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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!

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All Episodes

01:03:48

PROMOTIONAL MUSCLE

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/08/12

PROMOTIONAL MUSCLE •Sponsors! •Inventory needs to be synched.•A Manage Comics correction.•So many new #1 issues per week.•Promotional muscle.•Snap-It’s! Contest of Challengers #697

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01:10:14

IT’S NOT IN MY DNA

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/08/05

IT’S NOT IN MY DNA •July 2024 sales vs July 2023 sales. •The worst team in baseball.•Comparing our ordering vs another store.•Foil cover pricing.•Comics talked about in this episode: ZERO HOUR 30TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL GOTHAM CITY SIRENS #1 AUTUMN KINGDOM #1 JENNY SPARKS #1 STANDSTILL #1 DC VS VAMPIRES WORLD WAR V #1Contest of Challengers #696

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46:51

CONNECTION

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/07/29

CONNECTIONSorry, but this episode was recorded in the car. It’s been a busy week and there was no other time to get together and do it. It’s also a little shorter than usual, so that’s strike 2. But we do manage to talk about some industry news (Marvel ramping up their QR page usage), some SDCC stories, and run down the full slate of DC Comics creator changes starting in October. Contest of Challengers #695

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01:09:24

COIL VOLTAGE

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/07/22

COIL VOLTAGE •Zdarsky Comic News •Powerpuff Girls #1 is so much fun! •Giveaways being given to the right people. •ALL IN and Absolute DC.•A last-second security alarm call! Contest of Challengers #694

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01:13:35

FOR STABILITY REASONS

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/07/15

FOR STABILITY REASONS •How the video game Zenless Zone Zero is like working in a comic shop.•BIG Manage Comics update! •Gettin’ them ducts cleaned!•DSTLRY leaves Lunar for Diamond!•We actually like Lunar as a comic distribution company.•Penguin Random House buys BOOM! Studios!•When publishers reuse terminology, such as “absolute” or “ultimate”. Contest of Challengers #693

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01:05:17

IT’S NOT AN ERA

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/07/08

IT’S NOT AN ERA •Challengers Shelf Sponsorship is live! https://challengerscomics.com/products/shelf-sponsorship •The Future of The X-Men starts Now!•Thanks, Patrons!•Comics talked about in this episode: X-MEN #1 POWER FANTASY #1, #2 NICE HOUSE BY THE SEA #1 RED BEFORE BLACK #1 KILL ALL IMMORTALS #1, #2Contest of Challengers #692

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01:07:31

IT’S JUST NOISE

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/07/01

IT’S JUST NOISE •The new weekly delivery schedule for new comics. •Marvel’s stealth release of Moon Knight Fist of Khonshu #0. •DC’s confidence in Absolute Power #2? •Notable, non-product specific challenges. •Shopify’s 150+ updates.•Diamond’s new Fandomworld. •Our products in someone else’s (non-comic) shopContest of Challengers #691

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01:15:32

“SOMETHING SPECIAL IS COMING”

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/06/24

“SOMETHING SPECIAL IS COMING” •July 3rd is going to be a very small week of new comics. •Tipping. •Marvel has quietly ended/is ending several series. •Strange Tales Marvel Legends. •SAGA, now in a smaller collection format. •Frustrations when ordering from incomplete solicitations. •Upcoming comics for September. •Other media writers writing comics. •Comics talked about in this episode: SOMETHING CRAWLED OUT #1 Contest of Challengers #690

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01:09:13

TO FACILITATE BEAUTIFICATION

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/06/17

TO FACILITATE BEAUTIFICATION •Advance PDF’s from BOOM! Studios and Image. •Shelf Sponsorship—more details! •Website Changes? Dark Mode! •Cute Animal Videos •Rifters #1!•Manga Contest of Challengers #689

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01:02:17

“SUPERHERO BURGER”

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/06/10

“SUPERHERO BURGER” •CRIME! Crime? •Spam. •No single issues; the future? •Sponsorships!! •Maybe there’s something to that burger idea…? •Comics talked about in this episode: TMNT #1 SCARLETT #2Contest of Challengers #688

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01:11:30

OBFUSCATING THE DETAILS

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/06/03

OBFUSCATING THE DETAILS •4 years ago today… •The bad and good of retail, both in one day! •Identity thieved! •Thanks, Patrons! •Taskmaster! •Marvel’s bizarre FOC maneuvers. •July is HUGE for New #1’s! •Red Band books are (unfortunately) the future. •Lack of interest in Blood Hunt/Absolute Power, even tho we’re happy with them. Contest of Challengers #687

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01:04:24

DUST BITERS

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/05/27

DUST BITERS •Item Scraping solicitors. •”New Series” Flyer for Sidekicks and Manga. •The difficulties of ordering new manga. •Adjusting our Manage Comics Bookmark. •The 1982 DC Comics Style Guide. •The saga of Black River’s new floor. •Comic talked about in this episode: SCARLETT #1 Contest of Challengers #686

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01:03:46

FOLD-ER

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/05/20

FOLD-ER •Welcome to Contest of Challengers with Charles and Dale! •Archiving comics on our website. •UPS shipments. •Card game ordering, and lack thereof. •(More) New X-Titles! •Comics talked about in this episode: LAWFUL #1 GROMMETS #1 PROFANE #1 Contest of Challengers #685

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01:03:56

GETTING A HANDLE ON FCBD

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/05/13

GETTING A HANDLE ON FCBD •What happened to our front door handle? •Smoke N Snack’s front window nightmare. •How was Free Comic Book Day? Contest of Challengers #684

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01:10:39

INTELLECTUALLY?

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/05/06

INTELLECTUALLY? •Bad customer service. •Gotta get them Back Issues! •Setting up for FCBD. •Thanks, Patrons! •Our C2E2 experiences. Contest of Challengers #683

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01:00:39

THE FUTURE OF COMIC BOOK RETAIL

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/04/29

THE FUTURE OF COMIC BOOK RETAIL LIVE from Conference Room S403 at McCormick Place, it’s the C2E2 panel discussion, THE FUTURE OF COMICS RETAIL with Patrick, W. Dal, Katie Pryde (Books With Pictures, Portland), and Dimitrios Fragiskatos (Anyone Comics/Everyone Comics, NY). The sound quality is a little iffy on this one due to recording in such a large room, but we’ve adjusted it some to make it a little more listener-friendly. But Patrick and Katie were much closer to the recording device than Dal

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01:12:28

I’M NOT EVERYBODY

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/04/22

I’M NOT EVERYBODY •Dented packaging. •Charging delinquent subscribers interest…? •DC’s 5-book release week. •FCBD output. •California’s Earth-2 is closing, and their reasons make perfect sense. •Results of the ComicsPRO Retailer Survey. •Patrick read a ton of advance PDF’s (and most of the books already came out). •Comics talked about in this episode: CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON LIVES #1, #2 WHITE BOAT #1 AIN’T NO GRAVE #1 CROCODILE BLACK #1 HELLVERINE #1 Contest of

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01:04:34

BLACK TIE

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/04/15

BLACK TIE •The Future Of Comic Book Retail •Apparently we are not a “Legacy” shop. •”Marcus” and his comic book. And a black tie. •People keep asking to have signings at Challengers. •3 new X-Titles and X-Men ’92 vs X-Men ’97. •Waaayyy too much television digression. Sorry. •Lunar’s waxy new cardboard inserts. •Diamond shipping changes. Contest of Challengers #680

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01:07:35

ENTHUSIASM OVER KNOWLEDGE

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/04/08

ENTHUSIASM OVER KNOWLEDGE •A very full inbox. •Leaving tasks for the other person. •Upcoming Events with: Brian Azzarello, Stephanie Phillips, Sarah Becan, Sage Coffey, Bianca Xunise (and more!)! •Publisher price changes are always a surprise. •Misplaced retailer concerns. •Prioritizing sales over tasks. •Us, as customers at other shops. •Our dentists. •”Butcher, Baby” by The Divorce Gun. Contest of Challengers #679

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01:09:17

IN SEQUENCE

Contest of Challengers ·

2024/04/01

IN SEQUENCE •We have now officially been open for 16 years! Yow! •Keeping the “local” in local events. •C2E2 is fast approaching. •Wanting to refresh every aspect of the shop. •Some of the many books being published in June. •Thanks, Patrons! •Taskmaster Contest of Challengers #678

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