The Diamond Gem Awards are awarded by the Diamond Comic Distributors based on a three-step process that is based on quality, creativity, and their overall sales impact. Nominees are selected by a panel of Diamond industry professionals from all products shipped during a given year and then voted on by comic book specialty retailers across the U.S. and abroad.
DC won for Best Publisher, best comic under $3.99 with Batman #1, best comic at or over $3.99 with Justice League #1, best original graphic novel for Batman: Noel, best toy manufacturer, best toy product and best toy line for Arkham City and best statue for Batgirl.
Dynamite won for Best Publisher Under 4% of market share, and IDW won for best licensed comic with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1, as well as best licensed collection for the Ultimate Turtles hardcover, and best anthology for The Rocketeer Adventures hardcover.
Sailor Moon Vol 1 from Kodansha won for best manga collection, with Viz winning for best manga publisher overall.
Image Comics won for best collection for The Walking Dead Volume 14, while the Walking Dead novel Rise Of The Governor won for best trade book.
Top Shelf won for Best Indie Graphic Novel, with League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century: 1969.
Eaglemoss won Licenced product for their line of lead DC figurines and accompanying magazine, imported from the UK.
The awards did not honor Marvel Comics, who sold more comics than anyone else through Diamond in 2011.
2011 Comic Book Publisher of the Year – Over 4%
DC Entertainment
2011 Comic Book Publisher of the Year – Under 4%
Dynamite Entertainment
2011 Backlist Publisher of the Year
DC Entertainment
2011 Manga Publisher of the Year
Viz Media
2011 Comic Book of the Year Under – $3.00
Batman #1
2011 Comic Book of the Year – Over $3.00
Justice League #1
2011 Licensed Comic of the Year
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ongoing #1
2011 Magazine of the Year
DC Superhero Collection Magazine
2011 Original Graphic Novel of the Year
Batman: Noel Deluxe Edition HC
2011 Reprint Trade Paperback or Hardcover of the Year
The Walking Dead TP Volume 14: No Way Out
2011 Licensed Trade Paperback or Hardcover of the Year
TMNT Ultimate Collection HC Volume 1
2011 Manga Trade Paperback of the Year
Sailor Moon TP Kodansha Edition Volume 1
2011 Anthology of the Year
Rocketeer Adventures HC Vol. 1 DM Exclusive Edition
2011 Indie Graphic Novel of the Year
LOEG III: Century #2 1969
2011 Trade Book of the Year
The Walking Dead Novel HC Vol. 1: Rise of the Governor
2011 Game Manufacturer of the Year
Wizards of the Coast
2011 Game Product of the Year
Magic: The Gathering TCG — Innistrad Booster Display
2011 Toy Manufacturer of the Year
DC Entertainment – DC Direct
2011 Toy Product of the Year
Batman: Arkham City Series 1 AFs
2011 Toy Line of the Year
Batman: Arkham City
2011 Collectible Statue of the Year
Cover Girls of the DCU: Batgirl Statue