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DC Comics Wins Big in Diamond Gem Awards for 2018

Every year, Diamond Comic Distributors asks the retailers of the comic store direct market to vote on the best of what they sold that year. Diamond says that "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 sales performance and quality from the past year." The winners, however, were just voted on by comic stores–aside from two categories recording the most-ordered comic and most-ordered publisher of 2018.

DC Comics has won big: Best Publisher, Best Comic, Most-Ordered Comic, a clean sweep on the All-Ages Awards with DC Super Hero Girls and more. Image Comics also does well with Best Backlist, Best Original Graphic Novel with Brubaker and Phillips' My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies and more. While Marvel will be happy enough with the Top Dollar win and the Best New Series with Ewing and Bennett's Immortal Hulk.

2018 Comic Book Publisher of the Year – Over 3%

Winner: DC Comics

Nominees:

Image Comics
Marvel Comics
Dark Horse Comics
IDW Publishing

2018 Comic Book Publisher of the Year – Under 3%

Winner: BOOM! Studios

Nominees:

Oni Press
Valiant Entertainment
Aftershock Comics
Dynamite Entertainment
Lion Forge
Titan Comics

2018 Top Dollar Comic Book Publisher of the Year

Winner: Marvel Comics

2018 Top Dollar Comic Book

Winner: Action #1000 – DC Comics (FEB180142)

2018 Comic Book of the Year, $3.99 or Under

Winner: Heroes In Crisis #1 – DC Comics (JUL180592)

Nominees:

Die!Die!Die! #1 – Image Comics (MAY188000)
Amazing Spider-Man #798 LEG – Marvel Comics (FEB180830)
Umbrella Academy: Hotel Oblivion #1 – Dark Horse Comics (AUG180314)
Firefly #1 Main Cvr – BOOM! Studios (SEP181285)
Rick and Morty #37 Cvr B Vasquez Var – Oni Press (FEB181698)
Red Sonja/Tarzan #1 – Dynamite Entertainment (MAR181393)
Sonic the Hedgehog #1 – IDW Publishing (MAR188177)

2018 Comic Book of the Year, Over $3.99

Winner: Action #1000 – DC Comics (FEB180142)

Nominees:

Barrier #1 (of 5) Collectors Ed – Image Comics (MAR180571)
Batman #50 – DC Comics (MAY180450)
Venom #1 – Marvel Comics (MAR180796)
Fantastic Four #1 – Marvel Comics (JUN180762)
MMPR Shattered Grid #1 Main Cvr – BOOM! Studios (JUN181222)
Xerxes Fall of the House of Darius #1 – Dark Horse Comics (FEB180011)
Red Sonja Holiday Special – Dynamite Entertainment (OCT181096)
LOEG: The Tempest #1 – IDW Publishing/Top Shelf (APR180310)

2018 Licensed Comic of the Year

Winner: Stranger Things #1 – Dark Horse Comics (JUL180419)

Nominees:

Aliens: Dust to Dust #1 (of 4) Main Cvr – Dark Horse Comics (FEB180019)
Star Wars #50 – Marvel Comics (MAY180928)
Star Wars: Tales From Vader's Castle #1 – IDW Publishing (AUG180680)
Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers Anniversary Special #1 – BOOM! Studios (APR181103)
Marvel Action Spider-Man #1 – IDW Publishing (SEP180644)
James Bond The Body #1 – Dynamite Entertainment (NOV171526)

2018 Magazine of the Year

Winner: Heavy Metal – Heavy Metal Magazine

Nominees:

Image + – Image Comics
Mad Magazine – DC Comics
Back Issue- Twomorrows Publishing
Illustration Magazine – Illustration Magazine
Full Bleed – IDW Publishing

2018 Backlist Publisher of the Year

Winner: Image Comics

Nominees:

DC Comics
Marvel Comics
Dark Horse Comics
IDW Publishing
Dynamite Entertainment

2018 Original Graphic Novel of the Year

Winner: My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies – Image Comics (JUL180133)

Nominees:

Thanos Infinity Siblings – Marvel Comics (DEC170936)
James Brown: Black and Proud – IDW Publishing/Top Shelf (JUN180747)
Lumberjanes: The Infernal Compass – BOOM! Studios (JUN181213)
Neil Gaiman's A Study in Emerald – Dark Horse Comics (FEB180021)
The Adventure Zone: Here There Be Gerblins – First Second Books (MAY181739)
Ghost in the Shell: Global Neural Network HC PX Ed – Kodansha Comics (JUL182431)
Sheets – Lion Forge (JUN181858)
Brandon Sanderson's White Sand Volume 2 – Dynamite Entertainment (AUG171504)
Green Lantern: Earth One Volume 1 – DC Comics (DEC170239)

2018 Reprint TP or HC of the Year

Winner: Batman White Knight – DC Comics (JUL180733)

Nominees:

Unnatural Volume 1 – Image Comics (SEP180132)
Action Comics 80 Years of Superman – DC Comics (DEC170241)
Jimmy's Bastards Volume 1 – Aftershock Comics (DEC171040)
X-Men Grand Design – Marvel Comics (DEC170935)
Venom by Donny Cates Volume 1 – Marvel Comics (AUG181081)
Divinity The Complete Trilogy Deluxe Edition – Valiant Entertainment (NOV172041)
Rick and Morty Pocket Like You Stole It – Oni Press (NOV171803)
Lumberjanes Volume 8 – BOOM! Studios (OCT171293)
Bram Stoker's Dracula – IDW Publishing (MAY180753)
Hellboy Omnibus Volume 1: Seed of Destruction – Dark Horse Comics (JAN180104)
Motor Girl Omnibus – Abstract Studio (JAN181088)

2018 Licensed TP or HC of the Year

Winner: Star Wars Darth Vader Dark Lord Sith Volume 2: Legacy's End- Marvel Comics (JAN181040)

Nominees:

The Beatles Yellow Submarine- Titan Comics (FEB181797)
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Volume 3- Viz Media (JAN182047)
Disney Manga The Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero's Journey Volume 1- Tokyopop (JUL182329)
Iron Maiden Legacy of the Beast- Heavy Metal (JUL181963)
Saban's Power Rangers Soul of the Dragon – BOOM! Studios (AUG181366)
Aliens Dead Orbit – Dark Horse Comics (JUL170125)
James Bond Casino Royale – Dynamite Entertainment (JUL171682)
Transformers Bumblebee: Win If You Dare – IDW Publishing (JUN180660)
Rick and Morty Pocket Like You Stole It – Oni Press (NOV171803)

2018 Manga TP of the Year

Winner: My Hero Academia Volume 13 – Viz Media (APR181944)

Nominees:

Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs Volume 1 – Seven Seas/Ghost Ship (DEC171792)
Star Wars Lost Stars Volume 1 – Yen Press (MAR182086)
Dementia 21 – Fantagraphics Books (JUN181751)
Mob Psycho 100 Volume 1 – Dark Horse Comics (JUN180383)
Attack on Titan Volume 24 – Kodansha Comics (FEB181626)
Captain Harlock Classic Collection Volume 1 – Seven Seas Entertainment (JAN181869)

2018 Manga Publisher of the Year

Winner: Viz Media

Nominees:

Seven Seas/Ghost Ship
Tokyopop
Yen Press
Dark Horse Comics
Kodansha Comics
Seven Seas Entertainment

2018 Anthology of the Year

Winner: Thanos Legacy #1 – Marvel Comics (JUL180975)

Nominees:

Where We Live: A Benefit for the Survivors in Las Vegas – Image Comics (MAR180600)
Frankenstein Junji Ito Story Collection – Viz Media (AUG182424)
Lumberjanes Bonus Tracks – BOOM! Studios (NOV171352)
Now #3 – Fantagraphics Books (FEB181556)
Anthony Bourdain's Hungry Ghosts – Dark Horse Comics (MAY180324)
Aftershock Shock Volume 1 – Aftershock Comics (JAN181139)
Black Crown Omnibus Volume 1 – IDW Publishing (SEP180775)
Puerto Rico Strong – Lion Forge (JAN181776)

2018 Indie GN of the Year

Winner: Berlin The Complete Edition – Drawn + Quarterly (JUN181666)

Nominees:

Bingo Love – Image Comics (DEC170648)
A Quick and Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns – Oni Press (FEB181690)
Poochytown – Fantagraphics Books (APR181550)
Your Black Friend and Other Strangers – Silver Sprocket (DEC171793)

2018 Trade Book of the Year

Winner: The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia – Dark Horse Comics (DEC170068)

Nominees:

Fantastic Four: Behold Galactus – Marvel Comics (MAR180974)
Bill Sienkiewicz Mutants and Moon Knights and Assassins Artifact Edition – IDW Publishing (APR180447)
Jim Henson's Labyrinth Shortcuts – BOOM! Studios (MAY181211)
Pokemon Seek and Find Pikachu – Viz Media (DEC171940)
The Life and Legend of Wallace Wood Volume 2 – Fantagraphics Books (NOV171663)
Marvelocity: The Marvel Art of Alex Ross – Pantheon Books (JUL182072)
The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide Volume 48 – Gemstone Publishing (APR181582)
Batman Secrets Sam Kieth Gallery Edition – DC Comics (MAR170443)

2018 Game Manufacturer of the Year

Winner: WizKids/NECA

Nominees:

IDW Games
Paizo Publishing

2018 Game Product of the Year

Winner: Batman: The Animated Series Gotham Under Siege – IDW Games (JUN180756)

Nominees:

Marvel Heroclix: Avengers Infinity War Colossal Booster Brick – WizKids/NECA (DEC172935)
My Hero Academia: The Card Game – Shinobi 7 (JUL183082)
Pathfinder Playtest Rulebook – Paizo Publishing (MAY182921)

2018 Toy Manufacturer of the Year

Winner: Diamond Select Toys

Nominees:

Dark Horse Comics
DC Collectibles
Good Smile Company
Beast Kingdom
Mezco Toys
Funko

2018 Toy Product of the Year

Winner: Marvel Select Thor: Ragnarok Gladiator Hulk Action Figure – Diamond Select Toys (JUL172803)

Nominees:

Batman: The Animated Series Batman Expressions Pack – DC Collectibles (SEP160384)
DC Essentials Batman Action Figure – DC Collectibles (DEC170421)
Iron Giant Diecast 1/12 Scale Action Figure – 1000 Toys (JAN188313)
Avengers Legends Gear Infinity Gauntlet – Hasbro Toy Group (JUL178729)
POP! Rick and Morty Pickle Rick No Limbs PX Vinyl Figure – Funko (DEC178162)

2018 Toy Line of the Year

Winner: Funko POP!

Nominees:

DC Essentials
DC Artist Alley
One:12 Collective
Marvel Gallery
Nendoroid

2018 Collectible Statue of the Year

Winner: Batman Black and White The Batman Who Laughs Statue – DC Collectibles (MAY180609)

Nominees:

DC Core: Batman PVC Statue – DC Collectibles (MAR180390)
Marvel Gallery Avengers 3 Thanos PVC Figure – DC Collectibles (APR182161)
Lady Death La Muerta Statue – CS Moore Studio (FEB182340)
Marvel Animated Style Spider-Man and Mary Jane Statue – Gentle Giant Studios (JAN182455)
Overwatch Mercy 12 Inch Statue – ThreeZero (MAR188055)
DC Supergirl Returns Bishoujo Statue – Kotobukiya (JUL178830)

2018 Best Free Comic Book Day Book

Winner: FCBD 2018 Avengers Captain America – Marvel Comics (JAN180009)

Nominees:

FCBD 2018 Barrier – Image Comics (JAN180007)
FCBD 2018 Disney Princess Ariel Spotlight – Joe Books (JAN180008)
FCBD 2018 BOOM! Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers Special: Shattered Grid – BOOM! Studios (JAN180002)
FCBD 2018 Invader Zim Floopsy Bloops Shmoopsy – Oni Press (JAN180010)
FCBD 2018 Dark Horse Overwatch and Black Hammer – Dark Horse Comics (JAN180003)
FCBD 2018 Riverdale – Archie Comics (JAN180001)
FCBD 2018 Comics Friends Forever – First Second Books (JAN180005)
FCBD 2018 Transformers Unicron #0 – IDW Publishing (JAN180006)
FCBD 2018 Doctor Who #0 – Titan Comics (JAN180011)
FCBD 2018 Pokemon Sun and Moon and Horizon – Viz Media (JAN180012)
FCBD 2018 DC Comics DC Super Hero Girls #1 – DC Comics (JAN180004)

2018 Best All Ages Series

Winner: DC Super Hero Girls – DC Comics

Nominees:

Bully Wars – Image Comics
Marvel Super Hero Adventures – Marvel Comics
Steven Universe – BOOM! Studios
Invader Zim – Oni Press
Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero's Journey – Tokyopop
Plants VS Zombies – Dark Horse Comics
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic – IDW Publishing

2018 Best All Ages Original/Reprint GN

Winner: DC Super Hero Girls: Date With Disaster – DC Comics (NOV170216)

Nominees:

Moonstruck Volume 1 – Image Comics (OCT170655)
Venom Adventures Digest – Marvel Comics (JUN180976)
Sci-Fu GN – Oni Press (NOV171791)
Steven Universe Volume 2: Punching Up – BOOM! Studios (NOV171371)
Walt Disney's Donald Duck Volume 11: Lost Peg Leg Mine – Fantagraphics Books (FEB181549)
Goosebumps: Monsters at Midnight – IDW Publishing (DEC170522)
Disney/Pixar's Incredibles 2: Heroes at Home – Dark Horse Comics (APR180034)

2018 Best New Comic Book Series

Winner: Immortal Hulk – Marvel Comics

Nominees:

Gideon Falls – Image Comics
Green Lantern – DC Comics
Catwoman – DC Comics
Cosmic Ghost Rider – Marvel Comics
Rick and Morty Presents – Oni Press
Firefly – BOOM! Studios
Elvira Mistress of the Dark – Dynamite Entertainment
She Could Fly – Dark Horse Comics
Marvel Action Spider-Man – IDW Publishing/Marvel Comics

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