Comic-Con has announced the 2024 nominees for the Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award (the Manning Award). The nominees were chosen by a panel consisting of members of Comic-Con International and a San Diego comics retailer. The winner will be decided by past Manning award winners and Russ Manning assistants.
The award has been given out each year since 1982 and is presented to an artist who is early in their career and shows superior knowledge and ability in the art of creating comics.
The award is named for Russ Manning, , the artist best known for his work on the Tarzan and Star Wars newspaper strips and the Magnus, Robot Fighter.
Past recipients include Jan Duursema, Steve Rude, Scott McCloud, Art Adams, Eric Shanower, Dan Brereton, Jeff Smith, Gene Ha, David Petersen, Eleanor Davis, Tyler Crook, Dan Mora, Anne Szabala, Zoe Thorogood, and Greg Smallwood, to name a few.
The recipient will be announced during the Eisner Awards which will take place on July 26 at Comic-Con in San Diego.
Congrats and good luck to all. This year’s nominees are:
Oliver Bly, writer/artist of The Mushroom Knight (Mad Cave Studios)
Patrick Horvath, writer/artist of Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees (IDW)
Vincent Kings, writer/artist of Atomic Fairytales and Time Dog and Other Atomic Fairytales (Sincere Comics)
Oma Sei, writer/artist of Blood Blade (Kodansha)
Eamon Winkle, artist of Principles of Necromancy (Magma Comix)
Come to the Baltimore Comic-Con September 8-10, 2023 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The Baltimore Comic-Con has announced the appearance of comic guests Katie Cook, Dave Johnson, Vincent Kings, Jae Lee, Chris Miskiewicz, and Khoi Pham in 2023. Tickets are now on sale on our website.
Katie Cook is a comic artist and writer that has been in the industry for a while. She’d list just how long here but isn’t that a faux pas of admitting that she’s old? I mean, you can always Wikipedia her birthday if you want to get stuck on this topic. Why are we still talking about this?
She is the creator of the comic Nothing Special on LineWebtoon, an all-ages adventure about a girl, a boy with fairy wings, and a dead Radish. It’s her favorite thing and you should read it. Katie also wrote and drew the webcomic Gronk: A Monster’s Story, which lost several awards but is still delightful.
Katie spent several years as one of the primary writers on IDW’s My Little Pony Friendship is Magic and has also done projects with Marvel, BOOM! Studios, and more (sorry for referring to some of you publishers as “and more”). She’s also illustrated several Star Wars children’s books for Disney LucasFilm Press and created artwork for the Disney Wonderground Gallery. Artist and writer! Double threat!
An officially ordained Methodist Deacon, “Reverend” Dave Johnson may be best known for his minimalist covers on the noir Vertigo series, 100 Bullets. He has done all 100 covers. He has also done a number of covers for DC Comics, primarily Batman and Detective Comics. Dave also worked with Erik Larsen on the mini-series Superpatriot: Liberty & Justice. He is also known for his work with Marvel on Deadpool. Dave is the principal founder of “Drink and Draw”, a get-together of professional artists that spawned an art book by the same name. Mr. Johnson earned the 2002 Eisner Award for Best Cover Artist. He was also nominated for an Eisner in 2004 for his work on the critically-acclaimed DC Elseworlds miniseries Superman: Red Son, which is now a perennial bestseller in graphic novel form.
Vincent Kings is an illustrator and writer. He’s the winner of the 2022 Ringo Award for Best New Talent for the science fiction graphic novel This Is Where We Fall, as well as an artist residency recipient of the Maison des Auteurs in Angoulême, France, and the creator of Time Dog. His work has appeared in The Last Comic on the Left by Z2 Comics, Heavy Metal, and Bad Idea. Outside of comics, Vincent created cinematics for Batman: The Telltale Series, Minecraft: Story Mode, and Star Trek: Resurgence.
Jae Lee is a Korean-American comic book artist, known for his dark style. In 1990, he became one of the youngest artists ever to work for a major publisher. He is an Eisner Award winner for his work on Marvel’s The Inhumans. His art can also be seen in Stephen King’s Dark Tower, Before Watchmen: Ozymandias, and Batman/Superman. Most recently, he returned to Image Comics and released a creator-owned book titled Seven Sons.
Chris Miskiewicz is a graphic novelist and four-time Ringo Award nominated writer of the science-fiction western This is Where We Fall, the biography Grateful Dead Origins, and Elvis: The Graphic Novel, as well as the international award-winning series Thomas Alsop, voted “best mini-series” for its English & Danish editions. As an actor, Chris has appeared on CBS’s Bull, HBO’s Bored to Death, and USA Networks’ White Collar.
Khoi Pham is an artist and mentor. His artworks include DC’s Teen Titans, Marvel’s Mighty Avengers, X-Men Legacy, Scarlet Spider, Spider-Man, Daredevil, Chaos War, Incredible Hercules, Gambit, Mighty Thor, and X-Factor, and Top Cow’s Cyberforce. He has done numerous cover illustrations for various publications. Khoi was an attorney and venture capitalist prior to switching to art and mentoring. He has a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Saint Joseph’s University.
This year’s confirmed guests for the show include: Dan Abdo (Blue, Barry & Pancakes), Arthur Adams (Longshot), Sarah Andersen (Sarah’s Scribbles), Mirka Andolfo (Sweet Paprika), Art Baltazar (Yahgz), Jeremy Bastian (Dune: House Harkonnen), Marty Baumann (Pixar artist), Carolyn Belefsky (Curls), Brian Michael Bendis (Action Comics), Jon Bogdanove (The Death of Superman), Judy Bogdanove (Steel Annual), Russ Braun (The Boys), Dan Brereton (Nocturnals), Harold Buchholz (Sweetest Beasts), Mark Buckingham (Fables), Greg Burnham (Tuskegee Heirs), Jim Calafiore (NED, Lord of the Pit), Chris Campana (Death Dealer), Joe Carabeo (Black Magic Tales), Richard Case (Edgar Allan Poe’s Snifter of Terror), Castillo Studios, Howard Chaykin (Time Squared), S.A. Check (Night of the Living Dead: Revenance, courtesy of American Mythology Productions), Jo Chen (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Sean Chen (Genesis), Jim Cheung (Young Avengers), Frank Cho (Harley Quinn), Amy Chu (KISS: The End), Chris Claremont (Uncanny X-Men), Matthew Clark (Adventures of Superman, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Brian Clevinger (Atomic Robo), Steve Conley (The Middle Age), Katie Cook (Nothing Special), Nick Davis (Night Guardians), Deans Family (Crass Fed), Mike DeCarlo (The Simpsons, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Vito Delsante (Stray), Abby Denson (Uniquely Japan), Todd Dezago (The Perhapanauts), Derec Donovan (Adventures of Superman), Scott Dunbier (Jim Lee’s X-Men Artist’s Edition, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Jan Duursema (Star Wars: The High Republic), Drew Edwards (Halloween Man), Garth Ennis (The Boys), David Finch (Moon Knight), Tony Fleecs (Stray Dogs), Chris Flick (Capes and Babes), Scott Fogg (Phileas Reid Knows We’re Not Alone), Tana Ford (LaGuardia), Trish Forstner (Stray Dogs), Franco (Fae and the Moon), John Gallagher (Max Meow), Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (DC Nation), Ron Garney (BZRKR), Joe Getsinger (Finding Jack Kirby in a Pile of Zinc), Mike Gold (Green Arrow), Jimmy Gownley (Amelia Rules!), Randy Green (Nyobi Outbreak), Mike Grell (Jon Sable), Dawn Griffin (Zorphbert & Fred), Torunn Grønbekk (Carnage), Chris Gugilotti (Teen Titans Go!), Gene Ha (Mae), Laura Lee Gulledge (Page by Paige), Bob Hall (West Coast Avengers), Cully Hamner (Blue Beetle), Bo Hampton (Batman: Castle of the Bat), Brian Haberlin (Spawn), Scott Hanna (Amazing Spider-Man), Tony Harris (The Whistling Skull), Dean Haspiel (Covid Cop), Buz Hasson (Adam Green’s Hatchet, courtesy of American Mythology Productions), Glenn Hauman (They Keep Killing Glenn), Mike Hawthorne (Deadpool), Marc Hempel (Sandman), Greg Hildebrandt (Star Wars), Morry Hollowell (Old Man Logan), Jamal Igle (Superman), Mark Irwin (Green Lantern), Chris Ivy (Venom: Tooth and Claw, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Klaus Janson (Daredevil), Geoff Johns (Geiger), Dave Johnson (100 Bullets), Phillip Kennedy Johnson (Alien), J.G. Jones (Wanted), Kata Kane (Altar Girl), Chris Kemple (Artist Alley Comics), Tom King (The Penguin), Barry Kitson (Amazing Spider-Man), Dan Krall (House of Night), Leeanne M. Krecic (Let’s Play), James Kuhoric (Cursedverse: Blighted Dawn), Jae Lee (Inhumans), Nate Lovett (Dungeons & Dragons), Matthew Loux (Prunella and the Cursed Skull Ring), David Mack (Kabuki), Howard Mackie (Danny Ketch: Ghost Rider), Kevin Maguire (Justice League), Tom Mandrake (Spectre), Laura Martin (Nubia: Queen of the Amazons), Mariano Brothers (Claire Lost Her Bear at the World’s Fair), Ron Marz (Green Lantern), Jason May (LEGO Club Magazine), Patrick McDonnell (The Super Hero’s Journey, courtesy of Abrams ComicArts), Mike McKone (Red Goblin), Bob McLeod (New Mutants), Adriana Melo (Action Comics), Pop Mhan (Gears of War 3), Al Milgrom (Spectacular Spider-Man), Karl Moline (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Mark Morales (Thor), Trevor Mueller (Re-Possessed), Sarah Myer (Monstrous: A Transracial Adoption Story), Jamar Nicholas (Leon: Protector of the Playground), Dan Parsons (Jade Vampyre, courtesy of American Mythology Productions), Jason Patterson (Blue, Barry & Pancakes), David Pepose (Savage Avengers), Andrew Pepoy (Simone & Ajax), David Petersen (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo: WhereWhen), Brandon Peterson (Uncanny X-Men), Khoi Pham (Star Wars: Darth Vader), Richard and Wendy Pini (Elfquest), Ed Piskor (Red Room: Trigger Warnings), Joe Prado (Superman), Andy Price (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic), Ron Randall (Trekker), Tom Raney (Green Lantern), Mark Redfield (Vampire Hunters Incorporated), Afua Richardson (Omni), Christopher Ring (Seamus (the Famous)), Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge), Peter Rostovsky (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Freshman Force), Jennifer Rouse (Frankenstein Mobster), Craig Rousseau (The Perhapanauts), Arsia Rozegar (Shahnameh For Kids), Steve Rude (Nexus), Jim Rugg (Hulk Grand Design), Alex Saviuk (Web of Spider-Man), Stuart Sayger (The Joker), Gene Selassie (The Ghoul Agency), Bryan SilverBaX (Creepshow), Alex Simmons (Archie), Louise Simonson (The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special), Walter Simonson (Thor), Matt Slay (Equilibrium), John K. Snyder III (Suicide Squad), Scott Snyder (Saturday only, Nocterra), Mark Sparacio (Omega Paradox), Joe Staton (Dick Tracy), Jim Starlin (Dreadstar), Brian Stelfreeze (Black Panther), Paul Storrie (Storm Kids: Stanley’s Ghost), Philip Tan (Web of Carnage), Martha Thomases (Second-Hand Rose), John Timms (Superman: Son of Kal-El), Peter Tomasi (Batman and Robin), Billy Tucci (Shi), Gus Vazquez (Sunfire and Big Hero Six), Emilio Velez Jr. (The Dodgeball Teens), Dexter Vines (Civil War, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Sean Von Gorman (Return of Toe Tag Riot), Wade von Grawbadger (Justice League), Adam Wallenta (Punk Taco), Todd Webb (Mr. Toast Comics), Lee Weeks (Batman), Scott Wegener (Atomic Robo), Joey Weiser (Ghost Hog), Mark Wheatley (Skultar), Emily S. Whitten (The Underfoot), Bob Wiacek (All-New Wolverine, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Keith Williams (Thor the Worthy), Marcus Williams (Tuskegee Heirs), Rich Woodall (Electric Black), John Workman (Wild Things), Ellie Wright (The Black Ghost), Caitlin Yarsky (Black Hammer Reborn), Kelly Yates (Doctor Who), and Thom Zahler (Love and Capes).
The critically adored artist Mitski is set to unveil her first new music since 2018’s acclaimed ‘Be the Cowboy’ as the exclusive score to the upcoming graphic novel This is Where We Fall, created in partnership with the writer and artist team of Chris Miskiewicz and Vincent Kings.
This Is Where We Fall is an innovative, action-packed science-fiction series depicting an after-life that’s defined by the manner in which you died, and not the merit of the life you lived, brought to you by Chris Miskiewicz and Vincent Kings.
The original graphic novel clocks in at just over 100 pages, and will be released in a standard softcover edition in comic shops and bookstores alike in March 2021, as well as a hardcover with an exclusive cassette, and a limited deluxe edition available directly through the Z2 website. The deluxe edition features an exclusive vinyl soundtrack, unavailable anywhere else, and strictly limited to 2,000 copies!
