Media Release -- 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.
ABOUT DIAMOND COMIC DISTRIBUTORS (DCD)—Diamond is at the nexus of comics and pop culture. Based in Baltimore, MD, DCD is the world's largest distributor of English-language comic books, graphic novels, and related pop-culture merchandise, serving thousands of retailers worldwide. For more information, visit Diamond on the web at www.diamondcomics.com.
2013 GEM Award Winners
2013 Comic Book Publisher of the Year - Over 4%
Image Comics
2013 Comic Book Publisher of the Year - Under 4%
BOOM! Studios
2013 Top Dollar Comic Book Publisher of the Year
Marvel Comics
2013 Comic Book of the Year - Under $3.00
Afterlife with Archie #1 - Archie Comics (JUL130792)
2013 Comic Book of the Year - Over $3.00
Superior Spider-Man #1 NOW! - Marvel Comics (NOV120633)
2013 Top Dollar Comic of the Year
Superman Unchained #1 (APR130107)
2013 Licensed Comic of the Year
The Star Wars: Lucas Draft #1 - Dark Horse Comics (SEP138217)
2013 Magazine of the Year
Batman Automobilia Figure Collectors Magazine - Eaglemoss
2013 Backlist Publisher of the Year
DC Entertainment
2013 Original GN of the Year
Hellboy: Midnight Circle HC - Dark Horse Comics (JUN130031)
2013 Reprint TP or HC of the Year
Batman: Death of the Family Vol. 3 HC - DC Entertainment (MAY130216)
2013 Licensed TP or HC of the Year
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Vol. 1 TP - IDW Publishing (MAR130366)
2013 Manga TP of the Year
Lone Wolf & Cub Omnibus Vol. 1 TP - Dark Horse Comics (JAN130124)
2013 Manga Publisher of the Year
VIZ Media
2013 Anthology of the Year
Dark Horse Presents - Dark Horse Comics (MAY130015)
2013 Indie GN of the Year
March: Book One TP - Top Shelf Productions (JUN131298)
2013 Trade Book of the Year
Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia HC - Dark Horse Comics (SEP120055)
2013 Best Free Comic Book Day Book
FCBD 2013 The Walking Dead Special - Image Comics (JAN130008)
2013 Best All-Ages Series
Adventure Time - BOOM! Studios
2013 Best New Comic Book Series
East of West - Image Comics
2013 Game Manufacturer of the Year
Wizkids/NECA
2013 Game Product of the Year
The Walking Dead: Monopoly PX - USAopoly (OCT128266)
2013 Toy Manufacturer of the Year
DC Collectibles
2013 Toy Product of the Year
DC Comics Super Villains: The Joker Action Figure - DC Collectibles (MAY130285)
2013 Toy Line of the Year
POP! Vinyl Figures - Funko
2013 Collectible Statue of the Year
DC Comics Bombshells: Harley Quinn Statue - DC Collectibles (JUN130317)
