SDCC ’25: Image honors Australia’s Comics Etc. with Image Select Retailer Award

Image Comics has announced its summer 2025 Image Select Retail Award Winner at San Diego Comic-Con 2025. The award goes to Australia’s Comics Etc., which will receive a commemorative medallion to display in-store and a featured Q&A on Image’s social media and website. Comics Etc. can also choose a gold foil exclusive variant, which will be branded as an Image Select Retailer Award winner with the stores logo with a limited print run of 250 copies.

“Since we were little, it’s been our dream to win the IMAGE SELECT RETAILER AWARD. Even though the award is relatively new, we’ve always looked forward to this day,” said James Jagic, co-owner of Comics Etc. “We’re incredibly proud and honoured to be recognised for all the hard work and effort we’ve put into supporting the best damn comic publisher there has ever been!”

Image introduced the Image Select Retailer Award initiative in early 2024 with the intention “to galvanize recognition of members of the Comic Book Direct Market retail community that are going above and beyond to serve their customers, expand readership, and grow a healthier marketplace.” Image invites fans to nominate their local comic shops for the award, which is awarded quarterly, based on the following criteria:

• exemplary customer service
• thoughtful and exciting handselling recommendations
• efforts fostering a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere
• easy-to-browse shelving
• attractive and innovative displays
• forward-thinking customer marketing and out-of-box consumer outreach
• community engagement
• robust inventory of & support for Image Comics and other creator-owned/indie comics

“Simply put: Comic book stores are the backbone of our industry and the success we’ve all enjoyed since the development of the Direct Market would not be possible without the support of forward-thinking comic book store owners and their staffs,” said Image Comics publisher and chief creative officer Eric Stephenson in the announcement. 

Previous winners of the Image Select Retailer Award include Nirvana Comics in Knoxville, Tennessee; Hall of Justice Comics in Parker, Colorad;, Peebles Comics & Games in Scotland; and Four Color Fantasies in Winchester, Virginia.

The fall 2025 nomination period will soon be announced on the official Image website and social media channels, as well as via Lunar Distribution communication to both retailers and the public.

Stay tuned to The Beat for more coverage from SDCC ’25.