| PORTLAND, Ore. 07/01/2026 — Image Comics is pleased to announce that the Image Select Retailer Award for Spring 2026 is now open for nominations. The deadline to nominate a store is Friday, July 10.
Starting today, Image invites fans to nominate their local comic shops for this award based on criteria such as:
- exemplary customer service
- thoughtful and exciting handselling recommendations
- efforts fostering a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere
- easy-to-browse shelving
- attractive and innovative displays
- forward-thinking customer marketing and out-of-box consumer outreach
- community engagement
- robust inventory of & support for Image Comics and other creator-owned/indie comics
 To nominate a shop, simplyfill out this form with your local store’s name, location, and summarize some of the ways the store goes the extra mile to create a great retail experience for you and other customers.
One winner will be announced on Friday, July 24 at the Lunar Retailer Panel at San Diego Comic-Con and will receive:
- a commemorative medallion to display with pride
- an Image Select Retailer Award window cling for their store’s window
- a spotlight Q&A to be featured on Image Comics’ social media platforms and Website
- the store’s choice of an exclusive variant, branded as an Image Select Retailer Award winner, with store logo (limited to 250 copies).
The Image Comics Retailer Appreciation Award has been bestowed on standout comic shop retailers for two years and running now and has helped lift the profile of a number of local comic shops deserving of recognition.
“A while ago, we realized that there are several opportunities for the public recognition of artists, creators, and publishers, but only one annual award for retailers, who are the sales backbone of the industry. They are doing the legwork expanding the audience and creating new readers, and they deserve more accolades,” said Alex Cox, Director of Direct Market Sales at Image Comics. “We felt like we could help recognize and show some gratitude to the stores out there doing the good work, so the Image Comics Retailer Appreciation Award was born.”
The Image Select Retailer Award is an initiative to galvanize recognition of members of the Comic Book Direct Market retail community that are going above and beyond to serve their customers, expand readership, and grow a healthier marketplace.
The previous winners of the Image Select Retailer Award were Nirvana Comics in Knoxville, Tennessee, Hall of Justice Comics in Parker, Colorado, Peebles Comics & Games in Scotland, Four Color Fantasies in Winchester, Virginia, Comics Etc. in Australia, ACME Comics in Greensboro, North Carolina, and ATOM Comics in Poland. |
