Contest of Challengers

UNDER THE DOME WITH STUBHY •Kaustubh "Stubhy" Pandav joins Patrick for an in-depth conversation about the creatin of his novel "THE DOME." •Patrick and Stubhy go way back, but how far back? •Did Patrick actually draw cover art for a Lucky Boys Confusion EP? (Kind of? But also, not really) •Do you like cat-shoes? •Stubhy shares the 20+ year journey of getting THE DOME out of his head and onto the p...

...AND THE KITTIES ARE SLEEPING •Patrick tells Dal 2 quick stories from Fri, Sep 25. •PAC on the mic. •Patrick chats with ANDREA BELL from Sat, Sep 26. •New York Comic Con news as it happens! •Our Marvel Midnite Midnight launch! •AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1000 ordering and sales. •A quick recap of our RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE signing event! •Notes for our upcoming DANIEL WARREN JOHNSON event. (the title of th...

100 + 700 •This is a sequel to Episode #100! •Thomas Negovan returns to CoC to interview us all over again! •This episode had to be stitched together from 6 separate audio files of varying noise levels, and thus heavy digital clean-up was necessary. •Tom has a wonderfully infectious laugh that Cleanvoice unfortunately deleted while processing this episode. Which is too bad because there was a lot...

THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES •Publishers adding formats = technical issues. •A Saga "update". •Dal's Imposter Syndrome. •Hiring local artists. •Looking ahead to Free Comic Book Day 2027. •Local Comic Shop Day will have happened by the time you hear this. ---------- Contest of Challengers #799 This episode is dedicated to All Elite Comedy. T heme: Adam WarRock (with Mikal kHill) Intro: James VanOsdol (wi...

A +ZERO CHANCE •How our events are changing with the times. •Searchable creator links. •Dal's first-ever Blokees build. •Tote bags! •Challengers (and your?) support for the Alzheimer's Association. https://challengerscomics.com/products/frans-kitchen-cookbook https://fourfran.com ---------- Contest of Challengers #798 This episode is also dedicated to "The Butcher" Andy Williams. T heme: Adam WarR...

LOGIC DICTATED •This week was not a huge week of comics or sales. •Superhero comics tropes. •Corner boxes on covers. •We love inkers!! •Spawn 77 sales. •Current at-the-counter annoyances. •Are you watching Lanterns? •Challengers Similar Cinema Suggestion.     ---------- Contest of Challengers #797 This episode is dedicated to "The Butcher" Andy Williams. T heme: Adam WarRock (with Mikal kHill) Int...

THE END OF READING •Is it too hot to shop for comics in Chicago? •WE love our new CTA Tracker! •Thanks, Patrons! •The end of reading? •Will Christmas Crisis return in 2026? • KYLE HIGGINS and LANCE BRIGGS are coming back to Challengers! •We tease some other huge upcoming events. •Dal is still excited for the Marvel Midnight books, but Patrick didn't get the chance to read them. *frowny face* •Subs...

SIGNS OF THE TIME •Minor weekly reordering annoyances. •When customers buy comic supplies. •Erroneous AI. •Giving directions to other shops. •Comics talked about in this episode:      MIDNIGHT X-MEN #1      MIDNIGHT SPIDER-MAN #1 •Do you find value in our "NEW FIRST ISSUE" and " NEW PRINTING " shelf signs?     ---------- Contest of Challengers #795 This episode is dedicated to Dolly. Now and Forev...

SAME-DAY LOCAL DELIVERY!! •We test out our new Same-Day Local (Chicagoland) Delivery Service! •The 'whys' and 'hows' of wanting local delivery. •So many upcoming events!! •Shout out to NotSoFunnyBooks on IG. •Never respond to the comments, Patrick.     ---------- Contest of Challengers #794 This episode is dedicated to Trexity. T heme: Adam WarRock (with Mikal kHill) Intro: James VanOsdol (with Da...

MY NORMAL STATE IS "F" THOSE GUYS •Positive Marvel changes for retailers!      MIDNIGHT bundles, discounts & lit sign!      Updated Foil Cover pricing!      Possible cover letters…? •A Marvel x Star Wars crossover mini-series for 2027! •The continual Warren Ellis problem. •Adding "A Graphic Novel" to titles.     ---------- Contest of Challengers #793 This episode is dedicated to the incomparable M...

PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE IS MY DEFAULT •We do not ship comic storage boxes. •A long Yelp review story. •Pokemon bros. •Contest of Challengers passed our 17 th Podcastiversary!! •Marvel Compact Comics?!? ---------- Contest of Challengers #792 This episode is dedicated to Matt Kindt and Brian Hurtt. T heme: Adam WarRock (with Mikal kHill) Intro: James VanOsdol (with Danhausen and Chris Jericho) Outro: Jam...

GET TO THE FIREWORKS FACTORY •Unpacking some questionable comics. •Batman Day 2026! •Upcoming events, plus a tease! •Cakeworthy. •Upcoming exterior transformation. •End-of-the-year ordering structure. •Comics talked about in this episode:      SIX OF US #1      HAMMERFIST #1      TERMINAL #1     ---------- Contest of Challengers #791 This episode is dedicated to David Harper's Eisner win! T heme:...

A NEW ANYTHING •Don't forget our MATT KINDT/BRIAN HURTT is coming up! Fri, Aug 7!! •Brief Marvel solicits for October. •Pitching the books of our friends. •We do not sell everything we get in the store. •Dal's eBay account (transforming robots for sale!)     ---------- Contest of Challengers #790 This episode is dedicated to Arunimus Prime. T heme: Adam WarRock (with Mikal kHill) Intro: James VanO...

LET THEM COOK It's a deeper dive on fewer topics this week! •A non-comic public service announcement. •Marvel is moving their publishing offices from NY to Burbank, CA! •Marvel Comics announces a NEW Editor-in-Chief!! •Miniseries getting extensions.     ---------- Contest of Challengers #789 This episode is dedicated to Richard Hendrick. T heme: Adam WarRock (with Mikal kHill) Intro: James VanOsdo...

DELUGE! *Dal's microphone turned off before the recording, so his audio was only captured by Patrick's mic. We used Cleanvoice to reconstruct Dal's audio, and it sounds great, but a few parts sound like gibberish. Well, more gibberish than normal* •Flooding! •UPS shipment emails. •Distributor emails (again). •SDCC announcement roll outs. •Speculation on a new DC/Marvel Crossover! •New Challengers...

IT DOESN'T. WHO CARES. •It starts petty… •Customer service is key. •Thanks, Patrons! •The American Library Association's Annual Conference was in Chicago and we got to see a bunch of our publishing friends! •DC Execs visit the shop! •MATT KINDT and BRIAN HURTT are coming back to Challengers! •We still have signed copies of our DWJ Exclusive Cover! ---------- Contest of Challengers #787 This episod...

HORROR MOVIE LIZARD MAN •Lots of new toys in-store and coming our way! •Only Dal is allowed an Aztek figure! •An update on the availability of Pennies! •MIDNIGHT(s)! •DC Animation announcements. •The Back Issue Blind Box mystery! ---------- Contest of Challengers #786 This episode is dedicated to Milly Alcock.. T heme: Adam WarRock (with Mikal kHill) Intro: James VanOsdol (with Danhausen and Chris...

ACTIVELY MANAGING •Print catalogs vs digital catalogs. •Huge Lunar shipment on the horizon! •Upcoming signings! •Credit card processing fees being passed to the consumer is getting out of hand. •Pennies!! •A Chicago spice bag! •New title announcements for September! ---------- Contest of Challengers #785 This episode is dedicated to Gerry Conway. T heme: Adam WarRock (with Mikal kHill) Intro: Jame...

KEEP ESCAPING IT •Opening a Marvel 616 Doom Blind Bag. •BIG week of "A" list Releases. Or is it? •MASK #1 Blind Bag surprise! •Huge spoilers from the Big 2 publishers, before the corresponding books are released!! •Adjective titles. •Warrior Cats. •Jed McKay's MOON KNOGHT is a consistent joy. ---------- Contest of Challengers #784 This episode is dedicated to Keith Kremer. T heme: Adam WarRock (wi...

THE SAND IN OUR STARS •Why was "Miles Morales" written in the show notes for 5 episodes ago? •Paul Chadwick and CONCRETE are back! •Are super-hero comics prime summer reading? •The unionization of Dark Horse workers. •The DC Blackout boycott. •Are YOU excited for the Supergirl movie? •Please don't overuse Jeff! ---------- Contest of Challengers #783 This episode is dedicated to Dianne. T heme: Ada...

"OUR PODCAST IS GREAT" The human touch has value. Not saving time. We do not ship comic boxes or bulk comic supplies. Absolute Batman reprints. Packing up mail-order subscriptions. Using/not using Discord. Non-copy over subscription books. ---------- Contest of Challengers #782 This episode is dedicated to Darby Allin. T heme: Adam WarRock (with Mikal kHill) Intro: James VanOsdol (with Danhausen a...

WALL-TO-NEW RELEASE WALL What comics industry news has Patrick missed? Coordinating what's on sale this week with what's coming out next week and what we're getting shipped for the week after next. How you can see what our weekly best-selling single issues are. I really, really love the look of our NEW THIS WEEK Wall on Tuesday nights. Secret Identity Comics of Chester, England. Comics talked abou...

BTE MAILBAG Here are the topics Patrick tackles in this episode, but not necessarily in this order: Can you explain the Absolute Batman #20 printing issue? What is Ablestar? What Dal tasks are you doing? What was the process behind the new box display? Why do you guys wear suits? What changes are you itching to make? Which former employees do you miss? How do you choose the music in the store? Why...

PLUSSING THE EVENT A look back to Free Comic Book Day 2025. A full debrief of Free Comic Book Day 2026! Thanks, Patrons! ---------- Contest of Challengers #779 This episode is dedicated to every Challenger that made FCBD a smooth day/huge success! Jeanna, Lizzy, Andrew, Kate, Stella, George & Parker! Thank you all! T heme: Adam WarRock (with Mikal kHill) Intro: James VanOsdol (with Danhausen and C...

OUR 1 ST INDIE BOOKSTORE DAY What started out as an immediate debrief of our first Independent Bookstore Day event quickly spiraled out into an entire episode. Being so, no notes were taken! This is basically a full episode running down how our day went, what our expectations were, and suggestions for next year's event (spoiler: we'll do it again!). This episode is also a look ahead to FREE COMIC...