Contest of Challengers
From Challengers Comics + Conversation in Chicago, this is Contest of Challengers, a podcast about the business of running a comics shop. From publishers to distributors to the sales floor itself, each episode deals with the issues of the week and how they affect the way Challengers conducts business, and that includes the actual comic book issues themselves. Hosted by Patrick Brower and W. Dal Bush. Thanks for listening. Keep Reading Comics!
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 68 minutes
- Episodes
- 750
- Years Active
- 2009 - 2025
LADDER UP!
LADDER UP! •We have a new ladder and Patrick is very excited for it. •Why one fan does not like the current Buffy comics. •Getting next week’s Marvel Comics on Friday rather than Monday. •How to ring…
NOT MORE DIFFICULT; WORSE
NOT MORE DIFFICULT; WORSE (this episode's title is not in reference to Manage Comics) •We’re in our new Studiotorium (TM & © 2022 Challengers Inc) •Checking in with Andrew •How to do an exchange in S…
WE DID NOT STEAL YOUR PHONE
WE DID NOT STEAL YOUR PHONE •I promise you; we did not steal your phone. •Which of next week’s books have we read? “We” being Dal, as Patrick is so far behind. •This was the week we switched to Manag…
A “Good Problem” is Still a Problem
A “Good Problem” is Still a Problem •Early solicits for April that we can’t do anything with yet. •Comic news websites. •Too much talk about Doctor Who. •We still don’t “get” social media. •Looking a…
A Christmas Episode
•Retail at Christmas. •Somewhere in the episode will be the yearly playing of Stan Lee’s “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” and a new Holiday song from The Divorce Gun! •Random shipments all througho…
The Time Dilation of C2E2
The Time Dilation of C2E2 •Checking in with Jeanna! •C2E2 2021 •C2E2 Pandemic protocol •Consignment woes •What we bought at C2E2 •Checking in with Molly Jane
Finalizing Code
Finalizing Code •It’s a Blind Bag, uh, unbagging! And there’s an advent calendar! •The Manage Comics functionality we’re hoping for. •A NEW (recurring??) segment! •Letter carrier blues. •The good and…
Space is Flexible
Space is Flexible •It’s “Old Wound” Friday! •Rule #1 of Challengers was in FULL EFFECT lately. •It’s a MASSIVE week for both Marvel and DC and both of those deliveries arrived today. •Decorating for …
The Vocal 5%
•The evolution of Pullbox (a precursor to its impending death). •Creating items in Manage Comics. •It’s been a rough week for the comics industry but a VERY rough week for justice. •Putting in the FI…
Ransomware
Ransomware No wrestling toys were bought during the recording of this episode. (That is a lie) •Invoicing inconstancies between the various comic publishers. •A ransomware attack on Diamond Comic Dis…
“Gentrifiers!!”
“Gentrifiers!!” Not subscribing people to Soul Plumber. We do not want to hang your flyer. Prepare for new in-store signage! Giving our gaming section a facelift. The different types of comic book bu…
A Basic Level of Competence
"A Basic Level of Competence" •Ordering comics for Local Comic Shop Day. •Marvel Legends restock. •Data conversion for Shopify from ComicSuite. •Tuesday’s massive delivery. •Patrick got to unpack a P…
Carny Pieces of $#!T
"Carny Pieces of $#!T" Adventures at FedEx Office. Some people who want to buy Pokemon cards are really great people. Others, however… Week 2 of not being allowed to sell certain Image titles. Some r…
Thirsty For Them Robins
"Thirsty For Them Robins" •Pokemon Celebrations allocations were so steep we didn’t even have a chance to order. •Ch-ch-ch-change… as in coins. •Social content and platforms that just aren’t for us. …
Don’t Make Us Choose Between Your Money and Satan
"Don’t Make Us Choose Between Your Money and Satan" Wait… ARE we devil worshipers?? A full week of Molly Jane Challenger! And she did…? This store is for the young at heart. The first experience rece…
Generally Managing
"Generally Managing" A brief, yet thorough, history of all past Challengers co-workers. After months of hints and clues, probably the 4th biggest announcement we could make… The futures of Challenger…
Multiples of the Normal Cost
"Multiples of the Normal Cost" Please wear your mask over your mouth AND nose. Patreon Free Comic Book Day questions (answered 1 month late). DC, Lunar AND FedEx all have the potential to upset our w…
It’s Soul-Crushing
"It’s Soul-Crushing" Playing with our new 1D, Bluetooth, cordless barcode scanner. The overallocation of both subscriptions and special orders in ComicSuite. Last episode we talked about having to do…
Weirder and More Stable
"Weirder and More Stable" It’s the first week for Marvel Comics single issue Final Order Cutoffs thru Penguin Random House. Manage Comics’ most recent thought stream makes our excitement build, even …
Please Choose Returnability
"Please Choose Returnability" Still no DC data in ComicSuite means no one can subscribe to November’s DC books (UPDATE: DC books have been added to the system after we recorded). We’re kind of bad a …