Eisner Retailer Award Current Info

SpiritLogo

Comics have been an inspiration to generations of fans. They’ve sparked our imagination, our sense of adventure, and our social conscience.

How do the stories comics artists and writers create get to you? There are television shows and movies. There are digital comics on your phone, tablet, or computer. 

There’s one comic distribution channel that we enjoy especially as it fosters community, and that’s the comic book store. Will Eisner, pioneer of the graphic novel art form and creator of "The Spirit", believed that comic book stores are a vital link in bringing wonderful stories and exciting artwork to the reading public, and we at San Diego Comic Convention agree with him.

In these challenging days for brick-and-mortar stores, it’s more important than ever to recognize and celebrate the comic book stores that do an outstanding job of supporting the comic art medium both in the industry at large and in their local community with the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award.

Comics fans around the world can nominate their favorite stores here on the Comic-Con website. The 2023 Award will be given out as part of the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards on Friday evening, July 21, 2023, at Comic-Con International in San Diego.

You can nominate your favorite store! Click here to read the nomination guidelines and to access our online nomination form.

As of 2022, we modified our acceptance criteria for the Spirit of Comics. Several stores that had been awarded the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award in the past were nominated again. Up until then, a store was only allowed to win once. This policy has been revised and now a store that has received the award in the past will be eligible to be nominated again if they meet certain criteria. In order for a previous recipient to be eligible, they must be either: A. Operating under new ownership for at least two years or B. It has been ten years since the store received the award. It is our hope that these additions to our acceptance criteria will inspire comic stores to continue to improve, evolve, and engage with their communities.

The deadline for nominations is April 14, 2023, so hurry and nominate your favorite store now!

 


Congratulations to the 2022 Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award Winner!

2022 Finalists: Blackbird Comics and Coffeehouse, Books with Pictures, Cape & Cowl, Comic Bug, and Pulp 716

 


 

Spirit of Comics Retailer Award logo

 

Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award 2022 Participants

Here are the twenty five participating stores for this year’s Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award!
 

ALLEYCAT COMICS, AMAZING STORIES, BLACKBIRD COMICS & COFFEEHOUSE, BOOKS WITH PICTURES, and CAPE AND COWL logos
AlleyCat Comics
Nick & Selene Idell, Chicago, IL
Amazing Stories
Jeff & Donalda Kocur, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Blackbird Comics & Coffeehouse
Candice & David Craig, Maitland, FL
Books with Pictures
Katie Pryde, Portland, OR
Cape And Cowl
Eitan Manhoff, Oakland, CA

THE COMIC BUG, COMIC QUEST, CRUSH COMICS, DRAWN TO COMICS, and FAMOUS FACES AND FUNNIES logos
The Comic Bug
Jun Goeku, Manhattan Beach, CA
Comic Quest
Don Allen, Lake Forest, CA
Crush Comics
Josh & Andrea Hunter, Castro Valley, CA
Drawn to Comics
Ken and Susan Brown, Glendale, AZ
Famous Faces And Funnies
Rick Shea, West Melbourne, FL

GOTHAM CENTRAL COMICS & COLLECTIBLES, ILLUSIVE COMICS & GAMES, INFINITE REALITIES COMICS, JESSE JAMES COMICS, and KINGPIN BOOKS logos
Gotham Central Comics & Collectibles
Carlos Camara, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Illusive Comics & Games
Anna Warren, Santa Clara, CA
Infinite Realities Comics
Chris Brennaman, Tucker, GA
Jesse James Comics
Jesse James Criscone, Glendale, AZ
Kingpin Books
Mario Freitas, Lisbon, Portugal

Metahumans Comics, OK Comics, Librairie Planete Bd, Pulp 716: Coffee & Comics, and Rogue City Comics logos
Metahumans Comics
Ruben Najera, El Centro, CA
OK Comics
Jared Myland, Leeds, West  Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Librairie Planete BD
Francois Mayeux, Montreal, Quebec, Candaa
Pulp 716: Coffee & Comics
Amy & Jay Berent, North Tonawanda, NY
Rogue City Comics
Steven & Jami Ronda, Medford, OR

Space Cadets Collection Collection, Telegraph Art & Comics, Ultimate Comics, Zeppelin Comics, and Zia Comics logos
Space Cadets Collection Collection
Jen King, Conroe, TX
Telegraph Art & Comics
David Murray & Kate deNeveu, Charlottesville, VA
Ultimate Comics
Siena Fallon & Alan Gill, Raleigh, NC
Zeppelin Comics
Natasha & Dan Curtis, Benicia, CA
Zia Comics
Troy Stegner, Las Cruces, NM


 

Winner: Laughing Ogre

Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award Winner 2021

The Laughing Ogre
Chris Lloyd • Columbus, Ohio

Special Thanks to Our 2021 Judges
  • Henry Barajas • Latinx author and comic book professional. Writer of La Voz de M.A.Y.O. Tata Rambo & Helm Greycastle - Director of Operations & direct market outreach coordinator Top Cow Productions
  • Ryan Benjamin • Professional artist for 27 years with Marvel, DC, Image and many other entertainment companies. He is also a self published artist of a variety of books including the Eisner nominated comic, Brothers Bond
  • Kyle Kreamer • Diamond Comic Distributors, Manager in the Retailer Services Department
  • Sergio López • Owner Nostromo Cómics, Seville, Spain, 2020 Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award winner
  • Jeff Smith • Author and illustrator of the best-selling BONE, RASL and TUKI graphic novels
Award Facilitator
  • Joe Ferrara • Owner, Atlantis Fantasyworld, Santa Cruz, CA (1996 Spirit Award Winner)