As September draws to a close, we realize 2019 has the most releases in September of any year, ever!
     --NEW GRAPHIC NOVELS OF NOTE--
CHRIS WARE'S RUSTY BROWN HC
A sprawling, special snowflake accumulation of the biggest themes and the smallest moments of life, Rusty Brown literately and literally aims at nothing less than the coalescence of one half of all of existence into a single museum-quality picture story, expertly arranged to present the most convincingly ineffable and empathetic illusion of experience for both life-curious readers and traditional fans of standard reality.
FROGCATCHERS GN
From Jeff Lemire. A man wakes up alone in a strange room with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. The padlocked doors and barren lobby reinforce the strangeness of this place. This is the Edgewater Hotel. Even worse, something ominous seems to be lurking in one of the rooms. But when he meets a young companion-the only other soul in this vast, enveloping emptiness-his new friend begs him not to unlock the door...
HEROES IN CRISIS HC
How does a superhero handle PTSD? Welcome to Sanctuary, an ultra-secret hospital for superheroes who've been traumatized by crime-fighting and cosmic combat. But something goes inexplicably wrong when many patients wind up dead, with two well-known operators as the prime suspects: Harley Quinn and Booster Gold! This collected edition features the entire miniseries.
     --NEW TITLES OF NOTE--
BLOODSHOT (2019) #1
Bloodshot is back with a few new thrilling tricks up his sleeve! No amount of high-octane explosions can keep Bloodshot from completing his new mission. Who is the mysterious BLACK BAR, and what do they want with Bloodshot?
ETHER DISAPPEARANCE OF VIOLET BELL #1
From New York Times-bestselling Mind MGMT creator Matt Kindt and Black Hammer's David Rubín comes a fantasy adventure that's Sherlock Holmes meets Dr. Seuss. The Faerie King's daughter is missing, and only portal jumper Boone Dias can track her down. Jumping from one magical crime scene to another, he uncovers a bizarre plot featuring assassin eggs, weird pirates, ice deserts, and more noir absurdities.
HARLEEN #1
Dr. Harleen Quinzel has discovered a revolutionary cure for the madness of Gotham City-she just needs to prove it actually works. But with the criminal justice and mental health establishments united against her, the brilliant young psychologist must take drastic measures to save Gotham from itself. By Stjepan Šejic.
NEW MUTANTS WAR CHILDREN #1
When Warlock experiences a nightmare, he begins going haywire, and it's up to his friends to save him! But as Warlock grows more frenzied, they should be worrying about being able to save themselves...and doubly so when Magik's inner demon, Darkchylde, threatens to break free! Legendary creators CHRIS CLAREMONT and BILL SIENKIEWICZ reunite to share this never before told story.
THE PLOT #1
When Chase Blaine's estranged brother and sister-in-law are murdered, he becomes guardian to McKenzie and Zach, the niece and nephew he hardly knows. Seeking stability for the children, Chase moves his newly formed family to his ancestral home in Cape Augusta... which overlooks a deep, black bogland teeming with family secrets. Grab #1 now and come to our MICHAEL MORECI "Plot" Signing on Saturday, October 12!
RELICS OF YOUTH #1
Nat Rodrigues keeps dreaming of an island. Soon, the dreams become waking visions. Alone and concerned, Nat manages to locate other teenagers across the globe who share her intense obsession with the unmapped enclave. And then, the strangest part: Every one of them wakes one morning with a mysterious tattoo. A tattoo only the six of them can see. Now, each of them knows-no matter the obstacles in their way... they must discover this unknown paradise.
SFSX (SAFE SEX) #1
In a draconian America where sexuality is bureaucratized and policed, a group of queer sex workers keep the magic alive in an underground club called the Dirty Mind. Using their unique bondage skills, they resolve to infiltrate the mysterious government Pleasure Center, free their friends, and fight the power! Written by notorious kink writer TINA HORN.
STRIKEFORCE #1
A new threat is secretly taking over the planet -- and the more people who know about it, the more powerful the threat becomes. Blade recruits a team of heroes accustomed to darkness -- a strikeforce. Blade, Angela, Spider-Woman, Wiccan, the Winter Soldier, Monica Rambeau and Daimon Hellstrom join forces to fight the fights that no other Marvel team can take on!
TRANSFORMERS GALAXIES #1
Cybertron, a planet of vast beauty and extraordinary cities, wasn't always so perfect. After the War Against the Threefold Spark, Cybertron was decimated, and new bots-the Constructicons-emerged to help rebuild it grander and more amazing than ever before. But where are these bots now? Why have they been erased from Cybertron's history? And what are they planning to do about it?
WOLVERINE ANNUAL #1
Wolverine's lived many lives - X-Man, Avenger...movie star? Not exactly. But he's followed an aspiring young actress to Los Angeles for a little sunshine and some semblance of a normal life. But behind the gilded golden façade of 1930s Hollywood lurks an unholy cult led by MORGAN LE FAY. Their prey...the young Hollywood hopefuls - including Logan's lady!
     --DON’T OVERLOOK--
POWERS OF X #5, BATMAN SUPERMAN #2, CRIMINAL #8, FAITHLESS #6, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #30, ACTION COMICS #1015, and the KAIJUMAX SEASON FOUR collection.
And now we wonder what quantity (and quality!!) October will bring…

September 25th, 2019 - Challengers is giving you a chance to win an invite to the Transformers TCG Energon Invitational at PAX Unplugged in Philadephia, PA! We'll be hosting a Qualifier tournament on Wednesday, September 25th at 7pm. It's a free event, but we will be following the official Transformers TCG tourney rules, so make sure you know them! Also, every particiapant must have a DCI number from Wizards of the Coast, so be sure you're in their system. Otherwise, just bring your best tournament-legal deck, a little energon, and a lot of luck, and maybe you can represent Challengers at the Energon Invitational this December!

This event will start with a brief registration period between 6:45pm and 7:15pm on Wednesday, September 25th. After registration, a series of Swiss-style rounds will be played. Allow up to 4 hours for the event to conclude.

The best-selling graphic novelist in the United States has a brand new graphic novel out this week! Do you have the GUTS to buy it??
     --HIGHLY RECOMMENDED--
STEEPLE #1
Two women with wildly different worldviews become unlikely friends as they navigate the supernatural happenings in a sleepy coastal parish-and soon find themselves forced to choose sides in the war between good and evil, facing demons, curses, and a miniature Rapture! New series from John Allison, author of Giant Days!!
GUTS GN
A thoughtful, charming, and funny true story about growing up and gathering the courage to face and conquer fears from Raina Telgemeier, the #1 New York Times-bestselling, multiple Eisner Award-winning author of Smile, Sisters, Drama, and Ghosts! Raina wakes up one night with a terrible upset stomach. It soon becomes clear that Raina's tummy trouble isn't going away... and it coincides with her worries about food, school, and changing friendships. What's going on?
SPIDER-MAN #1
The most shocking and incredible comic of 2019 is here as J.J. ABRAMS (STAR WARS, STAR TREK) and his son HENRY ABRAMS (NOTHING?) are joined by superstar artist SARA PICHELLI (MILES MORALES, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY) team up for SPIDER-MAN! What do they have planned for Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson?! Who is Cadaverous?! Even with the ridiculous amount of hype, we're still excited for this!
     --NEW TITLES OF NOTE--
INFERIOR FIVE #1
The citizens of Dangerfield, Arizona, are beset by strange goings-on after the "Invasion" that rocked the DC Universe, but only five misfit kids seem to notice them. Can they uncover what's happening before some sinister force collects them all? And in the backup feature with story and art by Jeff Lemire, the Peacemaker is on a top-secret mission from Checkmate and Amanda Waller to find a mysterious weapon before the Russians can.
YOU ARE OBSOLETE #1
A disgraced journalist is called to cover a mysterious story on an isolated European island. As she investigates, she discovers the children have taken control and are somehow killing off all adults by their 40th birthdays. Now, she must discover the truth behind the killings while staying on the good side of the children's harsh leader...or she's next.
BLACK PANTHER AND AGENTS OF WAKANDA #1
An all-new, ongoing series from the pages of Jason Aaron's AVENGERS! Just, you know, not written by him. Vampires. Aliens. Angry fish kings. Black Panther's hand-picked Agents of Wakanda can handle it all. Wakanda is making waves on the world's map - and not everyone's a fan. With General Okoye's help, T'Challa will take Gorilla-Man, Ka-Zar and Wasp on a global fight for survival - to handle threats S.H.I.E.L.D. could only dream of!
LEX LUTHOR YEAR OF THE VILLAIN #1
Apex Lex has made his offer to the villains of the DC Universe...but has the super-powered evil genius gotten what he truly desires? The most deadly predator in the Multiverse has set out to answer that question by seeking out his counterparts on other Earths. But will this meeting of the Luthors be the greatest team-up in all of creation...or end in a bloodbath?
RICK & MORTY VS D&D II PAINSCAPE #1
The world's greatest role-playing game returns to plague the world's most dysfunctional animated family and this time, we can't just rest on brand name recognition and curiosity to fuel your interest, Morty, because no one gives a d-d-damn about sequels unless they're really good, so no pressure, you f***ing hacks!
FLASH FORWARD #1
His name is Wally West-and he was the Fastest Man Alive. That is, until the Multiverse was rewritten without him or his family in it. Wally returned and tried to make it work, but the damage was done. Spinning out of the events of HEROES IN CRISIS, follow the man who called himself Flash on an adventure to find redemption in a cosmos that has fought so hard to destroy him.
GI JOE #1
Tyranny is on the rise as Cobra topples governments and spreads its ruthless power across the globe. In these trying times, desperate measures are taken. The new G.I. Joe program recruits civilian spies and saboteurs: ordinary people, living in occupied territories, who will put their lives on the line to strike back through clandestine but high-impact missions. Join these new recruits as they resist Cobra control, fight to make a better world for all, and find out just what they are capable of.
     --DON’T OVERLOOK--
HOUSE OF X #5, ONCE & FUTURE #2, BATMAN #79, ABSOLUTE CARNAGE #3, SUPERMANS PAL JIMMY OLSEN #3, MARVEL ACTION CAPTAIN MARVEL #2, and VAMPIRELLA #3.
And almost no Image comics this week. So weird.

What is Women’s Comics Night?

The Mission: Once a month casual hangout after hours at Challengers Comics + Conversation meant to build community and foster friendship thru comics! Intended for all women and is unequivocally Queer, Non-Binary, & Trans friendly!

Time: Every Second Monday of the Month starting at 7pm!

Per usual, this event is BYOB and BYO-SNACKS. However, some snacks and beverages will be provided. And you're more than welcome to bring any crafts you're currently working on!

Don’t forget you can always join our Facebook Group and hang in the downtime between meetups: WCN Facebook

Wednesday, October 9th, 2019 - This is IT! The LAST TIME we'll hold a VORACIOUS Signing! Writer Markisan Naso is fleeing Chicago! Artist Jason Muhr is tired of our nonsense! They've even ENDED THE BOOK so they'll never have to sign at Challengers again! So harsh!

Or... the story they've been telling since Volume 1 Issue #1 has reached its always-planned conclusion and we want to celebrate the Voracious saga as a whole! This book has come so far and has had SO MANY twists and turns! If you've never read VORACIOUS before, now you can grab the whole series! If you've been reading VORACIOUS from the start, now you can complete your collection!

We're so proud of what these creators have created and we'll do our best to send VORACIOUS off in style!

VORACIOUS: APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION
"Chef Nate Willner's dinosaur hunts in an alternate dimension reignited his passion for cooking and turned his life around. But traveling through time and space for prehistoric meat has consequences he never imagined. He's damaged the bloodlines of the Saurians, a race of evolved dinosaurs from another universe, fractured the trust of the people he cares for most, and unleashed a flesh-hungry monster on his hometown! With the help of Saurian Detective Gus Horncrasher, Nate and his friends must put aside their differences to save Blackfossil from being devoured, repair the damage to the timelines, and overcome the losses they've suffered in their lives. Collects issues #1-5."

Jason and Markisan will be signing all forms of Voracious comics from 3pm to 7pm on Wednesday, October 9, 2019.