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CHALLENGERS Comics + Conversation
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 162: Floor Underpants
This is one of those episodes where the episode title is 100% accurate.
01:08:0217/03/2014
Contest of Challengers 161: Everything at Once
In an episode that actually has a bunch of comics-related discussion, there sure is a lot of talk about gluten…
01:21:5710/03/2014
Contest of Challengers 160: Good, Fast or Cheap. Pick Two.
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.
01:12:1203/03/2014
Contest of Challengers 159: What Fanbase?
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-yums.
01:23:3224/02/2014
Contest of Challengers 158: Insert Link Here
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 at all. And on an episode where we talk about people feeling welcome and safe shopping at Challengers.
01:19:0517/02/2014
Contest of Challengers 157: Quizzed-Up
ChallengersComics.com in action! No Challengerlympics. Dropped club members. And QuizUp! All this in CoC episode 157.
51:4203/02/2014
Contest of Challengers 156: All-New Contest of Challengers.Now
This episode is all about All-New Marvel Now titles, Talk Like Paul Stanley Day, Brian Posehn, Marvel Super Hero Mashers toys, and more.
01:40:2727/01/2014
Contest of Challengers 155: Expo Say
Man, Image sure has a lot of new books coming out. Plus an event 4 years in the making!
01:13:4013/01/2014
Contest of Challengers 154: Climbing the Stairs of Sales
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.
01:12:5206/01/2014
Contest of Challengers 153: Puppet Nation
A look back to Christmas 2013 and other high points of the year.
59:5331/12/2013
Contest of Challengers 152: We Made This
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 song for you at the end.
01:18:2017/12/2013
Contest of Challengers 151: Original Graphic Content
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 episode is all about Original Graphic Novels as a business model and our Sixth Gun party.
01:00:4310/12/2013
Contest of Challengers 149: Six to the Gun
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…? Also, Eugene Ahn (Adam WarRock), Colt Cabana, CM Punk and Skottie Young.
01:06:3603/12/2013
Contest of Challengers 148: Rock City
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.
01:15:4518/11/2013
Contest of Challengers 147: Back In The New York Groove
No your ears have not deceived you, Virginia; this is in fact a NEW episode of Contest of Challengers, complete with music from Concrete Cross.
01:13:1404/11/2013
Contest of Challengers 146: Clubbing Part 2 Nothin to Lose
Dal and Patrick respond to your concerns about the proposed club changes. And they talk about Villains Month and Marvel’s December solicitations, but mainly the club thing.
01:28:5616/09/2013
Contest of Challengers 145: Clubbing
Theoretical changes are proposed to Your Box at Challengers, our subscription program.
29:1109/09/2013
Contest of Challengers 144: One Man Army Chattingers
It’s another Chattingers episode this week, as Patrick and guests discuss Jack Kirby’s future Captain America, O.M.A.C., the One Man Army Corps.
01:01:4602/09/2013
Contest of Challengers 143: Variants On A Theme
Do you like yelling? In an episode originally titled “Cataclysm” we yell about, well, a few weeks worth of stored up topics. It’s not like this intro is your make-or-break decision for listening, right? We can be vague here.
01:58:3625/08/2013
Contest of Challengers 142: Not Good Enough
In order this week… Customer Bags, Ryan North and KickStarter, DC’s Villains Month, and Magic the Gathering. And about 6 audio clip drop-ins. And we cut out 4 minutes on why Patrick loves Richie Kotzen. You’ll just have to ask him about that in the store.
01:07:1312/08/2013
Contest of Challengers 141: The Boss of the Podcast
I dunno. Stuff.
01:07:5005/08/2013
Contest of Challengers 140: Anything Nice
Recorded during the 2013 Eisner Awards, Patrick and W. Dal are super-distracted waiting to find out if they won… and the read a LOT of Twitter posts. For the record, 1:09:14 is the money shot.
01:19:2622/07/2013
Contest of Challengers 139: Quickfire
Here is what is discussed… Changing discounts, Small Press publishers vs. Local Artists, Comics Quickfire, and Paul Pope. Also, someone coughs a lot.
50:2001/07/2013
Contest of Challengers 138: Event Horizon
Oh, we have a LOT of events coming up…
44:5024/06/2013
Contest of Challengers 137: Science
It took me forever to come up with the title for this episode, and I have no more energy left to give you a description. Sorry.
01:16:1417/06/2013
Contest of Challengers 136: Coterie of Challengers
Dal is on vacation this week, and it takes not one, not two, but THREE, three other Challengers to replace him. It is, as the title suggests, a coterie of Challengers this week. So of course we talk about donuts.
01:26:2210/06/2013
Contest of Challengers 135: Birthright
It’s a box episode this week as we shine a spotlight on CHATTINGERS, our monthly Graphic Novel Book Club. SUPERMAN: BIRTHRIGHT takes the stage and you get to listen in as if you were actually there.
49:3403/06/2013
Contest of Challengers 134: Gee, Axe Us
We do not talk about the Eisner Awards this week (yet) but instead this episode is almost divided into 2 equal parts about creators altering characters to suit a story and the changing viability of a perceived secondary consumer market. Or, to put it another way, Transformers comics and the X-Box One.
01:10:2827/05/2013
Contest of Challengers 133: Almost Being Human Nation
Business as usual. Oh, and the words “mom” “teen” and “backdoor” were in this episode, not necessarily in that order, but were edited out. Other than that, we pretty much stick to comics stuff, and a little Star Trek.
01:00:1820/05/2013
Contest of Challengers 132: Suit Yourself
Thank you for the cookies, Lauren (and Ryan)!! This episode comes to you from Ryan Browne’s art studio, surrounded by the sounds of all the God Hates Astronauts KickStarter rewards being packaged.
55:5713/05/2013
Contest of Challengers 131: C2E2/FCBD/13
More Injustice! Just kidding. It’s our C2E2/Free Comic Book Day wrap-up, with guest stars galore! Lizzy Challenger, Ashly Challenger, Luke Smarto, Wendi Freeman, Onrie Kompan and Ryan Browne. But it’s pretty FCBD heavy, for sure.
01:38:0606/05/2013
Contest of Challengers 130: In Just Us
The day INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US came out, Dal, Patrick and Samantha bought it and played it for almost 2 hours. This is that.
01:34:2929/04/2013
Contest of Challengers 129: Non-Stop Comic Party
We spent all week getting ready for C2E2, yet we still have an hour for you. Also this week, a clip from Pat Loika’s LOIKAMANIA #138 featuring Christopher Daniels.
01:02:3822/04/2013
Contest of Challengers 128: Get On The Wavelength
Geoff Tate, Lucy Knisley, Ryan Brown, Adam Orth and Shane Carruth are all talked about in this episode. Total name-dropping, deluxe.
01:03:2715/04/2013
Contest of Challengers 127: Forgiven and Forgotten… or Forgotten
I really wanted to call this episode “Cold Redemption” but a far better title is “Dirty Laundry.” This one is real, honest and cathartic.
01:21:4308/04/2013
Contest of Challengers 126: On The Road
In a car. Eating cake. Not at the same time. Happy 5th Anniversary to us!
01:03:0301/04/2013
Contest of Challengers 125: Lying Fallow
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 the Justice League too, but mainly The Private Eye.
01:22:5725/03/2013
Contest of Challengers 124: Always Someone Else's Idea
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 Glories, Harlem Shake and Daniels & Kazarian.
01:15:1319/03/2013
Contest of Challengers 123: Don’t Be A Hero
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, right? There’s also a, um, “bonus” song at the end.
01:15:3911/03/2013
Contest of Challengers 122: House of Hel
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 read HELHEIM #1.
01:23:2225/02/2013
Contest of Challengers 121: Shaping Your Narrative
Rejected titles for this episode include “Movement No. 2” and “Some Level of Failure.”
56:4611/02/2013
Contest of Challengers 120: Emotional Investment
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 comics of the same characters.
01:20:5304/02/2013
Contest of Challengers 119: Boots On The Ground
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).
01:11:5727/01/2013
Contest of Challengers 118: Sidekickin’
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.
01:02:5921/01/2013
Contest of Challengers 117: Mr. Flibble
Droolotron, Cubby_13, Pacifighter, Cribulon, Diaperious; The ROBIT BABIES! ™ & © 2013 Challengers, Inc.
55:0614/01/2013
Contest of Challengers 116: 5 More Years
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.
57:3407/01/2013
Contest of Challengers 115: Calling All Cars
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!
01:16:0031/12/2012
Contest of Challengers 114: Verbatim
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 Challenger join us for a quick 2012 look back.
57:2324/12/2012
Contest of Challengers 113: Meritocracy
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.
01:11:4417/12/2012
Contest of Challengers 112: Death By A Thousand Cuts
Holiday Gift Guide; The Sixth Gun; James VanOsdol; roller coaster ordering and hope for the future.
53:3310/12/2012