Every year, San Diego Comic Con hosts the Eisner Awards, honoring outstanding achievements in the world of sequential art. Think of it like the Oscars for comic books. These prestigious awards are named after comic book innovator Will Eisner, who actively participated in the ceremony every year until his death in 2005.

Honoring work both mainstream and off-the-beaten path, the Eisner nominees are always a good indicator of that year's must-read titles.

You can read the full list of winners after the jump.

Best Short Story
"Urgent Request"
by Gene Luen Yang and Derek Kirk Kim, in The Eternal Smile (First Second)

Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)
Captain America #601
"Red, White, and Blue-Blood," by Ed Brubaker and Gene Colan (Marvel)

Best Continuing Series
The Walking Dead
by Robert Kirkman and Charles Adlard (Image)

Best Limited Series or Story Arc
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
by Eric Shanower and Skottie Young (Marvel)

Best New Series
Chew
by John Layman and Rob Guillory (Image)

Best Publication for Kids
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (hardcover)
by L. Frank Baum, Eric Shanower and Skottie Young (Marvel)

Best Publication for Teens
Beasts of Burden
by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson (Dark Horse)

Best Humor Publication
Scott Pilgrim Vol. 5: Scott Pilgrim Vs. the Universe
by Bryan Lee O'Malley (Oni Press)

Best Anthology
Popgun Vol. 3
edited by Mark Andrew Smith, D. J. Kirkbride and Joe Keatinge (Image)

Best Digital Comic
Sin Titulo
by Cameron Stewart

Best Reality-Based Work
A Drifting Life
by Yoshihiro Tatsumi (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Adaptation from Another Work
Richard Stark's Parker: The Hunter
adapted by Darwyn Cooke (IDW Publishing)

Best Graphic Album (New)
Asterios Polyp
by David Mazzucchelli (Pantheon)

Best Graphic Album (Reprint)
Absolute Justice
by Alex Ross, Jim Krueger and Doug Braithewaite (DC Comics)

Best Archival Collection/Project (Strips)
Bloom County: The Complete Library Vol. 1
by Berkeley Breathed, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW Publishing)

Best Archival Collection/Project (Comic Books)
The Rocketeer: The Complete Adventures Deluxe Edition
by Dave Stevens, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW Publishing)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material
The Photographer
by Emmanuel Guibert, Didier Lefèvre and Frédéric Lemerier (First Second)

Best U.S. Edition of International Material (Asia)
A Drifting Life
by Yoshihiro Tatsumi (Drawn & Quarterly)

Best Writer
Ed Brubaker
Captain America, Daredevil, Marvels Project, Criminal, Incognito

Best Writer/Artist
David Mazzucchelli
Asterios Polyp (Pantheon)

Best Writer/Artist (Nonfiction)
Joe Sacco
Footnotes in Gaza (Metropolitan/Holt)

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
J. H. Williams III
Detective Comics (DC Comics)

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (Interior Art)
Jill Thompson
Beasts of Burden (Dark Horse), Magic Trixie and the Dragon (Harper-Collins Children's Books)

Best Cover Artist
J. H. Williams III
Detective Comics (DC Comics)

Best Coloring
Dave Stewart
Abe Sapien, B.P.R.D., The Goon, Hellboy, Solomon Kane, Umbrella Academy, Zero Killer (Dark Horse), Detective Comics (DC Comics), Luna Park (Vertigo)

Best Lettering
David Mazzucchelli
Asterios Polyp (Pantheon)

Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism
The Comics Reporter
produced by Tom Spurgeon

Best Comics-Related Book
The Art of Harvey Kurtzman: The Mad Genius of Comics
by Denis Kitchen and Paul Buhle (Abrams ComicArts)

Best Publication Design
Absolute Justice
designed by Curtis King and Josh Beatman (DC Comics)

Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award
Vault of Midnight
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Hall of Fame
• Burne Hogarth
• Bob Montana
• Steve Gerber
• Dick Giordano
• Michael Kaluta
• Mort Weisinger

Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award
Jeannie Schulz

Bill Finger Award for Achievement in Comic Book Writing
Otto Binder, Gary Friedrich

Russ Manning Most Promising Newcomer Award
Marian Churchland

(source: Comic Book Resources)