Podcasts about off panel

Retailer Shannon Live joins the show to talk about the story behind her comic shop, Bat City Comic Professionals, and the year far for it and the direct market itself. Live discusses her level of busy, managing burnout, Bat City's unique nature, its different sides, their product mix, its indie emphasis, the year for shop, its energy, what's working, what can be learned from DC's success, new reader behavior, the direct market's overall health, ComicPRO's impact, tips for other retailers, and more.

Cartoonist Terry Moore joins the show to talk about his career and soon to launch crowdfunding campaign for Pandora's Box: An Echo Story. Moore discusses this moment in his career, his library of works, building a universe, gateway comics, why he went the cartoonist/self-publishing route, figuring things out, why Strangers in Paradise has proven to be such a lasting work, shifting to shorter runs, how his readership has evolved, crowdfunding as an option, doing his own thing, his new Dark Horse deal, working in other formats, the appeal of experimentation, what's next for him, the evolution of comics, and more.

Writer/artist Christian Ward returns to the show to talk about his recent projects like Event Horizon, The Patron, and The Forever Home. Ward discusses his San Diego Comic Con experience, focusing on writing, shifting how he's viewed, having a deliberate approach, seeing other publishers, diversifying his workload, the current market, how he looks at different projects, being an elite concept guy, pulling the rug out from under people, putting himself in the work, the origins of The Patron, John J. Pearson's work on the series, Sami Kivela's art, The Forever Home's forever home, its unique relationship with time, his different sides, the importance of finding your own answers, and more.

Eisner Award-winning comics journalist and podcaster David Harper joins the Dollar Bin Bandits for a wide-ranging conversation about the comics industry, the cultural impact of the medium, and the work behind his acclaimed website, SKTCHD, and long-running podcast, Off Panel. Fresh off his Eisner win for Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism, David discusses his approach to interviewing creators, covering the business and culture of comics, and what he's learned from years of conversations with an incredible lineup of guests from across the industry. Along the way, we celebrate David's dedication to the creative world we all love, the impressive body of work he's built, and his continued drive to be one of the most thoughtful and distinctive voices in comics journalism. You can read David's work and subscribe to SKTCHD at sktchd.com, and listen to Off Panel wherever you get your podcasts. Follow David on Bluesky at @davidharper.bsky.social and on Instagram at @slicedfriedgold. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How do you go from covering the comic industry for more than a decade, to receiving one of the industry's highest awards? David Harper stops by to tell the story and give us the ultimate SDCC recap!AWARD WINNING Comic Journalist, and Podcaster, David Harper (SKTCHD⁩ & Off Panel) joins me to celebrate his major win at the 2026 Eisner Awards. SKTCHD took home the trophy (Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism), and David talks about the big moment, the current state of comic journalism, the best news & announcements to come out of Comic Con, and a recap of our personal favorite moments from San Diego Comic Con, along with some tips for first-timersWatch the uncut video version of this episode: HERETry COVRPRICE for one month for $1 : HERELINKS: Take your comic shopping experience to the limit, by shopping online at Gotham City Limit!Join our Patreon Community, and get access to bonus episodes, free comics, and other rewards! Try a FREE 7-day trial: HEREThe Schiller Kessler GroupClick here to text us Fan Mail! Presented by CovrPriceProudly sponsored by Gotham City LimitDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showREACH OUT AND FOLLOW FOR MORE

Writers Joshua Williamson and Kelly Sue DeConnick joined me at San Diego Comic Con for a special episode where we talk about why they love comics. Up first, Williamson shares why he loves comics, how his life affects his love, the creator that sealed the deal for him, whether he looks at comics the same as a reader and creator, self-imposed limitations, maintaining his passion for the medium, and more. Then, DeConnick joins to discuss why she loves comics, the medium's flexibility, its punk rock nature, reader brain vs. creator brain, experimenting with the medium, backmatter and community, expanding your horizons, and more.

In this special episode, Jake and Tyler review Spider-Man and give their thoughts on the movie and where this fits in with Doomsday and the MCU. Sponsored by Revelton Distilling, Iowa Beef Steakhouse, Jenny Farrell REMAX Concepts Live from the AKC Andrew Downs Studios

Jake and Tyler break down San Diego Comic-Con 2026 fallout, sit down with an indie comic creator, and go deep on X-Men '97, Cyclops' massive resurgence, Marvel Rivals hype, Fox-era regrets, Infernal Hulk, and more real-talk comic chaos. No filters, just pure comic-book nerd energy.Sponsored by , Jenny Farrel REMAX Concepts, Iowa Beef Steakhouse, and Revelton Distilling Company. LIVE from the AKC Andrew Downs Studio.

Artist Andy Kubert joins the show to talk about his life and career in comics and his new series Terminals. Kubert discusses his schedule oriented approach, how he thinks about the job, what he learned from his father Joe, becoming an artist, his time at The Kubert School, figuring out his voice as an artist, the Kubert Triple Threat, his time on X-Men, the origins of Terminal, the project's lead time, the artists on the book, going the creator-owned route, the roots of Ka-Zar, the evolution of being an artist, a tip for artists, and more.

The Beat's Heidi MacDonald joins the show to talk about Marvel's explosive news and where things are as we head into San Diego Comic Con in an episode that was recorded across two days. MacDonald discusses Steve Wacker taking over as Marvel's Editor in Chief, Marvel's move to Burbank, what it all means, the C.B. Cebulski of it all, comic con plans and expectations, where the direct market is, why Absolute popped, the state of the single issue, Marvel's status, publishers we have an eye on, how the business is evolving, what Heidi is looking for this year, Robert Kirkman's impact, and more.

Back for EP 264! The guys rave about X-Men '97 (Wolverine vs Brood, Omega Red, epic claw return), dive into Absolute Batman #22 (Harley backstory & Straw Man drama), the wild new Clayface series, and Mortal Thor twists. Plus movie tangents, Manhunter love, and the return of "What's in My Mouth" (Argentinian steak chips get roasted).Live from the AKC Andrew Downs Studios.Sponsors:Revelton Distilling Company – Iowa craft spirits, grain-to-glass. Shop & ship at reveltondistillery.com!Jenny Farrell Team with RE/MAX Concepts – Des Moines real estate pros since 1998. 515-779-7500 or jenniferfarrell.remax.com.Iowa Beef Steakhouse – Bold Iowa flavors & legendary hospitality.Full episode out now — smash play and join the chat!#OffPanelOffTopic #XMen97 #AbsoluteBatman #Clayface #MortalThor #Comics

Writer and artist Frank Miller joins the show to talk about his views on comics and art as well as his new memoir, Push the Wall: My Life, Writing, Drawing and the Art of Storytelling. Miller discusses the joy he gets from art and comics, his approach to art, his preferred projects, collaboration, Calvin & Hobbes, the importance of curiosity, Forbidden Planet's arrival, how he views art, the impact of the people in his life, process vs. outcome, the power of the trash can, success as a driver, his views of his own work, being open to change, a tip for storytellers, and more.

Tyler and Jake are back with a no-holds-barred Episode 263! They dive deep into X-Men '97 Episode 4 (holy shit, what an episode), break down the latest comics including the wild, mind-bending Dead Man series by W. Maxwell Prince (with Batman, Plastic Man, and fourth-wall-breaking afterlife chaos), and explore heavy-hitting reads touching on Absolute titles and more.In the Long Box, they go full spectrum:Tyler geeks out over a Gore Verbinski/Sam Rockwell banger — a hilarious, original, anti-AI time-loop mindfuck that sticks with you.Jake gets emotional with A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers), talking compassion, mental health, processing feelings, and why kindness is punk rock.Plus: Rants on late-stage capitalism destroying gaming (Microsoft layoffs at id Software, Sony's all-digital future, EA Sports nickel-and-diming College Football), the importance of physical media, sitcom evolution, and plenty of unfiltered real talk.A 3 Beards Media ProductionSponsors:Revelton Distilling Company — Grain-to-glass Iowa spirits. Shop online at reveltondistillery.com and get Iowa's finest delivered to your door.Iowa Beef Steakhouse — Des Moines' premier steakhouse. Hand-seasoned Iowa beef, bold flavors, and that classic Iowa welcome.Jenny Farrell – RE/MAX Concepts — Trusted real estate expertise in the Iowa market.Turn it up, lock in, and join the conversation. Full episode vibes, no filters.Drop a comment with your favorite comic or movie take! New episodes drop weekly.#XMen97 #DeadMan #Comics #Podcast #OffPanelOffTopic #3BeardsMedia

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, figuring out scripting, putting the creative team together, the difference between writing superheroes versus creator-owned, turning influence into art, testing her imposter syndrome, whether she wants to keep writing comics, figuring out her life, and more.

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 fusion of their approaches, the development of its cast, the roots of Unfinished Tales, operating in their own space, how their books have sold of late, and more.

Live from the AKC Andrew Downs Studios in central Iowa and powered by Revelton Distilling Company, this week on Off Panel Off Topic we deliver unfiltered, no-holds-barred comic talk.We kick things off with a deep, spoiler-heavy breakdown of the new Supergirl movie starring Millie Alcock. We hand out our grades (C from one host, B/B- from the other), argue about the frustrating depowering sequences, the green sun/yellow sun plot decision that broke us in the theater, the boring villain, Lobo's too-short screen time, Krypton flashbacks, and why this movie is catching way more bad-faith hate than it deserves. We also talk James Gunn's DCU, the double standard female-led movies face, and why the coverage has felt especially gross.Then we dive into the comics with full reviews and grades:Absolute Green Arrow #2 – Oliver Queen's legacy, Connor Hawk, and whether the Emerald Archer is really deadSuperman #20 by Jason Aaron – the massive King Shazam fight featuring Hawkman and Steel (this one goes hard)Absolute Wonder Woman #21 – Barbara's transformation into Cheetah and her confrontation with HecateAbsolute Batman #21 – Bruce vs. the Robins, the Joker's big entrance, and the Clayface tease that has us hypedThese Absolute books keep delivering banger after banger, and we break down exactly why.Brought to you by Revelton Distilling Company, Iowa Beef Steakhouse, and Jenny Farrell with RE/MAX Concepts.Drop your Supergirl take in the comments — was it better or worse than the discourse made it seem? Which Absolute book are you enjoying most right now? Full video on YouTube, audio on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. Real talk. No filters. No scripts. Turn it up.#OffPanelOffTopic #Supergirl #AbsoluteBatman #AbsoluteSuperman #AbsoluteWonderWoman #JasonAaron #ScottSnyder #MillieAlcock #DCU #ComicBooks #Podcast

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 generation process, the mix on the channel, the state of the collection market, the format boom, which publishers are delivering, Marvel's position, the video space for comics, how he manages everything, and more.

Join Tyler & Jake for a wild, no-holds-barred Episode 261 of Off Panel Off Topic — live from the AKC Andrew Downs Studios!

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's return, the nature of the story, pushing storytelling, playing with readers, the joy of the comic, its promotion, the roots of Fort Psycho, character creation, collaboration, the importance of learning, and more.

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 writing, the origins of Ghostbrawler, the creative partnership at its core, the shadow of Chew, the nature of a cartoonist, going the Kickstarter route, figuring out which projects to do, whether experimentation will always be a focus, and more.

Writer Che Grayson joins the show to talk her comic book journey and the soon to debut Absolute Catwoman. Grayson discusses her different brains, Absolute vibes, her love of story, balancing comics and film, finding her way into another medium, her comic origins, learning on the job, the roots of Absolute Catwoman, the development of the character, the type of story that's being told, the nature of the character, Bengal's impact on the book, the value of co-writing, the other characters in the book, her project mix, the power of no, and more.

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 detail of his pages, his process, pitching licensed books, the impact of restrictions, the control of comics, how he decides on projects, the value of freedom, how his interests have evolved, how he thinks of pages, keeping his passion for comics going, and more.

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, superstar artists, Marvel's struggles, the changes at Marvel, the overall health of the market, the power of passion, and more.

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, the power of comic shops, the current era of DC, the return of Empire, out of print books, the new collection for Empire, Barry Kitson, the story's darkness, art imitating life, tips for creators, and more.

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 market's influence on his work, revenge stories, collaboration, the title's creative team, the different sides of his brain, what he's learned from Showdown, his ideal project mix, and more.

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 character, his promotional efforts, speculation, taking over Spawn and King Spawn, figuring out the right approach for those books, finding the right mix, his public advocacy for comics, and more.

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 Absolute experience, collaboration, Absolute freedom, his favorite part of Absolute Green Arrow's design, how horror shapes his work, what keeps him excited about art, learning from others, where Brazil's comic scene is headed, and more.

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's impact, making Green Arrow make sense, the focus of the book, the challenge of mysteries, character designs, the response to the book, imposter syndrome, the unique nature of Absolute and Exquisite Corpses, learnings from those projects, whether he's entering a new phase of his career, his ideal mix, and more.

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 emotions of Bury Me Already, learning about herself through her work, drawing spaces, her book covers, the material she ends up with, putting books in a box, relationships with readers, what keeps her going with comics, tips for autobio creators, and more.

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, why she enjoys prints so much, the impact of her previous work, the state of comics journalism, what's missing in that space, the Eisner judge experience, her read of the industry, convention panel tips, and more.

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 cartoonists, the evolution of the internet, The Adventures of Superhero Girl, slowing down, and more.

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 the project, lettering and writing, the behind the scenes work on the book, Tiny Onion's impact, whether he wants to keep writing, his lettering workload, finding the right mix, challenging yourself, and more.

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, working for DC, misunderstood parts of Lobo, the world of Stupid Fresh Mess, the power of community, following your passion, discoverability, I Hate Fairyland's longevity, how Stupid Fresh Mess shapes what he does, and more.

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 the work, the book's energy, the importance of looking cool, print journalism trends, looking at comics from the outside, and more.

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 editions, what stood out, and more, before Merkler visits us to talk about how passion is fueling this moment for the direct market, the spread of new readers, blind bag management, building on this moment, creating urgency, Lunar's expansion with Viz Media and Yen Press, what has them hopeful about where comics are headed, and more.

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 that project, how having editors changed things, collaborating with Jacob Phillips, Ezra Cain as its lead, the structure of the series, his Marvel exclusive, writing Big Two Comics versus creator-owned, his tip for aspiring creators, and more.

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 Corpses card game and its Kickstarter, developing in parallel, adult animation as a focus, how the market feels,  what creators miss with their work, avoiding burn out, and more.

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 animals in peril, the art of Feral and Stray Dogs, when Feral came together, running a creator-owned comic business, how Deathstroke came together, what DC Next Level is, the different versions of Deathstroke, how the market affects his approach, putting himself out there, and more.

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 graphic novel, coloring the book, how he thinks about art, its journey from France to America, Altamont's commentary, what's guiding him these days, verisimilitude, his love of Lego, and more.

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, Worldcon, expanding the comic box, the insane number of crossovers, Harley & Ivy: Life & Crimes, expanding genres, Marvel's lack of excitement, Batman's quality, Mark Waid's eternal nature, the European comic invasion, things we're excited for in 2026, Vertigo's return, the Archie/Oni partnership, the reverse European comic invasion, Avengers: Doomsday, and more.

Writer Scott Snyder joins the show to talk about Absolute Batman and his past few years at DC and beyond. Snyder discusses his initial uncertainty about Absolute, his journey to Absolute Batman, the power of fear, their approach to making the best story, collaborating with Nick Dragotta, his experimentation phase, the ethos of the book, finding a balance, creating a sense of urgency, the single issue form, the current environment, the Next Level books, his role as a hype man at DC, imposter syndrome, arc titles, what has him excited about 2026 in comics, and more.

We begin a new season, this time going over Hellboy comics. We start at the beginning, with Hellboy issue 1, or the beginning of the "Seed of Destruction" arc.  Hellboy is the creation of writer/artist Mike Mignola, who had been a regular artist for Marvel and DC. Then he started Hellboy for Dark Horse Comics in 1994, and true to the publisher's name -- it was a surprise runaway hit! We discuss how Mignola was a surprise artist to have a runaway success with a creator owned title. We talk about how superstar artist/writer John Byrne scripted these first few issues. We talk about the Hellboy movies (they look good, but are usually not too great!). And of course we talk about Mignola's amazing art. Loose Screws: Will talks David Harper's podcast Off Panel and Kevin discusses the new season of Fallout. Don't forget to participate in the Official Screwit Instapush #screwitinstapush! Subscribe to support the show and for bonus episodes at screwitpodcasts.com Email us at screwitcomics@gmail.com  

Big Clutch Comics' Shawn Kirkham joins the show to talk about the collectible side of the comics world. Kirkham discusses his stray cat adventures, Kirkham's background, what Big Clutch Comics is, how his work at Skybound informed that work, what fuels him, the current secondary market for comics, how it's different than previous booms, how new readers are playing a part, the secondary market as a guide, comics marketing, the sustainability of blind bags, Ultimate Endgame's blind bags, how collectibles fit in the comic ecosystem, what creators can do in that space, what has him excited about 2026 in comics, and more.

Retailer Patrick Brower returns to the show to talk about the year that was in his Chicago-based comic shop, Challengers Comics + Conversation. Brower discusses his weird year, the year in Challengers itself, the consistent nature of 2025, what drove the year's success, Absolute Martian Manhunter's surprising heat, the performance of the Absolute Batman Annual, managing different printings, Marvel's "terrible" year, where non-Big Two comics are, the complicated environment for creators, new readers, how they're behaving, other trends from 2025, struggles from the year, systemic problems, what could be done on the marketing side, Universal Distribution, sales charts, how he's feeling about 2026, and more.

Cartoonist Beetle Moses, aka Harris Fishman, joins the podcast for my annual Comic of the Year chat, as we talk about his social media-based comic strip Beetle Moses. Fishman discusses the year for Beetle Moses (the comic), figuring things out, his own comics journey, putting in the reps, his art style, the depth of the strip, Beetle Moses' origins, how people reacted to making the move into comics, his big year, the atemporal nature of comic strips, his most well-liked comics, moving into longform, turning Beetle Moses into a business, how his 2026 is looking, and more.

My pal Brandon Burpee returns to the podcast for our annual look at the year in comics before we count down our 20 favorite comics of the year. Burpee discusses the year in comics, the state of the Big Two, where the X-Men are, older comics that might have previous lists, anticipated comics from 2026, ancient Star Wars takes, and more, before we share our honorable mentions from the year in comics and then count down our 20 favorites comics and graphic novels from 2025.

Friends, let's celebrate. We've made it through another year, and no matter how you felt about the world outside your local comic book shop, you certainly read some great comics. Welcome to our annual award show, The Stampies: Best Comics of 2025. Part One. Every year is a good year for comics. You just have to go out and read them. That's the secret. We try not to imprison ourselves with characters, genres, publishers, or even our preferred tastes. As long as you're only interested in good comics, you'll find them if you read enough, and the brilliant thing about 2025 is that we read a lot, and found so many great comics, but we still didn't read enough to read all the great comics. Thankfully, we sent out the Comic Book Couples Counseling distress call, and a bunch of our friends from across the industry answered. Peppered throughout our Stampies ceremony are our podcaster, journalist, publicist, and creator friends, each offering their favorite comics from 2025. See a list of them below, and make sure you support their work and follow them on socials. As we do every year, we select our favorite comics and then create the Stampies around them. This two-part episode reflects our weird, collective tastes as a couple. Listeners will recognize several of the titles, but hopefully, we've thrown in several surprises, too. You can also find the award categories and (SPOILERS) winners below, listed alongside their timestamps in case you want to hop around or revisit later. For the first time ever, we've created physical Stampy Awards to be delivered to the creators. We're only able to do this thanks to our new sponsor, Global Comix. The all-in-one digital comics platform is currently offfering a great comics bundle when you sign up for their Global Comix Gold program. Make sure you give them a click (more details below), then start browsing their incredible digital comics library. The Best Comics of 2025 Part One Guest-Stars: Lance (Bluesky) and Jeremy (Bluesky) of Comic Book Keepers. Eamon Winkle (Instagram): The Principles of Necromancy, Geiger, etc. Jenna Anderson (Bluesky) of Phase Hero and Go Read Some Comics. Chris Hacker (Bluesky) and Aaron Knowles (BlueSky) of The Oblivion Bar Podcast. Ollie Kaplan (Bluesky) of Comics Beat, Prism Comics, etc. Barbra Dillon (Bluesky): Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of Fanbase Press. David Harper (Bluesky) of SKTCHD and Off Panel. Patrick Horvath (Bluesky): Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees. Badr Milligan (Bluesky) of The Short Box Podcast. This Week's Sponsors GlobalComix is the all-in-one digital comics platform offering unlimited reading of thousands of titles from top publishers, indie creators, across comics, manga, and toons. With GlobalComix Gold, members unlock access to more than 100,000 books and genres - superheroes, horror, sci-fi, manga, fantasy, romance, and more. Right now, GlobalComix is running a special Holiday Gold promotion: when you sign up for a year of GlobalComix Gold for $69, you'll get a bonus premium comics bundle from Dark Horse, DC, Kodansha, and Marvel - included for free. This bundle is valued at $67, making the annual plan essentially pay for itself with the bonus alone. How to Redeem: Use the link https://globalcomix.com/holiday-bundle-2025 to sign up. The offer is live now and available for a limited time (through January 4, 2026). Once subscribed, the bonus bundle will be added to your GlobalComix library. This Winter, from IDW Publishing, the Heroes in a Half-Shell take on the King of the Monsters! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Godzilla #1 crashes into comic shops on November 12th. Written by Godzilla Kei-Sei Scribe Tim Seeley and illustrated by the brilliant Turtle artist behind the Nightwatcher series, as well as the Stranger Things/TMNT crossover, Fero Pe, this new series finally brings two of our favorite franchises together. How can this reptilian miracle be?  Long before the organization was corrupted by Shredder, the Foot Clan's original purpose was to save Japan from Kaiju! Now, in the present day, Godzilla and its fellow monsters have reappeared. Not only is the Foot not prepared to stop them…it would seem Shredder himself is behind the attacks! The Turtles are always crossing over into rad nerd realms, but this one might be the king crossover of them all.  Are you ready to face the future? Look no further than 2000 AD – it's the Galaxy's Greatest Comic! Every week 2000 AD brings the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and more! 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The Best Comics of 2025 Part One Category Timestamps: Intro (The Year that Was) - 3:51 Global Comix Gold Bundle - 14:04 The Style is the Substance Award - 22:15 - WINNER: News from the Fallout (Image Comics) Best Genre Mashup - 30:38 - WINNER: Absolute Martian Manhunter (DC Comics) Saddest Comic of the Year - 40:00 - WINNER: Everything Dead and Dying (Image Comics) Best All-Ages Comic - 49:29 - WINNER: The Cartoonists Club (Scholastic) Best Young Adult Comic - 55:17 - WINNER: Clementine Book Three (Skybound/Image Comics) Best Nonfiction Comic - 1:06:23 - WINNER: "Dr. Werthless" (Dark Horse Comics) Best Crime Comic - 1:17:49 - WINNER: Out of Alcatraz (Oni Press) Best Short Story - 1:27:40 - WINNER: "Untitled" from Absolute Batman Annual #1 (DC Comics) Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

In a special year end episode of Off Panel, we look at the defining themes of 2025 in comics with the help of retailer Steve Anderson from Third Eye Comics, The Beat's Heidi MacDonald, and writer Matthew Rosenberg.  Up first is Anderson (1:37), whose theme is the impact of DC's Absolute line, as we discuss the Image Revolution of it all, unlocking the cool, the area of effect it's had on other comics, good times he sees on the horizon, how new readers are behaving, why Absolute has popped, how creators and publishers can capitalize on this, and more.  After that is MacDonald (32:22), whose theme was the lack of new characters in direct market comics, as we discuss why that's a problem, the most successful new(ish) characters, recycling existing ideas, why it's a 2025 theme, attempts to make new characters happen, what's lost without them, marketing struggles, what needs to happen, and more.  And to close is Rosenberg (1:06:59), whose theme is how comics are running behind the rest of pop culture, as we discuss the inferiority complex in comics, the cost that comes with this lag, the importance of cool, how this can change, how the market factors into this, and more.

Artist and writer Terry Dodson joins the show to talk Ultimate Endgame, AdventureMan, and where things are headed for him. Dodson discusses his work schedule, cat living, picking projects, taking on Ultimate Endgame, working with Deniz Camp, figuring out projects, designing in the Ultimate Universe, the freedom of the book, event comics versus regular ones, artist exclusive covers, the other side of artist work, AdventureMan's fit, collaborating with Matt Fraction, the impact of influences, the collections of AdventureMan, getting into writing, its impact on his art, taking on more responsibility, and more.

Christina Merkler, the co-owner of Lunar Distribution, Discount Comic Book Service (or DCBS), and InStockTrades, joins the show to talk about a strange year for comic book distribution and a good year for the retail side. Merkler discusses Thanksgiving and related takes, the year for her, Diamond Comic Distributors' bankruptcy, compressing timelines, figuring things out, big changes this year, balancing sides of her businesses, the year for DCBS and InStockTrades, what's driving success, how collections are doing, the non-licensed comics space, connecting readers with books, blind bags, how she's feeling going into 2026, and more.