The nominees for this year’s Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award, presented annually to a store that represents the following retailing principles:

Support of 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: Innovative display approaches; using store design creatively.

Adherence to standard ethical business practices.
A Comic Shop
Aaron Hoaland & Jason Blanchard
Winter Park, FL

Acme Comics
Jermaine Exum & Mark Austin
Greensboro, NC

Astro-Zombies
Mike D’Elia
Albuquerque, NM

Atomic Comics
Mike Malve
Chandler, AZ

Challengers Comics and Conversions
Patrick Brower and W. Dal Bush
Chicago, IL

Comic Book Ink
John & Sarah Munn
Tacoma, WA

Comic Bug
Mike Wellman & Jun Goeku
Manhattan Beach, CA

The Comic Vault
Matthew Sardo
Chicago, IL

Comics & Vegetables
Yuval Sharon, Danny Amitai
Tel-Aviv, Israel

The Dragon
Jennifer Stewart
Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Dragon’s Lair Comics & Fantasy
David Wheeler
Austin, TX

Green Brain Comics
Katie & Dan Merritt
Dearborn, MI

Lightning Comics
Tim Boal
Coeur d’Alene, ID

Not Just Comix
David Easter
Park Hills, MO

Packrat Comics
Jamie and Teresa Colegrove
Hillard, OH

R-Galaxy
Rick & Maritza Keefe
Tucson, AZ

Travelling Man
Nabil Homsi
Manchester, England, UK

Up Up & Away
Kendall Swafford
Cincinnati, OH

Vault of Midnight
Curtis Sullivan & Steve Fodale
Ann Arbor, MI

Warp 1 Comics and Games
Dave Bryenton & James Steer
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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From the list above, an even shorter list of finalists will be selected and announced on the morning of Friday, July 23rd at a special panel at Comic-Con International.

The winner will be announced at the Will Eisner Comic Book Industry Awards on the evening of Friday, July 23rd in San Diego.

Best of luck to the Dragon and Warp 1 Comics and Games!!!