This was released today…
Comic-Con International, the largest comic book and popular arts event of its kind in the world, has announced that the Eisner Awards judges have selected three individuals to automatically be inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Awards Hall of Fame for 2014. These inductees are Golden Age artists Irwin Hasen (The Flash, Wildcat, Green Lantern for DC; Dondi syndicated strip), Sheldon Moldoff (Batman artist), and African American comics pioneer Orrin C. Evans (All-Negro Comics). In the past, the judges have chosen two automatic inductees, both deceased. This year's judges decided to add one more inductee, a deserving still-living comics creator.
The judges have also chosen 14 nominees from which voters will select 4 to be inducted in the Hall of Fame this summer. These nominees are Gus Arriola, Howard Cruse, Philippe Druillet, Rube Goldberg, Fred Kida, Hayao Miyazaki, Tarpé Mills, Alan Moore, Francoise Mouly, Dennis O'Neil, Antonio Prohias, Rumiko Takahashi, George Tuska, and Bernie Wrightson.
Hmm…all deserving folks and we have to pick no more than four. Okay, I'll pick Arriola, Goldberg, Kida and Prohias. And I can go here to read more about them and here to cast my votes.
Stay tuned because in a week or three, we'll be announcing the recipients of this year's Bill Finger Excellence in Comic Book Writing Award. Some of you will be very happy with the judges' selections.