Challengers Comics + Conversation’s Patrick Brower joins John and David for part 2 of this year-end conversation about all things comics in 2025. They get into why David can’t get all the variant covers, the Marvel/DC crossovers, what made the Absolute Line so successful, the good and the bad of 2025, and looking ahead at the comics industry in 2026, and Patrick makes a prediction – will it come true?

Timestamp Segments

• [00:57] Excitement for 2026.
• [04:38] The variant covers headache.
• [08:03] Marvel and DC do different books together.
• [09:59] The average customer.
• [11:09] The DC/Marvel solution.
• [12:29] DC K.O.
• [14:22] What makes the Absolute Line work?
• [17:56] Was 2025 a good year for comics?
• [19:10] PRH’s payment portal.
• [21:28] Book distributors vs comic distributors.
• [23:31] Making more money – still broke.
• [25:06] What’s coming up in 2026?
• [29:09] Patrick’s prediction for 2026.
• [30:21] Patrick mentions wrestling.
• [30:40] Warner being bought, again.
• [31:35] The longest-running comic shop.

Notable Quotes

• “I'm not saying any names, whatsoever.”
• “Your average customer isn't the expert customer you're hearing from on the internet.”
• “I'm just disappointed that Time Warner rejected the Blockbuster video bid from the early 90s.”

Relevant Links

Challengerscomics.com

Books Mentioned

• Absolute Batman, by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, & Frank Martin.
• Absolute Green Lantern, by Al Ewing & Jahnoy Lindsay.
• Absolute Martian Manhunter, by Deniz Camp & Javier Rodriguez.
• Absolute Superman, by Jason Aaron & Rafa Sandoval.
• Absolute Wonder Woman, by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, & Jordie Bellaire.
• Batman, by Matt Fraction & Jorge Jiménez.
• The Cull, by Kelly Thompson & Mattia de Iulis.
• DC K.O., by Scott Snyder, Xermanico, Javi Fernandez, & Alejandro Sanchez.
• DC/Marvel: Batman/Deadpool.
• G.I. Joe.
• Ice Cream Man, by W. Maxwell Price, Martin Morazzo, & Chris O’Halloran.
• Marvel/DC: Deadpool/Batman (2025- ).
• Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. (2006-2010), by Warren Ellis & Stuart Immonen.