Mariko Tamaki named best writer at Eisner Awards

Canadian writer Mariko Tamaki was named the best writer at the 2020 Eisner Awards.

The U.S.prizes recognize the best in comic books and graphic novels. The books must be published in the U.S. but nominated creators are from all over the world. The winners are chosen through voting by comics industry professionals.

Tamaki writes Harley Quinn, Supergirl and Wonder Woman for DC and Archie for Archie Comics and has written several graphic novels. She has also written She-Hulkfor Marvel.

"Getting to write for other companies and writing superhero stories is a pretty awesome job. I love taking existing characters and creating new stories for them," Tamaki told CBC Books in 2019.

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She is also launching a literary imprint called Surely Books in 2021. It willfocus on publishing comicsby LGBTQcreators.

Tamaki also won the category for best book for teens alongside American illustrator Rosemary Valero-O'Connell for their graphic novel Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me.

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Meis about a high school student named Freddy and her frustrating on-again, off-again relationship with a popular girl named Laura Dean. It previously won the 2019 Harvey Award for best young adult book.

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Tamaki's othergraphic novels includeSkimandThis One Summer, both created with her cousin Jillian Tamaki.

Valero-O'Connell won best penciller/inker for her work onLaura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me.

Other Canadian winners includeChip Zdarsky and Jason Loo, who won best digital comic forAfterlift, andDarcy Van Poelgeest, who won best limited series forLittle Bird, which he creates withIan Bertram.

The complete list of winners is below.

• Best short story:Hot Comb by Ebony Flowers
• Best single issue/one-shot:Our Favorite Thing Is My Favorite Thing Is Monstersby Emil Ferris
• Best continuing series:Bitter Rootby David Walker
• Best limited series:Little Birdby Darcy Van Poelgeest, illustrated by Ian Bertram
• Best new series:Invisible Kingdomby G. Willow Wilson, illustrated byChristian Ward
• Best publication for early readers:Comics: Easy as ABCby Ivan Brunetti
• Best publication for kids:Guts by Raina Telgemeier
• Best publication for teens:Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Meby Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Rosemary Valero-O'Connell
• Best humour publication: The Way of the Househusband,vol. 1by Kousuke Oono, translated by Sheldon Drzka
• Best anthology:Drawing Power: Women's Stories of Sexual Violence, Harassment, and Survivaledited by Diane Noomin
• Best reality-based work:They Called Us Enemyby George Takei, Justin Eisinger andSteven Scott, illustrated by Harmony Becker
• Best graphic album, new:Are You Listening?by Tillie Walden
• Best graphic album, reprint:LaGuardiaby Nnedi Okorafor, illustrated byTana Ford
• Best adaptation from another medium:Snow, Glass, Applesby Neil Gaiman, illustratedColleen Doran
• Best U.S. edition of international material:The Houseby Paco Roca, translatedby Andrea Rosenberg
• Best U.S. edition of international material, Asia (tie):Cats of the LouvrebyTaiyo Matsumoto, translatedby Michael AriasandWitch Hat Atelierby Kamome Shirahama, translatedby Stephen Kohler (Kodansha)
• Best archival collection/projects, strips:Krazy Kat: The Complete Color Sundaysby George Herriman, edited by Alexander Braun
• Best archival collection/project, comic books:Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo: The Complete Grasscutter Artist Selectby Stan Sakai, edited by Scott Dunbier
• Best writer: Mariko Tamakifor multiple projects
• Best writer/artist:Raina Telgemeier forGuts
• Best penciller/inker or penciller or penciller/inker team:Rosemary Valero-O'Connell forLaura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me
• Best painter/digital artist: Christian Ward forInvisible Kingdom
• Best cover artist:Emma Rios forPretty Deadly
• Best colouring:Dave Stewart for multiple projects
• Best lettering:Stan Sakai forUsagi Yojimbo
• Best comics-related periodical/journalism:Women Write About Comics, edited by Nola Pfau and Wendy Browne
• Best comics-related book:Making Comicsby Lynda Barry
• Best academic/scholarly work:EC Comics: Race, Shock, and Social Protestby Qiana Whitted
• Best publication design:Making Comicsdesigned by Lynda Barry
• Best digital comic:Afterliftby Chip Zdarsky and Jason Loo
• Best webcomic:Fried Rice Comicby Erica Eng