Patrick Brower after 17 years and 400 square feet

Patrick Brower of Challengers Comics

After 17 years in the retail trenches, Patrick Brower and his business partner, Dal Bush, decided to go it on their own. They opened Challengers Comics in Chicago, and after some learning curve and conversion of 400 square feet, the store took off.

Read Patrick's story here at the mighty icv2.com.

Jim McLauchlin

1996 was a crazy year, pt. 2

Kingdom Come, one of 1996's blockbusters

Didn't we mention 1996 was a crazy year? So much so, that we had to beak our 20-years-after into two parts! You can read the second part, including Kingdom Come, above, at Newsarama.com.

Jim McLauchlin

1996 was a crazy year, pt. 1

DC Versus Marvel? One of the good things that happened!

In the comics biz, 1996 was a landmark year. Good things happened, bad things happened, and the landscape was forever changed. You can read all about it (in two chunks!) at Newsarama, part 1.

Jim McLauchlin

A Comic Store is a Bookstore is a Comic Store

Carr D'Angelo of Earth-2 Comics actually IN the DC Comics library!

So many people (no, really!) try to use comic books as their path into Hollywood. Carr D'Angelo actually took the reverse path. You can read about him and his rather interesting stores here at the mighty icv2.

Jim McLauchlin

Bill Jemas does his Double Take

Bill Jemas of Double Take Comics

Bill Jemas has been around the block a few times: He's been a Wall Street lawyer, an executive for the NBA, and the CEO and publisher at Marvel Comics.

And he's now back in the publishing game with Double Take Comics, the publishing imprint from video game publisher Take Two Interactive.

Jemas has learned many lessons, and he shares the good and the bad over at icv2.

Jim McLauchlin

Mike Wellman at The Comic Bug on honesty, theft, and more

Mike Wellman, co-owner of The Comic Bug

Mike Wellman got into comic retailing—go figure!—by being honest. Since then, he's opened his own business, dealt with theft, and learned when to keep his opinions to himself. Read all about it here at icv2.com.

Jim McLauchlin

A Comic Con, By the Numbers

Graphic by Zachary A. Pennington

The Long Beach Comic Con takes you behind the scenes into their numbers. They see what the fans want, and try to build the perfect event. The full deal over at Newsarama.

Jim McLauchlin