Image Comics has announced that the Fall 2025 Image Select Retailer Award winner is: ACME Comics in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The Image Select Retailer Award is an initiative from Image 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. The previous winner of the award was Comics, Etc in Australia.

Comic shops were nominated by fans via a form submission and based on on criteria such as:

• exemplary customer service
• thoughtful and exciting hand-selling 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

In 1992 I was a sophomore in high school and was pretty deep into comics thanks to ACME Comics. So I knew the names. Jim Lee. Rob Liefeld. Todd McFarlane. Erik Larsen. I had a few comics from publishers who were not Marvel, but had never been there at the start of anything like this new Image Comics thing. Totally new concepts from the big names of the day at the height of their corporate comics powers. I was right there for the start of Image Comics. Because ACME Comics carried them. And ACME Comics would support the Image brand from that time through to my time as an employee in 1996. I was behind the counter to carry and represent to the public, the single issue starts of groundbreaking series like Powers, Invincible, The Walking Dead, East of West, Saga, Chew, Nailbiter, Criminal, and the other series that are now evergreen best sellers in graphic novel form. Now, in 2025, as owner of ACME Comics, I continue to introduce new readers to the brand through series like The Moon Is Following Us, Exquisite Corpses, and gateway to Image Comics series like the Energon Universe. ACME Comics will always stand by the very best of the creator-owned aspect of the comics industry, the concepts, production value, and retail support that set Image Comics apart. Thank you to all ACME Comics staff who each have their own stories of when and how they connected to the Image Comics label and their enthusiasm in introducing that label to new people daily. Thank you to our outstanding clientele who took the leap into creator-owned material through ACME Comics and did so with Image Comics. Image Comics has transformed through the years, but remains the leader in creator-owned comic books and graphic novels. It’s still here and I am proud to represent that same brand that captivated me back in 1992 for brand new readers today. I’m probably doing it right now.

-Jermaine Exum, owner of ACME Comics, a shop which is frequently nominated for Eisner Awards and was first established in 1983

The Image team read and tallied thousands of glowing testimonials about stores in order to select the winner. As the winner, ACME Comics, will receive:

• a commemorative medallion to display with pride
• a spotlight Q&A to be featured on Image Comics’ social media platforms and Website
• the store’s choice of a gold foil exclusive variant, branded as an Image Select Retailer Award winner, with store logo (limited to 250 copies).

The Local Comic Shop is the sales backbone of the comic book industry, and sadly, the least appreciated when it comes to award recognition. The Image Select Retailer Award is a way to reward and spotlight stores that have done exemplary work expanding the audience, and evangelizing the medium to new readers. Image Comics feels that there is not enough being done to point out stores that are raising the bar, changing the marketplace, and building readership, and this award is meant as a fun way to help repair that oversight.

The next Image Select Retailer Appreciation Award nomination window will be announced soon via the official Image website, social media, and via Lunar Distribution communication, to retailers and the public for those interested in nominating their store.