Sanho, a South Korean cartoonist, has become the first creator from South Korea to receive an Eisner Award, a distinguished accolade in the comics industry. The announcement was made on July 31 by South Korean publisher Munhakdongne, which revealed that Sanho’s graphic novel, *Purgatory Funeral Cakes*, secured the award for Best US Edition of International Material – Asia at the 2026 Eisner Awards.

The 38th annual Eisner Awards ceremony took place on July 24 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel during Comic-Con International in California. Awards were distributed across 32 categories, recognizing outstanding work and creators published in North America. The Asia category specifically honors the finest Asian comics translated into English and published in North America. This category was initially established in 2007 exclusively for Japanese manga before expanding in 2010 to include works from across Asia.

Sanho’s *Purgatory Funeral Cakes* emerged victorious over four other finalists, including the Japanese manga series *Hirayasumi* and *Tokyo Alien Bros*. The graphic novel, which began publication in 2021 and concluded its third volume in 2025, is set in a fantasy world centered around a bakery that creates cakes for the dead. The narrative unfolds through various stories about the customers who visit the bakery.

Prior to Sanho’s win, South Korean comics had received nominations in this category but had not secured the award. Notable nominees included Kim Dong-hwa’s *The Story Of Life On The Golden Fields* (2010), Keum Suk Gendry-Kim’s *Grass* (which was nominated in three categories in 2020), and Yeon Sang-ho and Choi Gyu-seok’s *The Hellbound* (2023).

*Purgatory Funeral Cakes* has garnered international interest, with rights sold in nine markets beyond the United States, including Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, Poland, Turkey, Ukraine, and France. The English edition, translated by Danny Lim, was published by Dark Horse Comics in 2025.

Named after the late American comic pioneer Will Eisner and established in 1988, the Eisner Awards are widely regarded as one of the top honors in the comics field, alongside France’s Angouleme Festival and the US-based Harvey Awards. The Eisner Awards celebrate excellence in the medium annually, spotlighting the best comics and creators published in North America.