Artist Klaus Janson joins the show to discuss his legendary career and his approach and viewpoints on art. Janson discusses his introspective nature, a recent gallery show that celebrated his career, where artists are these days, where they were when he first started, what the 1970s and 1980s felt like for creators, learning from collaborations, the power of restrictions, penciling vs. inking, whether he draws for himself, how he works, whether teaching made him more open to change, the story behind his cover to 1987’s The Punisher #1, how handling multiple roles changes things, storytelling and spectacle, how he views comics, the most gratifying part of his teaching career, what keeps him excited to do the work, and more.

You can find Janson on Twitter and Instagram.

You can download the episode directly here on Libsyn.

Big thanks to Deanna Chapman for editing this episode, as per usual.

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Thanks to the sponsor of this week’s podcast: Zoop! More campaigns and more big names are launching on Zoop! Now live are a gorgeous art book from DC mainstay Adriana Melo, as well as the complete digest edition of Skullkickers from Jim Zub and Edwin Huang, and launching this month is Stephane Roux’s “Cocktails & Curves.” There is also time to support AWA Studio’s Artists For LA, a benefit campaign to raise funds for those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires. Contributors include Bill Sienkiewicz, Mike Deodato, Denys Cowan and many more. Original art, signatures, and other items are available, with proceeds going to the California Fire Foundation Wildfire & Disaster Relief Fund and the California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fund. Zoop would like to thank all the creators who have recently submitted projects, and urge all creators to submit your project to Zoop! Click the “Submit Your Project” link at Zoop.gg, as they are providing services to even more creators than ever before!

Thanks to the show’s other sponsor, Oni Press! In June of 1962, two men escaped from Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. In March of 2025, you’ll finally see what happened next. Oni Press presents: OUT OF ALCATRAZ! Inspired by one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of the 20th century, Eisner Award-nominated writer Christopher Cantwell and Eisner Award-nominated illustrator Tyler Crook deliver a heart pounding, breathtaking original limited series that tells the story of what might have happened in the months following America’s most infamous prison break. Launching with a double-sized, 48-page debut, OUT OF ALCATRAZ follows Convicts Frank Morris and Clarence Anglin, who wash ashore in San Francisco after surviving their infamous escape from Alcatraz. As a dogged federal manhunt and chance encounters unfold, everyone involved is about to discover the same blood-stained truth: life on the run is as hellish a prison as Alcatraz itself. Pre-order your copy of OUT OF ALCATRAZ by February 24th!

Oh, and thanks to the final sponsor of this episode. It’s Chip Zdarsky. Thanks Chip. (You should check out Zdarsky Comic News, his amazing print newsletter that has interviews, gags, games, and more. It’s available at comic shops everywhere for free, unless it isn’t, in which case you should tell your shop to order it so you can get one whenever a new one drops)

Also, big thanks to my patrons, including – but not limited to – Megan Marsden, Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast, Scott Carpenter, Gus, MKFreigeist, Saunter, Brian, Chris Robinson, David Byrne, Milton Lawson, Benjamin Wilkins, Chris Hacker, John NeSmith, Jon Auerbach, Dustin Weaver, Brandon Hayman, Aaden Hamann, Faith Erin Hicks, Ben Wroe, Cameron Brown, Jonathan Breen, 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, Bryan, Nir Levie, Jason Hussa, Kieron Gillen, Jonathan Kent-Uritam, Henry Johnston, Dennis Hoffmann, Django Bohren, James Tynion IV, Chris Lankford, Jason Wood, Tom Peachey, Ben Damstedt, Ram V, Nick Walker, Patrick Coyle, Isaac Orin, 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, Susana Polo, Reed Hinckley-Barnes, Mario Tiambeng, Robert Wilson IV, 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 Bluesky.

Header photo is from Klaus Janson’s cover to 1987’s The Punisher #1. 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!