Contest of Challengers

May is going to be a killer month for comics!

26 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We're not in Portland. Or ARE we? It's the Comics PRO Annual Meeting this weekend. Any news? Diamond Comics' new PreviewsWorld Pullbox has a lot of pe...

Women's Comics Night

18 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

After years of thinking Challengers didn't need a women-specific comic-themed meet-up, Samantha Challenger proves us so very wrong. The 'hows' and 'wh...

We do great with all-ages comics, but what about the Young Adult market?

11 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Patrick is worried about the snow affecting business during the yearly sale. Dal is not. DC Comics has to new younger reader graphic novel imprints. T...

DC Comics has just planned your summer.

05 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Feeling ownership of the city you live and work in, and putting money back into that very community. Thanks, Patreon patrons! Dal wants us to do Patre...

Picking up the crumbs, with fellow retailer Brian Hibbs.

29 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Misconfigured microphone settings can't keep us from talking to one of our favorite comics retailers, BRIAN HIBBS of Comix Experience in San Francisco...

What did we get in the mail? It rhymes with "cocaine."

22 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

You will not believe what came in Saturday's mail. The 1990's X-Men cartoon is responsible for getting so many people interested in comic books. Marve...

Mounting inconveniences and humiliations.

15 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Well, we finally heard back from our landlord… We talk about what that means for the future and potential changes. The pros and cons of genre rackin...

This is not what we want to be known for.

08 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome new listeners! Are you ready for a serious look at 2017's sales? We were down 6.8% from 2016 and we discuss the numbers, trends and percentage...

We are optimistic for 2018, I promise.

01 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Those 6 days of Christmas sales were nice. Not as good as 2016, but still nice. We got some real nice 5-star reviews recently, and a head-scratching 1...

MARX: A Tale of Neglect

28 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This special mid-week bonus episode is an interview recorded in Challengers with Onrie Kompan and Dan Dougherty, creators of the new real life histori...

It finally feels like Christmas (in our cash register).

24 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Christmas finally has a positive effect on sales, and it's fun to go to work when people want to buy comics! There is a brand new reason we're excited...

Happy Holidays to all the Russian bot-farms that "listen" to us.

17 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Dal immediately starts talking about Star Wars The Last Jedi (which he hadn't even seen at the time of this recording—but don't worry; he's seen it ...

The Challengers Holiday Graphic Novel Gift Guide.

11 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Patreon has changed the way fees are paid, and no one likes it. Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Solstice/Festivus Gift Ideas for the comic fans on your lis...

If you build it, they may not come.

04 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Occasionally we get asked for advice on opening a comic store. This episode is our real-world advice to someone asking us questions about opening thei...

This is culture, and culture is us.

28 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Three events in five days! We run 'em all down. Doomsday Clock #1 11:57pm Release Event. Black Friday 50% OFF Comics (Comics; NOT graphic novels) Sant...

The "CB" in his name stands for "Comic Books," of course.

19 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Holiday decorations come early, for a specific reason. WGN News stopped by to film a segment (or 5) on Local Comic Shop Day at Challengers. Don Carden...

One publisher's loss is possibly another publisher's loss.

13 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

It's the biggest comics news story of the year, and we make you wait over 30 minutes before we start talking about it. First we talk about Funko's Ini...

File down the serial number a little more.

06 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

At the time of recording, Patrick and Dal have seen Thor Ragnarok a combined 5 times. This episode's title has no actual bearing to the episode, but i...

Buy the comic, then we'll talk about it. That's your conversation.

30 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

What Chicagoland comic shop has been open the longest? Patrick really wants to read a history of Chicago comic book retail stores. Halloween Comicfest...

We guess you only want MORE Batman comics.

23 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Marvel's movie-based collections don't really work for us. That leads into talk about Thor: Ragnarok. The sharp drop-off of mini-series sales numbers....

Yes, it IS all Marvel's fault.

15 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Patrick fixed an issue with the receiver (so you can hear the new FOZZY CD "Judas" on ALL 6 store speakers!!). Dal won't watch "Mei and the Kitten Bus...

A perfect snapshot of today's comics and today's comics retail.

08 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

How far is too far from the blue line? Some comic retailers still cannot handle diversity in comics. The first 6 pages of Doomsday Clock are online an...

Policing comics thru the lens of the greater good.

02 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Should we change our store hours? How a 1981 episode of WKRP in Cincinnati resonates with today's comics industry. Why we don't sell vintage books. Hu...

Octopus Prom Dress

24 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Who would win in a fight, Captain America or Spider-Man? We've read some more Legacy issues. Dal is upping our numbers. Man do we hate those PDF water...

"The only person responsible for the blackness smothering your soul-- is you."

18 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We got another Secret Shopper report, and some new Google reviews. A brief football interlude as we check in on the Bears and the Chargers (sorry). Da...

Today's Comics Market is hard enough to manage without hurricanes.

11 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

No Dal this week, so Patrick goes it alone. After 27 years in comic retailing, Patrick has made ALL his friends thru comics. All Star Comics in Melbou...

August 2017 sales may be up the tiniest bit, but, up is up.

04 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

It's a Secret Empire post mortem, and then a look-ahead to Marvel Legacy. Dal wants to start hosting gaming nights. First up, Marvel Munchkin! Kirby C...

"I'll do anything at all EVER for Challengers. No questions asked, end of statement"

28 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is so much fun! Patrick is joined by Toonhound Stuidos' Cory Casoni and Scott "PvP" Kurtz to talk about TABLE TITANS, their wonderful pod...

Iron Fist is whack.

21 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Quick recap of our Return Policy (we do not accept returns). Dal's not having a good week with super-hero comics, even though our Metal Midnight Relea...

Connecting more dots than there are dots.

17 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Patrick, Kent and Cristina continue their Crisis on Infinite Earths discussion in the final of our Crisis episodes. Tim Drake means a lot to Cristina,...

"I'm just worthless compared to Supergirl!"

14 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

What starts as a discussion about the long-term repercussions of DC's seminal work of universe-condensing, Crisis on Infinite Earths, quickly digresse...

Why do people still live in Gotham City?

07 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to another episode of "Patrick's Ax to Grind." Dal filmed for Pointy (don't worry; we explain what Pointy is). Patrick had another rough Frida...

Where is the comic wonderment of our youth?

31 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Challengers' lease is up next year and we don't know if we'll be able to stay where we are. Donovan took a really annoying phone call today. Will 25% ...

"I literally do not live in a world without comics."

24 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

It's an interview with former comics retailer and current Direct Market Representative at BOOM! Studios, MORGAN PERRY! Comic book retailers are indust...

Those who do not learn comics history...

17 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Our state-of-the-fictional-arts recording studio is back online! An interview with (Dal pretending to be) RYAN BROWNE about the Curse Words Van Tour! ...

The Narrative of Comics, without Patrick or Dal.

09 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This one is pretty unique! It's a panel discussion on narrative and process with 4 very talented Chicago-based creators. Coco Picard ("The Chronicles ...

We are from France! Our weekend as the French Comics Association.

03 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Bonjour! Parlez-vous français? Why didn't we call this CONTENT of Challengers?? This week we go international without leaving Chicago. We spent last ...

LIVE with Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt (and CM Punk).

25 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

"To Hell and Back: A Spotlight on THE DAMNED and THE SIXTH GUN" panel at C2E2 2017. The audio has been found! Learn the history of one of comic's most...

You don't have to know EVERYTHING about Star Wars to be a Star Wars fan.

19 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Wonder Woman Day! Darth Vader Day! We've sure had a lot of "Days" recently. But how'd they turn out? We start with a story about a smug Star Wars figu...

What if Spider-Man was a Disney princess?

11 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Patrick welcomes "PIX" creator Gregg Schigiel to the show. Gregg loves Power Pack, so Dal will certainly like this episode! Gregg was an assistant edi...

Losing the PRIVILEGE to BUY a t-shirt does not give you the RIGHT to STEAL.

05 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

May's sales numbers are not encouraging. We don't look to back issues to recoup costs. We survived the Rick and Morty "Don't Trip Road Trip" tour even...

Comic book "Events" are like wrestling Pay-Per-Views

29 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

When DC's Injustice video game came out 4+ years ago we spent an entire episode playing it. What will we do now that Injustice 2 is out? We can't talk...

"I don't have time to read all this crap."

21 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This week it's an episode of Contest of Challenger. Singular. No, Patrick will not help you find where the letter "T" is in the back issue boxes. You ...

"I hear a bunch of screaming demons. Is that just me?"

15 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is told in reverse. We start with Patreon subscribers and an event listing, and then go into comic reviews (kinda) and then industry news...

"This is horrible; you guys are the worst." And other Free Comic Book Day tales.

08 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Wubba lubba dub dub! The Rick and Morty #Rickmobile will be stopping at Challengers on June 1st! It's the Free Comic Book Day 2017 after-show! The day...

"I don't believe I was identified as a Secret Shopper." Incorrect.

30 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Dal was planning to carry the new comic by recording artist Lights. Patrick chose Gwar. That leads into other band comics, like Slayer, My Chemical Ro...

Your back issue bins are littered with new ideas.

24 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This episode's title is a quote from DC's Dan DiDio. It's a good quote, but we never actually mention it in the episode. I mean, you'll figure out whe...

We'll be Damned if we do one more event with creators Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt.

17 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Star Wars Celebration is a thing, that we're not at, yet we still talk about. X-Men Gold #1 fallout. Is Apple going to buy Disney? It's a BIG week for...

It's not diversity; it's reality.

10 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Eric Stephenson says nice things about Challengers. So does Gregg "Pix" Schigiel. Small things we do can have a big impact on people, good and bad. We...

You're So Sexy When You Aren't Transmitting STIs.

06 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This is the final Women's Comics Month interview episode, featuring a full-length interview with Isabella Rotman. Her art is usually about the ocean, ...

Women's Comics Month, part 2.

02 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is the last in a series of mini-interviews with the creators that set up for Women's Comics Month 2017 at Challengers. Featuring: Kat Ley...

A major change to how we shelve new comics.

27 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

New reusable tote bags. Large poster re-stock. Pop vinyl re-stock. Large all-ages graphic novel re-stock. Sale t-shirts are in. A whole bunch of new l...

The balance between wanting to read and wanting to own.

23 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

It's a special mid-week bonus episode as Patrick interviews artist Ashley Riot. What started as a Women's Comics Month interview turned into a full ep...

Women's Comics Month, part 1.

20 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is a series of mini-interviews with the creators that set up for the first half of Women's Comics Month 2017 at Challengers. Chloë Perki...

Adding coal to a fire does not douse the fire.

13 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

NOT RECORDED IN A MOVING VEHICLE! You're welcome. There's a bunch of Marvel things to talk about: Legacy numbering, movie/TV advertising and geo-targe...

The global culture gateway.

06 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This is mercifully the last of our recorded-in-the-car episodes, on the way home from Memphis, Tennessee. Friday and Saturday of the conference in one...

A better way to impart information.

26 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This is the second of out recorded-in-the-car episodes, on the way home from Memphis, Tennessee. It's noisy and raining and you don't have to hear us ...

A million miles from Memphis.

20 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This is the first of three (3!!) recorded-in-the-car episodes, to and from Memphis, Tennessee. On the way to the 2017 ComicsPRO Annual Meeting, listen...

Surrendering the legacy of inclusion.

12 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Can a geek-centric marketing firm reach the audiences we don't? Cancelling FiveStars is harder than getting FiveStars in the first place. Have you see...

I love you but I've chosen comics.

06 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

It's SALE time! We only do one storewide sale per year and this is it! We feel like our new title good will is running thin. Like, we can't get people...

Comics are a MEDIUM; not a genre, New York Times!

30 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

It's the 300th episode of Contest of Challengers! And we celebrate with… a regular episode. You're welcome. When is a collection complete? The New Y...

Let He Who is Without Internet (Com)Cast the First Stone

23 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We start with a weird and unresolved issue with 2 Saturday shoppers. Our internet went out and Comcast had many ideas on the issue. Patrick disagreed....

Best-Sellers of 2016, by the numbers.

16 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

It's a numbers game this week as we run down the best-selling graphic novels and the best-selling single issue comics of 2016. How many super heroes h...

Boost your Local Comic Shop vs. "Team Comics"

09 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Everything is new! It's a New Year! We have a new website! The interior of the store has been rearranged! All new for you! Here's a little explanation...

Happy New Year! Prince can't die again.

02 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Recorded in the final days of 2016. Mac McCaughan from Superchunk sums it up so much better than we can. Yes, we sold CD's at one time, so we can just...

Rogue One.

29 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

SPOILER ALERT! We talk all about the brand new Star Wars movie, Rogue One, and that includes major plot points, so consider yourself warned. Lots of s...

Boxing Day means UPS loses your boxes, right?

25 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Happy Holidays from Challengers! The Holiday buying season is in full swing! How do YOU shop for gifts? In-store? Online? Outsource? Gift-giving is wa...

Let's see a robot do this job! Wait, no.

19 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Happy Holidays from Challengers! We maybe start out by talking about Christmas music for a little too long… And then we maybe talk about toys for ki...

Down from steak money to beer money.

12 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Sandwich indignity! Buncha movie trailers have just been released and they mostly look good! It's hard out there for a pimp comics retailer. Retailers...

It's not a Challengers thing; it's a comics industry thing

05 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

We have our first ever Holiday sale next week. Sales are trending down across the industry because readers are no longer engaged. Event recapping: Loc...

At Last! The Alli Alleman Interview.

24 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Uploaded early for your long Thanksgiving commute! A long and noisy interview with fellow comics retailer Alli Alleman of Collector's Paradise in LA. ...

3 things we do right/3 things we did wrong.

21 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

It's Dal's birthday, but he has a gift for YOU. Maybe. Tech apologies for episode #287 and a preface to episode #290. That's not too confusing, right?...

By the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth! We review Doctor Strange.

17 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

By the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth! By the Omnipotent Oshtur! By Agamotto's All-Seeing Eye! We saw Doctor Strange on opening night, and we talk all about i...

Disappointed in America? Let's talk to Australia!

14 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

17 hours in the future! Our first-ever Australian interview! An interview with Mitchell Davies from All Star Comics in Melbourne. All-Star is also an ...

Challengers Red vs. Cubby Blue

07 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Does the Cubs winning the World Series make people more or less likely to buy comics right now? Patrick is the REAL hero of the World Series. Our Civi...

Ask me about my feminist Avenger

31 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Oh, Marvel. Oh, oh, Marvel. We have some serious issues to discuss. Cover price. Page count. Unwanted back-up stories. Seriously, 80% of this episode ...

Even more Terry Gant (Part 2)

27 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

As it seems that Patrick and Terry are almost the same person, this half of the interview is more about pro wrestling and heavy metal than it is about...

On location in Rogers Park with Terry Gant (Part 1)

24 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

It's the first time CoC was recorded in someone else's comic shop! Terry is the owner of Third Coast Comics in Rogers Park. How did he get into comics...

Damaged product replacing previously damaged product.

17 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

We're up for a Time Out Love Chicago Award for best Bucktown shop! Just where is Bucktown, anyway? Do comic books count as "media" for media mail? Hin...

Losing time isn't a problem; losing money is

10 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

After weeks apart, Dal returns to Contest of Challengers and it's like no time has passed at all. New York Comic Con is happening as this episode is r...

Jill Thompson on Contest of Challengers

03 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

It's an interview with Jill Thompson! The triple-threat of pop culture; comics, wrestling, and _________?  Her brand new graphic novel "Wonder Woman ...

He's coming 3,000 miles; you can come 5.

25 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

This is an international episode of CoC as England-based writer Antony Johnston joins Patrick and this week's special guest co-host, artist Christophe...

I assure you, we know what Snapchat is.

19 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Dal has an iPhone 7. Batman Day 2016 causes some Snapchat confusion. We, once again, sell posters. This week is an embarrassment of great comic riches...

Is the 2016 Election actually hurting comic sales?

12 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

This starts with probably too much talk about a toilet. That leads, naturally of course, into the building of our new Back Issue boxes. This is the la...

Whose fault is it when a title gets cancelled?

05 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

This one goes over the 2-hour mark as Patrick and Dal talk about: Messy store shelves The new Back Issue boxes Chicago's impending Amazon store Image ...

Frank Ocean's impact on the comics industry.

29 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In a 'rewarding' episode, we talk about how Five Stars is working out for us as a customer rewards program. Is it needed to stay competitive? On the h...

Why work for Marvel when you can work for yourself?

22 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Live from Seattle, RJ Casey joins Patrick to talk about self-publishing, small press, and working at Fantagraphics. You may recognize RJ's name from s...

Patrick lost the banana key

15 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Fridays are down, man, and we don't know why. Jesse Hedman from Minneapolis stopped by the shop. Marking up open order variant covers. Five Stars loya...

The internal metric below which we are wasting our time

08 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Emails! We're sending lots of emails! Crowd-funding to save stores (not ours). Thank you, Dal's Mom. No Comic Hub. Flashback to 7 years ago. Tilting a...

This 70 minutes of my life is value-less; I should just watch Batman: The Killing Joke.

01 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The upcoming week is a big one for us behind the scenes, as we install a brand new point of sale system, ComicHub. Patrick and Dal each got to experie...

'theres no irony in forgeing ones logo/signatures'

24 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

We Want EVERY Award! We Won an International Award but Lost a Local One. An alternative bookstore is NOT a comic shop!! Ebay interactions are ridiculo...

A Founding Avenger Dies this week, Killed by Another Avenger, and We Cannot Bring Ourselves to Care

18 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Holy cats are there a ton of new Marvel Comics scheduled for this fall! There are also many more pre-SDCC announcements. So! Many! And we kind of dump...

If Thor can be Mighty AND Unworthy, why Can't Iron Man be Invincible AND Nefarious?

11 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

What is Dal's fascination with Kate McKinnon? It's a cornucopia of pre-San Diego Comic-Con news this week! The Great Lakes Avengers are back!

Contest of Challengers 267: Spatially Economical

04 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

My least favorite part of every episode is writing this description. Also, this episode's title was supposed to be LAST week's title, but I forgot and...

Contest of Challengers 266: As Good as it Gets

27 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Patrick is joined by a very special guest and they talk about Brexit, Roman Reigns' suspension, Ikea, a non-Challengers comic shop, the first month of...

Contest of Challengers 265: Sliced Fried Gold

20 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

It's total role-reversal this episode as Patrick chats with David Harper of SKTCHD.com and the Off Panel Podcast.

Contest of Challengers 264: Green Rebirth

06 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Lots more Rebirth talk, about this week's Rebirth titles.

Contest of Challengers 263: Hail Rebirth

30 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

This episode was only 9 minutes… but then Patrick added to it. You're welcome.

Contest of Challengers 262: Table for One

16 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Patrick goes solo this week and is sorry for the terrible audio quality of this episode. Even more sorry for the passing of Darwyn Cooke.

Contest of Challengers 261: Survival of the Free-est

09 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

What a week of events we've had! Jill Thompson, Lucy Knisley and Free Comic Book Day are all discussed here. Wheee!