Diamond Comics Distributors opened up voting for the 2009 edition of their 19th annual Gem Awards
("Gemmies"), which are voted on by Diamond customers (i.e. Direct
Market comic book store owners). Diamond describes the awards as
embodying the "very best of what the specialty market has to offer",
giving storeowners "a fantastic opportunity to honor those that have
been instrumental in helping their businesses grow over the past
year."
According to Diamond, nominees 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 quality, creativity and sales performance over the past
year."
Fans can't vote on the awards, but here is a look at
some of the publishers and products nominated, which provide a glimpse
at what storeowners considered some of the bigger 2009 success stories.
The award winners will be announced in early February...
2009 Comic Book Publisher of the Year Over 4%
Dark Horse Comics
DC Comics
IDW Publishing
Image Comics
Marvel Comics
2009 Comic Book Publisher of the Year Under 4%
Avatar Press
BOOM! Studios
Dynamite Entertainment
Oni Press
Viz Media
2009 Backlist Publisher of the Year
Dark Horse Comics
DC Comics
Dynamite Entertainment
IDW Publishing
Image Comics
Marvel Comics
2009 Manga Publisher of the Year
Dark Horse Comics
DC Comics/CMX
Digital Manga
TOKYOPOP
VIZ Media
2009 Comic Book of the Year Under $3.00
Archie #600 (Archie)
Batman and Robin #1 (DC)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Tales of the Vampires (Dark Horse)
Haunt #1 (Image)
The Boys #30 (Dynamite)
Wolverine #71 (Marvel)
2009 Comic Book of the Year Over $3.00
Amazing Spider-Man #583 Obama Variant (Marvel)
Blackest Night #1 (DC)
Image United #1 (Image)
Irredeemable #1 (BOOM!)
Star Wars: Invasion #0 (Dark Horse)
2009 Licensed Comic of the Year
Buffy the Vampire Slayer #22 (Dark Horse)
Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash: Nightmare Warriors #1 (DC/WildStorm)
Stand: American Nightmares #1 (Marvel)
Transformers Ongoing #1 (IDW)
2009 Original GN of the Year
Asterios Polyp GN (Pantheon Books)
Book of Genesis: Illustrated by Robert Crumb HC (W.W. Norton)
Filthy Rich HC (DC/Vertigo)
Grandville HC (Dark Horse)
Richard Starks’ Parker: The Hunter HC (IDW)
Scott Pilgrim Volume 5: Scott Pilgrim vs. The Universe (Oni)
2009 Reprint TP or HC of the Year
Bloom County Complete Library HC Volume 1 (IDW)
Final Crisis HC (DC)
Irredeemable TP Volume 1 (BOOM!)
Secret Invasion TP (Marvel)
The Boys TP Volume 4: We Gotta Go Now (Dynamite)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz HC (Marvel)
Umbrella Academy TP Volume 2: Dallas (Dark Horse)
Walking Dead Compendium TP Volume 1 (Image)
Watchmen TP (DC)
2009 Licensed TP or HC of the Year
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 TP Volume 4: Time of Your Life (Dark Horse)
