Yay! Our pals took home the prestigious award while attending this year's ComicsPRO event.
When the Image Comics press release announcing Four Color Fantasies as their Winter Image Select Retailer Award winner arrived in our inbox, we let out a giddy scream. It was in public. We did get stares. We did not care because our good friends received some tremendous, much-deserved recognition for the incredible work they do every day in Winchester, Virginia.
Anyone who has followed Comic Book Couples Counseling knows the legend of Four Color Fantasies. They are our co-sponsors of the Alamo Drafthouse Comic Book Film Club that we do every month (the next showing is on March 9th at 5:00 PM, Josie and the Pussycats, complete with a Dan Parent virtual introduction). Every year, they host their Charity Cover Sketch Auction, which benefits the Literacy Volunteers of the Winchester Area. Since 2019, they've raised over $40,000 for their community! They are an essential hub of kindness and knowledge, transforming new readers into life-long readers on the regular.
If you want to know how they do what they do, click on the image below and listen to our latest Support Your Local Comic Shop episode, where we talk with manager Erik C. Jones. However, before you do that, bask in the glory of the press release itself, posted - in full - below the image.
Image Comics Names Four Color Fantasies as Their Image Select Retailer Award Winner
IMAGE COMICS ANNOUNCES COMIC SHOP RETAILER APPRECIATION AWARD WINNER FOUR COLOR FANTASIES IN VIRGINIA AT COMICSPRO TODAY
GLENDALE, Calif. 02/21/2025 — Image Comics’ Winter 2025 Image Select RetailerAward winner is: Four Color Fantasies in Winchester, Virginia. The winner was announced earlier today, Friday, February 21 at the ComicsPRO retailer event in Glendale, California.
“We've carried Image books since the day the company started,” said Eric Jones of Four Color Fantasies. “Dig through our back issues and you'll find everything from Youngblood all the way to The Sacrificers and everything in between. We are beyond pleased to be chosen as an Image Select Retailer!”
Mike Kwolek, of Four Color Fantasies, added: “Image has been a part of our new comic mix from when they started in 1992, and we are proud to carry a large selection of their back issues, new products and trades. Thanks for a great first 28 years, and here's to our next 28 years of partnership!”
The store garnered in the highest number of nominations from customers. One customer, Kate, raved: "I went in there after a family member died and asked the two men working to find me books that would make me ‘ugly cry.’ They were tripping over themselves, competing, trying to find their favorite tearjerkers. I ended up with God Country and Murder Falcon. Both were successful at making me ugly cry."
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 Peebles Comics & Games in Scotland.
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
The Image team read and tallied thousands of glowing testimonials about stores in order to select the winner. As the winner, Four Color Fantasies 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.
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