Originally published at: https://geektherapy.org/image-comics-announces-comic-shop-retailer-appreciation-award-winner-atom-comics-at-comicspro-2026/
Author: Newsroom
NEW YORK 02/24/2026 — Image Comics is pleased to announce that the Spring 2026 Image Select Retailer Award winner is: ATOM Comics in Poland. Fans can follow them on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
“This is truly amazing news for us. We’re deeply grateful to the entire community gathered around our store and to Image Comics for this tremendous honor. ATOM Comics is a family-run bookstore, and we’re approaching our 15th anniversary,” said Jacek Maslowski, a representative for the store. “We’re based in Kraków, Poland—a beautiful city visited by tourists from all over the world. Thanks to that, we’re able to share our passion not only with comic book fans across Poland but with readers from around the globe. Image Comics holds a very special place not only on our shelves but above all in our hearts. These are the comics we grew up on. The ones that inspired us to open our own store and make them more accessible for readers in this part of Europe. You guys are the publisher we can always count on, especially when it comes to supporting comic book shops, no one champions local stores quite like you. Because you constantly expand your lineup we’re sure of one thing—comics are alive and thriving and they’ll continue to inspire new generations of readers.”
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 ACME Comics.
Comic shops were nominated by fans via a form submission and based 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
The Image team read and tallied thousands of glowing testimonials about stores in order to select the winner. As the winner, ATOM 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 an 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.