Cartoonist Katie Cook joins the show to talk about her career and her recently released graphic novel, Nothing Special Vol. 1: Through the Elder Woods. Cook discusses recent challenges, her early comics, the importance of newspaper comics, the art school experience, the environment when her career started, the origins of Gronk, My Little Pony’s impact on her career, how her career evolved, Nothing Special’s origins, getting used to the Webtoon format, how she works, converting it to print, telling your own stories, her love of Star Wars, how the job of making comics has evolved, what has her excited, and more.

You can find Cook on her website, Twitter, and Instagram and her work in Nothing Special Vol. 1: Through the Elder Woods.

You can download the episode directly here on Libsyn.

Big thanks to Deanna Chapman for stepping in to edit this episode. If it sounds better than usual, it’s because of her.

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Thanks to the sponsor of this week’s podcast: Zoop! Zoop is the new home for creator-owned crowdfunding. Visit zoop.gg to support campaigns by Harley Quinn’s Chad Hardin, 2000AD’s Jimmy Broxton, comics prodigy Nir Levie, and The Filth’s Chris Weston amongst others live campaigns. There are many more titles coming soon, so visit the site, sign up for alerts, and support these creators putting out amazing books! There are more campaigns coming, so make sure to visit Zoop at its website. 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: Omnibus! Omnibus is a modern digital comic book store and reader app carrying your favorite single issues, volumes and omnibuses (all day and date). They’re pay-per-book like your LCS, but digital, so you’re already used to the experience. Their focus is on building an excellent customer shopping and reading experience and using novel discovery features to help fans find their next new favorite book. They feature top-tier content and already have many of the top publishers in comics today. Want to find the right digital comic shop for you? Download Omnibus today on the Apple App Store to do just that, or try out the new web store and web reader on its website.

Also, big thanks to my patrons, including – but not limited to – Jon Auerbach, Dustin Weaver, Ninja Assassin Love Story Webcomic, Brandon Hayman, Aaden Hamann, Kenny Meyers, JKJ Art, Faith Erin Hicks, Aw Yeah Comics, Ben Wroe, Cameron Brown, Jonathan Breen, Danny Ollie, Charlie Stickney, Tom Drennen, Jeremy Thomas Burke, Jared Schwab, Scott Dunn, Chip Mosher, Allen Ellsworth, Seth Pomeroy, James McEwan, Andrew Leamon, Christina Merkler, Scott Place, Travis Gibb, Darcy Van Poelgeest, Travis Schmeisser, Tom Evans, Natalie Mokry, Reid Beaman, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Max Wood, Jeremy Lambert, Brian Hole, Chris Doray, Nir Levie, Jason Hussa, Kieron Gillen, Jonathan Kent-Uritam, Henry Johnston, Django Bohren, James Tynion IV, Chris Lankford, Jason Wood, Tom Peachey, Ben Damstedt, Ram V, Nick Walker, Patrick Coyle, Isaac Orin, Capes and Tights Podcast, Klaas Van de Ven, Submet Industries, Jack Mulqueen, Karl Kerschl, Robert Masella, Elsa Charretier, Luc Nakashoji, Dr. Luke, Scott Haselwood, CanadianByProxy, Bradley Roeder, Carl Choi, Brandon De Pillis, Patrick Brower, Declan Shalvey, Dan Gearino, Atom Freeman, Ben Wild, Brian Klein-Q, Liana Kangas, Nick Bennett, Daniel Whitfield, Susana Polo, Reed Hinckley-Barnes, Mario Tiambeng, 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, Brett A. Schmidt, Jason Goodmanson, Paul Reinwand, Vita Ayala, Akylle, Phillip Sevy, Al Ewing, Ryan Alcock, David Kelley, Nick Poleto, 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, Adam Highfill, Fiona Staples, Mark Abnett, 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 photo is from Cook’s cover to Nothing Special Vol. 1: Through the Elder Woods. Off Panel’s opening theme music is Vulfpeck’s “Outro,” used with permission from the band (and thanks from me for them doing so!), with the rest of the music being 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!