Writer Brian K. Vaughan joins the show to talk about his work on comics like Saga and the upcoming Spectators, both of which are at Image Comics. Vaughan discusses the state of the world’s impact on his writing, navigating his own emotions, how lasting relationships change collaborations, how much of his world is comics, Spectators’ evolving covers, the approach to Spectators, writing a graphic novel, the book’s origins, Niko Henrichon’s art, how they figured things out, his predictive powers, risky approaches, the Exploding Giraffe community, where Saga is, the evolution of Fiona Staples, finding new readers, when he knew writing would work as a job, and more.

You can find Vaughan on Instagram and his work in Spectators and Saga at Image Comics.

You can download the episode directly here on Libsyn.

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Want to watch a video version of this interview, albeit mostly unedited? This chat with Brian K. Vaughan is available on the SKTCHD/Off Panel YouTube.

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Thanks to one of the sponsor of this week’s podcast: 2000 AD! Looking for sci-fi comics which go further than you’ve ever been before? Look no further than 2000 AD – it’s the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic! Whether you’re a new or returning reader, September is the perfect time to try out 2000 AD, with the launch of 2000 AD issue 2450 — a jump-on issue with a fresh start for every story! Featuring a terrifying new Judge Dredd story by Rob Williams and Henry Flint, the issue also has a major new Rogue Trooper story from the team of Alex de Campi and Neil Edwards! And if you want weird and experimental stories, the issue features the return of the critically-acclaimed steampunk fantasy series Brass Sun by Ian Edginton and INJ Culbard, alongside the psychedelic acid trip of Void Runners from David Hine and Boo Cook. Get a print subscription to 2000 AD and it’ll arrive through your letterbox every week, and your first issue is free. Or, subscribe digitally and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That’s 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe’ now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today!

Thanks to another of the show’s sponsors, Oni Press! This October, Oni Press and SpectreVision are proud to present High Strangeness – a startling new, five-part experiment in comic book storytelling. Inspired by first-hand accounts of real paranormal encounters within the dimly lit borderlands of human experience, each 40-page, prestige format chapter of High Strangeness will interrogate overlapping phenomena like UFOs, hauntings, and cryptid sightings – that together seem to indicate a higher, unseen order of reality. Teaming SpectreVision co-founder and real-life experiencer Daniel Noah with an otherworldly cast of comics talents – including Christopher Cantwell, Cecil Castelucci, Christian Ward, and more – High Strangeness: Book One arrives on October 8th to investigate a 1967 encounter with the strange beings known as the Men in Black from Noah, superstar writer Chris Condon, Ringo Award-winning artist Dave Chisholm, and cover artist Jock. Look for High Strangeness: Book One on shelves October 8th at a local comic shop near you.

Finally, thanks to the show’s final sponsor in Vault Comics. One of the most innovative comic publishers out there, Vault has released some of the most exciting independent comics of the past ten years. Vault’s current lineup includes a murderers row of titles like Post Malone’s brand new comic series Big Rig, Money Shot: Big Bang by Patton Oswalt, Tim Seeley & Garth Graham, the hit sapphic shenanigans of Corin Howell’s Lilith, and the raucous violent comedy of the smash-hit series Barbaric by Michael Moreci and Nathan Gooden. All of these are available at your local comic shop now. Vault’s backlist boasts a who’s who of comic creators–many of whom have been guests on this very podcast–including titles from the likes of Ram V, Si Spurrier, Christopher Cantwell, Tim Seeley, Aaron Campbell, Liana Kangas, and many, many more. Vault is giving Off Panel listeners 10% off orders of Vault titles from its website by using code OFFPANEL — that’s all one word — at checkout. So, use the code OFFPANEL at checkout for 10% off your entire order.

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Have a question for Off Panel? You can reach David by email or Bluesky.

Header photo is from Niko Henrichon’s cover to Spectators. 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!