Past Recipients
Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award
Visionary comics creator Will Eisner (The Spirit, Contract with God) approached Comic-Con International in the mid-1990s to create an award that recognized the incredible contributions of retailers to the comic book industry. He wanted to stress the crucial bond between creators, publishers and retailers in getting the books into the hands of the public. Comic-Con created the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award to honor those retailers in the United States and around the world.
Award Facilitator
- Joe Ferrara • Owner, Atlantis Fantasyworld, Santa Cruz, CA (1996 Spirit Award Winner)
Past Recipients
2020s
- 2023: Cape and Cowl, Eitan Manhoff, Oakland, California
- 2022: Books with Pictures, Katie Pryde, Portland, Oregon
- 2021: The Laughing Ogre, Chris Lloyd, Columbus, Ohio
- 2020: Nostromo Sevilla, Sergio López, Seville, Spain
2010s
- 2019: La Revisteria Comics, Alejandro Gonzalez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- 2018: Norma Comics, Rafa Martinez, Barcelona, Spain
- 2017: Comicazi, Robert Howard, David Lockwood, Michael Burke, Somerville, MA
- 2016: Orbital Comics, Karl Asaa, Damian Keeng & James Wilson, London, UK
- 2015: Packrat Comics, Jamie Colegrove and Teresa Colegrove, Hilliard, OH
- 2014: All Star Comics, Troy Varker and Mitchell Davies, Melbourne, Australia • Legends Comics & Coffee, David DeMarco, Jason Dasenbrock, and Wendy Pivonka, Omaha, NE
- 2013: Challengers Comics and Conversation, Patrick Brower and W. Dal Bush, Chicago, IL
- 2012: Akira Comics, Jesus Marugan Escobar, Madrid, Spain • The Dragon, Jennifer Haines Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- 2011: Comics & Vegetables, Yuval Sharon & Danny Amitai, Tel Aviv, Israel
- 2010: Vault of Midnight, Curtis Sullivan & Steve Fodale, Ann Arbor, MI
2000s
- 2009: Tate’s Comics, Tate & Amanda Ottati, Fort Launderdale, FL
- 2008: Brave New World, Atom! & Portlyn Freeman, Newhall, CA
- 2007: Earth-2 Comics, Carr D’Angelo & Jud Meyers, Sherman Oaks, CA
- 2006: Zeus Comics, Richard Neal, Dallas, TX
- 2005: Night Flight Comics, Mimi Cruz and Alan Carroll, Salt Lake City, UT
- 2004: ACME Comics & Collectibles, Fran & Kevin McGarry, Sioux City, IA
- 2003: All About Books and Comics, Alan & Marsha Giroux, Phoenix, AZ
- 2002: Source Comics & Games, Nick Postilgione, Falcon Heights, MN
- 2001: Strange Adventures, Calum Johnston, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- 2000: Golden Age Collectables, Patrick Shaughnessy, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
1990s
- 1999: Star Clipper Comics & Games, Scott Thorne, St. Louis, MO • DreamHaven, Greg Ketter, Minneapolis, MN
- 1998: Hi De Ho Comics, Mark & Robert Hennessey, Santa Monica, CA • Meltdown Comics & Collectibles, Gaston Dominquez & Ilia Carson, Los Angeles, CA
- 1997: Chicago Comics, Eric Kirsammer, Chicago, IL • Central City Comics, Steve Snyder, Columbus, OH • That’s Entertainment, Paul Howley, Fitchburg & Worchester, MA
- 1996: Kings Comics, George Vlastaras, Sydney, Australia • Atlantis Fantasyworld, Joe & Dottie Ferrara, Santa Cruz, CA
- 1995: Flying Colors, Joe Field, Concord, CA • Lambiek, Kees Kousemaker, Amsterdam, Holland
- 1994: Golden Apple, Bill Liebowitz, Los Angeles, CA • Dr. Comics & Mr. Games, Leon Cowen & Michael Pandolfo, Oakland, CA
- 1993: Moondog’s, Gary Colobuono, Chicago, IL • The Beguiling, Sean Scoffield & Steve Solomos, Toronto, Ontario, Canada • Comic Relief, Rory Root & Mike Patchen, Berkeley & San Francisco, CA