Off Panel #507: Micro Celebrity with Chip Zdarsky

Off Panel #507: Micro Celebrity with Chip Zdarsky

Author: SKTCHD July 7, 2025 Duration: 1:22:50

Writer, artist, and newsletter impresario Chip Zdarsky joins the show to talk about his world (and the wider world) of comics. Zdarsky discusses the notoriety of Zdarsky Comic News, the work that goes into it, its Eisner Award nomination, learnings from reading manga, what ZCN and Mangasplaining offer him, the origins of White House Robot Romance, its odd timing, the impact of colorists, recent changes to his process, working in the DSTLRY format, the importance of risk taking, figuring out his approach, how reader expectations factor into his thinking, his approach to Captain America, the appeal of bigger stories, how Marvel and his position there has changed, how he figures out which projects he takes on, Comic Comps Con, 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 #495: The Canva Background with Heidi MacDonald [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:39
The Beat's Heidi MacDonald returns to the show to chat about a particularly wild time in the comic industry. MacDonald discusses the insanity of this moment, staying on top of everything, the Diamond Comic Distributors b…
Off Panel #494: Corpse Crew with James Tynion IV and Michael Walsh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:57
Writer James Tynion IV and artist Michael Walsh join the show to share the story behind their upcoming Image Comics series Exquisite Corpses. They discuss their recent travel, convention experiences, the origins of Exqui…
Off Panel #493: Mittens! with Zander Cannon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:44
Cartoonist Zander Cannon joins the show to chat about the post-Kaijumax life and his upcoming Image Comics series, Sleep. Cannon discusses how he decides what projects to take on, the consolidation of art roles, coming o…
Off Panel #492: No Rain with Matt Fraction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:23
Writer Matt Fraction joins the show to chat about the past few years of his life as a writer and storyteller. Fraction discusses what exactly happened to Matt Fraction, how we perceived creators, the Monarch: Legacy of M…
Off Panel #491: Sideways with Daniel Warren Johnson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:15
Cartoonist Daniel Warren Johnson joins the show to chat about his recent stretch on comics like Transformers and The Moon is Following Us. Johnson discusses managing the moment, physical media, the physical act of drawin…
Off Panel #490: Comics Are Great! with Katie Pryde [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:29
Retailer Katie Pryde joins the show to discuss the recent annual meeting for ComicsPRO and what's happening at her comic shop in Portland, Oregon, Books with Pictures. Pryde discusses this moment in time, separating from…
Off Panel #489: Storytelling and Spectacle with Klaus Janson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:19
Artist Klaus Janson joins the show to discuss his legendary career and his approach and viewpoints on art. Janson discusses his introspective nature, a recent gallery show that celebrated his career, where artists are th…
Off Panel #488: Sweet Dreams with Kenny Meyers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:12
Kenny Meyers joins the show to discuss his work at Sweet, a company that makes software for comics folk like Bindings, a marketing tool, Find Your Comic Shop, and the upcoming digital comic store, Sweet Shop. Meyers disc…
Off Panel #487: Know Yourself with Tradd Moore [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:10
Writer/artist Tradd Moore joins the show for a sprawling chat about his life, art, and work on projects like Doctor Strange: Fall Sunrise. Moore discusses being social media free, external pressures, knowing yourself, hi…
Off Panel #486: First Steps with Susana Polo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:22
Polygon's Susana Polo joins the show to talk about the upcoming slate of comics adaptations and to highlight things in comics we didn't get to write about but would like to talk about. Polo discusses fandom, what she rep…