Writer Kyle Starks joins Off Panel this week to chat about his Skybound horror series, I Hate This Place. Starks discusses I Hate This Place’s origins, the subjectivity of horror and comedy, confronting realities, connecting with readers, comedy as a four letter word, the haunted ranch angle, the title’s two leads, its backup comic strips, the greatness of Dante Howitzer, Artyom Topilin’s art, the current state of comics, his goals for comics, and more, before we close with hot takes about the current NBA season.

You can find Starks on Twitter and his work on I Hate This Place at Skybound/Image.

You can download the episode directly here on Libsyn.

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Thanks to the sponsor of this week’s podcast: Zoop! Zoop is one of the newest crowdfunding platforms on the scene, with current campaigns going featuring creators like Matt Lesniewski, B. Clay Moore, Tony Harris, Paul Cornell, Ryan Kelly, and more. It’s the same crowdfunding experience, but without the buggy add-ons pages or surveys after the fact. You simply throw rewards and add-ons into your account and check out. Head to Zoop’s website to support the live campaigns and sign up for launch alerts for what’s next. Also, Zoop is taking submissions! So creators, reach out at hello@wearezoop.com to learn more!

Also, thanks to the other sponsor of this week’s podcast: Bad Idea! Bad Idea is still doing things! Lots of things! They just had a Kickstarter. They have a new wave of books coming. Joe Quesada is involved somehow? I don’t know, man. They’re weird. Bad Idea! Making comics, but not donuts anymore. Probably.

Also, big thanks to my patrons, including – but not limited to – Matteo Ceccotti, Chris Doray, Nir Levie, 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, 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 Artyom Topilin’s cover to I Hate This Place Volume 1. 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!