Good news, everyone! A Chinese Life by Li Kunwu and Philippe Ôtié, published by SelfMadeHero last fall, is among the nominees in two categories: “Best-Reality Based Work†and “Best U.S. Edition of International Material – Asiaâ€. With this latter category the Eisners recognize translations, if not quite translators—yet!
Congratulations to the authors! I’m especially delighted because I don’t think this groundbreaking work has gotten the press it deserves yet, and maybe the nomination will push it back into the the public eye.
While Asia certainly deserves its own category, it’s an interesting side note that the only other international category, “Best U.S. Edition of International Material,†is all European, and mostly French. Three of the six nominees are French graphic novels, and of the three remaining, Blacksad, albeit by a Spanish creative team, was written and published in French (leaving only Brecht Evens, the Flemish Belgian cartoonist, and the taciturn Norwegian Jason, who in this case delivers a tribute to Alexandre Dumas).
A full list of nominees can be found at the site for San Diego Comic-Con, which hosts the awards.
The other nominees competing with A Chinese Life are:
Best-Reality Based Work
- Annie Sullivan and the Trials of Helen Keller, by Joseph Lambert (Center for Cartoon Studies/Disney Hyperion)
- The Carter Family: Don’t Forget This Song, by Frank M. Young and David Lasky (Abrams ComicArts)
- The Infinite Wait and Other Stories, by Julia Wertz (Koyama Press)
- Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo & Me, by Ellen Forney (Gotham Books)
- You’ll Never Know, Book 3: A Soldier’s Heart, by C. Tyler (Fantagraphics)
Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia
- Barbara, by Osamu Tezuka (Digital Manga)
- A Chinese Life, by Li Kunwu and P. Ôtié (Self Made Hero)
- Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, by Naoki Urasawa (VIZ Media)
- Nonnonba, by Shigeru Mizuki (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Thermae Romae, by Mari Yamazaki (Yen Press/Hachette)
It’s an honor to be nominated! Best of luck to all concerned, and a huge round of thanks to the team at SelfMadeHero–always a joy to work with.
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