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.

You can find Miller’s work in the soon to be released book Push the Wall: My Life, Writing, Drawing and the Art of Storytelling from Saga Press.

You can download the episode directly here on Libsyn.

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Thanks to one of the sponsor of this week’s podcast: 2000 AD! The future has arrived! 2000 AD is now available every week in America through Lunar Distribution. Featuring the Ultimate Lawman of the Future, Judge Dredd, every issue of 2000 AD offers 32 pages of intense sci-fi and horror comics. 2000 AD has never been available to read weekly in America before, so if you’ve always wanted to try out The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic — now is your chance! With five stories in each issue, get ready to experience stories like Brink, The Fall of Deadworld, Helium, Silver and Nightmare New York. All you need to do is ask your local comic store to order it for you — and new issues will be available for you to pick up every single week! It’s never been easier to read 2000 AD – so what’re you waiting for, Earthlets?

Thanks to another of the show’s sponsors, Oni Press! Being you never gets old! This September, Oni Press and Archie Comics proudly begin a groundbreaking new chapter for the most joyous comic book icon of all in Archie #1! A new day is dawning in Riverdale as New York Times best-selling writer and Philip K. Dick Award winner Ben H. Winters joins multiple Eisner Award–winning artist Fábio Moon to reintroduce America’s favorite teenager with a 21st-century testament to teenage idealism! For his entire life, 17-year-old Archie Andrews has had it all. Now, experience the warmth and wonder of Riverdale through his eyes as Archie embarks on a whirlwind, all-star adventure through his town’s past, present, and future…And, at the center of it all, lies an enigmatic paradox that only Archie’s pal Jughead Jones can possibly unravel. Your antidote for postmodern malaise is here! Welcome to the all-new Archie #1, coming in September from Oni Press!

Lastly, thanks to the show’s final sponsor in IDW. This July, IDW is bringing the heat with monsters, mutants, and one very dangerous vampire. Kicking things off on July 8th, it’s Operation: Iron Coffin #1. Dracula has been resurrected…and his shot at redemption is fighting alongside the Allies in World War II. His mission? Board a Nazi train carrying a vampire plague before it reaches its destination. It’s nonstop action-horror from Kenny Porter and Tyrell Cannon. Then on July 15th, return to the world of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin with Training Day. Discover the untold story of Michelangelo’s final lesson as he prepares Casey Marie Jones for the battle that will shape the future of the Turtles. It’s an essential new chapter from the original Last Ronin creative team. Also on July 15th, two legendary worlds collide in Sonic the Hedgehog x Godzilla #1! When Mothra and Mechagodzilla crash into Sonic’s universe, the Blue Blur will need every ounce of speed to stop total destruction in the crossover fans have been waiting for. And on July 29th, witness the beginning of the Kai-Sei Era in The Horror of Godzilla: Origin of Kai-Sei #1. Set in 1954, this terrifying new series explores the first attack of the King of the Monsters in a haunting tale of science, survival, and absolute devastation. Ask your local comic shop to preorder today, because this July, only IDW delivers books this big.

Big thanks to all of my existing patrons, including Mental Sequential, Cameron Shrader, David Wynne, Alex Antone, Capes and Tights Podcast, Charles Labiner, Chris Doray, Chris O’Halloran, Chris Palmer, Daniel Kowalczyk, Francis Davis, JP Jordan, Luis Filipe Alves, Luke Pfister, Mike Wazowski, Patrick Bramble, Jackson Hoppey, Kevin Church, Kyle Starks, Brian Hans, Hunter Gorinson, Tony Holdsworth, Alejandro Toro, 5Myllyon, W James, Joe Crohn, Zo Thompson, Brian Garside, Rand Hall, Christopher Landvick, Stephen Tramontana, Gavin O., Robert Negrete, Mr. Spriggs, Robert Pettinato, Tim Leong,  Ethan Spanja, Chris Partin, Ninja Assassin Love Story Webcomic, Mark Florio, Epic Broccoli, Kevin Bankston, Rick Yankosky, Chestin Pullard, Bobby Tomio, RK, Croc_Meow, Eric Palicki, Brodie Duncan, Scott Chua, Paul Lai, Gene Queens, Chad Lawrence, James Ferguson, Tiffany Babb, Nerdy Mewzings Podcast, Ian A., Hassan Thalji, Pinoywonder, Toni DeBoer, Nick Friar, James Shields, Michael DiGiovanni, Pete Ficken, Patrick McGlynn, Jose Perez, Ross Binder, Chris Tanforan, Joey Riccio, Ruben Jackson, Alfa, Keith Friedlander, Adriel Moreland, Garrett Lawton, Jaime Espinoza, Ruben Cantu, Detective 27, JJ Mack, Comic Shop Assistant, Rob Guillory, Justin Pearson, Oliver Sava, P. Sanger, Wilson Garrett, Ben O’Grady, Mark Tweedale, Zack Quaintance, Kazu Kibuishi, Tyler Crook, Patrick Horvath, Omega Slice, John Walsh, Brandon Paul, Aaron Bussey, Simon Birch, Austin Pribble, Sion Owen, Megan Marsden, T.S. Luther, Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast, Gus, Saunter, Brian, Chris Robinson, David Byrne, Benjamin Wilkins, Chris Hacker, John NeSmith, Jon Auerbach, Brandon Hayman, Aaden Hamann, Faith Erin Hicks, Ben Wroe, Cameron Brown, Jonathan Breen, Charlie Stickney, Tom Drennen, Jeremy Thomas Burke, Jared Schwab, Scott Dunn, Seth Pomeroy, James McEwan, Andrew Leamon, Christina Merkler, Scott Place, Travis Gibb, Darcy Van Poelgeest, Reid Beaman, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Max Wood, Jeremy Lambert, Bryan Stratton, Nir Levie, Jason Hussa, Kieron Gillen, Jonathan Kent-Uritam, Henry Johnston, Dennis Hoffmann, Django Bohren, James Tynion IV, Chris Lankford, Jason Wood, Tom Peachey, Ben Damstedt, Ram V, Nick Walker, Patrick Coyle, Isaac Orin, Klaas Van de Ven, Submet Industries, Jack Mulqueen, Karl Kerschl, Robert Masella, Elsa Charretier, Luc Nakashoji, Scott Haselwood, Bradley Roeder, Carl Choi, Brandon De Pillis, Patrick Brower, Declan Shalvey, Dan Gearino, Atom Freeman, Brian Klein-Q, Nick Bennett, Susana Polo, Reed Hinckley-Barnes, Mario Tiambeng, Robert Wilson IV, Andrew Kurita, Stefan Hull, Phillip Maira, Chris Bachalo, Torunn Grønbekk, FuzBubbles, Christopher Ta, Transmitterdown, Walt’s Comics & Books, Akil Wilson, Alex Dimitropolous, Terry Dodson, Wesley Gift, Shawn Kirkham, Julio Anta, Brett A. Schmidt, Jason Goodmanson, Vita Ayala, Akylle, Phillip Sevy, Al Ewing, David Kelley, Jason Nassi, Adam Bogert, Matthew Taylor, Nick Pitarra, Jacob Sareli, Ford Gilmore, David Baroldy, Nick Hall, Bjorn Basen, John Hendrick, Ian Maxfield, Cliff Chiang, Colin McMahon, Adam Highfill, Fiona Staples, Mark Abnett, Michael Shirley, Tom Barnett, Jim Demonakos, Norbert, James Kaplan, and Mission: Comics and Art in San Francisco. You guys are all the best.

Have a question for Off Panel? You can reach David by email or Bluesky.

Header photo is from Miller’s cover to Push the Wall. Off Panel’s theme music is an original track by custom music agency Upright T-Rex Music, written and performed specifically for the podcast. A huge thanks to Ross and Cody from Upright T-Rex Music for putting the track together!