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)
Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award 2021 Finalists
The judges have spoken … here are the five finalists for this year’s Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award! For a complete list of all 16 nominees, please scroll down.
Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award 2021 Nominees
Each year Comic-Con honors retailers from around the globe with the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award, named after the visionary creator of The Spirit. When Will approached Comic-Con about initiating the award in the early 1990s, he wanted to do so as a way to acknowledge the important role that comics retailers play in the industry, nurturing the relationship between creators and their readers. The comic book retailer provides that vital link in getting the work from the creators and publishers to the public. Will recognized the importance of that link, and Comic-Con continues to recognize it over 25 years after Eisner’s original idea.
The Award is given out yearly to retailers who have done an outstanding job of supporting the comic art medium both in the industry at large and in their local community. Comics fans around the world have the opportunity to nominate their favorite stores here on the Comic-Con website. In this most difficult year, with all retail business being affected by the global pandemic, we’re pleased to once again acknowledge comic book retailers around the world. Here are the nominees for this year’s award. We will announce the 2021 winner the during Comic-Con@Home, July 23-25
All-Star Comics
Norman McFarland, Oklahoma City, OK
Amazing Stories
Jeff & Donna Kocur, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
BAMF Comics and Coffee
Candice Falkner-Craig & David Craig, and Lorenzo Garcia, Maitland, FL
Brian’s Comics
Brian & Jennifer Christensen, Petaluma, CA
The Comic Bug
Jun Goeku, Manhattan Beach, CA
Comic Quest
Kelly & Don Allen, Lake Forest, CA
Famous Faces & Funnies
Richard Shea, West Melbourne, FL
Farpoint Toys & Collectibles
Penelope Pappas & Justin Daniels, Mays Landing, NJ
Heroes Comics
Dave Allread, Fresno, CA
Kingpin Books
Mário Freitas, Lisbon, Portugal
The Laughing Ogre
Chris Lloyd, Columbus, OH
Now Or Never Comics
Aaron Trites, San Diego, CA
Red Planet Books & Comics
Lee Francis IV, Aaron Cuffee III, Albuquerque, NM
Rogue City Comics
Steve and Jami Ronda, Medford, OR
Space Cadets Collection Collection
Jen King, Oak Ridge North, TX
Torpedo Comics
John Dolmayan, Las Vegas, NV
Zeppelin Comics
Natasha & Dan Curtis, Benicia, CA
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL COMIC BOOK SHOP!
Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award
Each year Comic-Con International honors retailers from around the globe with the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award,named after the visionary creator of The Spirit. When Will approached Comic-Con about initiating the award in the early 1990s, he wanted to do so as a way to acknowledge the important role that comics retailers play in the industry, nurturing the relationship between creators and their readers. The comic book retailer provides that vital link in getting the work from the creators and publishers to the public. Will recognized the importance of that link, and Comic-Con continues to recognize it over 25 years after Will’s original idea.
The Award is given out yearly to retailers who have done an outstanding job of supporting the comic art medium both in the industry at large and in their local community. Comics fans around the world have the opportunity to nominate their favorite stores here on the Comic-Con website. The 2021 Award will be given out as part of the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards.
GUIDELINES for nomination include:
- Any retail store established in business for at least two years is eligible to be nominated.
- Anyone—retailers, professionals, fans—may place a name in nomination.
- A panel of industry judges selects a group of finalists to be subjected to an in-depth examination based on the award criteria. Recipient will be announced as part of the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards at Comic-Con International on Friday, July 23, 2021.
- Previous winners are not eligible for nomination.
CRITERIA for judging include:
- Supporting a wide variety of innovative material.
- Providing opportunities for creators’ material to reach buyers; stocking a diverse inventory.
- Knowledge: Working to stay informed on retailing as well as on the comics field.
- Community activity: Promoting comics to the community; maintaining relationships with schools and libraries; keeping active in social, business, and arts community organizations.
- Quality of store image: Using innovative display approaches; using store design creatively.
- Adhering to standard ethical business practices.