The Eisners are, to be a bit cliche, the Oscars of the American comics world: they're prestigious and the process of selecting them is often debated. But this year, manga fanatics and comic connoisseurs alike will be happy to know that Yoshihiro Tatsumi has been nominated to enter the Eisner Hall of Fame.
Yoshihiro Tatsumi
Will Eisner Comic Awards Hall of Fame-- named, of course, for comicker Will Eisner, who you probably know best for The Spirit --will only be entering four people from a list of 13 nominees into the Hall of Fame this year, but industry members (not including press, sadly) can vote online to try and help Tatsumi enter. Or, you know, for someone else. (Jerks.)
I read the Push Man and other stories which is the first time I ever read Yoshihiro Tatsumi's work. Its an anthology and the stories are dark. It got me hooked and I wanted to read more of his work. His art style is not manga-ish, its more cartoonish as in the comic strips seen on the Sunday newspaper. I'll be reading Good-Bye as well.
@Gia - I agree and I don't think Osamu Tezuka gets a lot of appreciation stateside either. I read MW which I thought it was a masterpiece yet I'm not sure if I want to see the live action flick because I heard it strays away from the manga. I liked that Drawn and Quarterly published Yoshihiro's work in hardcover except A Drifting Life. Its quite rare to see hardcover mangas stateside.