Each month, dozens of new titles are available to order. We'd like to take this opportunity to provide you, our valued subscribers, with a list of many of the new one-shots, mini-series, and ongoing series available starting in... man, I don't know when. In theory, these are all scheduled to release beginning in June 2020, but with the entire comics industry currently on hiatus, that feels doubtful. But, you know, they'll probably come out someday, and you can add them to your subscriptions just in case. Orders for these titles are due in by April 15th. After that point, we can't guarantee any orders placed, but we'll do our best to have them here for you. If you've got any questions, please let us know. Thanks!

As we get deeper into the coronavirus quarantine, it's important to be able to relax. Things are stressful. Comics can maybe help relieve that stress. The thing is, so much of the quarantine was unexpected, folks didn't get to stockpile comics the way they might've wanted. Luckily, Challengers finds themselves with a lot of books and a lot of time to try and get them into the hands of folks who can't go out. Here's how we can help:

1. PICK OUT SOME GRAPHIC NOVELS!

Just below, you'll find up-to-date lists of all of the graphic novels currently in stock at Challengers in Bucktown, separated by genre. (Last updated April 2nd) So, you'll find our Crime/Mystery section under the Crime/Mystery list, the Superhero graphic novels under the Superhero list, etc. Should be pretty clear. These are all, to the best of our knowledge, books that we've got sitting on our shelves. If you see something you want, shoot us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , and we'll put it aside for you. Pick one book, pick a bunch, we're happy to sell whatever you need to get through isolation.

CRIME/MYSTERY

DRAMA

HORROR

HUMOR

MANGA

SCI-FI/FANTASY

SIDEKICKS (ALL-AGES)

SUPERHEROES

2. DECIDE HOW YOU WANT TO GET THEM!

Over on this post, we detail the options for people to get books from us right now, with businesses closed to the public in Illinois. Basically (although you should still read that post for all the specifics), you can choose to have your books shipped out Priority Mail, at-home delivered on Wednesdays if you live in certain parts of Chicago, or picked up at the Chicago Board Game Cafe (just down the block from our Bucktown location) if you're a local. Tell us how you want to get your books, and we'll work out the appropriate shipping/handling costs.

3. PAY ONLINE!

We'll email you an invoice with all the various costs included, for books, for taxes, for transit. Pay it online, and we'll get to work at packing everything up. We're not at the store all the time, though, so we'll get things out as fast as we're able. Depending on when your order is placed, it may go out the same day, or it may go out the next day. Please be patient with us, we're basically two people trying to do all of this. Also, we didn't design Challengers as a shipping/delivering business, so, uh, sort-of learning on the job here. Oh, and keep in mind that at-home delivery is only on Wednesdays while our stores are closed, and we need to know by 10am on Wednesday. Any at-home delivery requests after 10am on Wednesday will go out the following week.

4. KEEP READING COMICS!

Decompress a little bit with some new comics. When you're all done with those and it's still not time to go outside again, head back up to Step 1 and we'll be here to help!

Take care! Stay safe! See Step 4!

It’s true! Both Challengers Comics + Conversation locations are BAD IDEA stores!

So just what does that mean? We’re glad you asked…

BAD IDEA is a brand-new comic book company doing things in a new way. They are self-distributing their comics, and only to a select number of stores around the world (100 stores, to start). Both Challengers locations are the ONLY Chicago stores that will have BAD IDEA comics for sale (again, to start). Here’s an article about them from The Comics Beat, but keep in mind that initial number of stores has already changed from 20 to 100. 

Also, there will be NO collections of their series, and NO digital versions available, either. Just single-issue comic books, plain and simple. And NO variant covers. Only 1 cover per issue.

And here’s their other big rule. Only ONE (1) copy per person of any BAD IDEA single issue. Period. We are not allowed to sell you multiple copies of ANY of their titles. That is a hard rule, so please don’t try to get around it. I’m sure your best friend really, really, really wants a copy, too, but they’ll have to come get it on their own.

So now, here’s how it works at Challengers.

If you want to subscribe to any of their titles, to be picked up at either of our locations, you are absolutely welcome to join our FREE Subscription Service. In fact, here’s a link to a handy form for it. That form also has all our rules on it, so be sure to give it a close look. And hey, you’ll get 10% OFF of every title on your subscription list!

Here is our one catch: If you want us to hold any BAD IDEA titles for you, you have to subscribe to the whole series. Our subscription service is not for individual issues; it is for ongoing series.

We will not hold a copy of a single issue of any BAD IDEA titles for you. But they will be available on the shelves, so you are always welcome to come in and grab yourself a copy (ONE copy) if you don’t want a subscription.

Will we Mail Order subscriptions? Sure, but you’ll have to pre-pay for the first 4-issue arc and pay $10 for USPS Priority Mail shipping. Your bagged and boarded books will be shipped out after all 4 issues have been released. You can order that at this link.

And that’s it! That’s all you need to know! We’re sure you’ll be hearing a LOT more from BAD IDEA in the immediate future and we’ll do our best to keep you updated, too!

Keep Reading Comics!

Each month, dozens of new titles are available to order. We'd like to take this opportunity to provide you, our valued subscribers, with a list of many of the new one-shots, mini-series, and ongoing series available starting in May 2020. If you see anything on the following list that you'd like added to your subscriptions, just let us know. Orders for these titles are due in by March 20th. After that point, we can't guarantee any orders placed, but we'll do our best to have them here for you. If you've got any questions, please let us know. Thanks!

These are all the perfect New Comics & Graphic Novels to give to your Valentine, and even better to keep for yourself!! 

     --NEW BOOKS OF NOTE--
ALIENATED #1
Three teenagers, each an outcast in their own way, stumble upon an unearthly entity as it's born. As they bond over this shared secret and the creature's incredible abilities, it becomes clear to the teenagers that their cute little pet is a super-predator in the making - and it's in need of prey.
BATMAN PENNYWORTH RIP #1
If Alfred was the glue that held the Bat-Family together, how will Batman deal with that all falling apart? And if the Caped Crusader is to be truly alone, he might either hang that cape up once and for all...or double down and carry on with this vengeful quest forever.
GREEN LANTERN SEASON 2 #1
The team of Grant Morrison and Liam Sharp continue their bold new take on the Emerald Warrior in a wild 30-page 2nd season opener! In the wake of the Blackstar incursion, Hal Jordan and his fellow Lanterns must pick up the pieces from that cataclysmic conclusion. Is the universe ready for...the Young Guardians?
GWEN STACY #1
Gwen and Peter may not have met until AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #31, but that doesn't mean Gwen's life began on that page. Learn the never-before told origin of Gwen Stacy, top of her class, daughter of the Police Captain and, as her friend Harry Osborn calls her, "The Beauty Queen of Standard High."
HARLEY QUINN & BIRDS OF PREY #1
Harley Quinn has avoided Gotham City ever since she broke up with The Joker and found a home, and a kind of family, in Coney Island. But when she gets an offer she can't refuse, she has no choice but to slip back into the city as quietly as she can, hoping to be gone before anyone - especially her ex - learns she's been there. But for Harley, "as quietly as she can" is plenty loud...
MARVEL ACTION SPIDER-MAN (2020) #1
The all-new adventures of Spider-Man and his amazing friends! Peter, Miles, and Gwen have completed their internships at the Daily Bugle-now they're all shook up over their latest foe! A Marvelous new era continues!
NEBULA #1
Nebula has grown under the shadows of Thanos and Gamora, but no longer! With her eyes set on a top-secret device, Nebula has big plans for her future-and she's not about to let anyone get in her way! But her goal may end up costing her more than she's willing to pay after a showdown with one of the cosmos most feared bounty hunters....
SHE-RA GN VOL 01 LEGEND OF FIRE PRINCESS
Don't miss this original graphic novel based on stories by She-Ra showrunner and New York Times bestselling author Noelle Stevenson, with script by Gigi D.G. and art by Paulina Ganucheau!
SUPERMAN HEROES #1
Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, the staff of the Daily Planet, even the Justice League-their lives all changed when Superman revealed his secret identity to the world! This unique Superman experience explores what the identity of Clark Kent meant to those close to him-and what their relationship to Superman will be in the future.
TARTARUS #1
A new adventure series with all the sci-fi drama of Breaking Bad set in Mos Eisley! Promising young cadet Tilde is framed for crimes against the empire after discovering her mother was the ruthless warlord of the deadly colony Tartarus, a vital player in the galactic war. Now, Tilde's only way home may be to reclaim her mother's dark crown.
UNDONE BY BLOOD #1
In the early 1970s, Ethel Grady Lane returns to her hometown of Sweetheart, Arizona with one thing on her mind: killing the man who murdered her family. But first, she'll have to find him.

     --DON’T MISS--
X-MEN #6, WES ANDERSON`S ISLE OF DOGS HC, THE BATMAN’S GRAVE #5, ASCENDER #9, WES ANDERSON`S ISLE OF DOGS HC and AMAZING-SPIDER-MAN #39!

Stock up on all of these New Releases while you’re taking advantage of our 25% OFF Sale! Of which these are not part of…