Artist Dustin Nguyen joins the show to talk about his career and his upcoming crowdfunded art book, The Art of Descender. Nguyen discusses convention life, what he’s working on these days, working with other publishers, his early days as an artist, figuring out your art, the impact of influences, watercolors, breaking in, learning on the job, his Wildstorm experience, comfort’s place in his career, working with Jeff Lemire, the origins of The Art of Descender, what’s going into the book, his pencils, how he decided what to include, crowdfunding, how the role of an artist has changed, what keeps him excited about art and comics, and more.

You can find Nguyen on Instagram and his work in the upcoming The Art of Descender.

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.

Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts or follow it on its LibSyn page. The show is also on Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play Music and IHeartRadio’s app. Don’t forget to rate and review Off Panel, but five stars only!

You can find Off Panel on Patreon! Support the show on there and get early access to each week’s podcast.

Thanks to the sponsor of this week’s podcast: Zoop! Convention season is upon us, but don’t forget to support your favorite creators on Zoop! There’s still time to get the Breed Omnibus from the legendary Jim Starlin, as well as Sway’s gorgeous artbook “Swayonce.” Zoop also has launches from huge names like Christian Ward, Sanford Greene, Bill Morrison, Franco and Babylon 5’s Claudia Christian coming this month. And don’t forget to check out the e-commerce store on Zoop where you can buy books from successfully funded campaigns, like Ax Wielder Jon by Nick Pitarra or the Eisner Nominated Comics For Ukraine anthology. For creators looking to crowdfund your project, or have your books for sale in Zoop’s brand new e-commerce marketplace, e-mail them at hello@wearezoop.com to learn more!

Thanks to the show’s other sponsor, Oni Press! Oni has brought the most notorious name in terror back, and with a vengeance! The infamous and influential EC Comics has returned with two brand-new series that are being called “triumphant,” “horrifying,” “exciting,” and more. First, every tombstone tells a tale in Epitaphs from the Abyss, the no-holds-barred horror series channeling stories of torment and tension from Brian Azzarello, Jason Aaron, Charlie Adlard, Stephanie Phillips, and more. Then, our cosmos hurtles toward annihilation in Cruel Universe, a cosomic maelstrom of the Galaxy’s strangest science fiction, packed with bizarre tales of time and space from creators including Corinna Bechko, Cullen Bunn, Jonathan Case, Kano, and more. What the comics coulde authority couldn’t kill has only made it stranger? EC Comics lives again at Oni Press in Epitaphs from the Abyss and Cruel Universe —available now at comic shops everywhere!

Also, big thanks to my patrons, including – but not limited to – David Byrne, Milton Lawson, David Wilson, Jo, Benjamin Wilkins, Chris Hacker, John NeSmith, Jon Auerbach, Dustin Weaver, Ninja Assassin Love Story Webcomic, Brandon Hayman, Aaden Hamann, Kenny Meyers, 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, Seth Pomeroy, James McEwan, Andrew Leamon, Christina Merkler, Scott Place, Travis Gibb, Darcy Van Poelgeest, Tom Evans, Reid Beaman, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Max Wood, Jeremy Lambert, Brian Hole, 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, Julio Anta, Brett A. Schmidt, Jason Goodmanson, Paul Reinwand, 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, 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 Nguyen’s cover to the Descender Compendium. 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!