Best Challengers Comics Conversation Podcasts (2025)

1
HOW TO MEET THE MOST AMOUNT OF NEEDS 1:02:46

4d ago1:02:46

1:02:46

HOW TO MEET THE MOST AMOUNT OF NEEDS•Magic the Gathering: Final Fantasy and the wave of unmeetable collector demand. •Prioritizing the in-store experience. •Back issue bundles! •Gehenna Naked Aggression’s printing issue. •No more Marvel Masterworks? •How the 1999 manga “The Future I Saw” is currently effecting Japanese tourism. •Getting a credit li…

1
Ronald Reagan and Lonesome George 50:51

6d ago50:51

50:51

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. Our guest is Dolly Jørgensen, Professor of History at the University of Stavanger in Norway and a specialist in the history of extinction. We start in 2012 with the death of a famous Galapagos tortoise called Lonesome George, who was the last of h…

1
DIAMONDS AREN’T FOREVER 1:00:32

11d ago1:00:32

1:00:32

DIAMONDS AREN’T FOREVER•Childhood toy line nostalgia into today’s comic publishing. •Literally half of this episode is about action figures. Be warned. •An “important” Diamond update! This episode is dedicated to Mark & Jasmine.---------- This episode was digitally edited by Cleanvoice. How’d it sound? Contest of Challengers #740 Theme: Adam WarRoc…

1
Discovery of the first exoplanets and the goalie who killed a seagull 51:23

13d ago51:23

51:23

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. Our guest is Dr Jeni Millard, a science presenter, astrophysicist and astronomer. First, how two astronomers announced they had discovered the first two planets outside our solar system. Then, German twins Frederik and Gerrit Braun on building Min…

1
HOW DEEP OF A WELL 1:17:38

18d ago1:17:38

1:17:38

HOW DEEP OF A WELL•We press “record” in the middle of a conversation about just-announced Marvel Legends figures from a Hasbro livestream. •Morgan Perry is the BEST! •A duct-cleaning coincidence. •Thanks, Patrons! •Deadpool/Batman! •The strength of the market for the late summer. •Thank you, Peter David. This episode is dedicated to a little Rock a…

1
Battle of the Beanfield and the Champions League anthem 51:04

20d ago51:04

51:04

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. Our guest is Dr Nivi Manchanda, a reader in international politics at Queen Mary University in London. First, a moment when two cultures clashed in 1985 at Stonehenge. We hear about an English language novel from 1958, called Things Fall Apart. Th…

1
THINK OF THINGS TO THINK OF 48:18

25d ago48:18

48:18

THINK OF THINGS TO THINK OF•A week of repairs for the Podcastitorium! •July's Lunar orders are due when?!? •Ad Populum officially owns Diamond. •BLADES OF FURRY signing recap. •Mission Impossible Final Reckoning giveaway swag! This episode is dedicated to doing your own stunts ---------- This episode was digitally edited by Cleanvoice. How’d it sou…

1
The history of photography 50:58

27d ago50:58

50:58

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. The expert guest is Dr Mirjam Brusius, a research fellow in colonial and global history at the German Historical Institute. First, we hear about Martín Chambi - Peru's pioneering documentary photographer. Then Amaize Ojeikere talks about his fathe…

1
A CODEFIED STRUCTURE 1:05:08

1M ago1:05:08

1:05:08

A CODEFIED STRUCTURE•Paper vs PDF •Using physical catalogs when ordering. •Receiving stock from Scholastic. •Comics talked about in this episode: GHOST PEPPER #1 SIXTH GUN ROAD TO THE SIXTH #0 OUT OF ALCATRAZ #3 ROBIN & BATMAN JASON TODD #1 JL VS GODZILLA VS KONG II #1 GODDAMN TRAGEDY #1 MOMMY BLOG This episode is dedicated to Dal’s mom’s 80th birt…

1
Sweden’s Vipeholm experiments and the Intervision Song Contest 51:00

1M ago51:00

51:00

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. Our guest is Dr Elizabeth Abbott, writer, historian and author of the book, "Sugar: A Bittersweet History". First, we confront the dark history of sugar. We hear how a researcher in the 1990s uncovered the unethical aspects of Sweden’s Vipeholm ex…

1
NOT A PATH TO FOLLOW 1:15:21

1M ago1:15:21

1:15:21

NOT A PATH TO FOLLOW•Website tweaks and notifications. •Searching PRH for “I Am a Hero.” •Details of our Career Day at a local elementary school. •Free Comic Book Day wrap-up. •The Chillin’ Like a Villain Art Show opening! •Comic talked about in this episode: EXQUISITE CORPSES #1 This episode is dedicated to the darker seid of love. ---------- This…

1
Rescuing Palmyra’s treasures and 80 years since VE Day 50:33

1M ago50:33

50:33

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. Our guest is Rubina Raja, professor of classical archaeology and art at Aarhus University in Denmark. First, we go back to May 2015, when the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria was about to fall to Jihadist fighters and how of a group of men risked …

1
A WEEK IN THE DAY 1:07:19

2M ago1:07:19

1:07:19

A WEEK IN THE DAY•No more “Charles” at the bank! •Forgetting subscribers’ names. •A mystery box of comics from Lunar! •MORE shortages from Lunar this week!! •Thanks, Patrons! •The FCBD Comic Shop Crawl. •Career Day! •Diamond has finally been sold! Probably. This episode is dedicated to teachers and their infinite patience. ---------- This episode w…

1
The Vietnam War and the expansion of the EU 50:51

2M ago50:51

50:51

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service about the Vietnam War and the invention of the hugely popular mobile phone game, Snake. Don Anderson, a former BBC TV reporter during the final days of Vietnam, discusses the atmosphere in Saigon as the North Vietnamese forces closed in. We also he…

1
THIS IS DUMB, JUST, PERIOD. 1:04:04

2M ago1:04:04

1:04:04

THIS IS DUMB, JUST, PERIOD.•Free Comic Book Day week prep. •Upcoming events! •Now that BOOM! Is distributed by Penguin Random House… •New Comic Book Day constant shipping woes. •Every month keeps getting bigger for Godzilla! •Scholastic, one more publisher Diamond has just stopped supplying. •Comics talked about in this episode: SUPERGIRL #1 ULTIMA…

1
Secret D-Day rehearsal and YouTube begins 51:32

2M ago51:32

51:32

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. Our guest is World War Two military historian and archivist Elisabeth Shipton. We start by concentrating on two events from the last year of the Second World War. Exercise Tiger took place in April 1944 in preparation for the D-Day landings of All…

1
IS THIS WHAT RESPECT FEELS LIKE? 1:12:32

2M ago1:12:32

1:12:32

IS THIS WHAT RESPECT FEELS LIKE?•Dal already has thoughts for next year’s C2E2! •It’s our C2E2 2025 recap episode! It was a pretty great show and got us more excited to be doing what we do. •Who we met/talked to! •Dal’s Dan Mora story! •Patrick’s first-ever CGC grading experience. •Diamond Comic Distributors has an official, legal buyer. •Our cloud…

1
The Khmer Rouge in Cambodia and World Book Day 51:10

2M ago51:10

51:10

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. It’s 50 years since soldiers of the communist Khmer Rouge party stormed into the capital, Phnom Penh. It was the start of a four year reign of terror which resulted in up to two million people being killed. We hear two stories from people affected…

1
Bonus: Defeated 49:47

2M ago49:47

49:47

8th May 1945 was a day of rejoicing in Britain, the US and many other countries: Germany had surrendered, and World War II was over, at least in Europe. Yet it was not a day of celebration for everyone: for the vanquished Germans, it marked the end of bombings and of Nazi rule. But it was also a time of deprivation and chaos, fear and soul-searchin…

1
ABSOLUTE UNITS OF DESTRUCTION (with MORGAN PERRY) 1:24:19

2M ago1:24:19

1:24:19

ABSOLUTE UNITS OF DESTRUCTION•Patrick is joined by MORGAN PERRY, Marketing Manager at Square Enix, Inc. •Square Enix has a new program for comic shops, Comic Partner, and Morgan is here to tell us about it! •Getting manga into the hands of manga fans new and old! •Upcoming manga series you cannot miss! •Morgan’s email: [email protected] (fo…

1
Nazis and sex strikes 50:57

2M ago50:57

50:57

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. Our guest is Dr Katrin Paehler, Professor of modern European history at Illinois State University. First, a journalist describes how he accompanied Hitler through the embers of the Reichstag fire in 1933. Then, the harrowing recollections of a doc…

1
IT’S NOT LIKE YOU’RE CONFUSING THE CHILDREN 1:00:27

2M ago1:00:27

1:00:27

IT’S NOT LIKE YOU’RE CONFUSING THE CHILDREN•Tariffs in comics. •Dal’s take on Lost Fantasy #1. •Cover designs. •The closure of ThingsFromAnotherWorld .com. •Thanks, Patrons! •Publishers missing from Diamond. •Updating Sidekicks! This episode is dedicated to IKEA Kallax shelving. ---------- This episode was digitally edited by Cleanvoice. How’d it s…

1
The wonder woman of the comic world and Namibia's 'ghost town' 51:27

3M ago51:27

51:27

Max Pearson presents a collection of this week's Witness History episodes from the BBC World Service. We hear from the first woman to lead DC Comics - the home of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. Jenette Kahn began turning the company around in the 1970s. Our expert is Dr Mel Gibson, associate professor at Northumbria University. She has carried …

1
APOLOGIZING FOR THINGS NOT OUR FAULT 1:07:29

3M ago1:07:29

1:07:29

APOLOGIZING FOR THINGS NOT OUR FAULT•Trying to buy a Will Ospreay print by Rob Schamberger. •MORE problems with Lunar shipments! •MORE problems with Diamond shipments! •2 annoying online transactions (one eBay, one Challengers). •Alliance Entertainment enters into an agreement to purchase Diamond Comic Distributors! What do we know about Alliance? …

1
The phone call that changed Nigeria and a 'one of a kind' portrait of Nelson Mandela 50:59

3M ago50:59

50:59

Max Pearson presents a collection of this week's Witness History episodes from the BBC World Service. We hear about the historic moment in Nigerian politics when Goodluck Jonathan made a phone call to General Buhari marking the peaceful handover of power in 2015. Our expert is historian and creator of the Untold Stories podcast, Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie…

1
RELIABLY FRUSTRATING 1:12:51

3M ago1:12:51

1:12:51

RELIABLY FRUSTRATING•Next week is maybe the biggest New Release week we’ve ever had, in both quantity and dollar amount. •Lunar shortages! •Quantity limits. •Lunar growing pains. •Marvel’s “new” ideas. •The return of Adventure Time comics. •The soap opera that is Void Rivals. •Comics talked about in this episode: ABSOLUTE FLASH #2 DARK REGARDS #1 P…

1
The history of space travel 51:08

3M ago51:08

51:08

Max Pearson presents a collection of this week's Witness History episodes from the BBC World Service.This week we’re looking at the history of space travel, including the 60th anniversary of the first ever space-walk by Russian cosmonaut Alexei Leonov.Also, the speech that would have been given if the Apollo 11 astronauts didn’t make their way back…

1
I’M SURE YOU’RE GOING SOMEWHERE WITH THIS 1:06:47

3M ago1:06:47

1:06:47

I’M SURE YOU’RE GOING SOMEWHERE WITH THIS •The next few weeks of New Releases are MASSIVE. •What we’re looking forward to at C2E2. •Gabi Mendez signing recap! •An upcoming art show. •Comics talked about in this episode: FIRE AND ICE WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER #1 HARLEY QUIN FARTACULAR SILENT BUTT DEADLY #1 This episode is dedicated to meals with good f…

1
The Americans with Disabilities Act and the invention of GPS 51:24

3M ago51:24

51:24

Max Pearson presents a collection of this week's Witness History episodes from the BBC World Service. We find out about the landmark protest in 1990 when wheelchair users crawled up the steps of the US Capitol Building in Washington DC, campaigning for disability rights. Our expert is Dr Maria Orchard, law lecturer at the University of Leeds, who h…

1
THE BULLSEYE OF BULLSEYES 1:12:14

3M ago1:12:14

1:12:14

THE BULLSEYE OF BULLSEYES •Godzilla vs Chicago, one week later. •New Dark Horse graphic novels immediately unavailable. •Andrea Bell signing recap! •”Reducing complexity.” •Diamond bankruptcy notices. •DTC podcast invite. •Comic talked about in this episode: ABSOLUTE GREEN LANTERN #1 ABSOLUTE MARTIAN MANHUNTER #1 FREE PLANET #1 ASSORTEED CRISIS EVE…

1
The invention of the shopping trolley and the Calais 'Jungle' 50:55

3M ago50:55

50:55

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week’s Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. We find out how Sylvan Goldman’s invention of the shopping trolley in 1930s America turned him into a multi-millionaire. Our expert is Rachel Bowlby, Professor of Comparative Literature at University College London, who is also the author of two b…

1
VALIDABLE 1:06:19

4M ago1:06:19

1:06:19

VALIDABLE •ComicsPRO Annual Meeting part 2! •Batman H2SH. Pronounced “huh-toosh” •Back to ComicsPRO news! •GODZILLA! •Dal vs the MCU. •Comic talked about in this episode: BATMAN #157 This episode is dedicated to Michelle Trachtenburg.---------- This episode was edited and transcribed by Cleanvoice. How’d it sound? Contest of Challengers #726 Theme:…

1
Discovering the haemoglobin structure and the Nellie massacre 51:16

4M ago51:16

51:16

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week’s Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. We hear about the moment Dr Max Perutz discovered the haemoglobin structure. Our expert is Professor Sir Alan Fersht, who is a chemist at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology and knew Dr Perutz personally. We also hear abou…

1
ALL BUSINESS 1:05:36

4M ago1:05:36

1:05:36

ALL BUSINESS •This IS a business podcast, after all. •It’s Tax Time (never to be confused with “Toni Time”)! •Paying vendors. •ComicsPRO news (of which there is little when we recorded). •Comic talked about in this episode: ABSOLUTE FLASH #1 This episode is dedicated to all the hard workers of the ComicsPRO Annual Conference. ---------- This episod…

1
Death of a language and the world’s longest kiss 51:13

4M ago51:13

51:13

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. We hear about the death of one of the oldest languages in the world, when an 85 year old woman died and took it with her in 2010. Our expert guest is Dr Mandana Seyfeddinipur, who is the Head of the Endangered Languages Archive which endeavours to…

1
SALE APPARENT 1:16:02

4M ago1:16:02

1:16:02

SALE APPARENT •Distribution shipping schedules. •How did the 2025 “I Love You But I’ve Chosen Comics” sale do for us? •Shopify user permissions. •BONUS: Dal’s favorite local chicken take-out restaurants. This episode is dedicated to chicken, in all its delicious, edible forms. ---------- This episode was NOT edited and transcribed by Cleanvoice. Ho…

1
Great speeches from around the world 51:20

4M ago51:20

51:20

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. We discuss the 1992 speech given by Australian Prime Minister, Paul Keating, in which he acknowledged the moral responsibility his government should bear for the horrors committed against Indigenous Australians, with our guest Dr Rebe Taylor from …

1
INTRODUCING UNCERTANTY TO THE PROCESS 1:03:38

4M ago1:03:38

1:03:38

INTRODUCING UNCERTANTY TO THE PROCESS •Sacrificers #13 shortage and what Lunar did about it. •Upcoming bookmark! •More publishers abandoning Diamond. •DSTLRY’s digital collectibles. •A new/current Shopify headache. •Comics talked about in this episode: I WAS A FASHION SCHOOL SERIAL KILLER #1 LOST FANTASY #1, #2, #3 WE’RE TAKING EVERYONE DOWN WITH U…

1
Cult films and a 'rockstar' philosopher 50:58

4M ago50:58

50:58

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. Our guest is film critic and journalist Helen O'Hara who dissects what makes a cult film classic, after we hear about the making of the 1989 American film Heathers. We also learn about the French philosopher behind the theory of deconstruction and…

1
The 'Wolf Children' of World War Two and China's TV lessons 51:13

5M ago51:13

51:13

We hear from 'wolf child' Luise Quietsch who was separated from her family and forced to flee East Prussia. Whilst trying to survive during World War Two, these children were likened to hungry wolves roaming through forests. Journalist and documentary film-maker Sonya Winterberg who recorded the testimony of “wolf children” for her book, discusses …

1
THE KYLE-VERSE with KYLE HIGGINS 1:39:14

5M ago1:39:14

1:39:14

THE KYLE-VERSE with KYLE HIGGINS •It’s an extra-special, extra-long episode featuring KYLE HIGGINS (and Andrew Challenger)!! •Image’s MASSIVE-VERSE is a universe within itself featuring Radiant Black, Rogue Sun, Super-Massive, Inferno Girl Red, No/One, and more, and Kyle tells us ALL about it! •RADIANT BLACK #31 is the prefect jumping on point and …

1
NO SAFETY NET 1:15:50

5M ago1:15:50

1:15:50

NO SAFETY NET •How much does our Sale T-Shirt cost? •Small week of releases for the week of our Sale. •One World Under Doom vs X-Manhunt. •Patrick is a "Top 30 Women to Look Out For in 2025" candidate! •What does Diamond’s Chapter 11 filing mean for Challengers? •A last second BOOM! Announcement!•Comics talked about in this episode: BUG WARS #1, #2…

1
Back to 1995 50:55

5M ago50:55

50:55

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week’s Witness History episodes, all about events which happened in 1995. First, we hear how Microsoft launched Windows 95 after a $300 million marketing campaign. Our expert guest is Dr Lisa McGerty – Chief Executive of the Centre for Computing History in Cambridge. Next, after 17 years terrorising America,…

1
CONCIERGE SERVICE 1:07:23

5M ago1:07:23

1:07:23

CONCIERGE SERVICE •Shopify God Mode. •Inventory reconciliation. •Lucky Devils signing (and 2 upcoming signings). •Ratioed bookplates. •Chicago Box Co price increase. •Decreasing Image discounts. •Cleanvoice results from last week. •Comics talked about in this episode: OUT OF ALCATRAZ #1, #2 GODZILLA HEIST #1 ZATANNA #1 ASSORTED CRISIS EVENTS #1 Thi…

1
World War Two on film and Africa's landmark lifestyle magazine 51:12

5M ago51:12

51:12

Josephine McDermott sits in for Max Pearson presenting a collection of the week’s Witness History episodes. We hear from the author who stumbled across the story of Oskar Schindler while shopping for a briefcase in Beverly Hills. Our guest is Dr Anne-Marie Scholz, from the University of Bremen in Germany, who reflects on the impact of dramatization…

1
COMMUNITY INREACH 55:01

5M ago55:01

55:01

COMMUNITY INREACH•NOT recorded in a car! •Community outreach and fan base cultivation. •Store eras. 5, maybe? •Challengers adages.•Comic talked about in this episode: ONE WORLD UNDER DOOM #1 This episode is dedicated to big red “Record” and “Stop” buttons that are too easy to press by accident. ---------- This episode was edited and transcribed by …

1
The Charlie Hebdo attack and the art of decluttering 51:08

5M ago51:08

51:08

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week’s Witness History episodes. We hear a first-hand account of the attack at the offices of French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo. Our expert guest is Dr Chris Millington, who leads the Histories and Cultures of Conflict research group at Manchester Metropolitan University. We also hear about Swedish di…

1
MINUS FIVE 1:04:40

6M ago1:04:40

1:04:40

MINUS FIVE •No more subscription discount! •The Amalgam allocation. •2024 Sales info! •Our Best Sellers of 2024. •The Saga subscriber epidemic.•Thanks, Patrons! This episode is dedicated to The Big Fat Quiz. ---------- This episode was edited and transcribed by Cleanvoice. How’d it sound? Contest of Challengers #718 Theme: Adam WarRock (with Mikal …

1
The Boxing Day tsunami, and Alexa’s creation 51:04

6M ago51:04

51:04

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week’s Witness History episodes. We hear two stories from the deadly 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, which killed thousands of people in south-east Asia. Our expert guest is Ani Naqvi, a former journalist who was on holiday in Sri Lanka when the wave hit. We also hear from the two Polish students who created the vo…

1
YOU ARE A FIXTURE 1:12:05

6M ago1:12:05

1:12:05

YOU ARE A FIXTURE •New Release List nonsense. •Your gifts to us. •December sales, thus far. •POP vinyl ordering. •Barnes & Noble’s impact.•Lucky Devils #1 signing event! •We’re just normal men. •’Twas the Night Before… This episode is dedicated to 1 year without my Dad. ---------- This episode was edited and transcribed by Cleanvoice. How’d it soun…

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Challengers Comics Conversation Podcasts

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