Off Panel #196: Goon Guy with Eric Powell

In this week’s episode of Off Panel, cartoonist Eric Powell joins the podcast to discuss the 20th anniversary of The Goon. Powell takes us into the origins of the series and its cast, the experience of building an independent success, what the look of The Goon and Franky says about them, concept books, the learning curve of making a comic all on your own, when the idea of Chinatown came together, why he’s doing more of The Goon and going back to self publishing, whether he considered changing the format of the book, what his art process is, how he uses color, why he’s bringing in other creators into The Goon, building and keeping an audience, and more.

You can find Powell on Twitter, on his website, and in the new The Goon series.

You can download the show directly here on Libsyn.

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Thanks to this episode’s sponsor, Impact Theory Comics. Impact Theory Comics is a new, independent publisher, and they’re releasing their first comic…Neon Future. Neon Future is a collaboration with world famous DJ/Producer Steve Aoki, and it’s written by the Eisner award winning writer of Justice, Jim Krueger, with artists Neil Edwards of Fantastic Four fame and Jheremy Raapack delivering the visuals and building the world. Want a first look at the book and Neil and Jheremy’s art? Give Impact Theory a follow on Instagram at @ITcomics.

Thanks to my patrons, including – but not limited to – Keigen Rea, Wesley Gift, Shawn Kirkham, Harry Small, Alister Ross, Julio Anta, Greg Peterson, Gus, Andrew Scott, Brett A. Schmidt, Jason Goodmanson, Johan Barrander, Paul Reinwand, Connor Farner, Vita Ayala, Jay D’Ici and Matt G. Gagnon, Aditya Bidikar, Tara Ferguson, Dave Slusher, Ciaran Marcantonio, WMQ Comics, Akylle, Greg Lockard, Kokaachi, Phil White, Ben Becker, Shaun Pinello, Kent Heidelman, Phillip Sevy, Al Ewing, Ryan Alcock, Nick Michelin, David Kelley, Robert Wilson IV, Nick Poleto, Eoin McCready, Brenden Fletcher, Gary Moloney, Matthew Groom, Jason Nassi, Adam Bogert, Xavier Files, Maria Schweitzer, Matthew Taylor, Tyler Turner, Nick Pitarra, Jacob Sareli, Ford Gilmore, David Baroldy, Evan Blasor, Brian McCray, Ira James Udaskin, Modern Magic Stories, Nick Hall, Bruno Batista, Bobby Angus, Bjorn Basen, John Hendrick, Steve Anderson, Phil Knall, Ian Maxfield, Cliff Chiang, Benjamin Schipper, Colin McMahon, Chris Palmer, Maxwell Schmidt, Scott McGovern, Nathan Fairbairn, Cat McKenzie, Lou Iovino, Nicholas Keslake, Greg Rucka, Adam Highfill, Nicholas Gardner, Andrew Corrigan, Fiona Staples, Chris Morris, Chris O’Hollaran, Mark Abnett, Mike Murphy, Michael Shirley, Tom Barnett, Jim Demonakos, Norbert, Nick Lowe, James Kaplan, and Mission: Comics and Art in San Francisco. You’re all the best.

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Header image is from the cover of The Goon #1, art by Powell. Intro music is Vulfpeck’s Outro from their album Vollmilch. Thanks to the band for letting me use the track.