I do not have enough good things to say about Challengers. The staff know what they're talking about and have always been extremely helpful. If I go in without knowing what I want, they're always there to help me find something cool to read. The sidekick section is fantastic, especially if you have children or are there to pick something up for a kid. Challengers is so great that I patron it as frequently as I am able too. I wish there were more stars to give it. If you're a nerd, a geek or a comic book junkie, then come to Challengers. You will not be sorry. read more

Made an order for a delivery, it was a long box and it costed around $10 dollars. Didn't hear anything about the delivery for months until I sent a message to the company's email. They said the order was for pickup only, even though there was no indication for it being a pickup only. I asked the guy if I could at least get a refund and he never responded. It was only $10 bucks so it's not like the end of the world. But still very unprofessional behavior. EDIT AFTER RESPONSE: Thanks for proving my point of how unprofessional you really are. I leave one 1-star review in the middle of the night and within moments you respond with a passive aggressive essay. You already have five stars for your business and you immediately attack any 1-star reviewers like they personally insulted you. Ever hear of 'customer courtesy'? All you told me via email is that my order was cancelled. That's it. Depending on the buisness, an order can be cancelled but not refunded. All I wanted was clarification whether I was getting my money back or not. You NEVER RESPONDED. What was I supposed to assume? And what's that petty 1-star review comment? Should I have given you a higher rating? Why? I ordered an item, waited, asked for updates on the item's delivery, got my order cancelled, and never got a response afterwards. Does any part of that sound remotely pleasant? It honestly wasn't even that big a deal for me, but the fact that you replied within moments to me with an extremely petty essay means you MADE IT a big deal. Learn to take criticism. EDIT RESPONSE 2: "full of misleading and erroneous information". I accidentally said months instead of weeks. Nothing else was a lie. I didn't know I got my money back until I made a 1-star review on your comic shop. Once again, I asked via email to CLARIFY whether I got a REFUND or not. You NEVER replied to me. I only know now because I got a response from a business owner or manager who can't handle one ounce of criticism. "This is obviously "that big of a deal" for you, because here you are, almost 2 months later, well after you were refunded, denigrating a business that handled your mistake in minutes." I'm back 2 months later because I thought I should tell others about my experience. I saw how unprofessionally you respond to all other low rating comments. I wanted to give the benefit of the doubt that you would've changed and I wouldn't be screamed at for my review. But here we are. Your acting like I made a scathing review of your store that will make it fall into complete bankruptcy. I made one review saying I wasn't satisfied with your store, get over yourself. Once again, that is the MINIMUM of what you should do. If I go to McDonalds, order something, and there was a mistake of some kind, it's the MINIMUM of the McDonald employees to fix the mistake. You act like fixing a mistake should be seen as an outstanding achievement and not a standard business practice. Do you honestly believe I should've given you five stars because you did the very minimum of your job? Unbelievable. I tried out your company, I was unsatisfied, and I'm giving it the score I believe it deserves based on my experience. Accept it and move on. read more

It has been some time so I stopped in to Challengers Comics, I just finished working in the area, so I made my stop on the way home. I was greeted as soon I walked in, very friendly staff which is plus. The sele are is extensive and the price point is great, so much to choose from I did pick up a few items. I will make another stop very soon. Thank you Challengers Comics. read more

I have been visiting Challengers Comics + Conversation since their opening day and to this date, this is my spot. From day one the service, the selection and the whole atmosphere is something that I haven't found anywhere else! The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, they don't walk around behind you watching your every move like they do in most of the other places I have visited in Chicago and other states. They have a great selection of books, collectables, art, large selection of older comic books at great prices, love attending their events as much as possible, never miss the anniversary, only missed their FREE COMIC BOOK DAY once, I was out of the country! I could not say enough great things about MY FAVORITE COMIC BOOK STORE! read more

Challengers Comics + Conversation - Comic Books Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

very friendly staff. a lot of great selections. a lot of new marvel legends. very nice layout. good variety of manga and comic books.

Great Store. Clean and friendly environment. They are knowledgeable, but only if you ask (which is a compliment). Great place for kids as well. read more

Great selection of new comics and collectibles, good amount of back issues as well. friendly staff, very large place. Parking can be tough but definitely worth the hassle. read more

This is a really nice comic book store. I am deducting a star because I don't find the people that work there all that friendly. They aren't mean or rude, but I go often enough and I'm used to comic stores where the staff gets to know you. That hasn't happened here. They also don't have much in the way of back issues. This just sin't the place for it. Otherwise, i can't find much to knock. Here is what they do right: 1) They have a really good selection of trade paperbacks and graphic novels. 2) They have toys and comics galore. 3) The place is really clean. 4) They have a kids room so you can read your books and your kids can go check out their own books and not bother you (at least until they find what they want to buy and then they come and beg you to buy it for them). 5) Its conveniently located near public transportation (L & bus). read more

This is hands down the best Comic shop in Chicago. Dal and Patrick are so full of knowledge and actually love comics. It's super awesome to be able to go in and chat about what's good and get honest answers. They will tell you what's good and what's not. My son and I have been going to Challengers for a couple of years, every Wednesday and we always feel welcome. Even when we go a few times a week. . . Thanks guys for being the best. read more

Great place to go for new books. If they have it it's out where you can buy not like other places hoarding instant keys to up charge later. I'm not at all close to this store but whenever I get a chance I definitely make it out there. Good job guys my kid loves your place! read more

Rudest. Employee. Ever. Was in the area and went to Challengers just to look if there were any new comic titles that I may have missed to download digital versions of. A employee* walks up to me and asks if I'm looking for something specific. I told him no, I'm just looking to see if there are any new titles out that I may have missed putting on my list of comics titles to download off the internet. Then the dude goes off on me telling me I shouldn't download pirate comics, and that I should buy them, support the industry, blah, blah, blah... Sorry, with comic books going for $5.00+ a book these days, I'm not going to spend money on something I can get off the web for free. If the dude didn't like that I wasn't buying anything, he should have kept his mouth shut. You don't go off on people like that. Talk about being TOTALLY UNPROFESSIONAL! With a employee like that, this comic book shop deserves to go belly up with the rest of the comic book shops dropping like flies. * Wanted to describe the employee EXACTLY so customers would know what employee in the business it was, but sadly the CENSORS at Yelp got all SJW butthurt over the description. Yelp wants us to describe our experiences with businesses, yet we can't give exact descriptions of the employees in the business giving us these experiences. Sad. Really sad. read more

Nice place. Good selection to browse. Friendly people to do business with. Quality product at a good price.

It's alright. Pretty standard stuff here. They do do events sometimes so that's a plus. For a big place I wish there was more to discover but it seemed like a giant Half Priced Books of comics read more

I was just back there this past week, I always make it a point to visit when I'm in Chicago. Great selection, neatly organized sections and a very great and knowledgeable staff. They have comics, graphic novels, manga, a YA and an all ages section, as well as cards, toys and more. I Will be back soon. read more

my favorite comic store in the city! They bring in new comics every week and always have the best selections!! They have really allowed me to expand my collection and learn more about the graphic novel comic world !! read more

Sidekicks is the best place to find original creator driven books for kids. I'd highly recommend Investigators or anything by Sara Varon. There's also a ton of "educational" comics that don't feel like learning books at all, just good fun. I love that the owners put so much effort into this store within a store. My kid is never disappointed when we come here, thanks again to Dal and Patrick! read more

I am only writing this review to make up for the ridiculous review I saw under r/trashy on Reddit. The one that starts with "rudest. Employee. Ever." That person really is trash. read more

This place is gorgeous. A nice roomy space, bright with large windows - a far cry from the dark, dingy hole-in-the-wall "Android's Dungeon" type comic shops. Everything is laid out neatly and very easy to find what I'm looking for. The gentleman who assisted me was well dressed and well-groomed - no "geek funk" here! Not to mention knowledgeable - he knew exactly what I was looking for, and could even answer a very obscure comic question that had puzzled all of my other nerdy friends. :) If you like comics and conversation - it's in the name, and they do deliver. Very nice. read more

Patrick and Dal have curated a store that's filled with outstanding comics, graphic novels, and collectables. Bring the kids! Bring the dogs! All the staff are friendly and ready to recommend new and old books alike based on your tastes. Yes, I still have my pull list with Challengers and live out of state because this store is THAT exceptional! Keep reading comics! read more

Challenge: find a new or old comic the staff doesn't know about. They can accurately tell you were each comic is located, in a store of thousands and thousands of stories. I come here often because my husband loves this place. Since then, I have found my appreciation for comics. It's sometimes hard for me to understand comics because I haven't spend my life dedicated to this hobby. Ask anyone in that store, customer or staff, and you will receive a helpful answer. A great place to go even if you don't think you like comics! read more

As a small business owner I just wanted toake my support of this business known. I have never cared about reviews, positive or negative, even a little bit. That said, I have a feeling that James'review is going to be gold for your business. Good job James. On top of that, I hope you face all the legal ramifications possible for your review. I hope your friends desert you, your family disowns you and you face jail time for pirating without the possibility of reading comics. read more

Thanks to James for a bad review that made it to reddit and to give Challengers advertisement! I live in California but I will buy from you guys online soon! Just from the pics on your website your shop looks fun and amazing! And based on all of the legit reviews I bet the staff are awesome people. If you're into comics, you talk comics with others likeminded, comic shop employees and store owners. Again thank you James for giving us insight on this place read more

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. read more

Challengers Comics + Conversation - Comic Books Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's great that Chicago now has such a fantastic comic store! It's bright, open, friendly, and not at all like rifling through comics in someone's dusty basement! The owners (Patrick & Dal) know all there is to know about comics (without being snobby) and will help you however they can. They have a great selection of books in stock, but if it's not there they can get it for you. They obviously know they Chicago comic community really well, too, since they walls are covered in the work of local comic artists and you run a good chance of running into one of them if you frequent the store. It's a great store for kids, with books geared towards younger readers right up front and the store owners welcoming young readers into the store. read more

Great selection of manga! I went looking for Kaiju No. 8, but found a lot more! I found Mob Psycho 100 the manga which is for some reason some what hard to find. If you are looking for manga or just American comic books, this a great place to go! read more

Knowledgeable friendly staff. Always a random in store. Well organized and clean. It's in a gentrified neighborhood but it's been here a while. I have stopped in through the years and while I may be on the verge of not reading anymore places like this almost pull me back in to comics deeper. read more

Challengers Comics + Conversation - Comic Books Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is easily the best comic shop in Illinois. They always great you with a smile and are happy to help you find anything you are looking for. The store is well organized and has an amazing selection. The kids room is fantastic and I wanted to buy one of everything. Patrick is a delight and makes everyone feel welcome. read more

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! read more

Challengers Comics + Conversation - FCBD sketch Mime - Comic Books Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I love Challenger's they always treat me super well, especially W Dal, Patrick and Molly. I've been coming to them since 2016 and they have never let me down! if you ever need a new comic shop where you need excellent customer service, a subscrition box, and really good recommendations this is the place read more

Went there yesterday to see the Rickmobile and Kyle Starks. I'm sure not all the 5 blocks of people waiting in line weren't they're regulars, but they're staff seemed fun and chill to talk to. I got to be one of the last people in line for Kyle to sign my Wonder Woman book and saw how they handled all the upset fans that missed their chance. Thought they handled everyone appropriately and kindly. The store itself has a cool setup with alot of selfie worthy memorabilia. High recommends and special shout out to 'Tony' with the killer legs and devilishly wicked laugh Only suggestion, have some snacks or soda in store. Us geeks like junk food to much on when we nerd out. but overall good times read more

Challengers Comics + Conversation - Kyle Starks @Challenger - Comic Books Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great comic book store. I hope my 5 stars review sticks, they deserve it. Their store is really big with an extra section for the kids. They have a very large selection of pretty much everything you can think of and even have a few European comics that I happen to know and appreciate. The parking is not bad at all. The staff is very knowledgeable. This is a true Chicago gem. read more

WOW - what a shop - BRAND NEW right off the Blue Line Western stop . I stopped in after work and have never been treated nicer in a comic shop! The staff is helpful, well dressed even, and special ordered titles for me. They said they've only been open for a few weeks, but wow, they have everything.... kids section, large shelves of trades - and an uber clean store to boot! They have something I haven't seen in a comic shop before, a section for artists to stop in a draw at.... tables and art supplies for anyone. On a lark I checked out their website - they have a LIVE WEBCAM in the store, lol. Maybe you will see me shopping in there one day. read more

Challengers Comics + Conversation - Comic Books Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Finally, made it. Patrick was great. samantha was super kind. the store is amazing. very much worth tracking down and getting there. the podcast lead me there. the people made it worthwhile. read more

There are actually a lot of good comic book stores in Chicago, so Challengers has a lot of competition. This store is a stand-out option for a few reasons: (1) the store is organized really well, which means you can get to pretty much whatever you want without too much aimless hunting, (2) the staff is very friendly, funny, and helpful without trying to do a "hard sell" on anything, (3) their manga selection is possibly the best in Chicago unless you count Kinokuniya in the suburbs, and (4) they give back to the community of comics fans by offering discounts for titles that are selected by local reading groups. There are probably at least 5 more great reasons that I haven't listed. I support Challengers because they really do contribute something different. There are other great stores too, and I wouldn't suggest you change allegiances, but give this store a try. It's convenient, friendly, and designed for people who are new to the scene as well as long-term fans. read more

When I first moved to Chicago, I drove past this place and I did lol at the "comics and conversation" in their business name. "Way to set a business model around a free thing, dudes," said I. But then I went in, and oh boy was I wrong. It doesn't have a massive amount of product, but what it has is concentrated awesome. They can get anything you need, and the much-maligned "conversation" in their title is actually quite the selling point. The employees are friendly, engaging, and willing to share their knowledge about comic-based literature. Talking with the employees there helped me feel better after breaking up with my former comic store of 20 years. Now? Challengers is my store. read more

This store is the Gelngarry lead of Comic shops!!!! The store is a statement unto itself, clean and organized with chairs and couchs giving truth to the "conversation" aspect of it's name. Also, they have more events then every other comic shop in the city combined. Seriously, go to http://www.challengerscomics.com/ if you dont believe me. The staff is always friendly and not only knows all things comic and nerd but also the industry. Chances are you'll be buying books next to your favorite creator any given Wednesday . dont believe me; check out thier huge art wall signed by a ton of rad people including Erik Larson, Gene Ha, and Dave McKean!! Not to be overlooked, what comic book collector can't apprciate one of the owners "costume" he wears everday in the form of a monochrome suit!! Awesome! You deserve a better class of comic store and Challengers is it. 11 stars !!!!!!!!(if i could) read more

I finally got to stop by Challengers this past weekend after wanting to stop there for a couple months now. Walking in the first thing I noticed was how organized the store was. Normally some of the more established comic book shops are organized but yet have that quirky disorganized look to them but this space looked very clean and very updated. I liked how they have chairs you can sit on and read whatever you pick it was almost library like. The staff when I went in there was friendly and answered whatever question I had. Also their Graphic Novel section was very well stocked and had most of the titles I normally look for. So hopefully in the future I hope to stop by and visit more. read more

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! read more

I read a review on here about a 'corporate and sterile feel'... I'm pretty sure they walked into another comic book store and mistook this one for that one. After getting to know Dal and Patrick more and even helping them out with a meal for their 24 Hour Comics Day, I can't help but feel that this is bar none the best comics shop in the entire city. While I work at another shop once a week (mind you, it's just so I can get store credit so that I don't have to 'pay' for my back issues and other holes I fill in my collection - they know my loyalty to Challengers too, so no harm no fowl), this place is where I not only feel I can go to check out comics, but also talk about anything and everything (Dal loves certain network television shows - after scoffing, I actually checked one out and LIKED it!). Suffice to say, if you haven't found a home for yr pull list (While I get my DC from the store I work at, I still keep a pull here for my indie titles), this is the place you should come to - friendly people and great selection without ANY pushiness - you really can't go wrong. and seriously - pumpkin carving parties? What other comics shop or ANYWHERE in the city does stuff like that on a regular basis? Be cool and be at Challengers. thee end. read more

Finally!!!!! We made it here!!! this place has been in my hood for a while now and I have been wanting to go in and I didnt until now! Awesome awesome awesome! Memories of my days of comics books as a child came back to me full force! Like 3 straight shots of wild turkey! Awesome selection, nice place.....and good people. Go ahead stop in when you get off that Blue line......................and then hit the Green eye hehehehehehe Shake & bake seal of approval!. read more