
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 Bu... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 799 | Founded | 17 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | EntrepreneurshipArtsBooksBusiness | |||

LOGIC DICTATED•This week was not a huge week of comics or sales. •Superhero comics tropes. •Corner boxes on covers. •We love inkers!!•Spawn 77 sales. •Current at-the-counter annoyances. •Are you watching Lanterns? •Challengers Similar Cinema Suggesti... more
THE END OF READING•Is it too hot to shop for comics in Chicago? •WE love our new CTA Tracker! •Thanks, Patrons! •The end of reading?•Will Christmas Crisis return in 2026? •KYLE HIGGINS and LANCE BRIGGS are coming back to Challengers! •We tease some o... more
SIGNS OF THE TIME•Minor weekly reordering annoyances. •When customers buy comic supplies. •Erroneous AI. •Giving directions to other shops.•Comics talked about in this episode: MIDNIGHT X-MEN #1 MIDNIGHT SPIDER-MAN #1 •Do you find value in our "NEW F... more
SAME-DAY LOCAL DELIVERY!!•We test out our new Same-Day Local (Chicagoland) Delivery Service! •The 'whys' and 'hows' of wanting local delivery. •So many upcoming events!! •Shout out to NotSoFunnyBooks on IG. •Never respond to the comments, Patrick. --... more
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Great podcast! Always a weekly must listen.
Great podcast! Always a weekly must listen.
While I do enjoy seeing how the sausage is made from time to time. I was hoping this would be more of a weekly review of new issues pod. I got to visit the store very briefly Wednesday when you had Daniel Warren Johnson in and it’s definitely worth a extended visit
I really think they should retire, they clearly hate their customers and their life choices in owning a comic store. I couldn’t imagine giving a penny to these whiny crybabies. These two wouldn’t survive one day doing a real job.
They keep blocking this review to boost their show. Bad show AND corrupt!
This was third episode where the two complainers spoiled a new release with no warning. I’m so tired of them assuming everyone reads every single new release by 5pm Wednesday. Ruined stories for me, and on top of that all they do is whine about customers that pay their bills. Done with this weekly hour long crybaby show.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.










Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
| Listeners per Episode | Gender Skew | Location | |||
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| Interests | Professions | Age Range | |||
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Contest of Challengers centers on the business side of running a bricks-and-mortar comics shop. Episodes explore inventory systems, pre-orders, pricing strategies, signings, and the shifting dynamics with publishers, distributors, and customers. The hosts share blunt, hands-on experiences from their Chicago shop, offering practical, no-nonsense guidance for retailers, creators, and aspiring shop owners alike. A standout angle is the emphasis on sustainable, community-driven retail in a crowded market, with frequent focus on operations, economics, and the human side of customer service. This mix of inside-baseball retail insights, industry context, and shop-floor anecdotes helps listeners understand how a small business navigates logistics, ... more
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These podcasts share a similar audience with Contest of Challengers:
1. Off Panel: A Comics Interview Podcast
2. Comic Industry Insiders
3. Robservations with Rob Liefeld
4. The Corner Box
5. The Comic Conspiracy
Contest of Challengers launched 17 years ago and published 799 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Contest of Challengers include:
1. Mars Junior
2. Brandon T. Snyder
3. Dan Waters
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