Korean graphic novel wins Eisner Award for first time
Sanho's 'Purgatory Funeral Cakes' becomes the first South Korean graphic novel to win an Eisner Award.
A South Korean graphic novel has reached a milestone in international recognition, winning the Best U.S. Edition of International Material-Asia prize at the 38th Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards on 24 July in San Diego. The award went to "Purgatory Funeral Cakes" by cartoonist Sanho, according to Yonhap. The publisher Munhakdongnae announced the win on 1 August.
The Eisner Awards are regarded as one of the three major international comics prizes globally, alongside France's Angoulème International Comics Festival and the U.S. Harvey Awards. The category recognises the best English-language translation of an Asian comic published in North America.
This marks the first time a Korean work has claimed an Eisner in this category. Previous South Korean titles, including "The Story of Life on the Golden Fields" by Kim Dong-hwa, "Grass" by Keum Suk Gendry-Kim, and "Hellbound" by Yeon Sang-ho and Choi Kyu-seok, had been nominated but did not win.
Originally published in Korea, "Purgatory Funeral Cakes" is a fantasy graphic novel centred on a mysterious shop that produces cakes for the deceased. According to the story, these cakes enable souls to reach the gate of reincarnation after traversing the purgatory plains for 49 days. The English edition was released in 2025 by U.S. publisher Dark Horse Comics, with translation by Danny Lim.
The win signals growing international appetite for Korean comics and translated works. South Korean graphic novels have increasingly gained traction in North American markets over the past decade, though major award recognition at this level remains uncommon. The Eisner recognition elevates Sanho's work alongside other acclaimed international comics that have found audiences across Western markets.
