Cartoonist Ngozi Ukazu joins the show to talk about her upcoming graphic novels, Flip from First Second and Orion at DC Comics. Ukazu discusses book tour living, finding time for yourself, figuring out next steps, growing as a cartoonist, managing your workload, writing for others, the importance of having creative work outside comics, Flip’s origins, autobiographical challenges, the body swap at the core of it, different types of creating, working with DC, becoming a Jack Kirby acolyte, why Orion was the right follow up, young adult graphic novels, knowing who you are, WNBA takes, and more.

You can find Ukazu on Bluesky and Instagram and her work in the upcoming Flip at First Second and Orion at DC Comics.

You can download the episode directly here on Libsyn.

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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 Ngozi Ukazu’s cover to Flip. 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!