Off Panel: A Comics Interview Podcast

Writer and actor Iman Vellani joins the show to talk about her life, career, and new Image Comics series Chachu. Vellani discusses the buildup to Chachu, her writing experience, her comic origins, jumping into the middle of comics, her career and comic guides, her path to Ms. Marvel, how Chachu came together, working with Tiny Onion, the appeal of the 1970s, the story's multigenerational side, fig...

Writer Ed Brubaker joins the show to talk about his long collaboration with Sean Phillips and the recently released Five Gears in Reverse. Brubaker discusses the status of the Criminal show, the state of TV, why Sean Phillips fits him so well, how they push each other, his favorites from their run, what fuels their new projects, Criminal as a story engine, Five Gears in Reverse's origins, the fusi...

Near Mint Condition's Omar Valdivieso joins the show to talk about the world of comic collections and his YouTube channel that focuses on that larger space. Valdivieso discusses his suits, going full time on Near Mint Condition, his focus on collections, his preferred format, making the case for onis, the origins of Near Mint Condition, balancing his approach, the pressure to create, his idea gene...

Cartoonist Matt Kindt joins the show to talk about his journey to the return of MIND MGMT and the arrival of Fort Psycho. Kindt discusses the energy that drives his comics, having a holistic view, his approach to MIND MGMT: New & Improved, what he's learned from his recent stretch, his time at Valiant, moving Flux House to Oni, the challenges of doing everything yourself, the origins of MIND MGMT'...

Artist Rob Guillory joins the show to talk about his current approach to comics and the upcoming Kickstarter for Ghostbrawler #1: The Bruiser Edition. Guillory discusses Chew adaptation news, the adaptation process, the nature of being a creator, how things have evolved since he started in comics, the different audiences in comics, diversifying his workload, the model he's following, taking on wri...

Writer Che Grayson joins the show to talk about their comic book journey and the soon to debut Absolute Catwoman. Grayson discusses their different brains, Absolute vibes, their love of story, balancing comics and film, finding their way into another medium, their comic origins, learning on the job, the roots of Absolute Catwoman, the development of the character, the type of story that's being to...

Cartoonist James Stokoe joins the show to talk his career in comics and his approach to art. Stokoe discusses working from a computer, his comic and art origins, his earliest comics, what stood out about the medium, the artists and projects that moved the needle for him, the power of internet forums, the evolution of his art, looking back on his work, the value of original art and commissions, the...

Retailer Aaron Trites joins the show to talk about the origins of and year in his San Diego based comic shop, Now or Never Comics. Trites discusses his own fandoms, his path to opening Now or Never, its location, the development of the shop, the year so far in his shop, market trends, what's leading the way, the single issue boom, the spread of new readers, the speculation world, handselling, supe...

Writer Mark Waid joins the show to talk about his life and career in comics and the new Zoop campaign designed to fund a hardcover for his series, Empire. Waid discusses how he works, cliffhangers, his approach to new projects, his character-centric nature, focusing on problems, staying active as a writer, whether he's evolved, staying open to change, the comics of today, staying outside the box,...

Writer Dave Wielgosz joins the show to talk about his journey from comics editorial to writing comics and his new series at Ignition Press, Showdown. Wielgosz discusses the build up to release, his comic origins, the 2000s in comics, making his way into comics and DC editorial, becoming a master of continuity, the key to being a good editor, relationship management, the origins of Showdown, the ma...

Writer Matthew Rosenberg joins the show to talk about his new book, If Destruction Be Our Lot..., and his approach to comics overall. Rosenberg discusses hitting podcast row, The Mets, the origins of If Destruction Be Our Lot..., the medium it ended up in, the complexity of Abraham Lincoln, the book's art team, collaboration, the impact of time and money, its extra sized first issue, the power of...

Artist Rafael Albuquerque joins the show to talk about his life and career in comics and the upcoming Absolute Green Arrow. Albuquerque discusses traditional vs. digital art, his comic origins, the generations of artists in Brazil, how he figured out art, the impact of influences, the project that changed how he was seen in comics, why Absolute Green Arrow feels like a next step, his original Abso...

Writer Pornsak Pichetshote joins the show to talk about where he is in his career and the upcoming Absolute Green Arrow. Pichetshote discusses his new email newsletter, being vulnerable, how he sees himself in comics, why he hasn't taken on more for hire work before, what differentiated Absolute, when his journey to Absolute Green Arrow started, the personal nature of the book, Rafael Albuquerque'...

Cartoonist Julia Wertz joins the show to talk about her career and her new graphic novel Bury Me Already (It's Nice Down Here). Wertz discusses her upcoming book tour, perceived age, promotional images, when she started making comics, what comics are for her, her comic strip-like approach, her natural art style, comic processes, approaching sensitive subjects, continuity, parenting books, the emot...

Comics critic Tiffany Babb joins the show to talk about her comics zine, The Comics Staple, and the world of comics journalism. Babb discusses pre-Kickstarter feelings, the joy of creating, her fearless nature, the importance of failure,  why comics needs something like The Comics Staple, the importance of tastemakers, the contributors to the zine, the Staple's audience, what differentiates it, wh...

Cartoonist Faith Erin Hicks joins the show to talk about her new graphic novel Inbetweens and the evolving role of comic creators. Hicks discusses her (tough) love of horror, operating outside the box, the path to release for Inbetweens, battling boredom, Inbetweens' origins, its evolution, the leads of the book, its timeframe, the gender disparity of animation, changing requirements for cartoonis...

Writer/letterer Aditya Bidikar joins the show to talk about his first major comics writing project, In Your Skin at Image Comics. Bidikar discusses his feeling about tackling that new project, putting yourself out there, the evolution of In Your Skin, the parasocial side of the project, the importance of character, how the book's artist Som signed up for the book, how that collaboration changed th...

Writer/artist Skottie Young joins the show to talk how his work on Lobo at DC Comics and his views on comics and art. Young discusses the artists that hit him the most, the intersectionality of comics and music, the visual foundation of Lobo, playing with the character's history, the origins and nature of the project, the power of no, the coolness of Marie Javins, doing Lobo at the right time, wor...

Writers (and comics journalism legends) Laura Hudson and Tim Leong join the show to talk their new Mad Cave series Exploit and their journeys to it. Hudson and Leong discuss the power of honesty, publishing their first comic, the evolution of Exploit, whether they always wanted to make comics, how the series developed, the impact of collaboration, Exploit's origins, channeling frustrations into th...

In an episode recorded in-person at this year's annual conference for the trade organization for comic shops, ComicsPRO, The Beat's Heidi MacDonald and the head of Lunar Distribution and Discount Comic Book Service, Christina Merkler, join the podcast for a vibe check about the event and state of the industry. Up first, MacDonald joins to share her read on the event, how it compares to previous ed...

Writer Chris Condon joins the show to talk about his comics career, his new Vertigo series The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery, and more. Condon discusses managing the promotional side of comics, his comic origins, the power of gimmicks, his love of comic art, his film background, how That Texas Blood came together, the journey of Brutal Dark, what made Vertigo the right home for th...

Writer James Tynion IV joins the show to talk about his incredibly busy slate and how he's navigating it all. Tynion discusses the recent Exquisite Corpses pop up in Paris, how he's managing his project load, prioritizing your work, building up speed as a writer, figuring out which projects are a yes, Vertigo's potential impact, the direction of the market, Vicky from w0rldtr33, the Exquisite Corp...

Writer/artist Tony Fleecs joins the show to talk about his life and career in comics and his work on comics like Feral and the upcoming Deathstroke: The Terminator. Fleecs discusses comic shop living, his comic origins, 1990s comic energy, how those comics impacted him as a storyteller, having comics that speak to your age, how My Little Pony changed his life, the success of Stray Dogs, putting an...

Artist Charlie Adlard joins the show to talk about post-Walking Dead living and his new Image Comics graphic novel, Altamont. Adlard discusses a recent signing, becoming a different Charlie, figuring out which projects to take on, the constant drumbeat of deadlines, leaning in different directions, the story of the Altamont Free Concert, what made that story a draw, how Altamont came together as a...

Journalist Susana Polo joins the show to talk about her interesting year and a bevy of subjects we didn't get to highlight from the wider world of comics in 2025. Polo discusses post-Polygon living, the loss of personality-driven sites, how the Polygon experience shaped her, the reverse energies of 2025's comic movies, the muted comics conversation, recency biases, the importance of back catalogue...