Writer Mark Waid joins the show to talk about his life and career in comics and the new Zoop campaign designed to fund a hardcover for his series, Empire. Waid discusses how he works, cliffhangers, his approach to new projects, his character-centric nature, focusing on problems, staying active as a writer, whether he’s evolved, staying open to change, the comics of today, staying outside the box, the power of comic shops, the current era of DC, the return of Empire, out of print books, the new collection for Empire, Barry Kitson, the story’s darkness, art imitating life, tips for creators, and more.

You can find Waid on Instagram and his work in Justice League Unlimited, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, and the soon-to-launch Zoop campaign for Empire’s new hardcover collection.

You can download the episode directly here on Libsyn.

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Thanks to one of the sponsor of this week’s podcast: 2000 AD! America, the Future is calling you – the weekly 2000 AD will hit shelves across the USA this May! This is the comic which discovered Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, Garth Ennis, Al Ewing, DaNi and more – and it’s coming to a shelf near you! 2000 AD has never been available to read weekly in America before, so if you’ve always wanted to try out The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic — now is your chance! Every 32-page issue of 2000 AD brings you the best in sci-fi and horror, and this May will feature new stories like Judge Dredd, Brink, Nightmare New York, The Fall of Deadworld and more. All you need to do is order from your local comic store, and issues of 2000 AD will be available for you to pick up every single week! It’s never been easier to read 2000 AD – so what’re you waiting for, Earthlets? Add 2000 AD to your pull list today.

Thanks to another of the show’s sponsors, Oni Press! This July, MUTT UP OR SHUT UP as Oni Press unleashes SUPER MEGA MONDO MUTTS #1 – the double-sized, 40-page debut of an all-new team of anthropomorphic anti-heroes with teeth from powerhouse creators Curt Pires and Juan Gedeon. One year ago, a fragment of an interdimensional civilization collided with downtown Los Angeles – creating a no-man’s-land where the laws of physics no longer apply. Convinced that no human being could survive inside, the US government sent in four research animals to explore the technological wonders within. But what came out was four radically transformed dogs with minds and a mission all their own. Now, together, the SUPER MONDO MEGA MUTTS are about to show the world what happens when these canine commandos BITE BACK. Colliding the absurdly awesome action of TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES with the R-rated attitude of THE BOYS, fur meets fury this July in SUPER MEGA MONDO MUTTS #1, the next must-read series from Curt Pires, Juan Gedeon, and Oni Press. WOOF WOOF!

Lastly, thanks to the show’s final sponsor in IDW. IDW has a huge May coming, and it all starts with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Ongoing Compendium, Vol. 1 on May 5^th. It brings readers over 1,000 pages collecting the first 50 issues of IDW’s landmark TMNT run. This is the place to start for new and existing Turtles fans. Then on May 20^th, IDW Crime debuts with Seven Wives #1. Forty-nine witnesses. Seven wives. One dead husband. A murder inside a secluded religious compound kicks off a tense, slow-burn thriller where every answer leads to more secrets and no one is telling the truth. Finally, May 27^th brings Star Trek: Celebrations 2026. It’s an all-star anthology honoring the queer characters of the Star Trek universe, with stories of love, identity, and adventure across the final frontier. Bold, heartfelt, and very Trek. Three books. Three completely different vibes. One very good month for comics, so make sure to hit up your local shop, lock in your pre-orders, and don’t miss out.

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

Header photo is from Barry Kitson’s cover for the Empire hardcover. Off Panel’s theme music is 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!