Contest Of Challengers

14 YEARS LATER •The current (meteorological) climate of business. •14 years of Contest of Challengers! What is wrong with us?? •All of the paying jobs we’ve held in life. •Thanks, Patrons! •2 Manage Comics topics discussed      Mail-order subscribers not being able to pay invoices      Previously purchased subscriber books reappearing in their cart •Atom Eve •Dear Comic Creators, always include a PDF of your book in emails to retailers. Thank you. •Comics talked about in this episode:      Rumpus Room #1      The Madness #1      Superman Annual 2023      The Penguin #1      Batman Gargoyle of Gotham #1      Fire & Ice: Welcome to Smallville #1 Contest of Challengers #649

NEGATIVE DIFFERENTIAL RESISTANCE •Our UPS driver’s thoughts on how the comics are boxed, guest-starring Jeanna Challenger. •The saga of our light fixtures. •Pitching upcoming comics on this podcast before FOC’s. •The continual quest for returnability. •Our differing philosophies regarding our weekly New Comics Instagram pitch videos. Contest of Challengers #648

THAT’S THE EXCLUSIVE PART •RDJ AI •It’s SDCC week! We know the official name is Comic Con International San Diego, but SDCC gets to the point quicker. •Ryan Browne is signing at Challengers in 2 days!! •The amount of solicitation emails and phone calls is completely out of hand. Go Huskies! •Omnibussing •DC’s offerings for October 2023. •New Marvel books, also for October 2023. Contest of Challengers #647

“OH, THE CHEAP STUFF” •No, we don’t sell Mylar; we only sell “the cheap stuff.” •"Shops Discuss the Often Difficult Year So Far in Comics Retail" (READ IT HERE) •Yes, Black Lives Still Matter. •The Department of Truth team takes on Universal Monsters’ DRACULA. •Will THE MIDNITE SHOW be our new The Sixth Gun?? •Pre-Paid Pre-Orders. •Comics talked about in this episode:      Children of the Vault #1      Harley Quinn Black White Redder #1      Hawkgirl #1 Contest of Challengers #646

LEGS OF ANY KIND •Office jobs. •The Toys That Made Us. •The mid-year check-in with David Harper for SKTCHD.com. •Inconsistent publisher invoicing. •OF THUNDER & LIGHTNING from Silver Sprocket looks great! •The first week of KNIGHT TERRORS (pronounced ‘KUH-nite tuh-TER-errs”) sales. •Comic talked about in this episode:      Of Thunder & Lightning      Ribbon Queen #2 Contest of Challengers #645

A TWO-HANDER •Hasbro invoicing. •Our Jeff & Tillie signing. •An AEW Fight Forever interlude. •The Devil’s Cut email. •Insignia covers. •The latest Tilting at Windmills column by Brian Hibbs. •Comic talked about in this episode:      The Devil’s Cut      Swan Songs #1, #3      Plot Holes #1      Knight Terrors #1, KT First Blood      Superman Last Days of Lex Luthor #1      Sacrificers #1, #2, #3 Contest of Challengers #644

BECAUSE, COMICS It’s a special off-site episode, recorded at Club Lago in Chicago’s River North neighborhood!* Thrill to the sounds of an active Italian eatery as we have a scintillating conversation with the man who came all the way from Canada to taste some Chicken Marsala, Manage Comics’ BRIAN GARSIDE!! You’ve heard us talk about Manage Comics a whole lot the past year and a half, now hear about it from the man who built it!! *not the first episode to be recorded here, nor the last, I’m sure. Contest of Challengers #643

FIREJET AND JUMPCLIFFER •Why publishers decide to do second printings (possibly). •Robert Kirkman’s fun publishing ideas. •John Romita Sr and the definitive Spider-Man artists. •Kelly Thompson!! •Avengers Inc. •What is a Green Tea Shot? •Comic talked about in this episode:      Void Rivals #1 Contest of Challengers #642

WE CAN KEEP YOUR SECRETS •A change in Reward tiers. •Void Rivals #1 •What’s the #1 thing retailers want? •Kelly Thompson!! •Transformer questions. •Diamond shipping fees… •Comics talked about in this episode:      Sins of the Salton Sea #2, #3      Ribbon Queen #1 Contest of Challengers #641

HISTORICALLY, NOT CURRENTLY •Business Is. •Dal on collecting. •So many super-hero popcorn tins… •The end of Moon Knight and a new start for Captain America. •Saga sales numbers. •Eisner award drama. •Comics talked about in this episode:      Barnstormers #1      Fishflies #1 (again)      The Cull #1 (again)      In Hell We Fight #1 (again)      Wonder Woman #800      Creed #1 Contest of Challengers #640

TO THE MOON •When Dal gets angry… •Is Marvel raising cover prices? •Image Comics leaves Diamond Comic Distributors. •Comics talked about in this episode:      The Hunger and The Dusk #1 & #2      The Schlub #1      Fishflies #1      The Cull #1      Klik Klik Boom #1 Contest of Challengers #639

FOILED! •Marvel Legends Puffadder build-a-figure. •Interacting with our customer-facing tablet. •The Great British Bump Off #2 misprint resolution, thanks to Dark Horse’s Amy Huey. •Recent ways Diamond has actually helped us. •A disastrous trucking accident delays Marvel and PRH books for Diamond customers. •Restocking reorders! Pins! Posters! Supplies! Andy Bell! Rachel Bard? •SOME of the many things Patrick hates from the July Marvel Previews catalog!  Contest of Challengers #638

MAKING IT FUN FOR EVERYONE •A Kyle Starts kidnapping, including a phone call to Melbourne. •Free Comic Book Day 2023 recap, including the live AAW Wrestling show we took Kyle, Steph and Gabo to. •No Green Lantern rings for GL #1! •CTA Bus ticketing nonsense. •We never add un-asked-for books to subscriber pulls lists without sending an email first. •Our new Rewards Program offers MORE than what the pre-order discount did. •Comics discussed in this episode:      Flash #800      The Nasty #3      In Hell We Fight #1      Parasocial GN Contest of Challengers #637

ARTSPOSITION •Patrick is joined by the next generation of comic book fan, Jess and Allie! Two people new to Challengers and recent to comics, but enthusiastic and ready to read! Their journey has only begun... Contest of Challengers #636

THE CHOICE TO DISENGAGE •Breaking IDW corporate news!  •The layout of Previews magazine. •Thanks, Patrons! •Sub services (I don’t actually know what that means, but it was in my notes…) •Challengers Prime. •Customer View and our new register tablet. •Comics talked about in this episode:      Titans #1      Cyborg #1      Dark Spaces Good Deeds #1      Antarctica #1-#3 Contest of Challengers #635

IT’S EASIER THAN IT FEELS •We’re sad and tired. •Our plans for this year’s Free Comic Book Day! •It’s easier than it feels. •W0RLDTR33 #1. •The Pre-Order discount is going away as of May 1st. In its place is a NEW Loyalty/Rewards program! Contest of Challengers #634

NOT PERFECT = A LOT OF GARBAGE •SO many Point Of Sale choice available for comic shops! •Expanded hours! •Our subscriber discount is becoming something else… •Our Friday Morning Emails. •Free Comic Book Day with KYLE STARKS and STEPHANIE MIDED! •Patrick does not like when comics arrive shrink-wrapped in bundles. •UPS was so late today!! •Dal is not excited for DC’s 2-month NIGHT TERRORS event. •Pre-order TITANS #1!! •Comics discussed in this episode: GREEN LANTERN #1 BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #1 Contest of Challengers #633

PUBLISHER SUPPORT •Is “graphic novel” the right word for what we sell? •Night Farters. •Patrick is okay again. •Dungeons and Dragons. •Our 15th Anniversary Party was a swell time! •Our (separate) C2E2 adventures. •2023 sales-to-date (spoiler: not good). •Oversaturation! •DANGER! And Other Unknown Risks. •Thanks, Patrons! Contest of Challengers #632

SWEET CONSTANCY •Challengers is 15!! •The Post-Covid Correction Period. •A deliberate lack of Back Issues. •The X-Men Timeline. •We DON’T Like Ike! •2 new Bios for Patrick! Contest of Challengers #631

CT-HEY! DON’T PARK THERE! •Cars engulfed by flame. •Positive Shopify changes. •New Sign Holders (that no one will notice, but that’s the point). •Shelf rearranging and a much larger 25% OFF section! •When the CTA parked on the sidewalk, blocking our front door. •Smart Filer and Search. •Shopify item importing slow down. •Here are the comics we are excited about from this episode:  W0RLDTR33 GREAT BRITISH BUMP-OFF (again!!) TITANS WONDER WOMAN UNSTOPPABLE DOOM PATROL THE NASTY  PEACEMAKER TRIES HARD!! Contest of Challengers #630