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PODCAST

Contest of Challengers

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!

business entrepreneurship

All Episodes

01:12:05

YOU ARE A FIXTURE

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/12/30

YOU ARE A FIXTURE •New Release List nonsense. •Your gifts to us. •December sales, thus far. •POP vinyl ordering. •Barnes & Noble’s impact.•Lucky Devils #1 signing event! •We’re just normal men. •’Twas the Night Before… This episode is dedicated to 1 year without my Dad. ---------- This episode was edited and transcribed by Cleanvoice. How’d it sound? Contest of Challengers #717 Theme: Adam WarRock (with Mikal kHill) Intro/Outro: James VanOsdol “Patrick” Voices: Richie Kotzen, Christopher

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01:05:51

POKING AROUND THE BACK END

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/12/23

POKING AROUND THE BACK END •Christmas sales daze. •Knocking on the doorway of delinquency. •Financial mishmash. •Poking around the back end. •The same update on Diamond Comic Distributors.•Dal’s New Release videos. •I didn’t take notes for this section.•Upcoming financial changes. This episode is dedicated to Irish Christmas trees of the North. ---------- This episode was edited and transcribed by Cleanvoice. How’d it sound? Contest of Challengers #716 Theme: Adam WarRock (with Mikal kHill)

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01:05:22

THE ONGOING SAGA

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/12/16

THE ONGOING SAGA•An update on Diamond Comic Distributors.•(Lack of) SAGA for 2024. •Firing subscribers.•Loyality/Points programs.•Holiday restock. This episode is dedicated to the song “On The Loose” by SAGA. ---------- Contest of Challengers #715 Theme: Adam WarRock (with Mikal kHill) Intro/Outro: James VanOsdol “Patrick” Voices: Richie Kotzen, Christopher Daniels, James Acaster, Sue (Trent’s Mom), RJ City, Arune Singh, James VanOsdol “Dal” Voices: James VanOsdol, RJ City, Dalton Castle, Sue

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01:10:57

WHAT IS EVEN GOING ON?

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/12/09

WHAT IS EVEN GOING ON?•Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld.•A week without Diamond. •Thanks, Patrons!•Ireland. •Spoiler. Not as in we can’t tell you, as in the Go-Bot. This episode is dedicated to Guinness. ---------- Contest of Challengers #714Theme: Adam WarRock (with Mikal kHill) Intro/Outro: James VanOsdol “Patrick” Voices: Richie Kotzen, Christopher Daniels, James Acaster, Sue (Trent’s Mom), RJ City, Arune Singh, James VanOsdol “Dal” Voices: James VanOsdol, RJ City, Dalton Castle, Sue (Trent’s

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55:39

KEEPING IT MIDWEST

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/12/02

KEEPING IT MIDWESTPatrick is out of the country! Dal is stuck doing all the work! So that means... Guest Hosts!! •Who are this episode’s guest hosts?•How did they discover Challengers? •What are things like where they’re at?•In front of the divider aka pull bag (bag?) discussion. •Comics they love.•Comic talked about: THE SEASONS #1•How to be a good shopper Thanks for listening! Keep Reading Comics! This episode is dedicated to 8-hour international flights.

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01:02:00

INTERNET FAMOUS

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/11/25

INTERNET FAMOUS •No more Samsung Podcasts. •Toy shopping around town. •Your children’s names. •The Feral World Tour event. •Holiday recommendations!•Comic talked about in this episode: NEW GODS #1 This episode is dedicated to Dal’s birthday. Contest of Challengers #712

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01:06:09

OPTIMISM??

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/11/18

OPTIMISM?? •The B.O.I. Report. •Dated periodicals. •Optimism? From US?? •Dividers. •DOOM! This episode is dedicated to how unsettling Chris Evans looks with normal proportions. Contest of Challengers #711

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01:06:29

BLOOD IN THE TITLE

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/11/11

BLOOD IN THE TITLE •Controlling your reactions. •This week’s New Release videos. •DC’s initial wave of Absolute #1’s are all out. •Comic book elections. •BOOM! (and Oni) press releases for the week. •Comparing another shop’s invoice (again). This episode is dedicated to Florence Pugh. Contest of Challengers #710

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01:07:03

FEEDING FRENZY

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/11/04

FEEDING FRENZY •The long reach of Absolute Batman #1. •New website single-issue buying limits (and why). •LUCKY DEVILS #1 (by Ryan Browne and Charles Soule) is a really fun new comic!! •Thanks, Patrons! •The ongoing struggle for Pre-Orders. •The Fan Confidence Rating (via Prana DMS and Manage Comics). •Publisher Zoom meetings for retailers. This episode is dedicated to Halloween candy. Contest of Challengers #709

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01:08:16

THEMATIC HEFT

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/10/28

THEMATIC HEFT •Graphic Novels based off of bands. •Out-of-print graphic novels. •X-Books sales check-in! •Collector mentality. •How the Day of the Dead Gil Signing went. •Daimond warehouse reduction. •Diamond replenishment shipping. •Marvel FOC’s thru January 2025. •Comics talked about in this episode: CALAVERA P.I. #1 DUST TO DUST #1This episode is dedicated to Chris McCausland’s amazing Strictly performances, thus far. Contest of Challengers #708

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01:04:38

MEGAFORCE

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/10/21

MEGAFORCE •Absolute Batman #1 is a HUGE, thikk-thighed hit! •It’s all about the BOOM (Tube)! •Aimee Garcia and AJ Mendez are coming (or, were here, by the time you hear this)! •Something about wrestling fans… •Thank you, Samantha/Welcome back, Donovan. •NYCC announcements (as of Thursday). •Comic talked about in this episode: GI JOE #1This episode is dedicated to Tod Howarth’s hand-written lyrics from 1995’s Silhouette album. Contest of Challengers #707

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01:12:49

CHANGING THE CALCULUS

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/10/14

CHANGING THE CALCULUS•A broken frame. •Dal’s Manage Comics Vision Board (TM). •Website search bars. •Dal is unqualified to sell comics. •Comic shop theft. •The high rent of modern retail. •Super-fun upcoming events! •Our preferable comic book publishing format? This episode is dedicated to Mike Norton’s first Richie Kotzen concert. Contest of Challengers #706

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01:10:07

WE JUST DO WHAT WE DO

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/10/07

WE JUST DO WHAT WE DO •September 2024 sales. •The difference between different distributors’ invoicing. •Stocky importing (and what is Stocky). •Burnt out on too many comics. •Hand-selling is getting harder. •Thanks, Patrons! •The new lights are all installed!Contest of Challengers #705 This episode is dedicated to Patrick’s brother George and his brand new high-tech robotic knee.

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01:09:24

LET THERE BE LIGHT

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/09/30

LET THERE BE LIGHT •Online credit/Pokemon kids. •We have (many but not all) new lights! •How was Batman Day 2014? •Dal talks about the Chicago White Sox a little bit more than Patrick wants him to. •No change in our weekly delivery date woes.•Comics talked about in this episode: ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN #1 DAY OF THE DEAD GIRL #1 TITANS #16 DETECTIVE COMICS #1090 NIGHTWING #119 SUPERMAN #19 FLASH #14This episode brought to you by Richie Kotzen’s NOMAD and dedicated

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01:06:04

CLIFFORD T. JUMPER

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/09/23

CLIFFORD T. JUMPER •Patrick is (was) on WGN Spotlight Chicago. •Breaking our Manga section into Genres. •Another week of Lunar woes.•Comics talked about in this episode: BATMAN & ROBIN YEAR ONE #1 BLACK CANARY BEST OF THE BEST #1 GODZILLA MONSTERPIECE THEATRE #1Contest of Challengers #703

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01:01:18

FUNGIBLE

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/09/16

FUNGIBLE •Surge pricing. •Non-consecutive artists. •Good relationships with your USPS/UPS/FED EX delivery people. •Printer delays. •September sales slump. •The $2 Million copy of Fantastic Four #1.•Comics talked about in this episode: ABSOLUTE POWER #4 DC ALL IN ABSOLUTE BATMAN #1Contest of Challengers #702

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01:07:13

DAL CHOSE IT

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/09/09

DAL CHOSE IT •No cookies?!? •Updating the public. •A lunar eclipse. •The McDonalds bonus play. Contest of Challengers #701

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01:28:44

34 700

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/09/02

34>700 •Episode 700 coincides with Patrick’s 34th Comic Retail Anniversary! •No, our Challengers Choice counter dump does not hold free comics. •A deep dive into the emails we send every month. •Book market shipment packing has not gotten any better. •Thanks, Patrons!•DC Comics’ new Compact Comics standing display. •Losing a mail order subscriber.Contest of Challengers #700

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01:04:06

“HEL-LO. DAN-YELL?”

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/08/26

“HEL-LO. DAN-YELL?” •Consulting? •Retailers talk, but do they listen? •Advice on opening a comic shop. •Unpopular opinion time! •Cover design fun! •Power Fantasy #1 is STILL so good! •DC’s Compact Comics commercial. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yklMO_mPRoI •Apple wants our Patreon money! Contest of Challengers #699

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01:03:08

THE BREAK-UP SONG

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/08/19

THE BREAK-UP SONG •Little Golden Books. •3 new DC titles for November. •Checking in on From The Ashes sales. •Marvel Unlimited. •So many Batmans. •The Challengers Book Club. •Comic talked about in this episode: THE MOON IS FOLLOWING US #1 Contest of Challengers #698

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