2023 Manning Award Nominees Announced

Comic-Con International has named the nominees for the 2023 Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award. They are Soroush Barazesh (writer/artist, Kings of Nowhere), Shof Coker (co-creator, artist New Masters), Ryan Lang (writer/artist Issunboshi: A Graphic Novel), Tim Probert (writer/artist Lightfall), and Zoe Thorogood (writer/artist The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott).

A panel of Comic-Con International board and committee members and a San Diego comics retailer chose the nominees. The winner will then be chosen by past Manning award winners and Russ Manning assistants, and the announcement will be made during the Eisner Awards on July 21, 2023, at Comic-Con.

The award was started in 1982 to honor comics artists who exhibit superior knowledge and talent in creating comics. It was named after Russ Manning, an artist known for Tarzan and Star Wars comic strips, Magnus, Robot Fighter comics, and as a popular Comic-Con guest in the 1970s.

Dave Stevens, a former Manning assistant who created The Rocketeer, was the first recipient of the award. Past recipients have included Jan Duursema, Steve Rude, Dan Brereton, Jeff Smith, Gene Ha, Chaty Malkasian, Eleanore Davis, and Dan Mora, among others.