Walter Simonson and Marc Andreyko Also Honored For Their Contributions to Comics
At last night’s annual Eisner Award ceremony at San Diego Comic-Con International, IDW Publishing and Top Shelf celebrated two award wins.
The widely acclaimed final volume of March, which depicts the lifelong activism of civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis, was awarded the Eisner for Best Reality-Based Work. The creative team of Congressman Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell were thrilled to witness the March Trilogy take home its second consecutive Eisner in this category. Among many other honors, March: Book Three has also been the recipient of the coveted National Book Award, the first and only time a graphic novel has received this award.
The award for Best Anthology went to Love is Love, the benefit anthology which honors those who tragically lost their lives in the Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooting. Edited by IDW Publishing’s Sarah Gaydos and DC Entertainment’s Jamie S. Rich, the tribute featured work donated from across the comic industry and beyond and helped raise over $167K in support of the victims and their families.
In addition, Marc Andreyko, who conceived of the Love is Love project, and helped curate its contents, was the recipient of the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award, created to honor those people in comics and the popular arts who have worked to help others. “I am overwhelmed with gratitude to the Eisner committee, the voters, and everyone who made Love is Love such a resounding success,” said Andreyko. “Everyday, I think of those 49 who lost their lives and how we can continue to honor them, celebrate life, and most of all, love.”
Walter Simonson was also a big winner last night. The legendary comics creator was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in recognition for his long and outstanding career. “I’m surprised, but deeply honored,” said Simonson. Walter is revered for his work on Marvel’s The Mighty Thor, Manhunter, as well as Star Slammers and Ragnarök under IDW Publishing.
IDW and Top Shelf Productions would like to thank the judges and voters for this year’s awards and are honored to be included among such stellar competition.
