Category Archives: Nominating

Eligible creators list now available for review / feedback

Featured

Posted on by

2011 – ELIGIBLE CREATORS / CRÉATEURS ADMISSIBLES

First run at the list is available for review via the link posted above. UPDATED JAN.24th! For the first time we have grouped all releases together – French and English. Comics for Kids releases are also included (French and English).

Only the categories of Artist (incl. inkers), Cartoonist (writer/artist), Cover Artist and Writer are included. Colourists and editors are not included as there are no awards for those categories in 2012. Also excluded: Pin-ups, Reprints of previously published work or collections of webcomic strips, & translated works if the original language version was from a previous calendar year. Eligible Webcomics and Retailers are listed elsewhere. About us page re: eligibility and other points about the Joe Shuster Awards

If you see anything missing, please email kevin@joeshusterawards.com

DEADLINE FOR COMPLETION: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1ST, 2012

Friday the 13th Update

Posted on by
Reply

Sorry about the lack of updates this week, so much has been going on with… well, everything this week.

Between the announcement of the guest list for the March Toronto ComiCon, plans and coordination for Fan Expo Vancouver in April, the Dragon Lady closing and all of the related press coverage that has been getting, rumours of what is going to happen next with the Silver Snail, coordinating some shipments I have coming in and going out, and so on (not to mention my research work during the day)  I haven’t had time to do much posting. Robert has been working on more regional retailer round-ups.

Next week:

- we’ll be posting the Eligible Creators List for 2011 that we’ll be looking for feedback on. 2012 Nominating committee will be finalized and we can get on with selecting the list for 2012. Andrew completed the updates to the Webcomics list last weekend so if you haven’t had time to check it out, please take a look and discover some great comics.

- on Wednesday night in Toronto it’s the Jim Henson’s A Tale of Sand Industry Night release party at the Toronto Cartoonists Workshop with Ramon Perez. It looks like we have copies of the book available for the event so come on down and check it out of you can.

- Finally, I’ve been working on something top secret that I hope to be able to share the news about with you as early as next Monday.

Reminder: Nomination Process for the Joe Shuster Awards

Posted on by
Reply

As we near the end of 2011, I’m starting to get some requests such as “how do I get my book nominated for a Joe Shuster Award?” and “how can I get the Nominating Committee to consider my work?”

Well, this post will hopefully answer all of your questions.

THE NOMINATION PROCESS

The nominating committee is selected by the Executive Administrative committee and is newly reconstituted for each year of the awards. The nominating committee for the majority of awards consists of a cross-section of comic book journalists and experts from across Canada. Nominating is a three step process.

>>> Note: We’re in the process of putting the 2012 Nominating Committee now so they can begin work on choosing the nominees for 2011 in January through to end of March 2012.

STEP ONE – the Association prepares an eligible publications list with input from creators, publishers, retailers. This list is published on the website to gather feedback and identify missing work.

The list will be of Canadian citizens or permanent residents (3 years minimum current residency) and the books they worked on that were professionally distributed first printing periodicals or books that debuted between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011 in one of the following professional roles:

- Artist (illustrating a writer’s script, excluding cartoonists, can include an artist team if both are Canadian),

- Cartoonist (writing and/or adapting a story that they also illustrated),

- Cover Artist (primary cover artist, can include an artist team if both are Canadian)

- Writer (producing a script that is given to an artist, excluding cartoonists).

Books containing collections of previously published strips or comics and/or translated works into English from another language published in a previous year are not eligible.Original works in ANY language are accepted, but the primary emphasis of our investigations will be those first run books in either French or English.

Limited release books available at special events and mailed or hand-delivered to a small number of booksellers but not widely distributed to all booksellers during the eligibility time period are not eligible until they are professionally distributed by, say, Diamond Comics Dist.

STEP TWO – using the eligible comics list, the Nominating committee members are asked to submit individual “top five” lists for each category, in order of preference. Each vote is weighted based on order of preference. In other words. a first choice selection is given five points on the overall score and a fifth choice was given one point to be added to the cumulative score.

STEP THREE – the results are then logged. Selection is made initially by Majority Vote – if a creator receives a majority (50% or higher) of individual votes in a specific category they proceeded to the final ballot.

If enough nominees in a specific category have not advanced by majority vote, then we turn to the Cumulative Point Score – based on the rankings provided on each list. In the case of a tie, the number of votes received and their position on the lists submitted is taken into consideration.

OTHER AWARDS

Webcomics: please check out our Webcomics list, and your webcomic link along with your name is NOT present then we don’t know about your status. Please email andrew@joeshusterawards.com to get added to the list before March 1st, 2012. We visit every website on that list to see the new content added in 2011, so if your entries are not dated with the date first posted, there is a possibility you may be overlooked.

Gene Day Self-Publishing Award: Please send us a copy of your original, first published in 2011 comic to the address below before March 1st, 2012.

The Joe Shuster Awards
PO Box 67031 – 2300 Yonge St.
Toronto, Ontario
M4P 3C8

Harry Kremer Award for Retailers: please send an email to robert@joeshusterawards.com for more information.

Comics for Kids follows a procedure similar to the artistic award categories in that they look over all potential works which could be considered suitable material for younger readers, but you can notify robert@joeshusterawards.com if you want to ensure your work is considered for the award. You will need to notify us before March 1, 2012.

Finally, PUBLISHERS if you want to ensure that the Canadian creators you work with are on the eligible works list for consideration, please send an email with a list of Canadian creators in your employ and a list of their 2011 published and distributed works to allison@joeshusterawards.com before March 1, 2012.

2012 Categories update:

Posted on by

Earlier this month we asked for feedback on our categories as we determine which will make up the list for the 2012 Awards. Based on your feedback and our internal debates this is the list as it stands:

2012 Categories:

* Outstanding Artist/Artist Team (no change)

* Outstanding Cartoonist (no change)

* Outstanding Cover Artist (no change)

* Outstanding Webcomics Creator/Creative Team (no change)

Note: after a lot of discussion and debate, the team has decided that we will leave webcomics as a unique category again. A line of distinction is being drawn between digital comics (online versions of concurrent with print edition comics or online previews of digital comics) which will not be eligible for the category. This remains for comics content created exclusively for the internet (later print editions are irrelevant and are considered reprints in the print categories), and one of the nominating and judging criteria will be usage of the online delivery system itself in the storytelling and presentation of these comics.

* Outstanding Writer (no change)

* Comics for Kids Award – Beginner Reader Level
* Comics for Kids Award – Intermediate Reader Level

Note: if there are enough books of each criteria to justify having two categories, the Comics for Kids Award will be split into two categories — Beginner, for younger readers, and Intermediate, for older children. For example, Binky the Space Cat might be considered a Beginner book, while Three Thieves: Tower of Treasure might be considered an intermediate level entry. The hope is to provide more information and recommendations to parents, teachers, librarians and of, course, young readers!

* Gene Day Award for Self-Publishing (no change)

* Harry Kremer Award for Comic Book Retailing (no change)

* Canadian Comic Book Creator Hall of Fame (1-2) (no change)

There is one additional category currently being reviewed by our group and is at the proposal stage.

* TENTATIVE: Outstanding Original Graphic Novel by Canadian Creator / Creative Team

The members feel that it should be specifically for original (i.e. new) graphic novels published in French or English during the previous calendar year. Unfortunately new collections of serialized comics that are later collected that same year are not going to be eligible for this award (if it happens). We are still VERY concerned about this being duplication of efforts as many of these books may be recognized in the Cartoonist, Writer and Artist categories. As it stands, we would like to follow the lead of Comics for Kids and have a similar nomination and judging process for this potential new category.

Unfortunately we’ll be placing two categories “on hiatus” for 2012: Outstanding Publisher and Outstanding Colourist.

2012 Joe Shuster Awards – Saturday, September 15, 2012 in Montreal, QC

Posted on by

I’m happy to report on behalf of the Canadian Comic Book Creator Awards Organization that we have agreed in principle with the organizers of the Montreal Comic Con and will be presenting the 8th Annual Joe Shuster Awards in conjunction with that event on the evening of Saturday, September 15, 2012.

In preparation for the ceremony, the CCBCAA will be working with members of the comics community to provide a fully bilingual awards ceremony, and we are all excited at the possibilities of providing better translation services on this site in order to help spread the word on comics and graphic novels by Canadians in both official languages.

The Montreal Comic Con will be held on the weekend of September 14-16, 2012. Due to unexpected demand, the MCC will be expanding to a full three days in 2012.

The MCC will also be changing facilities in 2012. It will no longer be held at Place Bonaventure but will be moving into the newer, larger and more colourful (!) convention facilities at the Palais des Congrès in Montreal, QC (pictured, right).

http://www.montrealcomiccon.com

This marks the second time that the Joe Shuster Awards will be presented outside of Toronto. Earlier this year we presented the 7th Annual Awards at the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo. Plans are for the JSAs to be presented in conjunction with a different comic book convention in Canada each year.

Deciding the 2012 Categories

Posted on by

Here at the JSAs we’re fairly open to making changes to the existing award categories if a solid argument can be made for the alteration, or for adding new or retiring old categories. In recent years new awards have included The Comics for Kids Award, The Gene Day Award, as well as the Outstanding Cover Artist and Outstanding Colourist Awards. Retired Awards include Outstanding Achievement, Favourite French and Favourite English creator.

As we are beginning our work in compiling the eligible comics for the 2012 Awards, the discussion has begun on the subject of Award categories. I’ve nothing to announce at present, other than over the next couple of weeks we will be hopefully deciding which of our current categories will continue on into the next Awards season and which ones will be put “On Hiatus”.

2011 Categories included:

Outstanding Artist/Artist Team
Outstanding Cartoonist
Outstanding Colourist
Outstanding Cover Artist
Outstanding Publisher
Outstanding Webcomics Creator/Creative Team
Outstanding Writer
Comics for Kids Award for Material Aimed at Younger Readers
Gene Day Award for Self-Publishing
Harry Kremer Award for Comic Book Retailing
Canadian Comic Book Creator Hall of Fame

The Webcomics Award is something that is being discussed – should webcomics (one of the most popular and well regarded awards) be retired and incorporated into the other categories (which have been exclusively for printed, distributed works)? It’s something we are debating internally so we’d love to read your thoughts on the subject.

Generally we are looking to maintain the same number of awards in 2012 — 12.

If you have any suggestions, thoughts or recommendations, please reply to this post or email me at kevin@joeshusterawards.com

7th Annual Joe Shuster Awards – June 18, 2011 at the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo

Posted on by

NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2011 JOE SHUSTER AWARDS

LES NOMINÉS AUX PRIX JOE SHUSTER 2011

Ceremony Date: Saturday, June 18th, 2011 – 6-8 PM

Ceremony Hosts: AJAY FRY and TEDDY WILSON

Ceremony Location: Boyce Theatre, BMO Round-Up Centre, Calgary, AB

Host Event: THE CALGARY COMIC AND ENTERTAINMENT EXPO (June 17-19, 2011)

How Do I/How Did I Get Nominated for a Joe Shuster Award?

5 Retailer Finalists for the Harry Kremer Award Announced

Posted on by

The late Harry Kremer (1946-2002), owner of Kitchener, ON store Now & Then Books- portrait by his friend Dave Sim, colours by Paul McCusker.

On February 1st 10 stores were named as being in the running for the 2011 Harry Kremer Outstanding Canadian Retailer Award.

In order to move to the final round of consideration, the nominated retailers had to send in additional materials for the judging committee to consider by April 1st. Based on materials received, the 10 nominated stores have been narrowed down to a final 5, one of which will be selected as the Outstanding Canadian Comic Book Retailer – winner to be announced in Calgary on Saturday, June 18, 2011 where they will join an elite group of Canadian comic book stores that have earned the distinction since the award was founded in 2005: Happy Harbor Comics, Strange Adventures, Big B Comics, Legends Comics and The Beguiling.

The Retailer Award Jury will also be selecting the following awards: OUTSTANDING CANADIAN PUBLISHER and GENE DAY CANADIAN SELF-PUBLISHER.

The Harry Kremer Award for Outstanding Comic Book Retailer /Le Prix de Harry Kremer pour Détaillant Exceptionnel de Bandes Dessinées

Named after the late Harry Kremer, original owner of Now & Then Books (in Kitchener, Ontario). Shops are recommended by the general public and a separate Retailer Award Committee reviews all materials received and select a short list of stores that has shown merit in a variety of categories such as: (1) Support of a wide variety of innovative material, (2) Overall appeal of the store and usage of space, (3) Knowledge, (4) Community activity, and (5) Adherence to standard ethical business practices.

Congratulations to our five finalists!

A Look at the Canadians nominated for Eisner Awards in 2011

Posted on by

The Eisner nominations were announced yesterday and I thought I’d take a nationalistic look at how Canadians were represented beyond just highlighting their names in red.

The big individual Canadian creator nominee of this year is IAN BOOTHBY, who is nominated three times this year:
- Best Humor Publication for The Comic Book Guy: The Comic Book (with US creators John Delaney and Dan Davis)
- Best Graphic Album – Reprint for The Simpsons/Futurama Crossover Crisis with fellow Canuck artist James Lloyd and American Steve Steeres Jr.
- Best Writer for Comic Book Guy: The Comic Book, Futurama, the Simpsons and Simpsons Super Spectacular.

Comment: Boothby, a perennial JSA Writer nominee, was not nominated for a Shuster in 2011, which clearly must have inspired the Eisner judges to imbalance this injustice by nominating him for three awards this year.

The big Canadian publisher of the year is, without any surprise, DRAWN & QUARTERLY, their books featuring the work of American cartoonists Dan Clowes, James Sturm, Lynda Barry and Chris Ware have garnered a whopping 11 nominations this year:
- Lynda Barry’s Picture This: The Near-sighted Boy is nominated for Best Reality-Based Work, Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)
- Dan Clowes’ Wilson is nominated for Best Graphic Album – New, Best Writer/Artist and Best Letterering
- James Sturm’s Market Day is nominated for Best Graphic Album – New, Best Writer/Artist
- John Stanley’s Thirteen (Going on Eighteen) is nominated for Best Archival Collection/Project – Comic Books
- Brecht Evans’ The Wrong Place is nominated for Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)
- Chris Ware’s The Acme Novelty Library 20: Lint is nominated for Best Lettering and Best Coloring

Comment: Montreal’s D+Q consistently proves year after year that they are producing some of the best looking books on the market, and they have been extremely successful in attracting some of the most innovative and best-known American cartoonists to work with them. Kudos to publisher Chris Oliveros, publicity and marketing director Peggy Burns and the rest of the team. Sadly, no D+Q books by Canadian creators were nominated for Eisner Awards this year. D+Q has been a perennial nominee for the Joe Shuster Award for Outstanding Publisher and won it in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Two Generals by SCOTT CHANTLER, published by McClelland and Stewart garnered two nominations:
- Best Reality-Based Work
- Best Publication Design by JENNIFER LUM

Comment: Chantler’s Two Generals helped earn him two Joe Shuster Nominations this year, and Jennifer Lum’s innovative design stands out on the rack, recreating the look and feel of a journal.

DARWYN COOKE received two nominations this year for Richard Stark’s Parker: The Outfit:
- Best Writer/Artist
- Best Lettering

Comment: Canada’s comics ambassador to the world, Darwyn Cooke, rightly deserves the nomination for Best Writer/Artist for his second adaptation of a Parker novel. He’s also nominated for a Joe Shuster Award this year for Outstanding Cartoonist.

Other Canadian nominees:

- BLAKE BELL‘s Fire and Water: Bill Everett and the Birth of Marvel Comics, published by Fantagraphics, is nominated for Best Comics-Related Book
- Tumor, illustrated by Canadian NOEL TUAZON, published by Archaia, is nominated for Best Graphic Album – Reprint
- Superboy, written by JEFF LEMIRE, published by DC, is nominated for Best New Series
- “Little Red Riding Hood” from Image Comics’ Fractured Fairy Tales, illustrated by CAMILLA D’ERRICO is nominated for Best Short Story
- The Anthology Project from Canadian publisher LUCIDITY PRESS is appropriately nominated for Best Anthology
- ASHLEY SPIRES‘ Binky to the Rescue, published by Canadian publisher KIDS CAN PRESS is nominated for Best Publication for Kids

Comments: Bell’s book is fantastic and fascinating, Lemire is also nominated for three Joe Shuster Awards this year – one of which is Outstanding Writer for his work on Superboy and the Atom, Camilla D’Errico is nominated this year for Outstanding Artist for a list of works that includes the Fractured Fairy Tale story, and Binky to the Rescue is also nominated for the Joe Shuster Comics for Kids Award, and the book’s publisher is also nominated for Outstanding Publisher..

Finally, KARL KERSHL has been nominated for his webcomic The Abominable Charles Christopher, as has CANAAN GRAAL for his webcomic Max Overacts.

Comments: Karl won last year’s Joe Shuster Award for Outstanding Webcomics Creator and is nominated again this year. Last year’s Eisner winner was Sin Titulo by Cameron Stewart, which won the JSA for Outstanding Webcomics Creator in 2009. We might see a trend continuing. Our webcomics coordinator, Andrew Walsh told us to keep an eye out for Max Overacts, and sure enough, it’s been nominated for an Eisner!

Congratulations to all of the Canadians nominated for Eisners! Ceremony takes place in July during the San Diego Comic Con International. I’ll see you there!

Gene Day Award for work produced in 2010

Posted on by

Gene Day

The five finalists for the Gene Day Award for Self-Publishing have been selected and will be announced alongside the rest of the Joe Shuster Award finalists.

This was a very strong year for work produced and I would like to profile some of these creators in the coming months.

In the meantime, the complete list of Gene Day submissions (alphabetically by title):
Continue reading →

NomCom Selections (Note: this is NOT the final nominees list)

Posted on by

THE LIST OF 2011 NOMINEE FINALISTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED FEBRUARY 1, 2011.

Our Nominating Committees have been working since the fall, looking over the LONG lists of eligible creators and their comics that came out in 2010. Earlier in January, we received their selections for the categories of Artist, Cartoonist, Colourist, Cover Artist and Writer. You’ll find below the full list of creators nominated in each category – ultimately seven creators in each category were selected to make the final ballot (which will be released to the public in early February). Webcomics was selected by a different group, but their list of overall nominees is also included here.

Please note: it’s the unfortunate nature of competitions such as these awards that we must narrow down the selection field for the jury to a handful of creators. Not being selected for the final ballot does not by definition mean the creator’s work was not good or worthy. It is clear that members of the nomcom felt that all of the following creators produced Outstanding comics in 2010, however, only the creators selected by process-driven consensus advanced to the ballot.

The Participants - these individuals were selected based on their access to, and awareness of, comics published in 2010 and the Canadian comics scene.

ENGLISH
Jeff Brown
Ty Buttars
Peter DeCourcy
Kevin de Vlaming
Kelly Dowd
Jonathan Ellis
Stephen J. Hodges
Mike Jozic
Troy Wilson
Leonard S. Wong
Sarrah Young

FRENCH
Eric Bouchard
Laurent Boutin
Martin Dubé
David Kelly
Patrick Marleau

Everything was overseen by Robert Haines and Kevin Boyd

Here’s the overall list of who they selected for consideration.  LIST AFTER THE CUT:

Continue reading →

Somehow it all just comes together in the end… JSA Update 1/16

Posted on by

* Originally posted on 1/14 – revised and updated 1/16

The English nominating committee has submitted their choices for the categories of Artist, Cartoonist, Colourist, Cover Artist & Writer. All entries have been received and tabulated and we have our nominees for 2011.  Our five member French nominating committee got started a little later this year on the same categories — they have an extra 2 weeks to make their selections. In the end we will be looking at an average of 7 nominees per category – 5 English, 2 French. Although we would prefer to have five nominees per category, we feel it’s a fair split and gives proper representation to the two main Canadian comics traditions.

Our deadline for the Publisher and Webcomics selections is next Wednesday, January 19.

We’ve decided that the proposed Executive Choice Graphic Novel Award is not the way we want to go, as it would undermine the importance of our core awards. However, there is talk of making it into something different which I think is actually much better in the long run. Stay tuned on that.

Our Gene Day Self-Publisher Award committee has a few late admissions to review – please note that we are still accepting books until the end of the month. We have been assembling our choices based on what we have reviewed, we’ll bump them around if there are new arrivals that the committee likes.

The Comics for Kids administrators are, as far as I know, hard at work picking their selections.

The 2 Hall of Fame inductees for 2011 have been selected.

10 Canadian Retailers have been selected for further evaluation by the Harry Kremer Retailer Award committee. They will be notified this month and announced in early February. They will be asked to submit further materials for evaluation in the spring to narrow the field down to a top 5.

Reminder: Level Up and bring Scott Pilgrim vs. the World home today

Posted on by

Today sees the release of SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD on DVD and Blu-Ray. I’m heading over to get my copy of the Blu-Ray (which includes a dvd copy AND a digital copy I can download onto my iPod and laptop) later this afternoon. Blu-Ray should cost about $30 not including taxes.

Last Friday night I went down to the Bloor Cinema for the free fan screening of the film, followed by a Q&A with director Edgar Wright, Bryan Lee O’Malley and others. The lines of people attempting to get in were astounding – there’s certainly huge support for the movie in Toronto (where it is set — the rest of Canada, please don’t hold that against the film!). Thanks to the Beguiling for hooking Debbie, Jason and I up with passes.

It was amazing how well the film plays with an eager audience, and Wright’s suggestion that we cheer whenever Canadian money appears on screen was perfect – as looneys and twoonies appear during a lot of the movie’s key dramatic moments. Quite a few people were saying it reminded them of what public showings of the cult film the Rocky Horror Picture Show are like, with audience participation – people yelling at the screen, dressing up as their favourite characters and what not. Hopefully the Bloor and other indie theatres will consider booking and promoting further public screenings.

Yes, the movie was a big disappointment at the box office, despite the overwhelmingly positive reviews. It’s just too hard to categorize just what Scott Pilgrim is other than it is a fun film by a visionary director based on a great series of graphic novels. I have no doubts about the success this film will see on home video, as it’s already a cult classic. The movie inspired a tremendous boost to the graphic novel series, which is being repackaged as a boxed set this week in bookshops and comic stores. With over a million copies in print, SP the graphic novel series had a huge impact on graphic novel sales this year and is inspiring an entire generation of young cartoonists.

Listening to them talk and watching the making of documentary (which is on the dvd/br) O’Malley’s involvement in the movie was a lot more than we expected, as he and Wright explained the collaborative interaction they and the rest of the movie production team had during the entire pre-through-post production process. His involvement definitely makes me feel a lot better about being able to hype the film here on the JSA site.

Scott Pilgrim Vol. 6: Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour is eligible for consideration in the Cartoonist category for the 2011 Joe Shuster Awards, which will be presented in Calgary, AB on Saturday, June 18th. We’ll see if SP6 earns O’Malley his 6th nomination. He won the category in 2006 for Volume 2.

Montreal’s Librairie Fichtre! has closed – but for how long?

Posted on by

Sad news from Montreal as another Canadian store has closed, this time it’s Montreal’s Librarie Fichtre!, nominated last week for the Harry Kremer Outstanding Canadian Comic Book Retailer. Fichtre! had been in business 14 years. From Saturday’s Le Devoir

En bref – La librairie Fichtre! ferme ses portes

Une petite-grande institution vient de s’éteindre. La librairie montréalaise spécialisée en bande dessinée Fichtre! vient de fermer définitivement la porte de son commerce, situé sur la rue De Bienville à Montréal.

L’établissement n’aura pas réussi à se sortir de sa dernière profonde crise financière et vient de choisir la faillite comme ultime solution, a indiqué au Devoir son propriétaire, Yves Millet. Ouverte depuis 14 ans, Fichtre! était devenue au fil des années un point de convergence des amateurs d’histoires à bulles, mais aussi de jeunes bédéistes qui y déposaient pour la vente leur création en autopublication. L’apparition de librairies spécialisées en bande dessinée, ailleurs dans la ville, tout comme l’engouement des bédéphiles pour les commerces en ligne a fait vaciller le marchand de livres, avant de le faire définitivement tomber.

The store before it closed. Courtesy of Le Lecteur.

Someone snapped a photo of the window as it appears now.

[google translation - not exactly 100% accurate]

(Robert Haines — a sad nod of the head to Bryan Munn at Sequential for the tip.)

Note that Fichtre! translates to Damn! in English.

3:15 UPDATE: Whoa! There are rumours circulating that this may not be the ultimate end of Fichtre!. People in Montreal are reporting that there is a sign posted on the papered up window that says that the store has closed for inventory check and reorganization and will reopen under new management.

4:30 UPDATE There is a report on Le libraire.org that while online sales and competition from other bookstores in town resulting in the closing of Fichtre!, ironically, thanks to the Internet, they “will continue to offer the works of independent publishers and authors” via the internet. “Indeed, an agreement has been signed between Jove and the pressman, a virtual bookstore dedicated to independent magazines in Quebec.”

The website fichtre.qc.ca is indeed up and running, offering a diverse amount of small press BD. There is a message at the top of the webpage which basically says:

About Fichtre.qc.ca …
To the great chagrin of the world of small publishing, Fichtre! closed its doors at the end of April 2010. Following an agreement reached deuce and the pressman, we are pleased to continue to offer the works of independent publishers and authors to address fichtre.qc.ca.

But then again, this blog post from employee Julie Delporte has a haunting sense of finality.

by Vincent Giard

JSA Update

Posted on by

So here’s where we stand as of today:

The 3rd wave of Visions Wolverine auctions end tomorrow night – April 27th – and there’s a lot of interest in some of the pieces already, especially the one by Francis Manapul. Expect the 4th wave to launch tomorrow as the 3rd comes to a close. Still have enough for probably AT LEAST one more round after that (which would make it five in total). So far so good.

***

The nominees for the following categories will be announced on Wednesday, if all goes as planned:

Outstanding Publisher

Harry Kremer Outstanding Retailer

Comics for Kids

***

While we have decided the individuals who will be joining the Canadian Comic Book Creator Hall of Fame this year, we won’t be announcing them until mid-May as we would like to make sure they or their families (if deceased) have been notified before the general public.

***

This year we’ve broken down our Jury into two units:

1. The “ART JURY” — will be looking at the artwork only categories of OUTSTANDING ARTIST, OUTSTANDING COLOURIST, and OUTSTANDING COVER ART.

2. The “STORY JURY” — will be looking at the categories that involve writing elements such as OUSTANDING CARTOONIST, OUTSTANDING WRITER and OUTSTANDING WEBCOMIC CREATOR / CREATIVE TEAM.

We decided to subdivide our jury so that we can ensure that we don’t overwhelm those people helping us out with too much material (although some of our jury members are eager to devour that much comics material – we have two individuals who will be participating in both). We selected the natural break of ART and STORY categories in that members of the STORY jury are required to be able to read material published in both of our national languages – French and English. FYI We won’t be announcing WHO the jury members are until AFTER they’ve made their decisions so that they can deliberate in anonymity.

The Jury member names will be announced in the May press release that reveals who the Hall of Fame inductees are as well as the nominees for the GENE DAY AWARD FOR SELF-PUBLISHING.

***

Speaking of The Gene Day Award, we should be getting the entries from Calgary early next week and we’ll be accepting entries right up to the day after TCAF (which is May 10th). We’re reviewing the entries as they arrive and we should have the shortlist of nominees ready for the May 19th Release. There is still time to send in your entry!

A Look at the 2010 French Nominees

Posted on by

The Comic Book Bin took some time to look at the 2010 Joe Shuster Award Nominees whose works were published in French.

The full list of creator nominees whose work was published in French in 2009:

Artist/Dessinateur
* Marc Delafontaine – Les nombrils, tome 04: Duels de belles (Dupuis)
* Djief Bergeron – Saint-Germain, Tome 1: Le Comte des Lumières (Glénat)

Cartoonist/Créateur
* Philippe Girard – Tuer Velasquez (Glénat Québec)
* Michel Rabagliati – Paul, tome 06: Paul à Québec (La Pastèque)

Colourist/Dessinateur Couleur
* Maryse Dubuc – Les nombrils, tome 04: Deuls et belles (Dupuis)
* Francois Lapierre – Magasin général, tome 05: Montréal (Casterman)

Writer/Écrivain
* Hervé Bouchard – Harvey (La Pastèque)
* Maryse Dubuc – Les nombrils, tome 04: Duels de belles (Dupuis)

Cover/Couverture
* Paul Bordeleau – Faüne, tome 2: La maison du Faüne (La Pastèque)
* Marc Delafontaine – Les nombrils, tome 04: Duels de belles (Dupuis)

BÉDÉIS CAUSA 2010 WINNERS – JEAN-SÉBASTIEN BÉRUBÉ, PAUL À QUÉBEC & SAINT-GERMAIN T. 1 + BLAST

Posted on by

Presented yesterday at a ceremony in Quebec City as part of the 23rd Festival de la bande dessinée francophone de Québec (FBDFQ) the BÉDÉIS CAUSA consist of four awards – the nominees are listed below – with the winners in BOLD. Congratulations to all!

Prix Réal-Fillion
Auteur québécois, scénariste ou dessinateur, s’étant le plus illustré avec son premier album professionnel (Quebec author – either a writer or artist, who has produced their first professional graphic novel – i.e. best newcomer)
• JEAN-SÉBASTIEN BÉRUBÉ, avec Radisson t. 1 – Fils d’iroquois (Glénat Québec)
• PASCAL COLPRON, avec Mon petit nombril (La Pastèque)
• SÉBASTIEN RIVEST, avec Malaise (Mécanique générale/Les 400 coups)

Grand prix de la Ville de Québec
Meilleur album de langue française publié au Québec (Best French language graphic novel published in Quebec)
• PAUL À QUÉBEC, de Michel Rabagliati (La Pastèque)
• TUEZ VELASQUEZ, de Philippe Girard (Glénat Québec)
• JIMMY ET LE BIGFOOT, de Pascal Girard (La Pastèque)

Prix Albéric-Bourgeois
Meilleur album de langue française publié à l’étranger par un auteur Québécois, dessinateur ou scénariste. (Best French language graphic novel published outside of Quebec by a Quebec author – either a writer or artist)

• SAINT-GERMAIN T. 1 – LE COMTE DES LUMIÈRES, de Jean-François Bergeron et Thierry Gloris (Glénat)
• LES NOMBRILS T. 4 – DUEL DE BELLES, de Delaf et Dubuc (Dupuis)
• MAGASIN GÉNÉRAL, T. 5 – MONTRÉAL, de Régis Loisel et Jean-Louis Tripp (Casterman)

Prix Maurice-Petitdidier
Coup de coeur du jury pour album francophone publié à l’étranger (Jury’s choice for a French Language Graphic Novel published outside of Quebec)
• DIEU EN PERSONNE, de Marc-Antoine Mathieu (Delcourt)
• BLAST, de Manu Larcenet (Dargaud)
• PINOCCHIO, de Winschluss (Les requins marteaux)

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-soleil/arts-et-spectacles/livres/201004/10/01-4269123-rabagliati-couronne-aux-bedeis-causa.php

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-soleil/arts-et-spectacles/livres/201004/10/01-4269123-rabagliati-couronne-aux-bedeis-causa.php

Eisner Award Nominations Announced: Cooke, Lemire lead (somewhat) healthy Canadian representation!

Posted on by

Canadian creators are once again very well represented in this year’s nominations.

Leading the pack is Darwyn Cooke for Richard Stark’s Parker – The Hunter with three nominations: Adaptation from Another Work, Graphic Album – New, and Writer/Artist!

Following is Jeff Lemire with two nominations – one for Best New Series (Sweet Tooth) and the other for Best Graphic Album – Reprint (Essex County Trilogy).

Canadian webcomics creators and studio-buddies at Transmission-X Karl Kerschl and Cameron Stewart get a nod each in the Best Digital Comic Category for the Abominable Charles Christopher and Sin Titulo respectively.

Congratulations to Troy Little for Angora Napkin‘s nomination in the Best Publication for Teens category, to Bryan Lee O’Malley for Scott Pilgrim Vol. 5‘s nomination in the Best Humor Publication race, and to Fiona Staples in the best Penciller/Inker or P/I Team category for her series North 40!

Hall of Fame inductee Hal Foster‘s work has been nominated in the Best Archival project category for the absolutely stunning Prince Valiant by Hal Foster Vol.1 1937-1938.

On top of that, the many Canadian creators that participated in Flight Vol. 6 and Popgun Vol.3 can take pride in the fact that their work has been nominated in the Best Anthology category.

Also, American citizen living in Canada Steve McNiven was also nominated for his work on Wolverine (the Old Man Logan storyline) in the Best Limited Series or Story Arc and as part of the Penciller/Inker or P/I Team with Dexter Vines.

Finally, Montreal-based Canadian publisher Drawn and Quarterly received four nominations for collections of comics material by international cartoonists, three are specifically for Yoshihiro Tatsumi’s A Drifting Life – Best Reality-Based, Best US Edition of International Material – Asia, Lettering (the latter nomination to American cartoonist Adrian Tomine). In a surprise to many, Canadian Cartoonist Seth was not nominated for George Sprott, a title which has received universal acclaim and multiple award nominations.

Congratulations to all!

Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Nominees 2010

Best Short Story
“Because I Love You So Much,” by Nikoline Werdelin, in From Wonderland with Love: Danish Comics in the 3rd Millennium (Fantagraphics/Aben malen)
“Gentleman John,” by Nathan Greno, in What Is Torch Tiger? (Torch Tiger)
“How and Why to Bale Hay,” by Nick Bertozzi, in Syncopated (Villard)
“Hurricane,” interpreted by Gradimir Smudja, in Bob Dylan Revisited (Norton)
“Urgent Request,” by Gene Luen Yang and Derek Kirk Kim, in The Eternal Smile (First Second)

Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)
Brave & the Bold #28: “Blackhawk and the Flash: Firing Line,” by J. Michael Straczynski and Jesus Saiz (DC)
Captain America #601: “Red, White, and Blue-Blood,” by Ed Brubaker and Gene Colan (Marvel)
Ganges #3, by Kevin Huizenga (Fantagraphics)
The Unwritten #5: “How the Whale Became,” by Mike Carey and Peter Gross (Vertigo/DC)
Usagi Yojimbo #123: “The Death of Lord Hikiji” by Stan Sakai (Dark Horse)

Best Continuing Series
Fables, by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, Andrew Pepoy et al. (Vertigo/DC)
Irredeemable, by Mark Waid and Peter Krause (BOOM!)
Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, by Naoki Urasawa (VIZ Media)
The Unwritten, by Mike Carey and Peter Gross (Vertigo/DC)
The Walking Dead, by Robert Kirkman and Charles Adlard (Image)

Best Limited Series or Story Arc
Blackest Night, by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, and Oclair Albert (DC)
Incognito, by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Marvel Icon)
Pluto: Urasawa X Tezuka, by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki (VIZ Media)
Wolverine #66–72 and Wolverine Giant-Size Special: “Old Man Logan,” by Mark Millar, Steve McNiven, and Dexter Vines (Marvel)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by Eric Shanower and Skottie Young (Marvel)

Best New Series
Chew, by John Layman and Rob Guillory (Image)
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Phillip K. Dick, art by Tony Parker (BOOM!)
Ireedeemable, by Mark Waid and Peter Krause (BOOM!)
Sweet Tooth, by Jeff Lemire (Vertigo/DC)
The Unwritten, by Mike Carey and Peter Gross (Vertigo/DC)

Best Publication for Kids
Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute, by Jarrett J. Krosoczeka (Knopf)
The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook, by Eleanor Davis (Bloomsbury)
Tiny Tyrant vol. 1: The Ethelbertosaurus, by Lewis Trondheim and Fabrice Parme (First Second)
The TOON Treasury of Classic Children’s Comics, edited by Art Spiegelman and Francoise Mouly (Abrams ComicArts/Toon)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz hc, by L. Frank Baum, Eric Shanower, and Skottie Young (Marvel)

Best Publication for Teens
Angora Napkin, by Troy Little (IDW)
Beasts of Burden, by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson (Dark Horse)
A Family Secret, by Eric Heuvel (Farrar Straus Giroux/Anne Frank House)
Far Arden, by Kevin Cannon (Top Shelf)
I Kill Giants tpb, by Joe Kelly and JM Ken Niimura (Image)

Best Humor Publication
Drinky Crow’s Maakies Treasury, by Tony Millionaire (Fantagraphics)
Everybody Is Stupid Except for Me, And Other Astute Observations, by Peter Bagge (Fantagraphics)
Little Lulu, vols. 19–21, by John Stanley and Irving Tripp (Dark Horse Books)
The Muppet Show Comic Book: Meet the Muppets, by Roger Langridge (BOOM Kids!)
Scott Pilgrim vol. 5: Scott Pilgrm vs. the Universe, by Brian Lee O’Malley (Oni)

Best Anthology
Abstract Comics, edited by Andrei Molotiu (Fantagraphics)
Bob Dylan Revisited, edited by Bob Weill (Norton)
Flight 6, edited by Kazu Kibuishi (Villard)
Popgun vol. 3, edited by Mark Andrew Smith, D. J. Kirkbride, and Joe Keatinge (Image)
Syncopated: An Anthology of Nonfiction Picto-Essays, edited by Brendan Burford (Villard)
What Is Torch Tiger? edited by Paul Briggs (Torch Tiger)

Best Digital Comic
Abominable Charles Christopher, by Karl Kerschl, www.abominable.cc
Bayou, by Jeremy Love, http://zudacomics.com/bayou
The Guns of Shadow Valley, by David Wachter and James Andrew Clark, www.gunsofshadowvalley.com
Power Out, by Nathan Schreiber, www.act-i-vate.com/67.comic
Sin Titulo, by Cameron Stewart, www.sintitulocomic.com/

Best Reality-Based Work
A Drifting Life, by Yoshihiro Tatsumi (Drawn & Quarterly)
Footnotes in Gaza, by Joe Sacco (Metropolitan/Holt)
The Imposter’s Daughter, by Laurie Sandell (Little, Brown)
Monsters, by Ken Dahl (Secret Acres)
The Photographer, by Emmanuel Guibert, Didier Lefèvre, and Frédéric Lemerier (First Second)
Stitches, by David Small (Norton)

Best Adaptation from Another Work
The Book of Genesis Illustrated, by R. Crumb (Norton)
Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species: A Graphic Adaptation, adapted by Michael Keller and Nicolle Rager Fuller (Rodale)
Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, adapted by Tim Hamilton (Hill & Wang)
Richard Stark’s Parker: The Hunter, adapted by Darwyn Cooke (IDW)
West Coast Blues, by Jean-Patrick Manchette, adapted by Jacques Tardi (Fantagraphics)

Best Graphic Album—New
Asterios Polyp, by David Mazzuccheilli (Pantheon)
A Distant Neighborhood (2 vols.), by Jiro Taniguchi (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)
The Book of Genesis Illustrated, by R. Crumb (Norton)
My mommy is in America and she met Buffalo Bill, by Jean Regnaud and Émile Bravo (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)
The Photographer, by Emmanuel Guibert, Didier Lefèvre, and Frédéric Lemerier (First Second)
Richard Stark’s Parker: The Hunter, adapted by Darwyn Cooke (IDW)

Best Graphic Album—Reprint
Absolute Justice, by Alex Ross, Jim Krueger, and Doug Braithewaite (DC)
A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge, by Josh Neufeld (Pantheon)
Alec: The Years Have Pants, by Eddie Campbell (Top Shelf)
Essex County Collected, by Jeff Lemire (Top Shelf)
Map of My Heart: The Best of King-Cat Comics & Stories, 1996–2002, by John Porcellino (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips
Bloom County: The Complete Library, vol. 1, by Berkeley Breathed, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW)
Bringing Up Father, vol. 1: From Sea to Shining Sea, by George McManus and Zeke Zekley, edited by Dean Mullaney (IDW)
The Brinkley Girls: The Best of Nell Brinkley’s Cartoons 1913–1940, edited by Trina Robbins (Fantagraphics)
Gahan Wilson: 50 Years of Playboy Cartoons, by Gahan Wilson, edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)
Prince Valiant, vol. 1: 1937–1938, by Hal Foster, edited by Kim Thompson (Fantagraphics)
Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, Walt McDougall, and W. W. Denslow (Sunday Press)

Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books
The Best of Simon & Kirby, by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, edited by Steve Saffel (Titan Books)
Blazing Combat, by Archie Goodwin et al., edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)
Humbug, by Harvey Kurtzman et al., edited by Gary Groth (Fantagraphics)
The Rocketeer: The Complete Adventures deluxe edition, by Dave Stevens, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW)
The TOON Treasury of Classic Children’s Comics, edited by Art Spiegelman and Francoise Mouly (Abrams ComicArts/Toon)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material
My mommy is in America and she met Buffalo Bill, by Jean Regnaud and Émile Bravo (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)
The Photographer, by Emmanuel Guibert, Didier Lefèvre, and Frédéric Lemerier (First Second)
Tiny Tyrant vol. 1: The Ethelbertosaurus, by Lewis Trondheim and Fabrice Parme (First Second)
West Coast Blues, by Jean-Patrick Manchette, adapted by Jacques Tardi (Fantagraphics)
Years of the Elephant, by Willy Linthout (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia
The Color Trilogy, by Kim Dong Haw (First Second)
A Distant Neighborhood (2 vols.), by Jiro Taniguchi (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)
A Drifting Life, by Yoshihiro Tatsumi (Drawn & Quarterly)
Oishinbo a la Carte, written by Tetsu Kariya and illustrated by Akira Hanasaki (VIZ Media)
Pluto: Urasawa X Tezuka, by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki (VIZ Media)
Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, by Naoki Urasawa (VIZ Media)

Best Writer
Ed Brubaker, Captain America, Daredevil, Marvels Project (Marvel) Criminal, Incognito (Marvel Icon)
Geoff Johns, Adventure Comics, Blackest Night, The Flash: Rebirth, Superman: Secret Origin (DC)
James Robinson, Justice League: Cry for Justice (DC)
Mark Waid, Irredeemable, The Incredibles (BOOM!)
Bill Willingham, Fables (Vertigo/DC)

Best Writer/Artist
Darwyn Cooke, Richard Stark’s Parker: The Hunter (IDW)
R. Crumb, The Book of Genesis Illustrated (Norton)
David Mazzuccheilli, Asterios Polyp (Pantheon)
Terry Moore, Echo (Abstract Books)
Naoki Urasawa, Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, Pluto: Urasawa X Tezuka (VIZ Media)

Best Writer/Artist–Nonfiction
Reinhard Kleist, Johnny Cash: I See a Darkness (Abrams ComicArts)
Willy Linthout, Years of the Elephant (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)
Joe Sacco, Footnotes in Gaza (Metropolitan/Holt)
David Small, Stitches (Norton)
Carol Tyler, You’ll Never Know: A Good and Decent Man (Fantagraphics)

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
Michael Kaluta, Madame Xanadu #11–15: “Exodus Noir” (Vertigo/DC)
Steve McNiven/Dexter Vines, Wolverine: Old Man Logan (Marvel)
Fiona Staples, North 40 (WildStorm)
J. H. Williams III, Detective Comics (DC)
Danijel Zezelj, Luna Park (Vertigo/DC)

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)
Émile Bravo, My mommy is in America and she met Buffalo Bill (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)
Mauro Cascioli, Justice League: Cry for Justice (DC)
Nicolle Rager Fuller, Charles Darwin on the Origin of Species: A Graphic Adaptation (Rodale Books)
Jill Thompson, Beasts of Burden (Dark Horse); Magic Trixie and the Dragon (HarperCollins Children’s Books)
Carol Tyler, You’ll Never Know: A Good and Decent Man (Fantagraphics)

Best Cover Artist
John Cassaday, Irredeemable (BOOM!); Lone Ranger (Dynamite)
Salvador Larocca, Invincible Iron Man (Marvel)
Sean Phillips, Criminal, Incognito (Marvel Icon); 28 Days Later (BOOM!)
Alex Ross, Astro City: The Dark Age (WildStorm/DC); Project Superpowers (Dynamite)
J. H. Williams III, Detective Comics (DC)

Best Coloring
Steve Hamaker, Bone: Crown of Thorns (Scholastic); Little Mouse Gets Ready (Toon)
Laura Martin, The Rocketeer: The Complete Adventures (IDW); Thor, The Stand: American Nightmares (Marvel)
David Mazzuccheilli, Asterios Polyp (Pantheon)
Alex Sinclair, Blackest Night, Batman and Robin (DC)
Dave Stewart, Abe Sapien, BPRD, The Goon, Hellboy, Solomon Kane, Umbrella Academy, Zero Killer (Dark Horse); Detective Comics (DC); Northlanders, Luna Park (Vertigo)

Best Lettering
Brian Fies, Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow? (Abrams ComicArts)
David Mazzuccheilli, Asterios Polyp (Pantheon)
Tom Orzechowski, Savage Dragon (Image); X-Men Forever (Marvel)
Richard Sala, Cat Burglar Black (First Second); Delphine (Fantagraphics)
Adrian Tomine, A Drifting Life (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism
Alter Ego, edited by Roy Thomas (TwoMorrows)
ComicsAlliance, www.comicsalliance.com, edited by Laura Hudson
Comics Comics, edited by Timothy Hodler and Dan Nadel (www.comicscomicsmag.com) (PictureBox)
The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth, Michael Dean, and Kristy Valenti (Fantagraphics)
The Comics Reporter, produced by Tom Spurgeon (www.comicsreporter.com)

Best Comics-Related Book
Alan Moore: Comics as Performance, Fiction as Scalpel, by Annalisa Di Liddo (University Press of Mississippi)
The Art of Harvey Kurtzman: The Mad Genius of Comics, by Denis Kitchen and Paul Buhle (Abrams ComicArts)
The Art of Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga, by Helen McCarthy (Abrams ComicArts)
Manga Kamishibai: The Art of Japanese Paper Theater, by Eric P. Nash (Abrams ComicArts)
Will Eisner and PS Magazine, by Paul E. Fitzgerald (Fitzworld.US)

Best Publication Design
Absolute Justice, designed by Curtis King and Josh Beatman (DC)
The Brinkley Girls, designed by Adam Grano (Fantagraphics)
Gahan Wilson: 50 Years of Playboy Cartoons, designed by Jacob Covey (Fantagraphics)
Life and Times of Martha Washington, designed by David Nestelle (Dark Horse Books)
Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz, designed by Philippe Ghielmetti (Sunday Press)
Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow? designed by Neil Egan and Brian Fies (Abrams ComicArts)

Nominations for the 2010 Joe Shuster Awards

Posted on by

For Immediate Release

NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2010 JOE SHUSTER AWARDS

6th Annual Canadian Comic Book Creator Awards – Presentation Ceremony in June 2010

Toronto, Canada — March 17, 2010. From coast to coast, Canada is home to many of the comic book industry’s top talents, and the JOE SHUSTER AWARDS are a way of recognizing and celebrating their achievements. Since it was established in 2004, the Joe Shuster Award program has been Canada’s national awards program for recognizing the outstanding achievements of Canadian comic book creators, publishers and retailers. The awards are named after pioneering Toronto-born artist Joe Shuster who, along with writer Jerry Siegel, created the iconic super-powered hero, Superman.

In January and February of this year, nominees were selected from master lists of eligible works originally published in English and/or French during the 2009 calendar year. Canadian citizens living at home or abroad, as well as permanent residents were eligible for consideration. Now that the lists of nominees have been finalized, nominated creators will have their work reviewed by juries, who will decide the winners.

Winners will be announced at a public ceremony in Toronto on the evening of Saturday, June 5th, 2010 at the University of Toronto’s Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Avenue. The Master of Ceremonies will be Jonathan Llyr. The presentation ceremony date also coincides with the 6th Annual Toronto ComiCON Fan Appreciation Event at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on June 5 & 6, 2010.

NOMINEES for Work Published in 2009

Artist/Dessinateur

* Chris Bachalo - Dark Reign: The Sinister Spider-Man 1-4, Dark Avengers Annual 1, New Avengers 51-52, Amazing Spider-Man Extra! 2 - “Black & White” , (Marvel Comics)
* Darwyn Cooke - Jonah Hex 50 (DC), Madman Atomic Comics 14 – “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Madman Movie” (Image Comics)
* Marc Delafontaine – Les nombrils, tome 04: Duels de belles (Dupuis)
* Djief  Bergeron - Saint-Germain, Tome 1: Le Comte des Lumières (Glénat)
* Dale Eaglesham – Justice Society of America 26 (DC Comics), Amazing Spider-Man 591, Fantastic Four 570-572, Captain America 600 – “The Persistence of Memorabilia”, Amazing Spider-Man Extra! 3 – “Nice Things”, Origins of Siege 1 – “Doctor Doom” (Marvel)
* Stuart Immonen – Ultimate Spider-Man 130-133, New Avengers 55-60, Fantastic Four 569 (Marvel), The CBLDF Presents Liberty Comics 2 – “Trampoline Hall” (Image Comics)
* Francis Manapul – Adventure Comics 0-3, 5, Superman/Batman 60-61 (DC Comics)
* Cameron Stewart – Seaguy: The Slaves of Mickey Eye 1-3 (DC/Vertigo), Uncanny X-Men First Class Giant-Size Special 1 – Origin of Wolverine segment (Marvel), The CBLDF Presents Liberty Comics 2 – “The Apocalipstix in Taboo Boogaloo” (Image Comics)

Cartoonist/Créateur

* Darwyn Cooke – Richard Stark’s Parker: The Hunter (IDW)
* Jeff Lemire – The Nobody, Sweet Tooth 1-4 (DC/Vertigo), Noir: A Crime Comics Anthology - “The Old Silo” (Dark Horse), Awesome 2: Awesomer – “The Horseless Rider” (Top Shelf)
* Bryan Lee O’Malley – Scott Pilgrim Vol. 5: Scott Pilgrim vs. the Universe (Oni Press)
* Philippe Girard – Tuer Velasquez (Glénat Québec)
* Michel Rabagliati – Paul, tome 06: Paul à Québec (La Pastèque)
* Simon Roy – Jan’s Atomic Heart (New Reliable Press)
* Seth – George Sprott 1894-1975 (Drawn & Quarterly)
* Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas – Red: A Haida Manga (Douglas & McIntyre)

Colourist/Dessinateur Couleur

* Brad Anderson – Aliens #1-2 (Cover), Aliens/Predator FCBD 2009, Star Wars: The Clone Wars #8 (Cover), Star Wars: Legacy #32-40, 43 (Dark Horse), Action Comics #873 (Cover), Superman: Secret Origin #1-3, Superman: World of New Krypton #1-6, Superman: World of New Krypton #7, 9-10 (Cover), Wonder Woman #28-35, 39 (DC Comics) Doctor Doom and the Masters of Evil #3 (Cover), Franklin Richards: April Fools, Franklin Richards: It’s Dark Reigning Cats & Dogs, Franklin Richards: School’s Out, Uncanny X-Men: First Class Giant-Size Special #1, Spider-Man & The Secret Wars #1 (Marvel Comics)
* Chris Chuckry – Air #6-16, The Unwritten #1-8 (DC/Vertigo), G.I. Joe: Cobra #1-2 (IDW), Amazing Spider-Man #582, 591, 599-600, 606-607, Amazing Spider-Man #583, 595, 597-598 (Cover), Amazing Spider-Man: Extra! #3, Iron Man Vs Whiplash #2, Ms. Marvel #36-37 (Cover)
* Maryse Dubuc – Les nombrils, tome 04: Deuls et belles (Dupuis)
* Nathan Fairbairn – Amazing Spider-Man #605, Dark Reign: The List – X-Men #1, Dark X-Men: The Confession #1 (Cover), Guardians of the Galaxy #16, 18-19, House of M: Masters of Evil #1, Marvel Mystery Comics 70th Anniversary Special #1, Nation X #1, Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard #1-2, Timestorm 2009-2099: Spider-Man, War of Kings: Warriors #2, Wolverine #72, Wolverine: Origins #32, Wolverine: Weapon X #6-8, X-Factor #39-50, 200 (Variant) (Cover), X-Factor #45, X-Men: Kingbreaker #2-4, X-Men Origins: Gambit #1 (Marvel Comics), Stephen Colbert’s Tek Jansen #4-5 (Oni Press)
* Lovern Kindzierski – The Sandman: The Dream Hunters #3-4 (DC/Vertigo), Angel #19, Doctor Who #1-2, G.I. Joe: Cobra #3-4, G.I. Joe: Cobra Special #1, GrimJack: The Manx Cat #1, Star Trek: Crew #3-5, Star Trek: Romulans: Schism #1-3 (IDW), What If? Daredevil vs. Elektra (Marvel Comics)
* Francois Lapierre – Magasin général, tome 05: Montréal (Casterman)
* Dave McCaig - Star Wars: Dark Times #13-14 (Dark Horse), Detective Comics #857-860, Wednesday Comics #1-12 (DC Comics), House of Mystery Halloween Annual #1, Northlanders #14-23 (DC/Vertigo), Mysterius: The Unfathomable #1-6 (DC/Wildstorm), Invincible #66-67 (Image Comics), Berserker #2-3, Broken Trinity: Angelus, The Darkness #75, Pilot Season: Murderer #1 (Image/Top Cow), Agents of Atlas #9 (Cover), Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #2-5 (Cover), Deadpool #900, Fantastic Four #571 (Cover), | Ghost Rider #33-35, Marvel Comics #1 70th Anniversary Edition, Miss America Comics 70th Anniversary Special #1 (Cover), New Avengers #50, 55-60, Origins of Siege #1, Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk #3-6, Ultimatum: Fantastic Four Requiem #1 (Cover) (Marvel Comics), Resurrection #0 FCBD 2009 (Oni Press)
* Ronda Pattison – Star Wars: The Clone Wars #4 (Cover), Star Wars: The Clone Wars FCBD 2009, Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The Wind Raiders of Taloraan, Star Wars: Purge – Seconds to Die, Unbound Saga (Dark Horse), Angel vs. Frankenstein (IDW), Killer of Demons #1-3 (Image Comics), Dark Reign: Mister Negative #1-3, Human Torch Comics 70th Anniversary Special #1 (Marvel Comics), Atomic Robo and Friends FCBD 2009, Atomic Robo and the Shadow from Beyond Time #1-5, We Kill Monsters #1-5 (Red 5 Comics)

Writer/Écrivain

* Kelley Armstrong – Angel 18-22 (IDW)
* Ian Boothby – Futurama Comics 43-44, Simpsons Comics 150, Simpsons Super Spectacular #8 – “The Sprint” (Bongo)
* Hervé Bouchard – Harvey (La Pastèque)
* Maryse Dubuc – Les nombrils, tome 04: Duels de belles (Dupuis)
* Kathryn Immonen – Runaways 11-14, Patsy Walker: Hellcat 5 (Marvel Comics), The CBLDF Presents Liberty Comics 2 – “Trampoline Hall” (Image Comics)
* Dean Motter – The Spirit 29 (DC Comics)
* Ty Templeton – Star Trek: Mission’s End 1-5 (IDW)
* J. Torres – Disney/Pixar’s Wall-E 0-1 (Boom!), DC Holiday Special ’09 1 - “Huntress in Naughty or Nice”, Batman: The Brave and the Bold 5-8, 11 (DC Comics)

Cover/Couverture

* Kaare Andrews – The Immortal Iron Fist 27 (Marvel Comics)
* Paul Bordeleau – Faüne, tome 2: La maison du Faüne (La Pastèque)
* Darwyn Cooke – Jonah Hex 50 (DC Comics)
* Darwyn Cooke – Richard Stark’s Parker: The Hunter (IDW)
* Marc Delafontaine – Les nombrils, tome 04: Duels de belles (Dupuis)
* Dale Eaglesham – Miss America Comics 70th Anniversary Special 1 (Marvel Comics)
* Dale Keown - The Astounding Wolf-Man 16 Variant (Image Comics)
* Igor Kordey - Unknown Soldier 5 (DC/Vertigo)

Webcomics/Bandes Dessinées Web

* Attila Adorjany – Metaphysical Neuroma
* Kate Beaton – Hark! A Vagrant
* Andy Belanger – Bottle of Awesome and Raising Hell
* Rene Engström – Anders Loves Maria
* Karl Kerschl – The Abominable Charles Christopher
* Gisèle Lagacé and David Lumsdon – Eerie Cuties and Ménage à 3
* Tara Tallan – Galaxion
* Steve Wolfhard – Cat Rackham

Artist, Cartoonist, Colourist, Cover & Writer Nominees selected by: Laurent Boutin (Planète BD), Patrick Marleau (Imaginaire), Rachelle Goguen (Living Between Wednesdays), Leonard Wong (Vancouver Comicon), Jamie Coville (The Collector Times), Jeff Brown (Dork Shelf), Mike Jozic (freelance writer), Troy Wilson (author), Gareth Gaudin (Legends Comics), Jonathan Ellis (PopImage), Don McPherson (Eye on Comics), Peter Fisico (All New Comics), Lloyd Chesney (Legends Comics), Jonathan Kuehlein (JPK Comics), and Alex Kennedy. Webcomics Nominees selected by Scott Townsend, Jason Truong, Allison Covey, Robert Haines and Kevin Boyd. Nominating committees coordinated by Award Directors Kevin Boyd and Robert Haines.

Additional nominees will be announced in April 2010 for the following categories: Publisher/Editeur, Comics for Kids / Bandes Dessinées pour Enfants, and the Harry Kremer Award for Outstanding Canadian Comic Book Retailer /Le Prix Harry Kremer pour Détaillant Exceptionnel Canadien de Bandes Dessinées.

Submissions from self-publishers will be accepted until May 10, 2010 for the Gene Day Award for Canadian Self-Publishers / Le Prix Gene Day pour Éditeurs Direct Canadian de Bandes Dessinées. Please visit http://joeshusterawards.com/gene-day-award-for-canadian-self-publishers/ for full details. The winner of the Gene Day Award also receives a $500 Bursary. Finalists will be announced in May 2010.

Canadian Comic Book Creator Hall of Fame / Temple de la renommée Créateur Canadien de Bandes Dessinées
Three inductees will be announced in May 2010.

Congratulations to all of the nominees and all of the eligible creators for another memorable year of great comics, both in print and online!

About Joe Shuster (1914 – 1992)

With the permission of his estate, the Joe Shuster Awards are named in honor of the great artist, JOE SHUSTER (1914-1992), whose clear, dynamic style and inventive visual flourishes set the standard for graphic storytelling during the infancy of the North American comic book industry. It was Superman, a co-creation of Shuster and Siegel, which electrified the industry 71 years ago and, almost overnight, transformed comic books into an enormous pop-cultural phenomenon that endures to this day.

About The Joe Shuster Award

The Joe Shuster Award is Canada’s first national achievement award program for Canadians working on comic books, graphic novels and webcomics and has no restrictions on language, content and/or genre. The Joe Shuster Award  honour the people who create comics, publish comics and sell comics. Creator nominees are nominated for their BODY OF WORK during the previous calendar year, not just for one specific work (except for cover art).

The Joe Shuster Award program is administered by the Canadian Comic Book Creator Awards Association, a not-for-profit organization.

For more information please contact info@joeshusterawards.com or visit www.joeshusterawards.com

Kevin A. Boyd
Executive Director
kevin@joeshusterawards.com

Robert Haines
Associate Director
robert@joeshusterawards.com

Allison Covey
Director of Publisher Relations
allison@joeshusterawards.com

Chris Owen
Director of Media Relations
chris@joeshusterawards.com

2010 JSA Master of Ceremonies: Jonathan Llyr Returns

Posted on by

Returning as Master of Ceremonies in 2010 is Jonathan Llyr.

Jonathan Llyr is one of the most recognizable geeks in Canada today. As host of the nationally broadcast SPACE Channel’s SPACEY AWARDS for their first five years, Jon earned the respect of Hardcore Nerds everywhere when, over the years, Richard Dean Anderson had him ‘thrown off’ the set of STARGATE SG-1 (with a bonus instruction of “one shot to the kneecaps”), Bruce Campbell attacked him in the woods behind his house with a chainsaw, and Katee Sackhoff let him climb into her Viper.

Jon got his start on TV in 1998, after years of honing his skills as a professional actor and the artistic director of the Shakespearean theatre company, Tempest Theatre Group, SPACE needed someone who would wear a rubber turtle shell on his head (shades of Alan Rickman in GALAXY QUEST, anyone?) and it was a perfect fit. So, for several years, Jon appeared weekly on the cult TV show SPACEBAR as Grot, the loveably clueless alien barfly cum barkeep. Eventually trading shell for battered orange ball-cap, Jon was then seen five nights a week on DRIVE-IN CLASSICS as the genially pontificating drive-in theatre projectionist, Drive-in Dick – font of all B-movie knowledge and wisdom.

Jon’s subsequent stint as host, reporter and interviewer for HYPASPACE and HYPASPACE WEEKLY put him in close contact with stars like Patrick Stewart, Andy Serkis, William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy (at the same time in what proved to be an awesome media scoop!), David Hayter, Jolene Blalock, George Takei, Tricia Helfer, Steven Spielberg and many others.

Heading out into strange, new worlds with The HardcoreNerdity Network is his latest challenge.

None of this is surprising, considering Jonathan’s formative years. When he was a kid, his mom used to write him sick-notes so he could ditch school and line up on opening day for STAR TREK movies. She let him glue his Lego together in the shape of a phaser and paint it silver. She looked the other way when he put her good oven mitts on his feet so that he could be ‘Cornelius’ from PLANET OF THE APES. She made the rest of the family be quiet as he sat in front of the t.v., painstakingly making audio-cassette recordings of STAR TREK episodes so he could play them back at bedtime. That was in the days before VCRs. And when the family got one of those – Jon’s mom bought him his very first movie. It was SUPERMAN. And she let him stay home from school (again) to watch it before she wrapped it up as his Christmas present (he had to promise to look surprised when he opened it). So, really? This is all her fault.