Patrick Bower Challenges The Corner Box Part Two - S3Ep17

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 LinksChallengerscomics.comBooks MentionedAbsolute 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.