Media Release -- Comic-Con, the nation's largest comic book and popular arts convention, announces that submissions are now being accepted for the 27th annual Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award. Started in 1982 as a joint presentation of Comic-Con International and the West Coast Comics Club, this award honors a comics artist who, early in his or her career, shows a superior knowledge and ability in the art of creating comics.
To qualify for the award, an artist must be a newcomer to the comic field, having had no professional work published prior to January 2008. Exceptions to this rule are:
- Work done as an unaccredited assistant to another artist
- Fanzine publications
- Small press with a print run of 2000 or less
- A one shot in a new talent anthology comic
In the spirit of revered artist Russ Manning (Tarzan, Star Wars, Magnus Robot Fighter), the most important criteria for selection are storytelling ability, clarity of expression and narrative flow, and illustrative flow. Writing is not a consideration except in a tie. A nominee from last year may be resubmitted if he or she meets the criteria.
Submissions should be sent to:
Gene Henderson
Russ Manning Award
150 S. James
Orange, CA 92869
Submissions must be in the hands of the award committee no later than May 19, 2010.
If the artist's work is a small press run or not widely circulated, it would be advisable to include a sample of his or her work. (Last year several entries had to be dropped due to lack of work samples.) Unpublished material will be not considered. A sample of the artist's pencil work would be helpful if the finished work has been inked by another artist.
All submissions will be reviewed by a committee consisting of artists and others knowledgeable in the comics field, who will select the five finalists. The winner will be selected by a blue ribbon panel of comics professionals, including prior Manning Award winners and Russ Manning's former assistants. Finalists must be prepared to submit 22 copies of their work for consideration by the judges.
The Manning Awards are co-sponsored by the West Coast Comics Club and Comic-Con International: San Diego. The winner of the award will be announced during the Eisner Awards on July 23 at Comic-Con International.
The Russ Manning Most Promising Newcomer Award
The Manning award has been given out annually at the San Diego Comic-Con since 1982. It is given in the name of Russ Manning, the artist best known for his work on the Tarzan and Star Wars newspaper strips and the Magnus, Robot Fighter comic book. Russ was a popular guest at the San Diego convention in the 1970s. Past Manning winners have included Dave Stevens, Jan Duursema, Steve Rude, Scott McCloud, Art Adams, Eric Shanower, Dan Brereton, Jeff Smith, Gene Ha, Goran Sudzuka, and Tan Eng Huat.
The chair of the Manning Awards committee is Gene Henderson. He can be contacted at:
Comic-Con International
Attn: Gene Henderson
P.O. Box 128458
San Diego, CA 92112
Past winners of the Manning Award, presented in conjunction with the West Coast Comics Club:
Dave Stevens (1982), Jan Duursema (1983), Steve Rude (1984), Scott McCloud (1985), Art Adams (1986), Eric Shanower (1987), Kevin Maguire (1988), Richard Piers Raynor (1989), Dan Brereton (1990), Daerick Gross (1991), Mike Okamoto (1992), Jeff Smith (1993), Gene Ha (1994), Edvin Biukovic (1995), Alexander Maleev (1996), Walt Holcomb (1997), Matt Vander Pool (1998), Jay Anceleto (1999), Alan Bunce (2000), Goran Sudzuka (2001), Tan Eng Huat (2002), Jerome Opena (2003), Eric Wight (2004), Chris Bailey (2005), R. Kikuo Johnson (2006), David Peterson (2007), Cathy Malkasian (2008), Eleanor Davis (2009).
