Off Panel #503: Fun and Fundamental with Eitan Manhoff

Off Panel #503: Fun and Fundamental with Eitan Manhoff

Author: SKTCHD June 9, 2025 Duration: 1:08:18

Retailer Eitan Manhoff joins the show to talk about the year in his shop Cape and Cowl Comics and the year in the direct market. Manhoff discusses how his role has changed, how the year has been in his shop, what's driving things, success spreading to other titles, the sustainability of the moment, customer interactions, adjustments he's had to make, the impact of available space, when things changed for his shop, the original/creator-owned side of comics, Deniz Camp's moment, the impact of micro lines, challenges from the year, Diamond Comic Distributors' bankruptcy, its impact on other product lines, what should be learned from the moment, the Eisner judge experience and more.


Each week on Off Panel: A Comics Interview Podcast, host David Harper of SKTCHD sits down for a conversation that goes deeper than the usual press cycle. This isn't just about promoting the latest project; it's about understanding the people and the processes that shape the comic book industry. You'll hear from writers, artists, editors, and other key figures in a way that reveals the personal journeys, creative struggles, and collaborative triumphs behind the pages we love. The discussions are thoughtful and meandering, often touching on craft, industry shifts, and the simple love of the medium itself. By focusing on the human stories, this podcast builds a more complete picture of comics culture, from the indie scene to the major publishers. It's for anyone who has ever finished a great comic and immediately wondered about the minds that built it. New episodes arrive weekly, offering a consistent and engaging look into this vibrant world. For more, you can find David Harper and SKTCHD across various social platforms.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 560

Off Panel: A Comics Interview Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Off Panel #394: The Woods with Torunn Grønbekk [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:43
Writer Torunn Grønbekk joins the show to talk about her path to comics and her work on comics like Thor and Red Sonja. Grønbekk discusses the greatness of Nic Klein, her natural art lean, the Norway comic scene, how comi…
Off Panel #393: Sunshine & Rainbows with Steve Anderson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:31
Retailer Steve Anderson joins the podcast to chat about how things are going at his comic shop chain, Third Eye Comics. Anderson discusses how he manages his seven shops, the importance of being proactive, the ComicsPRO…
Off Panel #392: Blurred Lines with Deb Aoki [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:10
Manga journalist Deb Aoki joins the podcast this week to chat about the explosion in manga sales the past few years and what has led to it. Aoki discusses her Emerald City Comic Con experience, making connections for man…
Off Panel #391: Family Video with John Allison [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:54
Writer/artist John Allison returns for a conversation about the upcoming The Great British Bump-Off and his larger views on comics right now. Allison discusses the origins of The Great British Bump-Off, its evolution, pa…
Off Panel #390: The Corner with Al Ewing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:05
Writer Al Ewing joins the show to chat about his approach to writing comics like X-Men Red, Wasp, Venom, and more. Ewing discusses managing the work, what drives his schedule, where pitches fit in, dealing with external…
Off Panel #389: Comics Pro with Filip Sablik [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:18
BOOM! Studios' President of Publishing & Marketing, Filip Sablik, joins the show to discuss what BOOM! is up to as we head into ComicsPRO's annual meeting. Sablik discusses the ComicsPRO experience, what he's looking for…
Off Panel #388: Reality Bites with Jamie McKelvie [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:11
Artist Jamie McKelvie joins the show to discuss his past few years and his work in Batman: One Bad Day - Catwoman. McKelvie discusses his work schedule, taking on more small projects, the challenges of a long run, his fl…
Off Panel #387: In the Vault with Gerry Duggan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:55
Writer Gerry Duggan joins the show to chat about his most recent work, amongst other things. Duggan discusses what his new series The Giant Kokjü does, its origins, how the state of the world has impacted him as a storyt…
Off Panel #386: Different Strokes with Clayton Cowles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:34
Letterer Clayton Cowles joins the show for a conversation about his career and approach to lettering titles like Batman, Immortal X-Men, Daredevil, and more. Cowles discusses managing his expansive workload, where his lo…
Off Panel #385: Kang and Friends with Susana Polo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:37:05
Polygon's Entertainment Editor Susana Polo returns to the show for a free-flowing chat about the wider world of comics. Polo discusses Polygon's content development process, how much of the focus is on what works, whethe…