632 episodes

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!

Contest of Challengers CHALLENGERS Comics + Conversation

    • Business
    • 4.7 • 56 Ratings

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!

    CT-HEY! DON’T PARK THERE!

    CT-HEY! DON’T PARK THERE!

    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!
    •When the CTA parked on the sidewalk, blocking our front door.
    •Smart Filer and Search.
    •Shopify item importing slow down.
    •Here are the comics we are excited about from this episode: 
    W0RLDTR33
    GREAT BRITISH BUMP-OFF (again!!)
    TITANS
    WONDER WOMAN
    UNSTOPPABLE DOOM PATROL
    THE NASTY 
    PEACEMAKER TRIES HARD!!
    Contest of Challengers #630

    • 1 hr 15 min
    LACK OF MOMENTUM

    LACK OF MOMENTUM

    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 #4.
    •Checking-in PRH replacement books.
    •Patrick is on Episode 825 of Car Con Carne (https://carconcarne.com/2023/03/14/challengers-comics-celebrates-15th-anniversary-at-club-lago-episode-825/) plus other interviews.
    •Manage Comics has 2 really great changes this week that make life easier! Thanks, Brian (and team!)!
    •Spay Illinois (https://www.spayillinois.org/)
    •There’s are the comics we are excited about from this episode: WHERE MONSTERS LIE #4, GREAT BRITISH BUMP-OFF #1, BATMAN ONE BAD DAY RA’S AL GHUL, HAIRBALL #1, NIGHTWING #105.
    Contest of Challengers #629

    • 52 min
    YOU’RE THE WORST PART OF COMIC COLLECTING

    YOU’RE THE WORST PART OF COMIC COLLECTING

    YOU’RE THE WORST PART OF COMIC COLLECTING
    •Really good comics: INDIGO CHILDREN; NO/ONE and (hopefully) PARASOCIAL.
    •All the Variant Covers for March 15th. Also, the last time we complain about variant covers on this podcast.
    •Chargeback BS from a Pumpkin-Headed D!p$#!t with no shame.
    •The Fables Wellness Chart.
    •The sewer pipe in our trash room is possessed.
    •Patrick in Publishers Weekly (and on Car Con Carne)!
    •RJ City has some new names for Dal (RJ City does not appear on this podcast)!
    Contest of Challengers #628

    • 1 hr 7 min
    2 BUGS MAKE A RIGHT

    2 BUGS MAKE A RIGHT

    2 BUGS MAKE A RIGHT
    •Removing an item from the Shopify register during the payment phase.
    •Extra-large transactions cause large bugs.
    •Guns!
    •The X-23 Deadly Regenesis solicitation is a large paragraph of nothing.
    •2 Kickstarter campaigns of note (yes, we can be bought)!
    •Fast food apps.
    •Funko woes.
    •Upcoming books of note: Neighbors #1 (BOOM!), Indigo Children #1 (Image), Rock Gods of Memphis, Tennessee (Dark Horse).
    •Patrons!
    •Lonesome Hunters signed bookplates!
    Contest of Challengers #627

    • 1 hr 4 min
    IN YOUR MIND CALENDAR

    IN YOUR MIND CALENDAR

    IN YOUR MIND CALENDAR
    No time for notes—we’re already late!
    Contest of Challengers #626

    • 37 min
    SOMEWHERE BTW SKEPTICAL & AMBIVALENT

    SOMEWHERE BTW SKEPTICAL & AMBIVALENT

    SOMEWHERE BTW SKEPTICAL & AMBIVALENT
    •”You look like you work in a comic shop!”
    •3 Shopify support tickets at one time.
    •What Shopify considers a “discount”.
    •”The trick was… sort of pedantic.”
    •UPS BS
    •Our website is now a webstore.
    •Sale aftermath.
    •Marvel releases for May 2023.
    •Challengers’ social media audit.
    Contest of Challengers #625

    • 1 hr 7 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
56 Ratings

56 Ratings

Saint sauces ,

I will give this a shot but

While I do enjoy seeing how the sausage is made from time to time. I was hoping this would be more of a weekly review of new issues pod. I got to visit the store very briefly Wednesday when you had Daniel Warren Johnson in and it’s definitely worth a extended visit

Joseph Coco ,

Interesting for creators too

I don't run a comicbook shop, but I am involved in making comics. It's interesting to hear a shop's perspective on things and helps me understand marketing a bit better. Plus Pat and Dal are my kind of people.

College Student Loves This App ,

Spoilers and Complaining

I really think they should retire, they clearly hate their customers and their life choices in owning a comic store. I couldn’t imagine giving a penny to these whiny crybabies. These two wouldn’t survive one day doing a real job.

They keep blocking this review to boost their show. Bad show AND corrupt!

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