Retailer Eitan Manhoff joins the show to talk about the year in his shop Cape and Cowl Comics and the year in the direct market. Manhoff discusses how his role has changed, how the year has been in his shop, what’s driving things, success spreading to other titles, the sustainability of the moment, customer interactions, adjustments he’s had to make, the impact of available space, when things changed for his shop, the original/creator-owned side of comics, Deniz Camp’s moment, the impact of micro lines, challenges from the year, Diamond Comic Distributors’ bankruptcy, its impact on other product lines, what should be learned from the moment, the Eisner judge experience and more.

You can find Manhoff at Cape and Cowl Comics in Oakland, California.

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 one of the sponsor of this week’s podcast: 2000 AD! If you love sci-fi, horror, fantasy and action, then 2000 AD is the greatest comic you’re not reading! 2000 AD has a whole universe of characters, from Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog through to Rogue Trooper, Zenith, Shakara and many more. In every weekly issue you get five action-packed stories from incredible creators including Garth Ennis, Rob Williams, Alex de Campi and Dan Abnett. Get a print subscription and it’ll arrive at your door every week – and your first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, get free back issues, and download DRM-free copies of each issue – for just $9 a month. That’s 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! And all subscribers get amazing offers, like money off vouchers and exclusive products! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe’ now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today!

Thanks to the show’s other sponsor, Oni Press! This July, one of the greatest creator-owned comic series of all time begins with a powerful new chapter! Return to the Eisner Award-nominated world of The Sixth Gun as creators Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt reunite for the The Sixth Gun: Battle for the Six #1 – a extra-sized comics event told across three, prestige format issues. In the aftermath of the Civil War, a race to claim six objects of enormous occult power began, thrusting the fate of humanity into the hands of an ordinary young woman and a hard-nosed gunfighter. Together, they were our best hope to stop Armageddon. They prevailed, but at a terrible price. Three decades later, at the dawn of the 20th century, The Sixth Gun is about to be reborn anew—as it has been countless times across the centuries. The Sixth Gun: Battle for the Six #1 – coming to comic shops everywhere on July 23rd.

Also, big thanks to my patrons, including – but not limited to – Omega Slice, Luis Filipe Alves, John Walsh, Brandon Paul, Aaron Bussey, AC, Simon Birch, Austin, Sion, T.S. Luther, 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 Javier Rodriguez’s cover to Absolute Martian Manhunter #2. 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!