Off Panel #541: ComicsPRO LIVE! with Heidi MacDonald and Christina Merkler

Off Panel #541: ComicsPRO LIVE! with Heidi MacDonald and Christina Merkler

Author: SKTCHD March 2, 2026 Duration: 46:34

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.


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 #84: The Story of Image with Todd McFarlane [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:29
In the final Image founderscentric edition of Off Panel, Image Comics co-founder Todd McFarlane joins the show to share his perspective on the story of Image. McFarlane talks the appeal of the move away from Marvel, the…
Off Panel #83: The Real Origin of Image Comics with Jim Valentino [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:51
In another special edition of Off Panel, Image Comics co-founder Jim Valentino joins the show to share his perspective on the origins of Image. Valentino talks how everything came together, what the biggest motivator was…
Off Panel #82: 25 Years of Image with Erik Larsen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:41
In a special edition of Off Panel, Image Comics co-founder Erik Larsen joins the show to share his perspective on the rise of Image. Larsen talks the Image's story from the beginning, whether it worked because of the num…
Off Panel #81: The Rise of Image with Rob Liefeld [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:18
In a special edition of Off Panel, Image Comics co-founder Rob Liefeld joins the show to talk about the publisher 25 years after it started. Liefeld talks the popularity of the Image founders, why it needed to be more th…
Off Panel #80: Storytelling Treasure with Brian Hurtt and Cullen Bunn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:43
Brian Hurtt and Cullen Bunn, the artist/writer team behind the recently wrapped The Sixth Gun and the soon-to-be revived The Damned at Oni Press, join the show this week to talk about their collaboration. The pair talks…
Off Panel #79: Comics Law with Caitlin DiMotta [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:35
Comics lawyer Caitlin DiMotta joins Off Panel this week to talk about her role in helping some of the biggest names in comics do what they do. DiMotta shares her path to becoming a lawyer, how her background in ballet im…
Off Panel #78: Twenty-ish Questions with Joshua Williamson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38:59
Writer Joshua Williamson returns to the show to talk about a little bit of everything, from the professional to the personal. Williamson talks about writing the biggest selling title in comics (Justice League vs. Suicide…
Off Panel #77: Hyphenate Life with Declan Shalvey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:02
This week's first Off Panel of 2017 welcomes artist/writer Declan Shalvey back to the show to talk his first major moves into the world of writerdom and his return to his creator-owned project with Warren Ellis and Jordi…
Off Panel #76: The Year in Comics Retail with Patrick Brower [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:25
On the 2016 finale for Off Panel, the co-owner of the Eisner Award winning comic shop Challengers Comics + Conversation, Patrick Brower, joins the show to talk about the year for his shop and the state of comic book reta…
Off Panel #75: The End of the Year Special with Brandon Burpee [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:44:29
On this week's special episode of Off Panel, frequent guest and friend of the show Brandon Burpee joins the show to talk the year in comics. Brandon and David discuss what worked for them, what didn't, what they're excit…