The Beat’s Heidi MacDonald joins Off Panel for a chat about the return of conventions and where the comics industry is right now. MacDonald discusses how cons are ramping up, how they’re performing after much time off, the value of conventions for websites, the importance of comic sites, how they’re valued, comic book distribution, the health of single issues, finding new paths, AI art, where things are right now, the state of DC, and more.

You can find MacDonald on Twitter and her work at The Beat.

You can download the episode directly here on Libsyn.

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Thanks to the sponsor of this week’s podcast: Macroverse. Macroverse is a next generation digital comics platform, and one with an astonishing number of comics, with currently over 50 series from over 100 creators on their app with a five star rating both on Apple and Google’s app stores. Download the app and binge all their titles, and it’s just $4.99 a month to subscribe to Macroverse, with proceeds directly supporting the creators on the platform. Keep an eye on the future of Macroverse too, as 2022 is going to bring an “Epic” upgrade that offers a new level of digital collectability and more, with early adopters able to sign up for more information at their website.

Also, thanks to the other sponsor of this week’s podcast: Bad Idea! Bad Idea is back! I mean it this time! They have a bunch of comics coming out, including ones from creators like Ramon Villalobos, Tamra Bonvillain, Joshua Dysart, Alberto Ponticelli, and more! How do you get them? I don’t know! I’m not a comic shop! But the Bad Idea site can help you find answers. Visit it today, and get hyped for Bad Idea Two Part One!

Also, big thanks to my patrons, including – but not limited to – Dennis Hoffman, Jason Hussa, Cancel Comics, Kieron Gillen, Jonathan Kent-Uritam, Henry Johnston, Django Bohren, James Tynion IV, Chris Lankford, Jason Wood, Tom Peachey, Ben Damstedt, Ram V, Devin Fitzsimons, Nick Walker, Patrick Coyle, Isaac Orin, Scott Carpenter, Rentnarb Studios Comics, Capes and Tights Podcast, Klaas Van de Ven, Brian, Submet Industries, Jack Mulqueen, Kyle, Karl Kerschl, Robert Masella, Elsa Charretier, Luc Nakashoji, Elliot Metz, Dr. Luke, Scott Haselwood, Scott Buon, CanadianByProxy, Jonny Cannon, Bradley Roeder, Carl Choi, Brandon De Pillis, Patrick Brower, Declan Shalvey,  Dan Gearino, Josh WIlliamson, Atom Freeman, Ben Wild, Brian Klein-Q, S.B., Nick Bennett, Daniel Whitfield, Susana Polo, Reed Hinckley-Barnes, Mario Tiambeng, Andrew Kurita, Matt Mahoney, Charlie Chu, Stefan Hull, Penscaola Pop Comics, Phillip Maira, Christian Shelton, Kenny Porter, Chris Bachalo, Torunn Grønbekk, FuzBubbles, Christopher Ta, Transmitterdown, Walt’s Comics & Books, Carl Mizell, Akil Wilson, Alex Dimitropolous, Terry Dodson, Wesley Gift, Shawn Kirkham, Alister Ross, Julio Anta, Brett A. Schmidt, Jason Goodmanson, Paul Reinwand, Vita Ayala, Dave Slusher, WMQ Comics, Akylle, Kent Heidelman, Phillip Sevy, Al Ewing, Ryan Alcock, David Kelley, Robert Wilson IV, Nick Poleto, Brenden Fletcher, Jonathan Nilsson, Matthew Groom, Jason Nassi, Adam Bogert, Matthew Taylor, Nick Pitarra, Jacob Sareli, Ford Gilmore, David Baroldy, Nick Hall, Bjorn Basen, John Hendrick, Steve Anderson, Ian Maxfield, Cliff Chiang, Colin McMahon, Chris Palmer, Scott McGovern, Nathan Fairbairn, Adam Highfill, Fiona Staples, 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.

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

Header art is from New York Comic Con 2018. 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!