The father of giant robots has received the ultimate honor. Go Nagai has been confirmed to be inducted into the Eisner Hall of Fame in 2026, cementing his status as one of the most influential figures in the history of global graphic storytelling. The judges of the awards, considered the "Oscars" of the comic book industry, announced Thursday the 19 honorees who will receive their trophy at the upcoming San Diego Comic-Con.
The
Genre Maker: Why Go Nagai Is Inducted into the Eisner Hall of Fame
The
organization spared no praise to justify its choice. They stressed that there
are few genres of current manga that Nagai has not invented or revolutionized:
- Mecha: With Mazinger Z,
he created the concept of the giant robot piloted internally, the basis of
the entire genre today.
- Magical Girl: With Cutie Honey,
he helped pioneer transformable combat heroines.
- Dark Fantasy: Works such as Devilman and Violence
Jack introduced a psychological depth and mature themes that
influenced creators around the world.
An
exclusive club of legends
Go Nagai
joins an elite list of Japanese creators who have received this honor,
following in the footsteps of manga gods such as Osamu Tezuka (2002),
Katsuhiro Otomo (2012), Rumiko Takahashi (2018) and horror master Junji
Ito, who was inducted just last year.
The
official ceremony will take place on the morning of July 24, 2026.
It's belated but well-deserved recognition for the man who taught us that a
robot could have a soul.
