Melbourne’s All Star Comics store has been named best in the world, having been announced as the recipient of the Spirit of Comics Retailer Award at the 26th annual Eisner Awards in the US.
The awards were held at San Diego’s Comic-Con and the Lonsdale Street retailer shares this year’s award with Legend Comics & Coffee in Nebraska. They beat out 36 other long-listed contenders including Ballarat’s Heroes HQ and will hold the title for the next year.
“That was a real honour,” All Stars co-owner Mitchell Davies told Fairfax Media. “There aren’t a huge amount of international stores listed, so to have two from Victoria is pretty fantastic.”
Davies said this is his and business partner Troy Varker’s second consecutive nomination and they are overwhelmed by the win. “I can count on one hand the things I’ve won in my life,” he said. “This is huge. It’s still sinking in, but it’s awesome.”
Nominations are submitted by the comic book-reading public and assessed by a judging panel which includes industry figures and last year’s winners. Judges are looking for stores that help promote the industry in the best possible light and All Star is known for their commitment to supporting local talent and bringing them face to face with its customers.
Reports The Age, creators who have appeared in-store include newly announced writer for Marvel’s brand new title Superior Iron Man, Tom Taylor, (of DC’s best-selling Injustice: Gods Among Us and Earth 2 and all-ages graphic novel The Deep) and writer/artist Tristan Jones, who has worked on Mirage Studios’ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and IDW’s Ghostbusters.
“When we first opened the store there was already a strong comic-creating community in and around Melbourne, and we embraced that,” said Davies. “Comic book readers want to feel like they’re part of that picture.”
All Star Comics opened in early 2011. It can be found on Level 1, 410 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. See their Facebook page for more details.
