This might come as a surprise to fans of that other publisher, but DC Comics was named Comic Book Publisher of the Year by Diamond Comic Distributors during it’s 2009 Diamond Gem Awards.
“The ‘Gemmies’ are a fantastic opportunity for comic book retailers to honor suppliers and products that helped their businesses remain strong, despite a challenging economy,†said Diamond President and CEO Steve Geppi. “We congratulate the 2009 Gem Award winners, who truly deserve this recognition, and look forward to many more years of excellence from these and all of the valued publishers and suppliers that keep our industry growing.â€
Take the jump for the complete list of those recognized with the award. It’s strange that Major Spoilers didn’t win anything this year…
2009 Diamond Gem Award Winners
2009 Comic Book Publisher of the Year Over 4%:Â DC Comics
2009 Comic Book Publisher of the Year Under 4%:Â Â BOOM! Studios
2009 Backlist Publisher of the Year:Â DC Comics
2009 Manga Publisher of the Year:Â VIZ Media
2009 Toy Manufacturer of the Year:Â DC Direct
2009 Game Manufacturer of the Year:Â Wizards of the Coast (WotC)
2009 Sports Card Manufacturer of the Year:Â The Upper Deck Company
2009 Non-Sports Card Manufacturer of the Year:Â Rittenhouse Archives
2009 Video Manufacturer of the Year:Â Warner Home Video
2009 Comic Book of the Year Under $3.00:Â Batman and Robin #1 (DC Comics)
2009 Comic Book of the Year Over $3.00:Â Blackest Night #1 (DC Comics)
2009 Licensed Comic of the Year:Â Buffy the Vampire Slayer #22 (Dark Horse Comics)
2009 Licensed TP or HC of the Year:Â Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 TP Volume 4: Time of Your Life (Dark Horse Comics)
2009 Original GN of the Year: Richard Starks’ Parker: The Hunter HC (IDW)
2009 Indie GN of the Year: League of Extraordinary Gentlemen III: Century #1 – 1910 (TopShelf Productions)
2009 Manga TP of the Year:Â Naruto TP Volume 45 (Viz Media)
2009 Reprint TP or HC of the Year:Â Watchmen TP (DC Comics)
2009 Anthology TP of the Year: Toon Treasury of Classic Children’s Comics HC (Abrams Comicarts)
2009 Trade Book of the Year:Â Pride and Prejudice and Zombies SC (Chronicle Books)
2009 Magazine of the Year:Â DC Super-Hero Figurine Collection (Eaglemoss Publications)
2009 Toy Product of the Year: Hot Toys’ The Dark Knight 1/6 Scale Joker (DC Direct)
2009 Toy Line of the Year:Â Blackest Night (DC Direct)
2009 Collectible Statue of the Year:Â Cover Girls of the DCU Statue: Wonder Woman (DC Direct)
2009 Mini-Bust of the Year:Â Heroes of the DCU: Superman Bust (DC Direct)
2009 Sports Card Product of the Year:Â Topps 2009 Series 1 Hobby MLB T/C Box (Topps)
2009 Non-Sports Card Product of the Year:Â X-Men Archives T/C Box (Rittenhouse)
2009 Game Product of the Year:Â Magic: The Gathering TCG 2010 Core Set (Wizards of the Coast)
2009 Audio / Visual Media of the Year: Dr Horrible’s Sing Along Blog DVD (New Video)