Comic-Con International has announced this year’s Russ Manning Most Promising Newcomer Award nominees. Named for the creator of Magnus, Robot Fighter and illustrator of the Tarzan and Star Wars comic strips, the award recognizes a new artist who “shows a superior knowledge and ability in the art of creating comics.”
Previous winners include Dave Stevens, Eleanor Davis, Jeff Smith, Marion Churchland, David Petersen, Tyler Crook, Dan Mora, Lorena Alvarez, Nate Simpson and Luana Vecchio. Last year Zoe Thorogood won the Manning Award.
Oliver Bly, artist of The Mushroom Knight (Mad Cave Studios)
Patrick Horvath, writer/artist of Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees (IDW)
Vincent Kings, writer/artist of Atomic Fairytales and Time Dog and Other Atomic Fairytales (Sincere Comics)
Oma Sei, writer/artist of Blood Blade (Kodansha)
Eamon Winkle, artist of Principles of Necromancy (Magma Comix)
The nominees were chosen by a panel of board and committee members of Comic-Con International and a San Diego comics retailer, and the winner will be chosen by past Manning award winners and Russ Manning assistants. The winner will be announced during the Eisner Awards on July 26 at Comic-Con in San Diego.