Usually, at this time of the year, I'm complaining about the winners for the Eisner Awards. Not so, this year! With the one glaring exception of Astonishing X-Men selling its soul to be named the Best Continuing Series (that's the only explanation I can come up with), which, by the by, should be fun for anyone wanting to irritate a Grant Morrison fan, "Hey, how many Eisners did Morrison's X-Men run win? Oh...none?", the winners were excellent choices (although I may quibble here or there)!! Congrats, Eisner voters!! I will forgive your Continuing Series vote...it must have been some sort of mass hallucination! However, Jackie Estrada informed me that the Eisner judges only pick the NOMINEES, and comic professionals pick the winners, which makes the pick of Astonishing X-Men a little more predictable (still annoying, though).

The winners...

Best Short Story

"Teenage Sidekick," by Paul Pope, in Solo #3 (DC) (Cancelled by DC)

Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)

Solo #5, by Darwyn Cooke (DC) (Cancelled by DC)

Best Serialized Story

Fables #36-38, 40-41: "Return to the Homelands," by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, and Steve Leialoha (Vertigo/DC)

Best Continuing Series

Astonishing X-Men, by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday (Marvel)

Best Limited Series

Seven Soldiers, by Grant Morrison and various artists (DC)

Best New Series

All Star Superman, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (DC)

Best Publication for a Younger Audience

Owly: Flying Lessons, by Andy Runton (Top Shelf)

Best Anthology

Solo, edited by Mark Chiarello (DC) (Cancelled by DC)

Best Digital Comic

PVP, by Scott Kurtz, www.pvponline.com (Before you complain, the category was sparse this year, although I would have went with Copper, myself)

Best Reality-Based Work

Nat Turner, by Kyle Baker (Kyle Baker Publishing)

Best Graphic Album-New

Top Ten: The Forty-Niners, by Alan Moore and Gene Ha (ABC)

Best Graphic Album-Reprint

Black Hole, by Charles Burns (Pantheon)

Best Archival Collection/Project-Comic Strips

The Complete Calvin & Hobbes, by Bill Watterson (Andrews McMeel)

Best Archival Collection/Project-Comic Books

Absolute Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (DC)

Best U.S. Edition of Foreign Material

The Rabbi's Cat, by Joann Sfar (Pantheon)

Best Writer

Alan Moore, Promethea, Top Ten: The Forty-Niners (ABC)

Best Writer/Artist

Geof Darrow, Shaolin Cowboy (Burlyman)

Best Writer/Artist-Humor

Kyle Baker, Plastic Man (DC); The Bakers (Kyle Baker Publishing) (Cancelled by DC...noticing a trend?)

Best Penciller/Inker

John Cassaday, Astonishing X-Men (Marvel); Planetary (WildStorm/DC)

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)

Ladronn, Hip Flask: Mystery City (Active Images)

Best Cover Artist

James Jean, Fables (Vertigo/DC); Runaways (Marvel)

Best Coloring

Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library #16 (ACME Novelty)

Best Lettering

Todd Klein, Wonder Woman, Justice, Seven Soldiers #0 (DC); Desolation Jones (WildStorm/DC); Promethea, Top Ten: The Forty-Niners, Tomorrow Stories Special (ABC); Fables (Vertigo); 1602: New World (Marvel)

Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition

Aaron Renier (Spiral-Bound)

Best Comics-Related Periodical

Comic Book Artist, edited by Jon B. Cooke (Top Shelf)

Best Comics-Related Book

Eisner/Miller, edited by Charles Brownstein and Diana Schutz (Dark Horse Books)

Best Publication Design (tie)

Acme Novelty Library Annual Report to Shareholders, designed by Chris Ware (Pantheon)

Little Nemo in Slumberland: So Many Splendid Sundays, designed by Philippe Ghielmetti (Sunday Press Books)

Hall of Fame

Judges' Choices: Floyd Gottfredson, William Moulton Marston

- Vaughn Bode

- Ramona Fradon

- Russ Manning

- Jim Steranko

Pretty cool, huh?