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!
I really wanted to call this episode “Cold Redemption” but a far better title is “Dirty Laundry.” This one is real, honest and cathartic.
In a car. Eating cake. Not at the same time. Happy 5th Anniversary to us!
A long time ago, we used to be friends, and we talk about a lot of things this week, but the emphasis is on BKV, Marcos Martin and Panel Syndicate. Also, Marvel NOW sales, DC creative changes and th…
Here is an in order list of the topics of this episode. Marvel Toys Handful of Heroes, Free Comic Book Day, Lighting Issues in Sidekicks, Lucy Knisley, PromicCon, The Massive bookplate, Morning Glori…
This episode’s alternate titles include, ”Ephemeral Worth” and “Soul Eroding.” By the time we were done recording this, we had no idea what we just talked about. So that should inspire you to listen,…
We’re more comic heavy this episode, as opposed to retail-themed, but there’s still plenty of digressions and video game talk, too. But if you take anything away from this one, it’s that you should r…
Rejected titles for this episode include “Movement No. 2” and “Some Level of Failure.”
This episode we start slow but end big, with talk about Panel Babble 2, Sidekicks, how we shop for toys, Transformers (his name was Orion Pax!), Marvel continuity, and how to get movie fans into the …
We’d love to tell you what this episode is all about, but that would spoil our new Intro feature (that may never be used again).
SIDEKICKS, our all-ages comic room is ready! What does that mean for the Rogues Gallery? You’ll see… or hear… We also talk about Yelp reviews and Brian Posehn. This one is good; I promise.
Droolotron, Cubby_13, Pacifighter, Cribulon, Diaperious; The ROBIT BABIES! ™ & © 2013 Challengers, Inc.
Welcome to our 5th calendar year of this Podcast (we started in 2009)! We think this is a good one, with an NYE recap, a New Back Issue system, and the top-selling trades of 2012.
We take care of a little website hackin’ business first, but the majority of this is New Comic related! And most of that is Amazing #700. Spoilers abound. Happy New Year!
Happy Holidays! This episode was recorded at 4am during Christmas Crisis, with a very, very tired Patrick and Dal. A new Graphic Novel initiative is introduced and both Molly Jane and Ashly Challenge…
This week we talk some Katie Cook, and there’s some griping about event attendance, but pretty much all we really talk about is the Image ‘No More 2nd Prints’ policy. Yeah, a LOT about that.
Holiday Gift Guide; The Sixth Gun; James VanOsdol; roller coaster ordering and hope for the future.
You hear his voice every week at the start and end of each Contest of Challengers episode. Now you get to hear James VanOsdol all the way through.
Do you have any favorite web comics? We mention a few we dig and talk about some new talents (to us). We also discuss JVO’s Q101 book (more on that next week) and dig into The Comics Reporter’s list …
The Untold History of Marvel Comics is a grand discussion topic for the week, as is the prospect of opening a new store in today’s market. Also, Kyle Higgins! He’s not, you know, ON the episode, but …
This episode Patrick is joined by the amazingly talented JENNY FRISION. They talk about Jenny’s beginnings as a comic fan up to her present as a comic creator. They also drink a few bottles of some g…