Contest Of Challengers

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.

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.

Holiday Gift Guide; The Sixth Gun; James VanOsdol; roller coaster ordering and hope for the future.

You hear his voice every week at the start and end of each Contest of Challengers episode. Now you get to hear James VanOsdol all the way through.

Do you have any favorite web comics? We mention a few we dig and talk about some new talents (to us). We also discuss JVO’s Q101 book (more on that next week) and dig into The Comics Reporter’s list of the 10 Least Influential People in Comics. Also, Patrick edited this episode while simultaneously listening to the new Lindsey Buckingham live CD ONE MAN SHOW (which is SO amazing) so, you know, keep that in mind while listening… 

The Untold History of Marvel Comics is a grand discussion topic for the week, as is the prospect of opening a new store in today’s market. Also, Kyle Higgins! He’s not, you know, ON the episode, but we talk about him. And we pick on Molly Jane. A little.

This episode Patrick is joined by the amazingly talented JENNY FRISION. They talk about Jenny’s beginnings as a comic fan up to her present as a comic creator. They also drink a few bottles of some great, fruity Berliner beer from Chicago’s own Pipeworks Brewing. 

Who wants to talk about the Lucasfilm sale when there’s Assassain’s Creed III? Trick question. This episode is all over the map as Patrick, once again, has a list of topics to get thru before he passes out.

Fight injustice! Unorthodox economic revenge. Also, Dal is super-sleepy.  

No method in our madness, just pride about our manner. This was recorded a week ago and I no longer remember what we talk about! Although I’m pretty sure there’s a bunch of NYCC stuff to go over… And a Batgirl web-series. And vodka.

There is no nerd rage here as Patrick is joined by the lovely and talented Stella Cheeks! Cartoons, comics and burlesque all come together in one infectious laughter-filled episode. 

I’m a rocket of love; take me! This episode is all about variant covers. You think we’ve said it all before, but we haven’t. All new information abounds. And MorrisonCon. And Parker’s Pick. RIDE! Episode art by Luke Smarto.

He’s been a Challengers supporter since the beginning and he has more than put in his time behind the registers in comics retail; this week Patrick talks with Tony Valdez about life on both sides of the counter.

This episode is Apple heavy as our guest is Mac specialist and long-time friend, Tony Marengo. Tony, Patrick and Dal used to work together in the 90’s and this is an extended trip down comic book retail memory lane with 3 current small business owners.

If you can only listen to ONE podcast this week, this is NOT that podcast. So non-integral is this episode, it doesn’t even get its own number. It’s a point five, for sure. This is everything we cut out of Episode 100, yet here it is, daring you to listen. You’ve been warned.

Century Guild’s THOMAS NEGOVAN turns the tables and interviews Dal and Patrick for this, the recorded live in the store 100th episode. Featuring Tom Kelly, Jose Capetillo, Melissa Chapel and not Jimmy PS Hayes. It’s our secret origin episode.

A little bit of everything is on deck this time. Patrick’s episode of “Creative Has Nothing For You”; Ryan Browne talks Blast Furnace all sorts of Hawkeye goodness!

Oh yes its Ladies Night and the feeling’s right; oh, what a night. That’s right; we spend an awful lot of time discussing a potential Women-Only night, as well as LeakyCon, Wizard World, Square, and Dal’s fake role in “Twilight.”

Dal relives his Wimbledon days as fictitious tennis takes center (clay) court… but only as a lead-in to a much greater Marvel Now discussion. And more from Colt Cabana. 

Ten years in the making! One half of Serpent Crown reunites as Patrick talks with long-time comics fan Chris Carlson. In another life (the 90’s) they were in a band together, and as an added bonus, the end of this episode features the unreleased Serpent Crown live track, “The Final Stand.”