IDW Publishing, one of the nation’s largest comic book publishers, which opened new headquarters in Liberty Station recently, had 11 nominations – and won three awards – at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con International.
Winning the award for Best Limited Series was the captivating series “Little Nemo: Return To Slumberland” from Eric Shanower and Gabriel Rodriguez. This marks Rodriguez’s first Eisner Award.
For the fifth year in a row IDW’s landmark Artist’s Edition series was awarded the Best Archival Collection/ Project – Comic Books Eisner Award for the “Steranko Nick Fury Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Artist’s Edition.” Spearheaded by IDW special projects director Scott Dunbier, this groundbreaking format continues to highlight acclaimed creators’ original artwork.
Rounding out the “Genius” trilogy of in-depth looks into the life and work of Alex Toth, “Genius Animated: The Cartoon Art of Alex Toth” edited by Dean Mullaney and Bruce Canwell, won Best Comics-Related Book.
“We’re once again honored and thrilled by the Eisner Award recognition,” said Chris Ryall, IDW’s chief creative officer/editor-in-chief. “As with every year, our books are nominated against many other worthy contenders and anything like the Eisner Awards puts so much more attention on the great books being produced across all levels of comics, as well as the inventive, talented creators who make those books, is a great thing.”
The Eisner Awards judges also selected six individuals to be inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Awards Hall of Fame for 2015, one of which was John Byrne.
“Just as John Byrne was honored to be admitted to the Will Eisner Hall of Fame, I was similarly honored to accept on his behalf,” said Ryall. “John’s four decades in comics has inspired both storylines of immensely popular movies as well as legions of comic readers and creators, and I look forward to him continuing his creativity with IDW.”
Founded in 1999, IDW Publishing is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks. During the last 15 years, IDW has grown into a fully staffed publishing company, including 50-plus full-time employees and more than 300 freelancers.
IDW Publishing is regularly recognized as the No. 4 comic book publisher in the US. Over 80 IDW titles have appeared on The New York Times Best-Seller list. In 2014 alone, IDW published over 500 unique comic book titles, and over 200 unique graphic novels.
Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including: Hasbro’s The Transformers, G.I. Joe, My Little Pony and Jem and then Holograms; Paramount/CBS’s Star Trek; Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Toho’s Godzilla; Twentieth Century Fox’s X-Files; Temple Street Productions’ Orphan Black; DISNEY comics; Ragnarök from Eisner Award-winner Walter Simonson; and Zombies vs Robots from Chris Ryall and Ashley Wood.
IDW Publishing relocated their headquarters and creative team, as well as opening a groundbreaking new San Diego Comic Art Gallery (SDCAG), to Liberty Station on June 1.
IDW’s new offices and gallery are located in two renovated former barracks buildings. At 18,300 square feet, IDW is now the largest tenant in the already vibrant Liberty Station arts district.
The San Diego Comic Art Gallery (SDCAG) is designed to educate and engage visitors with the sequential comic book and graphic arts.
Through events, author and artist appearances, art installations and celebrations, the SDCAG will become a destination to worldwide fans of the medium, and cement San Diego’s status as a capital of the comic arts.
NTC at Liberty Station is San Diego’s largest Arts & Cultural District located in historic buildings at the former Naval Training Center in Liberty Station. With 28 park-like acres and 16 of its 26 buildings complete, NTC is home to nearly 80 museums and galleries, artist studios, dance companies, educational groups, multidisciplinary arts, creative retail and other organizations that showcase San Diego’s creative community and provide innovative experiences for the public. NTC is under the stewardship of the not-for-profit NTC Foundation. For more information visit www.ntclibertystation.com.