Eisner Retailer Award Current Info

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!

Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award 2022 Participants

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

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