Diamond Announces 2013 Gem Award Winners
DC scores big and Image gets the Comic Book Publisher of the Year in this year’s DIAMOND GEM AWARDS.
Diamond Comic Distributors proudly announces the winners of the 2013 Diamond Gem Awards, selected by comic book specialty retailers and recognized within the comic book industry as the pinnacle of sales achievement for comic book artists, writers, publishers, and industry executives who work in one of America’s most unique art forms.
Image Comics was voted by retailers as Comic Book Publisher of the Year (Over 4% Market Share) in 2013. Image also took home two other Gem Awards, Best New Comic Book Series for East of West and Best Free Comic Book Day book for The Walking Dead Special.
DC Entertainment took home the most Gem Awards—six—including Top Dollar Comic of the Year for Superman Unchained #1 and Backlist Publisher of the Year, among others. Dark Horse Comics earned five Gem Awards including Licensed Comic of the Year (The Star Wars: Lucas Draft #1) and Original Graphic Novel of the Year (Hellboy: The Midnight Circus HC), among others. Marvel Comics was recognized with two Gems as 2013’s Top Dollar Comic Book Publisher of the Year and for Comic Book of the Year (Over $3.00) for Superior Spider-Man #1 NOW!. IDW Publishing took top honors for Licensed Trade Paperback or Hardcover of the Year with the first collected edition of its My Little Pony series, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Volume 1.
Gem Awards were also presented to BOOM! Studios (Comic Book Publisher of the Year with Under 4% Market Share); Archie Comics’ Afterlife with Archie #1 (Comic Book of the Year – Under $3.00); Top Shelf Productions’ March Book 1 (Best Indie Graphic Novel of the Year), and many others.
“We established the Gem Awards to give comic retailers an opportunity to recognize the vendors, titles, and products that have been instrumental in helping their businesses grow over the past year,” said Diamond President & CEO Steve Geppi. “Our vendors work diligently to support retailers and the entire industry with top-quality titles and products, and we thank all of the retailers who took time from their busy schedules to vote and acknowledge those efforts.”
Vendors nominated for Gem Awards were chosen by a panel of Diamond product specialists based on their overall impact on the industry, while comics and related merchandise were chosen on the merits of their sales performance and quality from 2013. Winners were then selected by members of the most critical segment that serves the comic book-buying public — comic book specialty retailers across the United States and worldwide.
And The Winners are…
2013 Diamond Gem Award Suppliers of the Year | |||
2013 Comic Book Publisher of the Year Over 4% Image Comics | 2013 Comic Book Publisher of the Year Under 4% BOOM! Studios | 2013 Backlist Publisher of the Year DC Entertainment | 2013 Top Dollar Comic Book Publisher of the Year Marvel Comics |
2013 Manga Publisher of the Year Viz Media | 2013 Game Manufacturer of the Year Wizkids/NECA | 2013 Toy Manufacturer of the Year DC Collectibles |
2013 Diamond Gem Award Products of the Year |
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