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!
We talk about how our title sales rate against the national average, with Batman = 100. We talk about Hellblazer writers, and mention the name “Ennis” many, many times. We talk next year’s comic book…
It’s our annual Free Comic Book Day wrap-up episode, and this time it’s not negative! I know! We’re just as surprised as you!
Whoops. Completely forgot to post this on time. Was too busy working on the June 2014 orders. Always some other Challengers thing gets in the way.
So weird recording this in the light… Amazon buys ComiXology. Iron Fist, Ghost Rider and Shang-Chi. And, Lumberjanes’ Noelle Stevenson.
Music! We play a lot of it in the store, but do you actually LIKE it? We don’t care.
RICHAAAAARRRRDS!!! Also, we turn 6.
This is one of those episodes where the episode title is 100% accurate.
In an episode that actually has a bunch of comics-related discussion, there sure is a lot of talk about gluten…
More noise-yums for yer earholes. The return of bike messenger delivery talks, paying for things at many, many cons, and brand new event announcements.
23 years as retailers and we still can’t order right. New Warriors, Mighty Avengers and other Marvel talk. ToyFair 2014 and what we’re excited for. And more. Open them earholes and prepare for noise-…
Oh man… we’re just going to save time and apologize to everyone right now. We have the best of intentions, but some of this may be misconstrued as deliberately insensitive, and that is not our intent…
ChallengersComics.com in action! No Challengerlympics. Dropped club members. And QuizUp! All this in CoC episode 157.
This episode is all about All-New Marvel Now titles, Talk Like Paul Stanley Day, Brian Posehn, Marvel Super Hero Mashers toys, and more.
Man, Image sure has a lot of new books coming out. Plus an event 4 years in the making!
It’s the first episode of 2014, so after some current news, that means a look back at the best-selling graphic novels of 2013.
A look back to Christmas 2013 and other high points of the year.
This episode is 90% DC Comics sales numbers over the past 10 years and how the ranking differs for Challengers. There’s more, but it’s really sales numbers-heavy this episode. And an Adam WarRock son…
We solve the mystery of what to do for Episode #150, by skipping #150 altogether! No, that’s not true; we have only adjusted to the proper episode numbering (thanks to Episode #100.5). Anyway, this e…
Bill Willingham, Cameron Stewart and Christopher Mitten were all just here. Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt will be here. But man do we love playing QuizUp. And just who, WHO is this week’s co-host…? Als…
Lone survivor of a dying planet, Aw Yeah Comics Publisher, Chris “Zod” Smits joins Patrick to discuss Byrne/Claremont X-Men, Chicago KickStarter domination, and self-publishing in today’s market. Yes…