The Russ Manning Most Promising Newcomer Award has been awarded each year during the Eisner Awards ceremony at Comic-Con International, and is for noting the achievement of comic artists whose first professional work appeared within the last few years. After nominations from the general public, the final winner is chosen by Comic-Con International’s organizers and the West Coast Comic Club.

Over the years the Award has been spot-on in identifying future greats while also giving the honors to artists who ultimately never committed to a full career in comics. After honoring The Rocketeer’s Dave Stevens its first year in 1982, they went on to string of popular choices from Jan Duursema (Star Wars), Steve Rude (Nexus), Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics), Art Adams (Uncanny X-Men, Godzilla, Gumby), Eric Shanower (Age of Bronze) and Kevin McGuire (Justice League International).

Their pick in 1989, Richard Piers Rayner, ended up dropping in and out comics over the years with his most popular contribution being the graphic novel Road To Perdition. Their choice in 1991, Dærick Gröss, Sr., was another outside-the-norm choice, and 1992′s good-girl artist Mike Okamoto ended up spending his time outside comic books in favor of illustrating strips for Golf Magazines.

The Russ Manning award went on to identify some greats like Jeff smith, Gene Ha and Alexander Maleev, but also got some criticism for choosing artists who didn’t fit in the award’s rules of only being a pro for two years. But it also showed extreme foresight, such as 2003′s winner Jerome Opena. At the time Opena was doing a little known and hastily canceled series for Dark Horse titled Lone, and ended up dropping out of comics for three years before Rick Remender brought him back to be a second artist for Fear Agent. After Fear Agent, Opena’s art style flourished at Marvel and really came into his own on the recent Uncanny X-Force.

For a complete list of winners, visit the Award’s wikipedia page.

Russ Manning by Milton Caniff

Comic-Con International announced via press release today this year’s nominees for the Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award. Presented to a comics artist “who, early in his or her career, shows a superior knowledge and ability in the art of creating comics,” the award is named for Russ Manning, the artist known for his work on the Tarzan and Star Wars newspaper strips, and the Magnus, Robot Fighter comic book.

The 2010 nominees are:

• Marc Borstel, artist of The Misadventures of Clark and Jefferson (published by APE Entertainment)
• Marion Churchland, writer/artist of Beast (published by Image)
• Sarah Oleksyk, writer/artist of Ivy (self-published)
• Julian Totino Tedesco, artist of Unthinkable (published by BOOM! Studios)
• Charles Paul Wilson III, artist of Stuff of Legends (published by Th3rd World)

The nominees were selected by a committee consisting of representatives of the West Coast Comics Club and Comic-Con International. The winner will be chosen by past Manning award winners and Russ Manning assistants.

Previous winners of the award include Dave Stevens, Jan Duursema, Steve Rude, Scott McCloud, Art Adams, Eric Shanower, Dan Brereton, Jeff Smith, Gene Ha, Alexander Maleev, Goran Sudzuka, Eric Wight, R. Kikuo Johnson, David Petersen, Cathy Malkasian and Eleanor Davis.

The recipient will be announced during the Eisner Awards ceremony on July 23 at Comic-Con International in San Diego.

Stinky

The nominees were announced this morning for the Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award, which has been presented at Comic-Con since 1982.

Named for the late Russ Manning, who created Magnus, Robot Fighter and illustrated such comic strips as Star Wars and Tarzan, the award is presented to an artist “who, early in his or her career, shows a superior knowledge and ability in the art of creating comics.”

This year’s nominees are:

• Gregory Baldwin, writer/artist of Path (published by com.x Ltd)
• Eleanor Davis, writer/artist of Stinky (published by RAW Junior/Toon Books)
• Leigh Kellogg, artist of Wayfarer’s Moon (Single Edge Studios)
• Lukas Ketner, artist of Witchdoctor (self-published)
• Christian Slade, artist of Korgi (published by Top Shelf)

The winner will be announced July 24 during the Eisner Awards ceremony at Comic-Con International.