
2026 Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award
Call for Nominations
Nominations close at 11:59 PM, March 31, Pacific Daylight Time
Premio Will Eisner al Espíritu del Cómic para Minoristas
Cada año, Comic-Con International honra a los minoristas de todo el mundo con el premio Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer, que lleva el nombre del visionario creador de The Spirit. Cuando Will planteó a Comic-Con la idea de crear este premio a principios de los años noventa, quería hacerlo como una forma de reconocer el importante papel que desempeñan los minoristas de cómics en la industria, alimentando la relación entre los creadores y sus lectores. El minorista de cómics proporciona ese vínculo vital para que el trabajo de los creadores y editores llegue al público. Will reconoció la importancia de ese vínculo, y la Comic-Con sigue reconociéndolo más de 30 años después de la idea original de Will.
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 2026 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. The recipient will be announced as part of the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards at Comic-Con International on Friday, July 24, 2026.
- Previous winners may be eligible for nomination if: A) They have been operating under new ownership for at least two years, or B) It has been at least ten years since the store received the award.
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.
Click here to see previous winners of the
Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Award!