Challengers Comics + Conversation

Chicago, United States

4.9

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 773-278-0155
Website:
www.challengerscomics.com
Address:
1845 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL, 60647
b/t Winnebago Ave & Cortland St
Logan Square, Bucktown
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
480 ftWestern & Cortland (Blue Line)
520 ftWestern
0.6 miDamen
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Dogs Allowed
Yes

Today

Today 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Chicago) 7:34 PM Friday, November 29, 2024

Business hours

Monday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Tuesday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Wednesday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Thursday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Friday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

Description

Specialties

Challengers strives to offer a diverse and compelling selection of comics to Chicago. Be that a $ 3 current comic book, a 99¢ back issue from years past, or a nice big graphic novel, Challengers tries to carry as many different kinds of comics as we can get our hands on. You’ll find stories from publishers like Marvel, DC, Image, Dark Horse, Boom!, Avatar, IDW, Dynamite, Oni, Fantagraphics, Drawn & Quarterly, Pantheon and dozens of others.

You’ll find a comfortable environment to make your purchases in. Challengers has a couch and chairs situated throughout the store, so feel free to stop by, take a seat and see why comics are so great.

History

Established in 2008.

Challengers: Comics + Conversation is a comic book store. Not a «pop culture» store. Not a «cards and comics» store. Not a «collectibles» store. A comic book store. And we wouldn’t have it any other way. Started in March 2008 by Patrick Brower and W. Dal Bush, Challengers: Comics + Conversation strives to live up to their name by not just providing a solid selection of comics to Chicago, but by providing a little bit of conversation as well. Whether that’s info on the current Avengers storyline, where you should go after finishing Watchmen, or if Frank Miller’s still got it, we’re here to not only sell comics, but talk comics with you.

Meet the Business Owner

Patrick B.

Business Owner

When you think «comics», what do you think? No, not Superman. No, not Maus. Like, a person. A real person. No, not Neil Gaiman. An American. C’mon, you know where I’m going with this. Brian Michael Bendis? Wow, really? Really? No, I… man, it’s Patrick. When you think «comics», you think «Patrick Brower». The go-​to guy for Midwest comics retail since 1990, Patrick is the hardest working, hardest rocking comics professional you’ll ever meet. Tip, though? Do NOT try to OUT ROCK HIM. He cannot be out rocked. Not with a thousand rockers on a thousand amps. We tried!

Challengers Comics + Conversation also recommends

Kuma’s Corner

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,

Hamburgere

Patrick B. says,

«Burgers? In Chicago? You must mean Kuma’s!»

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20 reviews of Challengers Comics + Conversation

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Great owners. They’re able to help direct you, or find something rare. If they don’t have it they’ll order it. Very cool owners who’s knowledge of the comic books ok word to me seems limitless. If you stump them they’ll find out and get back to you quickly.
They also sell action figures and toys
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
You saw the «conversation» in the store’s name, right? Cause that’s what you’re gonna get if you want to talk about comics here. The staff is knowledgeable, friendly and funny — all things that a lot of times are sorely lacking from comic shop employees/​owners.
The place is the most organized I’ve ever see a comic shop (or most other shops for that matter) and if you have any problem finding something they’re more than happy to help you locate it among their shelves or order it if it’s not something they normally carry.
Challenger’s also has an extensive kid’s section so if you’re heading there with your little monsters they’ll be able to recommend something to start them into the wonderful world of comics.
On top of all that they do a bunch of events, getting comic creators in constantly to do signings n such. Check their site for an upcoming event and check out all that Challenger’s has to offer!
Oh, and this is part of what I’ve been calling the «Walk Western» path — starting down at Challengers (or coming off of the 606), hitting Margie’s/Quesadilla/The Art of Chicken/​Paladar for food, grabbing something sweet at GBD, hunting to get a piece of your childhood back at Toy de Jour, looking for oddities at Sideshow Gallery, and ending up at Logan Arcade. Great date day all in one stretch of Western that most people miss while doing the same old Milwaukee Ave stuff. All this while getting some exercise walking Western!
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I love this place. It’s always so clean and organized. Only come here for any comic I need.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
Great shop with awesome service. I usually just go in and browse every now and again, but one week I was looking for a particular book and they offered to find a copy for me and call me when it was in. They had the book within a couple of days.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Challengers is my go-​to shop for comic books. While I don’t come in too regularly, Patrick and Dal seem to recognize me as soon as I walk in the door and go straight to my list behind the counter for all the new issues I’m picking up. Familiar with my preferred genre of comic books, they’re always making great recommendations and back them with a money back guarantee, should I be unsatisfied (yet to happen). The shop itself is clean and well organized. While it may not be as well stocked as Chicago Comics, I much prefer the amazing service offered at Challengers.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
GREAT COMIC SHOP IN CHICAGO!!!
Thank you Patrick Brower and Dal for having an alternate shop that I can get my fix of books and thanks for the signings!!!
Known Pat since 1992 and been going to his own shop for the past couple of years too!
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
I will start by saying I get to travel the country a lot and in every town, on every trip I seek out local stores for deals. This one however, is right in my backyard and I can honestly say it is the cleanest, brightest, most organized store I have seen. Very inviting and the staff was very friendly. They have a lot of available prints (though not many limited editions) in the store, which was nice to see.
Why not five stars? While they have a great selection of new books, both mainstream and independent books, their back issues were lacking. Also for such a very clean and high end looking store, they have almost no high end collectables. They had a handful of statues, though nothing spectacular and certainly nothing from Sideshow, Kotobukiya, XM, etc. They did have one or two Bowens, but nothing I would add to my collection. I do not necessarily fault them for this as it is not cheap to carry some of those products, but it separates a top comic store from your average store. Their toy selection was okay otherwise.
As long as you are not looking for that run down store that you can rifle through old comics looking for bargains, and you want a new experience with a friendly staff, it is worth stopping into Challengers.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Very well laid out, clean and accessible store. The staff was helpful and they had a grand selection.
Place rating: 5
Grosse Pointe, MI
Great store! Helpful friendly staff. There is a huge selection of comics neatly arranged. The store is bright inviting and easy to use. Check out their web site for special store events. There seems to cool events several times a month. The store is a block from the blue line Western stop.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I can only review this store as a comic outsider. I’m not that big into the comic scene, but I’ve never felt out of place here. I’ll admit, I have felt out of place in comic shops before. I go here for graphic novels, and they are great at making recommendations for me. I have also gone for special events– a kickstarter comic release party, and it was a blast and well run.
Place rating: 5
Roscoe Village, Chicago, IL
Friendly, knowledgable staff. Great selection. Also, they feature a myriad of talented artists and writers in store. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better comic shop… Anywhere, not just Chicago.
Place rating: 5
Middleton, WI
Right off the blue line so it’s in a super convenient location.
Be sure to stop by and check to see if anyone is signing comics that day.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Best comic shop in a city of great ones. Go spend some money with these good fellas.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
If I could give Challengers Comics more stars, I would. Definitely a top contender for my all time favorite comic store. Staff fantastically friendly and knowledgable, store brilliantly organized, they carry a diverse collection of mainstream and independent including local artists.
Place rating: 5
Oak Park, IL
Favorite comic store in Chicago. Great place for either big-​time comic addicts or newbies to the scene. Not a hint of snobbishness. Go here.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Having been a comic book fan all my life I can honestly say I’ve seen retail shops that go across the entire spectrum from unclean and hostile to super friendly and pristine. This place falls smack dab into the latter category.
The people that work here are super nice and helpful (although they dress a little too stuffy for a comic book store), the books are well organized and easy to find and the selection of trades are mind bogglingly varied. I found some gems here that I would never have known about if it weren’t for Challengers (as well as some local artists work)!
I don’t come here often enough even though I live right across the street and I am still sad that I missed when Amber Benson (of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame) made an appearance to sign her new book. Regardless, this is my go to funny book spot in the city. Pure awesome!
Place rating: 5
Portland, OR
In one word, GORGEOUS! This shop felt so much like a Portland shop, friendly staff, tons of books, sleek look and organized. Could have stayed here for hours. Happened to visit this shop on a snowy afternoon and honestly where else would you want to seek shelter and lose yourself than in a fully loaded comic shop? Located only a few steps away from the Western Ave stop on the blue line and easy to drive to as well. When I visit Chicago, I’m definitely making a stop here! BONUS, they’ve got an awesome gallery and a great selection of independent and small press titles. Thank you Challengers!
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
These guys are just great. One thing i’ve learned to look for in any sub-​cultural specialty store nowadays is the snob factor and these guys have none of that. They welcome new customers and are happy to recomend different things and talk about why they like it. They also actually know when certain issues are supposed to come out. You would think this would be standard because the information is readily available but i’ve been to a couple shops where when asked when they would get a certain issue, i get met with a dumbfounded look or get told to sign up for email alerts.
Basically, these guys do it right and are the gold standard of what a modern comic book store should be. Take notes guys.
Place rating: 5
Bloomington, IL
Stopped by Challengers Comics for Free Comic Book Day and had a great time. These guys had plenty of staff on hand for the event they (I talked to several employees during the course of my visit) were all extra-​friendly, lots of smiles and seemed to be having a lot of fun. Challengers had 3 very talented artists at the show signing books and doing free
sketches: Christopher Mitten, Hackin’ Tim Seeley and Mike Norton. I was amazed at the level of detail these guys were putting into literally hundreds of free sketches. They worked their arms off from 11am till the last fan was gone and the shop closed up that evening 5 or 6 pm. The Challenger herself was also on site greeting people at the door with a smile. These folks put on a good event and work hard. Go buy comics from them!
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Challengers is probably one of my favorite comic book stores in Chicago. The staff is so nice and the store is so clean! Ok, I lied– It is my favorite because it is so clean inside. Do go!
The only downside is that the location’s a bit out of the way for me.