Diamond Announces 2016 Gem Award Winners
Jan 19, 2017
Diamond Comic Distributors proudly announces the winners of the 2016 Diamond Gem Awards, selected by comic book specialty retailers and celebrated within the comic book industry as an important award honoring sales success.
DC Entertainment took home Comic Book Publisher of the Year (Over 4% Market Share) in 2016. Retailers recognized DC with the most Gem Awards--six--including the shared Backlist Publisher of the Year award with Image Comics; Comic Book of the Year (Under $3.00) with DC Universe: Rebirth #1; Comic Book of the Year (Over $3.00) with All Star Batman #1; Original Graphic Novel of the Year with Dark Night: A True Batman Story; and Best All-Ages Original/Reprint Graphic Novel with DC Super Hero Girls TP Volume 1: Finals Crisis.
Marvel Comics earned five Gem Awards, including Top Dollar Market Share Publisher of the Year, Top Dollar Comic Book of the Year for Civil War II #1, Best New Comic Book Series with Spider-Man/Deadpool; Licensed TP or HC of the Year with Star Wars TP: Vader Down; and Best Free Comic Book Day Book with FCBD 2016 Civil War II #0.
Image Comics received four Gem Awards, taking home the shared Backlist Publisher of the Year with DC; Indie Graphic Novel of the Year with Head Lopper TP Volume 1; Reprint TP or HC of the Year for Saga TP Volume 6, and Magazine of the Year for Image+ #1.
Retailers also recognized BOOM! Studios with four Gem Awards, including Comic Book Publisher of the Year (Under 4% Market Share) and VIZ Media with two Gem Awards, including Manga Publisher of the Year, among others.
A panel of Diamond product specialists selected the nominees for the Diamond Gem Awards based on each entry’s overall impact on the industry, while comics and related merchandise were chosen on the merits of their sales performance and quality from 2016. Members of the most critical segment that serves the comic book-buying public--comic book specialty retailers across the United States and worldwide--then selected the winners.
And the Winners are...
2016 Diamond Gem Awards Suppliers of the Year
2016 Comic Book Publisher of the Year Over 4%
DC Entertainment
Top Dollar Comic Book Publisher of the Year
Marvel Comics
2016 Comic Book Publisher of the Year Under 4%
BOOM! Studios
2016 Backlist Publisher of the Year
DC Entertainment / Image Comics (tie)
2016 Manga Publisher of the Year
VIZ Media
2016 Game Manufacturer of the Year
WizKids/NECA
2016 Toy Manufacturer of the Year
Funko
2016 Diamond Gem Award Products of the Year
2016 Comic Book of the Year Under $3.00
DC Universe: Rebirth #1
APR160273
DC Entertainment
2016 Top Dollar Comic Book
Civil War II #1
MAR160703
Marvel Comics
2016 Comic Book of the Year Over $3.00
All Star Batman #1
JUN160203
DC Entertainment
2016 Best New Comic Book Series
Spider-Man/Deadpool
Marvel Comics
2016 Licensed Comic Book of the Year
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #1
JAN161182
BOOM! Studios
2016 Best All-Ages Series
Lumberjanes
BOOM! Studios
2016 Licensed TP/HC of the Year
Star Wars TP: Vader Down
JAN160962
Marvel Comics
2016 Best All-Ages Original/Reprint GN
DC Super Hero Girls TP Volume 1: Finals Crisis
APR160322
DC Entertainment
2016 Original GN of the Year
Dark Night:
A True Batman Story HC
FEB160250
DC Comics from DC Entertainment
2016 Magazine of the Year
Image+
Image Comics
2016 Reprint TP/HC of the Year
Saga TP Volume 6
MAR160684
Image Comics
2016 Indie GN of the Year
Head Lopper TP Volume 1
JUL160804
Image Comics
2016 Manga TP of the Year
One Punch Man GN Volume 4
NOV151742
VIZ Media
2016 Anthology of the Year
Aliens 30th Anniversary Original Comics Series HC
DEC150061
Dark Horse Comics
2016 Best Free Comic Book Day Book
FCBD 2016 Civil War II #0
JAN160009
Marvel Comics
2016 Trade Book of the Year
Jim Henson's Labyrinth Tales HC
JUL161323
BOOM! Studios
2016 Collectable Statue of the Year
Suicide Squad: Harley Quinn Statue
JAN160369
DC Collectibles from DC Entertainment
2016 Game Product of the Year
DC HeroClix Batman: Arkham Quick Start
JAN160053
WizKids/NECA
2016 Toy Product of the Year
Batman Animated: Mad Love Joker & Harley Quinn 2-Pack Action Figures
AUG150311
DC Collectibles from DC Entertainment
2016 Toy Line of the Year
POP! Figures
Funko