Go Nagai Tapped for 2026 Eisner Hall of Fame Induction, Cementing Legacy Across Mecha and Magical Girl Genres

Manga legend Go Nagai has been confirmed for induction into the 2026 Will Eisner Comic Awards Hall of Fame, Comic-Con International announced. This recognition underscores the massive, genre-defining impact Nagai, whose real name is Kiyoshi Nagai, has had on the industry since he began working in the late 1960s.

Nagai's influence is difficult to overstate. He is credited with essentially launching the entire piloted giant robot boom with Mazinger Z, a concept that remains central to anime and manga globally. Moving beyond mecha, his work on Cutie Honey was foundational in establishing the magical girl genre.

He also introduced a level of visceral grit, violence, and psychological depth that resonated globally through darker titles like Devilman and Violence Jack. His extensive catalog includes hits such as Harenchi Gakuen, the Grendizer franchise, and the co-created Getter Robo. These properties continue to receive fresh anime adaptations and reboots decades later.

Nagai joins a class of 18 creators selected by the Eisner judges. The induction ceremony is set for July 24th during San Diego Comic-Con. Other honorees include Don Heck, Gerry Conway, and Dave Sim. Eight of the inductees are deceased pioneers, with the remaining creators currently active. More honorees could still be added via voter ballots at the time of reporting.

Fans are celebrating this major nod to Nagai’s boundary-pushing output, confirming his reach across both Japanese and international comics stretching from the 1960s to the present day.