Contest of Challengers

NEGATIVE DIFFERENTIAL RESISTANCE •Our UPS driver’s thoughts on how the comics are boxed, guest-starring Jeanna Challenger. •The saga of our light fixtures. •Pitching upcoming comics on this podcast b…

THAT’S THE EXCLUSIVE PART •RDJ AI •It’s SDCC week! We know the official name is Comic Con International San Diego, but SDCC gets to the point quicker. •Ryan Browne is signing at Challengers in 2 days…

“OH, THE CHEAP STUFF” •No, we don’t sell Mylar; we only sell “the cheap stuff.” •"Shops Discuss the Often Difficult Year So Far in Comics Retail" (READ IT HERE) •Yes, Black Lives Still Matter. •The D…

LEGS OF ANY KIND •Office jobs. •The Toys That Made Us. •The mid-year check-in with David Harper for SKTCHD.com. •Inconsistent publisher invoicing. •OF THUNDER & LIGHTNING from Silver Sprocket looks g…

A TWO-HANDER •Hasbro invoicing. •Our Jeff & Tillie signing. •An AEW Fight Forever interlude. •The Devil’s Cut email. •Insignia covers. •The latest Tilting at Windmills column by Brian Hibbs. •Comic t…

FIREJET AND JUMPCLIFFER •Why publishers decide to do second printings (possibly). •Robert Kirkman’s fun publishing ideas. •John Romita Sr and the definitive Spider-Man artists. •Kelly Thompson!! •Ave…

WE CAN KEEP YOUR SECRETS •A change in Reward tiers. •Void Rivals #1 •What’s the #1 thing retailers want? •Kelly Thompson!! •Transformer questions. •Diamond shipping fees… •Comics talked about in this…

HISTORICALLY, NOT CURRENTLY •Business Is. •Dal on collecting. •So many super-hero popcorn tins… •The end of Moon Knight and a new start for Captain America. •Saga sales numbers. •Eisner award drama. …

TO THE MOON •When Dal gets angry… •Is Marvel raising cover prices? •Image Comics leaves Diamond Comic Distributors. •Comics talked about in this episode:      The Hunger and The Dusk #1 & #2      The…

FOILED! •Marvel Legends Puffadder build-a-figure. •Interacting with our customer-facing tablet. •The Great British Bump Off #2 misprint resolution, thanks to Dark Horse’s Amy Huey. •Recent ways Diamo…

ARTSPOSITION •Patrick is joined by the next generation of comic book fan, Jess and Allie! Two people new to Challengers and recent to comics, but enthusiastic and ready to read! Their journey has onl…

IT’S EASIER THAN IT FEELS •We’re sad and tired. •Our plans for this year’s Free Comic Book Day! •It’s easier than it feels. •W0RLDTR33 #1. •The Pre-Order discount is going away as of May 1st. In its …

NOT PERFECT = A LOT OF GARBAGE •SO many Point Of Sale choice available for comic shops! •Expanded hours! •Our subscriber discount is becoming something else… •Our Friday Morning Emails. •Free Comic B…

PUBLISHER SUPPORT •Is “graphic novel” the right word for what we sell? •Night Farters. •Patrick is okay again. •Dungeons and Dragons. •Our 15th Anniversary Party was a swell time! •Our (separate) C2E…

SWEET CONSTANCY •Challengers is 15!! •The Post-Covid Correction Period. •A deliberate lack of Back Issues. •The X-Men Timeline. •We DON’T Like Ike! •2 new Bios for Patrick! Contest of Challengers #63…

CT-HEY! DON’T PARK THERE! •Cars engulfed by flame. •Positive Shopify changes. •New Sign Holders (that no one will notice, but that’s the point). •Shelf rearranging and a much larger 25% OFF section! …

LACK OF MOMENTUM •A Challengers business fact: If a comic sells very well for us, it is usually ignored by the mainstream. •John Allison is very smart. •The missing “A” cover of Invincible Iron Man #…