Off Panel #533: Hips Don't Lie with Patrick Brower

Off Panel #533: Hips Don't Lie with Patrick Brower

Author: SKTCHD January 5, 2026 Duration: 1:21:58

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.


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 #415: One Day at a Time with Jed MacKay [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:39
Writer Jed MacKay joins the podcast to talk about his path to comics and current titles in The Avengers, Doctor Strange, and Moon Knight. MacKay discusses problem solving, what guides his schedule, his earliest comics, h…
Off Panel #414: Five Hour Energy with Nadia Shammas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:09
Writer Nadia Shammas joins the show to talk about their career to date and the upcoming graphic novel, Confetti Realms. Shammas discusses the weird year, Confetti Realms, Barnes & Noble origins, manga's influence, the Ma…
Off Panel #412: A Guest in the House with Emily Carroll [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:18
Cartoonist Emily Carroll joins the show to talk about her career, craft, and upcoming graphic novel, A Guest in the House. Carroll discusses early influences, their lasting impact, storytelling flow, having fun in the wo…
Off Panel #411: 'Til All Are One with Daniel Warren Johnson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:44
Cartoonist Daniel Warren Johnson returns to the show to talk about his career and the upcoming The Transformers. Johnson discusses the San Diego Comic Con experience, how the con experience has evolved for him, a recent,…
Off Panel #410: The Secret with Eitan Manhoff [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:02
Retailer Eitan Manhoff joins the show to talk about his now Eisner Award-winning shop in Oakland, Cape & Cowl Comics, and what he's been seeing this year. Manhoff discusses that Eisner win, what went into it, Cape & Cowl…
Off Panel #409: Problem Solver with Chris Schweizer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:48
Cartoonist Chris Schweizer joins the show to talk about his life, career, and collaborations with Kyle Starks. Schweizer discusses his Assassin Nation self, how his background shaped his path as an artist, comic strips,…
Off Panel #408: Test Kitchen with Kelly Sue DeConnick [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:01
Writer Kelly Sue DeConnick joins the show to talk about Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons and her approach to telling stories in comics and beyond. DeConnick discusses the life of a creator, the value of shutting our br…
Off Panel #407: Lost in Translation with François Hercouet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:24
François Hercouet, the Editor-in-Chief of France's Urban Comics (the publisher of DC Comics and assorted Image, Dark Horse, and BOOM! titles in the country), joins the show to talk about the French comic market and his w…
Off Panel #406: Choose Your Hard with Scott Kurtz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:09
Cartoonist Scott Kurtz joins the show to talk about the past, present, and future of webcomics and his career on comics like PVP and Table Titans. Kurtz discusses his earliest comics and main influences, the earliest com…