Contest Of Challengers

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 (Trent’s Mom), Kevin Conroy, Kris Statlander, Skye Blue, Arune Singh ----------Challengers Comics + Conversation 1845 N Western Ave • Chicago, IL 60647 773.278.0155 • ChallengersComics.com

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 Mom), Kevin Conroy, Kris Statlander, Skye Blue, Arune Singh ----------Challengers Comics + Conversation 1845 N Western Ave • Chicago, IL 60647 773.278.0155 • ChallengersComics.com

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 to the memory of Longboi, Britain’s (former) tallest duck. Contest of Challengers #704

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

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

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

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

“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

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

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

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