The Year's Best Graphic Novels, Comics & Manga Unknown - 2005

The late Byron Preiss was a pioneer in experimenting with new comics formats, and produced some of the first graphic novels in the 1970s, such as "Fiction Illustrated: Chandler" by Jim Steranko, "The Stars My Destination" by Alfred Bester, illustrated by Howard Chaykin, "The Illustrated Harlan Ellison" and "The Authorized Illustrated Book of Roger Zelanzny." More recently, he published the Eisner-nominated "Ray Bradbury Chronicles" and "Yossel" by Joe Kubert, and a series of critically acclaimed licensed adaptations of science fiction and fantasy classics. His last project, completed shortly before his death, was a new graphic novel updating "Magnus, Robot Fighter."In 1980 Howard Zimmerman helped create and edited "Comics Scene," the first nationally distributed full-color magazine about comics and the comic book industry. Through his association with Byron Preiss, he has edited a series of licensed graphic projects, including the three volumes of the "Ray Bradbury Chronicles," the nine-volume series adapting "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," and the six-volume series adapting Roger Zelazny's "Amber."Maureen McTigue has worked in and around comics for over a decade. For DC Comics and then Harris Comics, she has edited such frontline superhero characters as Superman, Wonder Woman, and Vampirella. She was also an editor for the nationally distributed periodical "Comics Scene" and for WizardWorld.com, and contributes to various genre Web sites.