Eisner Award for Best Single Issue/One-Shot

The Eisner Award for Best Single Issue/One-Shot is an award for "creative achievement" in American comic books.

Eisner Award for Best Single Issue/One-Shot (must be able to stand alone)
Awarded forBest Single Issue/One-Shot
CountryUnited States
First awarded1988
Most recent winnerBatman: One Bay Day: The Riddler by Tom King and Mitch Gerads (2023)
Websitewww.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/

Name Changes

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The award was launched as "Best Single Issue" in 1988. In 1991 it was changed to "Best Story or Single Issue." In 1992 it was changed to "Best Single Issue or Story" and multi-issue stories were eligible. In 1993 it was changed to "Best Single Issue (Self-Contained Story)." In 2002 it was changed to "Best Single Issue." In 2003 it was changed to "Best Single Issue or One-Shot." In 2022 it was changed to "Best Single Issue/One-Shot (must be able to stand alone)."

Winners and nominees

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Year Title Authors Ref.
1980s
1988 Gumby Summer Fun Special #1 (Comico: The Comic Company) Bob Burden and Art Adams [1]
Concrete #5 (Dark Horse Comics) Paul Chadwick
Eddy Current #1 (Mad Dog Graphics) Ted McKeever
Grendel #12 (Comico: The Comic Company) Matt Wagner, Arnold Pander, Jacob Pander, and Jay Geldof
Justice League International #1 (DC Comics) Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, Kevin Maguire, and Terry Austin
Zot! #14 (Eclipse Comics) Scott McCloud
1989 Kings in Disguise #1 (Kitchen Sink Press) James Vance and Dan Burr [2]
Animal Man #5 (DC Comics) Grant Morrison, Chas Truog, and Doug Hazlewood
Batman: The Killing Joke (DC Comics) Alan Moore and Brian Bolland
Swamp Thing #75 (DC Comics) Rick Veitch
Twist #2 (Kitchen Sink Press) Various creators
1990s
1990 There was no Eisner Award ceremony, or awards distributed, in 1990, due to widespread balloting mix-ups.[3]
1991 Concrete Celebrates Earth Day (Dark Horse Comics) Paul Chadwick, Charles Vess, and Jean "Moebius" Giraud [4]
BLAB! #5 (Kitchen Sink Press) edited by Monte Beauchamp
Marshall Law: Kingdom of the Blind (Apocalypse Ltd) Pat Mills and Kevin O'Neill
Zot! #33 (Eclipse Comics) Scott McCloud
1992 [note 1] Sandman #22-#28 (DC Comics) Neil Gaiman and various artists [5]
American Splendor #16 (Tundra Publishing) Harvey Pekar and various artists
Dark Horse Presents "Sin City" (Dark Horse Comics) Frank Miller
Groo the Wanderer #78 (Marvel Comics/Epic Comics) Mark Evanier and Sergio Aragonés
Swamp Thing #113 (DC Comics) Nancy A. Collins, Thomas Yeates, and Shepherd Hendrix
1993 Nexus: The Origin (Dark Horse Comics) Mike Baron and Steve Rude [6]
Bloodlines: A Tale from the Heart of Africa (Epic Comics) Cindy Goff, Rafael Nieves, and Seitu Hayden
Hellblazer #56: "Diary of Danny Drake" (DC Comics) Garth Ennis and David Lloyd
Peepshow #1 (Drawn & Quarterly) Joe Matt
Sandman #40: "The Parliament of Rooks" (DC Comics) Neil Gaiman and Jill Thompson
Sandman #39: "Soft Places" (DC Comics) Neil Gaiman and John Watkiss
1994 The Batman Adventures: Mad Love (DC Comics) Paul Dini and Bruce Timm [7]
Spawn #10: "Crossing Over" (Image Comics) Dave Sim and Todd McFarlane
Groo the Wanderer #100: "A Little Knowledge" (Marvel Comics) Mark Evanier and Sergio Aragonés
Marvels #2: "Monsters" (Marvel Comics) Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross
Sandman #50: "Ramadan" (DC Comics/Vertigo Comics) Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell
1995 The Batman Adventures Holiday Special (DC Comics) Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, Ronnie del Carmen, and others [8]
Acme Novelty Library #1 (Fantagraphics) Chris Ware
Bone #16: "Eyes of the Storm" (Cartoon Books) Jeff Smith
The Dance of Lifey Death (Dark Horse Comics) Eddie Campbell
Sandman Mystery Theatre Annual #1 (DC Comics/Vertigo Comics) Matt Wagner, Steven T. Seagle, and various artists
1996 Kurt Busiek's Astro City" #4: "Safeguards (Jukebox Productions/Image Comics) Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson [9]
Acme Novelty Library #4 (Fantagraphics) Chris Ware
Bacchus Color Special (Dark Horse Comics) Eddie Campbell and Teddy Kristiansen
Eightball #16 (Fantagraphics) Daniel Clowes
Stray Bullets #3: "The Party" (El Capitan Books) David Lapham
1997 Kurt Busiek's Astro City vol. 2 #1: "Welcome to Astro City" (Jukebox Productions/Homage Comics) Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson, and Will Blyberg [10]
Giant THB Parade (Horse Press) Paul Pope
Kane #13: "Point of View" (Dancing Elephant Press) Paul Grist
Elric #0: Neil Gaiman's "One Life Furnished in Early Moorcock" (Topps) adapted by P. Craig Russell
Optic Nerve #3 (Drawn & Quarterly) Adrian Tomine
Sandman #75: "The Tempest" (DC Comics/Vertigo Comics) Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess
Stray Bullets #10: "Here Comes the Circus" (El Capitan Books) David Lapham
1998 Kurt Busiek's Astro City vol. 2 #10: "Show `Em All" (Jukebox Productions/Homage Comics) Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson, and Will Blyberg [11]
Batgirl Adventures #1 (DC Comics) Paul Dini and Rick Burchett
The Dreaming #15: "Day's Work, Night's Rest" (DC Comics/Vertigo Comics) Jeff Nicholson
Sof' Boy and Friends #1 (Drawn & Quarterly) Archer Prewitt
Superman Adventures #3: "Distant Thunder (DC Comics) Scott McCloud, Rick Burchett, and Terry Austin
1999 Hitman #34: "Of Thee I Sing" (DC Comics) Garth Ennis, John McCrea, and Garry Leach [12]
The Clowns (I Pagliacci) (Dark Horse Comics) P. Craig Russell and Galen Showman
Empty Love Stories (Funny Valentine Press) Steve Darnall and various artists
From Hell: Dance of the Gull Catchers (Kitchen Sink Press) Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell
Kane #22: "Fwankie's Big Night Out" (Dancing Elephant Press) Paul Grist
2000s
2000 Tom Strong #1: "How Tom Strong Got Started" (America's Best Comics) Alan Moore, Chris Sprouse, and Al Gordon [13]
I Die at Midnight (DC Comics/Vertigo Comics) Kyle Baker
Promethea #3: "Misty Magicland" (America's Best Comics) Alan Moore, J. H. Williams III, and Mick Gray
Stray Bullets #19: "Live Nude Girls!" (El Capitan Books) David Lapham
Transmetropolitan #27: "Monstering" (DC Comics/Vertigo Comics) Warren Ellis, Darick Robertson, and Rodney Ramos
2001 Promethea #10: "Sex, Stars and Serpents" (America's Best Comics) Alan Moore, J. H. Williams III, and Mick Gray [14]
Finder #19: "Talisman" (Lightspeed Press) Carla Speed McNeil
Hey Mister: The Trouble with Jesus (Top Shelf Productions) Pete Sickman-Garner
Lucifer #4: "Born with the Dead" (Vertigo Comics/DC Comics) Mike Carey, Warren Pleece, and Dean Ormston
Paul in the Country (Drawn & Quarterly) Michel Rabagliati
Sock Monkey, vol. 3 #2 (Dark Horse Comics/Maverick) Tony Millionaire
2002 Eightball #22 (Fantagraphics) Daniel Clowes [15]
The Fall (Drawn & Quarterly) Ed Brubaker and Jason Lutes
Finder #22: "Fight Scene" (Lightspeed Press) Carla Speed McNeil
100 Bullets #27: "Idol Chatter" (DC Comics/Vertigo Comics) Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso
Optic Nerve #8: "Bomb Scare" (Drawn & Quarterly) Adrian Tomine
2003 The Stuff of Dreams (Fantagraphics) Kim Deitch [16]
The Castaways (Absence of Ink) Rob Vollmar and Pablo Callejo
Fleep (Sparkplug Comics) Jason Shiga
My Friend Dahmer (Derfcity Comics) Derf Backderf
My Uncle Jeff (Origin) Damon Hurd and Pedro Camello
2004 Conan: The Legend #0 (Dark Horse Comics) [note 2] Kurt Busiek and Cary Nord [17]
The Goon #1 (Dark Horse Comics) [note 2] Eric Powell
Finder #30: "Beware of Dog" (Lightspeed Press) Carla Speed McNeil
Giant THB v.2 #1 (Horse Press) Paul Pope
Global Frequency #5: "Big Sky" (WildStorm/DC Comics) Warren Ellis and Jon J Muth
Usagi Yojimbo #65: "Usagi and the Tengu" (Dark Horse Comics) Stan Sakai
2005 Eightball #23: "The Death Ray" (Fantagraphics) Daniel Clowes [18]
Demo #7: "One Shot, Don't Miss" (AiT/Planet Lar) Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan
Ex Machina #1: "The Pilot" (WildStorm/DC Comics) Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, and Tom Feister
Global Frequency #12: "Harpoon" (WildStorm/DC Comics) Warren Ellis and Gene Ha
The Goon #6: "Ilagarto Hombre!" (Dark Horse Comics) Eric Powell
2006 Solo #5 (DC Comics) Darwyn Cooke [19]
The Bakers (Kyle Baker Publishing) Kyle Baker
Ex Machina #11: "Fortune Favors" (WildStorm/DC Comics) Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, and Tom Feister
The Innocents (Fantagraphics/Coconino Press) Gipi
Promethea #32: "Wrap Party" (America's Best Comics) Alan Moore and J. H. Williams III
2007 Batman/The Spirit #1: "Crime Convention" (DC Comics) Jeph Loeb and Darwyn Cooke [20]
A Late Freeze Danica Novgorodoff
The Preposterous Adventures of IronHide Tom (AdHouse Books) Joel Priddy
Skyscrapers of the Midwest #3 (AdHouse Books) Joshua Cotter
They Found the Car (Fantagraphics) Gipi
2008 Justice League of America #11: "Walls" (DC Comics) Brad Meltzer and Gene Ha [21]
Amelia Rules! #18: "Things I Cannot Change" (Renaissance Press) Jimmy Gownley
Delilah Dirk and the Treasure of Constantinople Tony Cliff
Johnny Hiro #1 (AdHouse Books) Fred Chao
The Sensational Spider-Man Annual #1: "To Have or to Hold" (Marvel Comics) Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca
2009 No award given out in 2009.[22]
2010s
2010 Captain America #601: “Red, White and Blue-Blood" (Marvel Comics) Ed Brubaker and Gene Colan [23][24]
The Brave and the Bold #28: “Blackhawk and the Flash: Firing Line" (DC Comics) J. Michael Straczynski and Jesus Saiz
Ganges #3 (Fantagraphics) Kevin Huizenga
The Unwritten #5: “How the Whale Became" (Vertigo Comics/DC Comics) Mike Carey and Peter Gross
Usagi Yojimbo #123: “The Death of Lord Hikiji” (Dark Horse Comics) Stan Sakai
2011 Hellboy: Double Feature of Evil (Dark Horse Comics) Mike Mignola and Richard Corben [25][26]
The Cape (IDW Publishing) Joe Hill, Jason Ciaramella, and Zack Howard
Fables #100 (Vertigo Comics/DC Comics) Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, and others
Locke & Key: Keys to the Kingdom #1: “Sparrow" (IDW Publishing) Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez
Unknown Soldier #21: “A Gun in Africa" (Vertigo Comics/DC Comics) Joshua Dysart and Rick Veitch
2012 Daredevil #7 (Marvel Comics) Mark Waid, Paolo Rivera, and Joe Rivera [27][26]
Ganges #4 (Fantagraphics) Kevin Huizenga
Locke & Key: Guide to the Known Keys (IDW Publishing) Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez
Princeless #3 (Action Lab Comics) Jeremy Whitley and Mia Goodwin
The Unwritten #24: "Stairway to Heaven" (Vertigo Comics/DC Comics) Mike Carey, Peter Gross, and Al Davison
2013 The Mire Becky Cloonan [28][26]
Lose #4: "The Fashion Issue" (Koyama Press) Michael DeForge
Pope Hats #3 (AdHouse Books) Ethan Rilly
Post York #1 (Uncivilized Books) James Romberger and Crosby
Tales Designed to Thrizzle #8 (Fantagraphics) Michael Kupperman
2014 Hawkeye #11: “Pizza Is My Business" (Marvel Comics) Matt Fraction and David Aja [29][26]
Demeter Becky Cloonan
Love and Rockets: New Stories #6 (Fantagraphics) Gilbert Hernandez and Jaime Hernandez
Viewotron #2 Sam Sharpe
Watson and Holmes #6 (New Paradigm Studios) Brandon M. Easton and N. Steven Harris
2015 Beasts of Burden: Hunters and Gatherers (Dark Horse Comics) Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson [30][26]
Astro City #16: “Wish I May” (Vertigo Comics/DC Comics) Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson
Madman in Your Face 3D Special (Image Comics) Mike Allred
Marvel 75th Anniversary Celebration #1 (Marvel Comics) Various creators
The Multiversity: Pax Americana #1 (DC Comics) Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely
2016 Silver Surfer #11: “Never After" (Marvel Comics) Dan Slott and Mike Allred [31][26]
A Blanket of Butterflies (HighWater Press) Richard Van Camp and Scott B. Henderson
I Love This Part (Avery Hill Publishing) Tillie Walden
Mowgli’s Mirror (Retrofit Comics/Big Planet Comics) Olivier Schrauwen
Pope Hats #4 (AdHouse Books) Ethan Rilly
2017 Beasts of Burden: What the Cat Dragged In (Dark Horse Comics) Evan Dorkin, Sarah Dyer, and Jill Thompson [32][26]
Babybel Wax Bodysuit (Retrofit Comics/Big Planet Comics) Eric Kostiuk Williams
Blammo #9 (Kilgore Books) Noah Van Sciver
Criminal 10th Anniversary Special (Image Comics) Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
Sir Alfred #3 (Pigeon Press) Tim Hensley
Your Black Friend (Silver Sprocket) Ben Passmore
2018 Hellboy: Krampusnacht (Dark Horse Comics) Mike Mignola and Adam Hughes [33][26]
Barbara (ShortBox) Nicole Miles
Pope Hats #5 (AdHouse Books) Ethan Rilly
The Spotted Stone (Sun Comics) Rick Veitch
What Is Left (ShortBox) Rosemary Valero-O'Connell
2019 Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #310 (Marvel Comics) Chip Zdarsky [34]
Beneath the Dead Oak Tree (ShortBox) Emily Carroll
Black Hammer: Cthu-Louise (Dark Horse Comics) Jeff Lemire and Emi Lenox
No Better Words (Silver Sprocket) Carolyn Nowak
The Terrible Elisabeth Dumn Against the Devils In Suits (IHQ Studio/Image Comics) Arabson Assis, translated by James Robinson
2020s
2020 Our Favorite Thing Is My Favorite Thing Is Monsters (Fantagraphics) Emil Ferris [35][36]
Coin-Op #8: Infatuation (Coin-Op Books) Peter Hoey and Maria Hoey
The Freak (AdHouse Books) Matt Lesniewski
Minotäar (ShortBox) Lissa Treiman
Sobek (ShortBox) James Stokoe
2021 Sports is Hell (Koyama Press) Ben Passmore [37][38]
The Burning Hotels (Birdcage Bottom Books) Thomas Lampion
Hedra (Image Comics) Jesse Lonergan
The Other History of the DC Universe #1 (DC Comics) John Ridley and Giuseppe Camuncoli
Stanley's Ghost: A Halloween Adventure (Storm Kids) Jeff Balke, Paul Storrie, and Dave Alvarez
2022 Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons (DC Comics) Kelly Sue DeConnick and Phil Jimenez [39]
Marvel’s Voices: Identity #1 (Marvel Comics) edited by Darren Shan
Mouse Guard: The Owlhen Caregiver and Other Tales (Boom! Comics/Archaia) David Petersen
Nightwing #87: "Get Grayson" (DC Comics) Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo
Wolvendaughter (Quindrie Press) Ver
2023 Batman: One Bay Day: The Riddler (DC Comics) by Tom King and Mitch Gerads [40]
Mary Jane & Black Cat Beyond Jed Mackay and C. F. Villa
Moon Knight: Black, White, and Blood #3 (Marvel Comics) edited by Tom Brevoort
Star Trek #400 (IDW) edited by Heather Antos
A Vicious Circle Book 1 (BOOM! Studios) by Mattson Tomlin and Lee Bermejo

Notes

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  1. ^ In 1992 the award was renamed to "Best Single Issue or Story" and multi-issue stories were eligible to be nominated.
  2. ^ a b There was a tie between Conan: The Legend #0 and The Goon #1 for Best Single Issue in 2004.

References

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  1. ^ "1988 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, Comic Book Awards Almanac".
  2. ^ "1989 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, Comic Book Awards Almanac".
  3. ^ "Eisners Cancelled," The Comics Journal #137 (Sept. 1990), p. 16.
  4. ^ "1991 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, Comic Book Awards Almanac".
  5. ^ "1992 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, Comic Book Awards Almanac".
  6. ^ "1993 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, Comic Book Awards Almanac".
  7. ^ "1994 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, Comic Book Awards Almanac".
  8. ^ "1995 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, Comic Book Awards Almanac".
  9. ^ "1996 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, Comic Book Awards Almanac".
  10. ^ "1997 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, Comic Book Awards Almanac".
  11. ^ "1998 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, Comic Book Awards Almanac".
  12. ^ "1999 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, Comic Book Awards Almanac".
  13. ^ "2000 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, Comic Book Awards Almanac".
  14. ^ "2001 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, Comic Book Awards Almanac".
  15. ^ "2002 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, Comic Book Awards Almanac".
  16. ^ "2003 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, Comic Book Awards Almanac".
  17. ^ "2004 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, Comic Book Awards Almanac".
  18. ^ "2005 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, Comic Book Awards Almanac".
  19. ^ "2006 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, Comic Book Awards Almanac".
  20. ^ "2007 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, Comic Book Awards Almanac".
  21. ^ "Your 2008 Eisner Award Winners, The Comics Reporter".
  22. ^ "2009 Eisner Award Nominees Announced, Adweek".
  23. ^ "2010 Eisner Award nominations announced, The Beat".
  24. ^ "The 2010 Eisner Award winners include Ed Brubaker, Batwoman illustrator J.H. Williams III, IO9".
  25. ^ "Presenting the Eisner Award Nominees for 2011, Tor.com".
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h "Eisner Award Recipients 2010-Present, San Diego Comic-Con International". Archived from the original on 2014-02-13. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
  27. ^ "Nominees Announced For 2012 Eisner Awards, Comic Book Resources".
  28. ^ "2013 Eisner Award Nominees Announced, Comic Book Resources".
  29. ^ "2014 Eisner Awards: Full List Of Winners And Nominees, Comic Alliance".
  30. ^ "2015 Eisner Award Nominations Announced, Comic Alliance".
  31. ^ "Here Are Your 2016 Eisner Award Nominees, io9".
  32. ^ "Fantagraphics and Image Comics Lead Eisner Awards Nominations, Syfy Wire". Archived from the original on 2018-12-01. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
  33. ^ "Here Are Your 2018 Eisner Award Nominees, io9".
  34. ^ "Here Are Your 2019 Eisner Awards Winners, io9".
  35. ^ "2020 Eisner Nominees: The Complete List, The Hollywood Reporter".
  36. ^ "SDCC '20: The 2020 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award winners, The Beat".
  37. ^ "2021 Eisner Award Nominees Revealed, Image and Fantagraphics Lead With Most Nominations, comicbook.com".
  38. ^ "ComicCon@Home '21: The 2021 Eisner Award winners, The Beat".
  39. ^ Kaplan, Rebecca Oliver (2022-07-23). "SDCC '22: 2022 Eisner Award winners, top moments, and more!". The Beat. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  40. ^ Schedeen, Jesse (July 25, 2023). "Comic-Con 2023: DC Wins Big at the Eisner Awards". IGN. Retrieved April 2, 2024.