absolute Wonder Woman (DC), The City Beneath Her Feet (DSTLRY), and others
• Best Lettering: Clayton Cowles, various titles including Animal Pound (BOOM! Studios), Absolute Batman (DC), and others

Special Awards and Hall of Fame

• Bill Finger Award for Excellence in Comic Book Writing: Don Glut and Sheldon Mayer
• Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award: Mad Cave’s L.A. Strong
• Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award: Akira Comics
• Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award: Richard Blake

Hall of Fame Inductees: A remarkable group of 28 creators, including deceased pioneers like Jack Kamen and living legends like Joe Sacco, Junji Ito, and Dan Clowes (full list includes Voters’ Choice: Junji Ito, Kyle Baker, Eddie Campbell, Roz Chast, Dan Clowes, Todd Klein, and John Romita, Jr.; Main Inductees: Peter Arno, Gus Arriola, Wilhelm Busch, Richard “Grass” Green, Rea Irvin, Jack Kamen, Joe Maneely, Shigeru Mizuki, Bob Oksner, Bob Powell, Ira Schnapp, Phil Seuling, Steve Bissette, Lucy Shelton Caswell, Philippe Druillet, Phoebe Gloeckner, Joe Sacco, Bill Schanes, Steve Schanes, Frank Stack, and Angelo Torres).

These winners not only push the boundaries of comics but also inspire new generations of creators and readers. Publishers like Fantagraphics (with wins across archival, international, and artistic categories) and First Second/Macmillan (dominating youth publications) demonstrate the strength and variety in today's market. If you haven't already, grab copies of these award-winning works—they're sure to become classics!