ComicsPRO.org

ComicsPRO is the only trade organization dedicated to the progress of direct market comic book retailers.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

ComicsPRO Annual Meeting 2011: Save these dates!

At the recently concluded Comic-Con International, the ComicsPRO board of directors has announced that our Annual Members Meeting will be:

February 10-12 in Dallas Texas


More details will be forthcoming shortly.

The ComicsPRO Annual Members Meeting is the most business-focused event on the comics industry schedule. We hope you can make plans to join us.

Joe Field
ComicsPRO President

Eisner "Spirit" Congrats!

In a crowded field of nominated stores this year, the Will Eisner "Spirit of Comics" Award for retailing excellence has been awarded to:


Vault of Midnight

Curtis Sullivan & Steve Fodale
Ann Arbor, MI

Big ComicsPRO congrats to Curtis and Steve and their staff at Vault of Midnight!


ComicsPRO also extends congratulations to the finalists for the 2010 award (with links to ComicsPRO members' sites):

Atomic Comics
Mike Malve
Chandler, AZ

Challengers Comics and Conversions
Patrick Brower and W. Dal Bush
Chicago, IL

Comics & Vegetables
Yuval Sharon, Danny Amitai
Tel-Aviv, Israel

The Dragon
Jennifer Stewart
Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Dragon’s Lair Comics & Fantasy
David Wheeler
Austin, TX

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Eisner "Spirit of Comics" Nominees for 2010

Nominees for the prestigious Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award (The Eisner Spirit Award) have been announced by Comic-Con International (Comic-Con), the largest comic book and popular arts event in the United States.

Since 1993, The Eisner Spirit Award has been presented to an individual retailer performing an outstanding job of supporting the comics art medium both in the community and within the industry at large. Any retailer established in business for at least two years is eligible for nomination, and retailers, professionals, or fans may place a name in nomination. A panel of industry judges select a group of finalists to be subjected to an in-depth examination based on award criteria.

These criteria include:
Support of a wide variety of innovative material: Providing opportunities for creators’ material to reach buyers; stocking a diverse inventory.

Knowledge: Working to stay informed on retailing as well as on the comics field.

Community activity: Promoting comics to the community; maintaining relationships with schools and libraries; keeping active in social, business, and arts community organizations.

Quality of store image: Innovative display approaches; using store design creatively.

Adherence to standard ethical business practices.

This years nominees are:

A Comic Shop

Aaron Hoaland & Jason Blanchard
Winter Park, FL

Acme Comics
Jermaine Exum & Mark Austin
Greensboro, NC

Astro-Zombies
Mike D’Elia
Albuquerque, NM

Atomic Comics
Mike Malve
Chandler, AZ

Challengers Comics and Conversions
Patrick Brower and W. Dal Bush
Chicago, IL

Comic Book Ink
John & Sarah Munn
Tacoma, WA

Comic Bug
Mike Wellman & Jun Goeku
Manhattan Beach, CA

The Comic Vault
Matthew Sardo
Chicago, IL

Comics & Vegetables
Yuval Sharon, Danny Amitai
Tel-Aviv, Israel

The Dragon
Jennifer Stewart
Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Dragon’s Lair Comics & Fantasy
David Wheeler
Austin, TX

Green Brain Comics
Katie & Dan Merritt
Dearborn, MI

Lightning Comics
Tim Boal
Coeur d’Alene, ID

Not Just Comix
David Easter
Park Hills, MO

Packrat Comics

Jamie and Teresa Colegrove
Hillard, OH

R-Galaxy
Rick & Maritza Keefe
Tucson, AZ

Travelling Man
Nabil Homsi
Manchester, England, UK

Up Up & Away
Kendall Swafford
Cincinnati, OH

Vault of Midnight
Curtis Sullivan & Steve Fodale
Ann Arbor, MI

Warp 1 Comics and Games

Dave Bryenton & James Steer
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada


Past winners are not eligible for nomination.

The Eisner Spirit Awards are part of, and underwritten by, Comic-Con International: San Diego, a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to creating awareness of and appreciation for comics and related popular art forms, primarily through the presentation of conventions and events that celebrate the historic and ongoing contributions of comics to art and culture.

More information about Comic-Con can be found at http://www.comic-con.org

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

RSVP problems?

If you have tried to RSVP for the invitation-only ComicsPRO meeting in San Diego and had problems with the main Org email, we're sorry for the inconvenience!

We're working with tech support to find out what's up.

In the meantime, you can send your RSVP to Amanda at musecomics @ gmail.com or try the regular Org email again today.

Thank you!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Retailer Programming at Comic-Con International: San Diego

ComicsPRO will be hosting retailer programming this year in San Diego on Friday, July 23. All comic book retailers (and future entrepreneurs), publishers and distributors are invited to attend!


10:30 - 11:30 Retailing in the Digital Age -- Publishers are looking at more digital comic releases and the comic book apps are among the most popular on the iPad and iPhone. How can comic book stores update their retail practices to stay involved with digital distribution? What are publishers doing to encourage new digital readers to pick up print comics? Jim Lee (co-Publisher of DC Comics) and John Rood (Executive VP of Sales & Marketing DC Entertainment), along with Jim Sokolowski (COO Marvel Comics), Chip Mosher (Director of Marketing BOOM! Studios), and David Steinberger (founder of comiXology.com) will talk about upcoming promotions aimed at sending readers to comic book stores. Moderated by Joe Field (ComicsPRO President, Flying Colors Comics, Concord CA). Room 12


11:30 - 12:45 Eisner Spirit Award Video Viewing -— The Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award is the industry's "Hall of Fame" for progressive retailers. Spirit Award facilitator and award recipient Joe Ferrara (Atlantis Fantasyworld, Santa Cruz, CA) shows the video presentations for this year's award finalists, with discussion about each nominated retailer, the store’s display techniques, and the other notable features. Hey, retailers! Steal some good ideas here! Room 12


1:00 - 2:00 ComicsPRO Update and Cookie Break! — Hey, comic retailers, creators, and publishers! Find out all the latest news about your trade and advocacy group from board members Joe Field, Carr D'Angelo, and Amanda Emmert. They’ll fill you in on what plans are in store for ComicsPRO members, what benefits you can reap by becoming a Member or an Industry Partner, and what a difference everyone can make when they pitch in to improve the state of comics retail. All that and cookies, too! Room 13


2:30 - 3:30 The 24-Hour Comics Day Challenge -- Can you create a full 24-page comic from scratch in 24 hours? Join us at the panel as Ryan Claytor (Elephant Eater Comics) and Trevor Mersch (Vendetta Comics) give out tips and tricks to help you complete the challenge this year and have your comic included in the international 24-Hour Comics collection. Or are you interested in hosting a 24-Hour Comics Day event in your area? Nat Gertler (Publisher of About Comics and founder of 24-Hour Comics Day) and Portlyn Polston (Brave New World Comics, Newhall, CA) can tell you how to create and advertise a successful event at your comic book store, school or library. Room 12


4:00–5:30 So You Want To Be a Comic Book Retailer? -- Your first steps to having your very own comic book store start right here! This Comic-Con tradition is always a lively and fun discussion of the brick and mortar basics of launching your own career as a comic book specialty retailer. You have questions? Our panel of experienced retailers has answers! Hosted by Joe Field (ComicsPRO President, Flying Colors Comics, Concord CA) with fellow retailers Thomas Gaul (Corner Store Comics & Beach Ball Comics, Orange County CA), Derrick Taylor (Comic Oasis, Las Vegas NV), David Wheeler (Dragon’s Lair, Austin TX), Michael Ring (Bridge City Comics, Portland OR) and Diamond Comic Distributors Outside Sales manager Dave Hawksworth. This panel is held in Room 32AB


5:45 - 6:30 Branching Out: The National Comic Book Store Franchise -- David Wheeler (Dragon's Lair, TX and WA) talks about his emerging national franchise of comic book stores and the challenges and benefits of operating multiple locations with 2-store owner Carr D'Angelo (Earth-2 Comics, Sherman Oaks and Northridge, CA). The panel is aimed at retailers who are interested in opening a second store and also at new entrepreneurs who are interested in joining a new national franchise! Room 12

See you in San Diego!