SDCC 2024: Becky Cloonan & Tula Lotay's SOMNA Wins Eisner for Best New Series
San Diego 07/27/2024 — DSTLRY applauds the creative team behind Somna—writers and artists Becky Cloonan and Tula Lotay, colorists Lee Loughridge and Dee Cunniffe, letterer Lucas Gattoni, and editor Will Dennis—for winning the Eisner Award for Best New Series at yesterday night’s ceremony at San Diego Comic-Con.
Above: the attending Somna Creative Team of Will Dennis, Becky Cloonan, Tula Lotay, Lee Loughridge
“Tula and I have been finessinging Somna for roughly a decade, and we’re overjoyed to see that a book that took as many risks as this one has been embraced so enthusiastically,” said co-creator Becky Cloonan. “And we’re overjoyed that DSTLRY has been its home and supported it on every level. We can’t wait to reveal the other projects we have percolating here.”
“This was one of the most electric collaborations I’ve had in my professional career,” continued co-creator Tula Lotay. “So few comic collaborations are this intimate—Becky and I were not only collaborating on writing and art across a given issue, but sometimes on the same panel. Somna is a dichotomy of art and ideas. It’s proudly erotic and often brutal in its implications. We’re grateful for its reception.”
The hardcover edition of Somna sold out before its release and was rushed immediately back to print and is available in stores worldwide. Two limited edition versions are also available, an exclusive edition only available at comic book hobby shops and a deluxe version available only on dstlry.co.
“Becky and Tula are two of the industry’s most singular, lauded voices—there is no surprise that their collaboration had this impact,” said editor Will Dennis. “It was an amazing time editing this project, and it’s just the first of many projects between me, these creators, and DSTLRY.”
Becky Cloonan also announced her curated short story collection Come Find Me at San Diego Comic Con, featuring contributions from Somna cover artist E.M. Carroll, HamletMachine, Vanesa R. Del Rey, Celine Loup, and Molly Mendoza. The folk-horror based one-shot will debut on October 30th.
“When we started DSTLRY, we both immediately knew that Becky and Tula were creators who needed to be on the ground floor,” said DSTLRY co-founder and Chief Creative Officer Chip Mosher. “Somna isn’t just a successful comic, it’s the type of cultural milestone that only develops when you give creators absolute freedom to pursue their own vision.”
“We couldn't be more proud to have published Somna,” continued DSTLRY co-founder and CEO David Steinberger. “This book is the result of two modern masters producing a medium-transforming experience where 1+1 is greater than two. The unparalleled chemistry of their respective voices has catalyzed an undeniable work of art that’s equally beautiful and disturbing, and should be a keystone graphic novel in everyone’s library.”
The DSTLRY Booth at San Diego Comic Con—booth #2314—is also selling a con-exclusive cover of Somna #2 by Victoria Ying and a metallic cover of Somna #3 by Jenny Frison in addition to other Somna prints and bundles.
The Will Eisner Comic Industry awards are voted on by comics industry members and the awards ceremony is held in conjunction with San Diego Comic-Con International every year.
