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BBally
07-30-2009, 04:28 PM
Source: Publisher's Weekly (http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/07/25/eisner-award-winners)

The English language release of Osamu Tezuka's classic samurai fantasy adventure manga Dororo has been honored with the Eisner Award for "Best U.S. Edition of International Material". The Eisner Awards are the American comic book industry's most prestigious honor, named after the legendary comic book artist, writer and entrepreneur Will Eisner, and are given every year at the San Diego Comic Con.

"Dororo" is a thriller Manga first published in 1967 by the father of both Manga and Anime as well as Astro Boy and Kimba The White Lion creator Osamu Tezuka tells the story of Dororo, a young orphan thief, falls into the company of Hyakkimaru, a powerful demon-hunting Rounin. Before Hyakkimaru's birth his father, a greedy feudal lord, made a pact with 48 demon gods (or majins) and let them each take a piece of his unborn son's body, in return for granting him great power. Hyakkimaru was born without arms, legs, eyes, ears a nose or mouth, a barely human creature, and his father had him thrown in the river. He was rescued and raised by Dr. Honma, who made him artificial limbs and helped him learn to fight the demons - each time he defeats one he reclaims one piece of his body. Now he and Dororo travel together through the war-torn countryside.

The story takes place in Japan during the Sengoku period, or the Warring States period.


The manga also inspired a black and white anime series, a recent live action movie as well as an extremely overlooked, criminally underrated and really fun 2004 PS2 game by SEGA, Blood Will Tell.

MegamiMiko
07-30-2009, 10:17 PM
It's not really surprising a manga would win an award for a "U.S. Edition of international material."

The Xenos
07-31-2009, 08:19 AM
I wish Monster beat out All Star Superman for Best Ongoing Series. AllStar Superman was hardly ongoing.

Libaax
07-31-2009, 09:49 AM
Was Monster nominted ? Its a quality series i agree. There are several mangas that could win the award if they were nominated for the best awards.

Eisner is for american comics mostly.

Its not like Graphic Novel/trade market where manga can compete.

Personally I wish there was a prestigious manga award in the west since most of us dont know whats going on in japan manga award wise.

Grazzt
07-31-2009, 12:06 PM
It's not really surprising a manga would win an award for a "U.S. Edition of international material."

Actually, a manga had to win that category. The category was Japanese only: there's a seperate category for European works.

Was Monster nominted ? Its a quality series i agree. There are several mangas that could win the award if they were nominated for the best awards.

Yep. It was also running against Dororo in the "Best International Edition (Japan)" category. I'm surprised something nominated for "Best Ongoing" lost in a more specific category.

Libaax
07-31-2009, 12:07 PM
Wow thats surprising i didnt know Eisner cared about mangas in the best awards like Best Ongoing.

About US Edition of International Material there is 100s of korean comics "Manhwa" released in book form,same with comics from China.

But of course Manga is more mainstream.

Grazzt
07-31-2009, 12:21 PM
Wow thats surprising i didnt know Eisner cared about mangas in the best awards like Best Ongoing.

Here's the list of nominees, in case you were curious:

Best Continuing Series
All Star Superman. by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (DC)
Fables, by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, Niko Henrichon, Andrew Pepoy, and Peter Gross (Vertigo/DC)
Naoki Urasawa’s Monster, by Naoki Urasawa (Viz)
Thor, by J. Michael Straczynski, Olivier Coipel, Mark Morales, and various (Marvel)
Usagi Yojimbo, by Stan Sakai (Dark Horse)

It's almost like they were pandering with the nominees: one manga, one Dark Horse, one DC mainstream, one Vertigo title, and one Marvel. Still, I do think Monster was the strongest of the titles they nominated.

Libaax
07-31-2009, 02:03 PM
I have read all of them except Yojimbo, Monster is strongest to me too.


Fables seems a bit overrated, it must have like 50 Eisner noms by now....