Russ Manning Award

Self-portrait by Russ Manning
Self-portrait by Russ Manning

Submissions are now being accepted for the 41st annual Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award. The award will be presented on July 26 during the Eisner Awards Ceremony at Comic-Con in San Diego.

Started in 1982 in conjunction with the West Coast Comics Club (which no longer exists), this award honors a comics artist who, early in their career, shows a superior knowledge and ability in the art of creating comics. The deadline for all submissions is May 30.

1. The artist must be a newcomer to the comic field, with no professional work published prior to January 2020.

Exceptions to this rule are:

    A. Work done as an unaccredited assistant to another artist

    B. Small press with a print run of 500 or less

    C. A one-shot in a new talent anthology comic

2. The artist’s work must have been published prior to submission.

3. A sample of the artist’s work must be included.

4. A sample of the artist’s pencil work should be submitted if it was inked by another artist.

5. If multiple names are credited to the work, what the artist contributed must be made clear.

6. If selected as a nominee, the artist (or publisher) should be prepared to provide 25 copies of the work to be sent to the judges.


All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of representatives from Comic-Con and the comics community, who will select the five finalists. The winner will then be chosen by a blue-ribbon panel of comics professionals, including prior Russ Manning Award winners and Russ Manning’s former assistants.

Submissions should include this submissions form and be sent to Russ Manning Award, Comic-Con International, 4375 Jutland Drive, San Diego, CA 92117. For questions about submitting, contact Jackie Estrada: jackie@comic-con.org


Previous Award Recipients
2020s
  • 2023 Zoe Thorogood
  • 2022 Luana Vecchio
2010s
  • 2019 Lorena Alvarez
  • 2018 (TIE) Hamish Steele, Pablo Tunica
  • 2017: Anne Szabla
  • 2016: Dan Mora
  • 2015: (TIE) Jorge Corona, Greg Smallwood
  • 2014: Aaron Conley
  • 2013: Russel Roehling
  • 2012: Tyler Crook
  • 2011: Nate Simpson
  • 2010: Marian Churchland
2000s
  • 2009: Eleanor Davis
  • 2008: Cathy Malkasian
  • 2007: David Petersen
  • 2006: R. Kikuo Johnson
  • 2005: Chris Bailey
  • 2004: Eric Wight
  • 2003: Jerome Opena
  • 2002: Tan Eng Huat
  • 2001: Goran Sudzuka
  • 2000: Alan Bunce
1990s
  • 1999: Jay Anceleto
  • 1998: Matt Vander Pool
  • 1997: Walt Holcomb
  • 1996: Alexander Maleev
  • 1995: Edvin Biukovic
  • 1994: Gene Ha
  • 1993: Jeff Smith
  • 1992: Mike Okamoto
  • 1991: Daerick Gross
  • 1990: Dan Brereton
1980s
  • 1989: Richard Piers Raynor
  • 1988: Kevin Maguire
  • 1987: Eric Shanower
  • 1986: Art Adams
  • 1985: Scott McCloud
  • 1984: Steve Rude
  • 1983: Jan Duursema
  • 1982: Dave Stevens