Retailer Steve Anderson talks about the impact of Absolute DC in comic shops

David Harper

SKTCHD's Off Panel  Dec 16, 2025 www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGagEFdlx2E

This week's episode of Off Panel was a giant-sized one, and one that's easily split into three parts. So, if you just wanted to listen to the individual sections of that episode without having to scan through it, I'll be doing that. This part is with retailer Steve Anderson from Third Eye Comics, who joined to share his theme from 2025 in comics: The impact of Absolute DC, in his shop, in the broader direct market, and on other titles and lines in comics.

Fanboy by Daniel Boris

 

Bard's Alley bookstore holiday gift guide recommends Winging It: A Graphic Novel by Megan Wagner Lloyd

571) 459-2653 110 Church St NW Vienna, VA 22180

Winging It: A Graphic Novel By Megan Wagner Lloyd Signed copies! Lloyd reunites with Allergic illustrator Michelle Mee Nutter for this warmhearted coming-of-age story set in northern Virginia. It follows 12-year-old Luna as she adjusts to life on the East Coast, her perspective transformed by a budding fascination with nature. (For ages 8–12) For younger readers (ages 7–11), we also have signed copies of Lloyd's graphic novel series Super Pancake! Buy Online

Comics Research Bibliography citations update, 12/15/2025

MacDonald, Heidi. 2025. Diamond files to convert their bankruptcy to Chapter 7. Comics Beat (December 15): https://www.comicsbeat.com/diamond-files-to-convert-their-bankruptcy-to-chapter-7/

Beat Staff. 2025. The Beat's Best Kids Comics of 2025. Comics Beat (December 15): https://www.comicsbeat.com/best-kids-comics-of-2025/

Miles, Donna. 2006. Cartoonist Helps Troops, Fisher House [Garry Trudeau]. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (January 31): https://www.dvidshub.net/news/539897/cartoonist-helps-troops-fisher-house

Unknown. 2025. Barns exhibition focuses on Peanuts comic strip character. Northern Virginia Daily (July 8): https://www.nvdaily.com/nvdaily/barns-exhibition-focuses-on-peanuts-comic-strip-character/article_c9d2ff29-5972-5582-bcdf-d0fb1de5b44a.html

Thorne, Scott. 2025. Rolling for Initiative -- Two Free Comic Book Day Events. ICv2 (December 15): https://icv2.com/articles/columns/view/61219/rolling-initiative-two-free-comic-book-day-events

Griepp, Milton. 2025. Bank Pulls the Plug on Diamond; Converting to Chapter 7 Liquidation. ICv2 (December 14): https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/61214/bank-pulls-plug-diamond

Johnston, Rich. 2025. Diamond Comics Moves To Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, As Banks Pull Funding. Bleeding Cool (December 13): https://bleedingcool.com/comics/diamond-comics-moves-to-chapter-7-bankruptcy-as-banks-pull-funding/

Johnston, Rich. 2025. Comics! The Magazine Launches With Absolute Batman And A Price Guide; Comics! The Magazine is the latest attempt to do a new Wizard Magazine, and launched with Absolute Batman on the cover. Bleeding Cool (December 12): https://bleedingcool.com/comics/comics-the-magazine-launches-with-absolute-batman-and-a-price-guide/

Lamberti, Rod. 2025. Comic Store In Your Future 2025: What I Liked & What I Really Did Not. Bleeding Cool (December 14): https://bleedingcool.com/comics/comic-store-in-your-future-2025-what-i-liked-what-i-really-did-not/

Thompson, Kelly. 2025. BTO Episode 268: Interview with Kelly Thompson. Batgirl to Oracle: The Barbara Gordon Podcast (December 6): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vy3YV2wRIs

Bergman, Jason. 2025. Now it's all about legacy; reconnecting with Jeff Nicholson after his two decades away from comics. TCJ (December 15): https://www.tcj.com/now-its-all-about-legacy-reconnecting-with-jeff-nicholson-after-his-two-decades-away-from-comics/

Harper, David. 2025. Steve Anderson, Heidi MacDonald, and Matthew Rosenberg talk the defining themes of 2025 in comics. SKTCHD (December 15): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuLjygTkyDs

Siuntres, John. 2025. Retro Fan EIC Ed Catto. Word Balloon (December 15): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbGjza0ktNA

Combs, Alex L., and Andrew Eakett. 2025. Trans History: A Graphic Novel: From Ancient Times to the Present Day. Somerville, MA: Candlewick

Zahed, Ramin. 2025. Exclusive: Pendleton Ward Chats About His New Adult Swim Special 'The Elephant' and the Joys of Making Experimental Art. Animation Magazine (December 13): https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/12/exclusive-pendleton-ward-chats-about-his-new-adult-swim-special-the-elephant-and-the-joys-of-making-experimental-art/

Lussier, Germain. 2025. Disney Is Prepping a New Gaston 'Beauty and the Beast' Spinoff; Luke Evans portrayed the live-action version of the animated role back in the 2017 film, but this will be a new take on the character. io9 (December 15): https://gizmodo.com/disney-gaston-beauty-and-the-beast-spinoff-2000699896

Kroll, Justin. 2025. Disney Developing Live-Action 'Gaston' Movie From Writer Dave Callaham And Producer Michelle Rejwan. Deadline (December 15): https://deadline.com/2025/12/disney-live-action-gaston-movie-1236648757/

McClintock, Pamela. 2025. Global Box Office: 'Zootopia 2' Gobbles Up $1B Faster Than Any PG-Rated Film in History. Hollywood Reporter (December 14): https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/zootopia-2-box-office-zooms-past-1-billion-1236448881/

Milligan, Mercedes. 2025. 'Zootopia 2' Hits New Heights with $1 Billion in Just 17 Days. Animation Magazine (December 12): https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/12/zootopia-2-hits-new-heights-with-1-billion-in-just-17-days/

Brzeski, Patrick. 2025. China Box Office: 'Zootopia 2' Roars Past $500 Million. Hollywood Reporter (December 15): https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/china-box-office-zootopia-2-500-million-1236450613/

Zahed, Ramin. 2025. Exclusive: Radio Flyer Studios' 'Max & Maple' Creative Team Discuss the Imaginative Series as First Episode Premieres. Animation Magazine (December 12): https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/12/radio-flyer-studios-max-maple-creative-team-discuss-the-imaginative-series-as-first-episode-premieres/

Phillips, Sean, Dan Abnett, Ian Edgton, John Smith, Dave Stone, and John Wagner. 2025. The 2000AD Art Of Sean Phillips. Oxford, UK: Rebellion

Williams, Luke. 2025. In Review: The 2000AD Art of Sean Phillips. downthetubes (December 14): https://downthetubes.net/in-review-the-2000ad-art-of-sean-phillips/

Kit, Borys. 2025. Netflix Teams with Roy Lee, Zach Cregger to Tackle Brian Michael Bendis-Marc Andreyko Graphic Novel 'Torso' (Exclusive). Hollywood Reporter (December 12): https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/torso-movie-zach-cregger-netflix-1236449285/

DC Comics. 2025. We're Back - DC Vertigo. DC Comics (December 8): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXywKjtNWtg

Casey, Joe. 2025. Marvel Comics' Batman… almost (Pt. 1) [The Shroud]. The Joe Casey Substack (December 15): https://thejoecasey.substack.com/p/marvel-comics-batman-almost-pt-1
Fuggle, Sophie, and James Walker, eds. 2025. Comics Ethnographies. European Comic Art 18 (2, September): https://www.berghahnjournals.com/view/journals/eca/eca-overview.xml?tab_body=latestIssueToc-4643

Fuggle, Sophie, and James Walker. 2025. Introduction: Comics Ethnographies. European Comic Art 18 (2, September): https://www.berghahnjournals.com/view/journals/eca/18/2/eca180201.xml

Fuggle, Sophie. 2025. Drawing from the River; Comics Collectives on the Maroni, French Guiana. European Comic Art 18 (2, September): https://www.berghahnjournals.com/view/journals/eca/18/2/eca180202.xml

Mangiavillano, Alessia, and Giorgio Busi Rizzi. 2025. COme VIte Distanti; Comics as Ethnography Depicting Vulnerable Communities during COVID-19. European Comic Art 18 (2, September): https://www.berghahnjournals.com/view/journals/eca/18/2/eca180203.xml

Patenkovic, Gala. 2025. Let in the Good Refugee; Fabien Toulmé's Affective Intervention in the Refugee Crisis in L'Odyssée d'Hakim. European Comic Art 18 (2, September): https://www.berghahnjournals.com/view/journals/eca/18/2/eca180204.xml

Walker, James, and Loretta Trickett. 2025. Whatever People Say I Am; Co-creating Comics that Challenge Stereotypes. European Comic Art 18 (2, September): https://www.berghahnjournals.com/view/journals/eca/18/2/eca180205.xml

Radanović, Dragana, Nancy Vansieleghem, and Roel Vande Winkel. 2025. Beyond Lost Childhood; Questioning Traditional Perspectives on Childhood Through Visual Storytelling. European Comic Art 18 (2, September): https://www.berghahnjournals.com/view/journals/eca/18/2/eca180206.xml

Dixit, Kritika, Giada Peterle, and Nevine El Nossery. 2025. Book Reviews [Shakespeare and Comics; Visible Cities, Global Comics; On Black Bandes Dessinées and Transcolonial Power]. European Comic Art 18 (2, September): https://www.berghahnjournals.com/view/journals/eca/18/2/eca180207.xml

Casey, Jim, and Brandon Christopher, eds. 2024. Shakespeare and Comics: Negotiating Cultural Value. London: Bloomsbury Publishing

Fraser, Benjamin. 2019. Visible Cities, Global Comics: Urban Images and Spatial Form. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi

Bumatay, Michelle. 2025. On Black Bandes Dessinées and Transcolonial Power. Columbus: Ohio State University Press

PR: New Yours Truly, Johnny Comic Available!

From: Green Archer Comicsb

Just in time for the holiday, treat yourself to an all new Johnny Dollar adventure (stay tuned for a special offer)! | I am really excited to announce that our newest Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar adventure is now live and ready to order! I've discussed this before, but this story is a personal one for

Can't see this message? View in browser

The Gr33n H0rm3tz Matter! Just in time for the holiday, treat yourself to an all new Johnny Dollar adventure (stay tuned for a special offer)! I am really excited to announce that our newest Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar adventure is now live and ready to order! I've discussed this before, but this story is a personal one for me. In 1991 NOW! Comics release a new Green Hornet series where the head criminal was named Johnny Dollar.   To quote Michael Jordan, I took that personally!   Now, I am happy to say that we have a new story, where the criminals are called The Gr33n H0rn3tz. This is a brand new, 32-page comic with art from Marc Oliver, a main cover from Keith Williams and variant cover from Sam "Kidlet" Deans. Johnny travels all over the country to track down these criminals and he really has to pad his expense account in this one. The art from Marc is great and we used an "aged" digital template to give it that old-school pulp feel. If you liked our previous stories, you will love this! For this special issue we've also included a special print on the inside back cover from Cliff Cumber, one of our favorite artists. Johnny Dollar fighting with the Green Hornet and Kato. This is included in the digital and print versions.   You can order a digital copy, or one of the two print copies. But, scroll down for the special offers.   Print - Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar the Gr33n H0rn3tz Matter (Williams Cover)   $10.00   Order Today!   Print - Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar the Gr33n H0rn3tz Matter (Deans Cover)   $10.00   Order Today!   Digital - Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar in the Gr33n H0rn3tz Matter   $5.00   Order Today! Join Us, Won't You for this Special Offer!   From now until the end of the year, if you order The Johnny Dollar Trade in either soft or hard (only 4 left) cover you can get a print copy of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar in the Gr33n H0rn3tz Matter for $5 and you'll get free shipping, which we'll upgrade to Priority Mail, at no additional cost. Order by December 19th for the best chance to get delivery by Christmas. No promo code necessary; all discounts will be automatically applied!   Hard Cover: Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar Trade Volume 1   This is the VERY limited hardback version of the trade. All four issues of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar are now collected in a single 212 page trade!  Get the 4 …   $55.00   Shop Now   Soft Cover: Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar Trade Volume 1   All four issues of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar are now collected in a single 212 page trade!  Get the 4 issues plus a Christmas special and behind the scenes …   $40.00   Shop Now Check out my website

Off Script. On Message by Daniel Boris

 

Comics Research Bibliography citations update, 12/13-14/2025

Allen, Emma. 2025. Instagram's Favorite New Yorker Cartoons in 2025; The year's most-liked gag drawings suggest that you, our readers, are really going through something. New Yorker (December 10): https://www.newyorker.com/culture/2025-in-review/instagrams-favorite-new-yorker-cartoons-in-2025

Bacon, James. 2025. Temenggong-SuperAni 2025, Celebrating 50 Years of Singapore -South Korea Bilateral Relations and Singapore's 60th Anniversary. downthetubes (December 12): https://downthetubes.net/temenggong-superani-2025-celebrating-50-years-of-singapore-south-korea-bilateral-relations-and-singapores-60th-anniversary/

Harper, David. 2025. Kyle Higgins talks Radiant Black, his comic book journey, and more. SKTCHD's Off Panel (December 12): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQX1xcIDA9g

Cox, Bill. 2025. The Art of Comic Artist Fred Hembeck - Live Art Sale and Chat. CAF+ (December 13): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDy_5ICaBI4

Dave. 2025. Geof Darrow's Shaolin Cowboy; This Is What 21 Years of Blood, Sweat & Chainsaws Looks Like. Direct Edition (December 8): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDhwmlu6lLg

Sharp, Kevin. 2025. A Steve Ditko Page I Love with Bret Blevins. CAF+ (November 29): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNe9bEKObJw

Thielman, Sam. 2025. The Best Graphic Novels of 2025 [in print as Graphic Novels]. New York Times Book Review (December 14): 17. Online at https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/books/review/best-graphic-novels-2025.html

Freeman, John. 2025. Angoulême announces "Comics In All Their Forms"; free three-day celebration of comics. downthetubes (December 13): https://downthetubes.net/angouleme-announces-comics-in-all-their-forms-free-three-day-celebration-of-comics/

Vertaldi, Aurélia, and Olivier Delcroix. 2025. Xavier Bonnefont; "Angoulême va bel et bien célébrer la BD fin janvier pendant trois jours". Le Figaro (December 11): https://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/xavier-bonnefont-angouleme-va-bel-et-bien-celebrer-la-bd-fin-janvier-pendant-trois-jours-20251209

Degg, D. D. 2025. Scott Adams Paralyzed/Hospitalized. Daily Cartoonist (December 13): https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2025/12/13/scott-adams-paralyzed-hospitalized/

  *Rhode, Mike. 2025. Gabriela Epstein being interviewed by Emily Ettlinger at Fantom Comics. ComicsDC blog (December 14): https://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2025/12/gabriela-epstein-being-interviewer-by.html

Rhode, Mike. 2025. Cara Gormally interviewed by Hannah Good at Fantom Comics. ComicsDC blog (December 11): https://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2025/12/cara-gormally-interviewer-by-hannah.html

Hoffman, Alex (mod.), Jules Bakes, and Rob Clough. 2025. SPX 2025; Solradio Presents; Spotlight on Kit Anderson. Small Press Expo (October 3): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJBxzDLc4IM

Lowery, Mike. 2025. Free Friday Night Comics Workshop with Mike Lowery. Sequential Artists Workshop (December 12): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIGtO-oD4lo

Siuntres, John. 2025. Anthony Snyder Talks Vintage Comic Collecting. Word Balloon (December 14): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erVygrnupRw

Garcia, Alex. 2025. The Wild, Witty, Wonderfully Weird World of Bizarro with Wayno. Comics Kingdom's Inside The Kingdom (December 12): www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct6nspDye9w

Dollard, Terence. 2025. Comic Culture with Mark Evanier. Comic Culture (December 11): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uYGXCs76vg

Freeman, Atom. 2025. The Conversations Changing Comics; Tiffany Babb on Criticism's Real Impact. Prana's Comic Industry Insiders (December 11): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtT3s2DtHMU

Smith, Barney, and Angela Hsieh. 2025. A Guidebook to Grief, Growth, and Geozoology. Story Comic (December 11): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj5Il1rybcQ

Siuntres, John. 2025. Jeremy Adams Talks DC KO and more. Word Balloon (December 11): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2qflh8ywbk

Harper, David. 2025. Terry Dodson-izing with Terry Dodson. SKTCHD's Off Panel (529; December 8): https://sktchd.com/podcast/off-panel-529-terry-dodson-izing-with-terry-dodson/

Langridge, Roger. 2025. This Winter, Kermit's on the Case! [Muppets]. Dynamite Entertainment (December 11): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF90dFFuFfo

McLeod, Kembrew. 2025. Before he became Tom Tomorrow, political cartoonist Dan Perkins was a Zephyr employee making zines in Iowa City. Little Village (December). Online (December 12) at https://littlevillagemag.com/peak-iowa-dan-perkins-tom-tomorrow-political-cartoonists/

Degg, D. D. 2025. Cartoon Facebook Page Wins First Amendment Lawsuit [Benito Beet Beat editorial cartoons]. Daily Cartoonist (December 12): https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2025/12/12/cartoon-facebook-page-wins-first-amendment-lawsuit/

Perez Burgos, Juan Pablo. 2025. County reaches settlement in cartoon case; Officials withdraw subpoena seeking to identify Facebook page owners [Benito Beet Beat editorial cartoons]. BenitoLink (December 12): https://benitolink.com/county-reaches-settlement-in-cartoon-case/

Perez Burgos, Juan Pablo. 2025. San Benito County to subpoena Meta in Facebook cartoon probe; County counsel calls the graphic 'an overt threat' to Board of Supervisors and their families [Benito Beet Beat editorial cartoons]. BenitoLink (November 21): https://benitolink.com/san-benito-county-to-subpoena-meta-over-cartoon-on-facebook/

Perez Burgos, Juan Pablo. 2025. Federal judge temporarily halts county's subpoena to Meta; Court finds cartoon is likely protected speech, Dec. 10 hearing set [Benito Beet Beat editorial cartoons]. BenitoLink (December 2): https://benitolink.com/federal-judge-temporarily-halts-countys-subpoena-to-meta/

Dery, Mark. 2025. E Is for Edward; A Centennial Celebration of the Mischievous Mind of Edward Gorey [Review]. Washington Post (December 14): C4. Online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2025/12/13/edward-gorey-centennial-gregory-hischak-review/

Hischak, Gregory, and the Edward Gorey Charitable Trust. 2025. E Is for Edward; A Centennial Celebration of the Mischievous Mind of Edward Gorey. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal

Harper, David. 2025. Creators and Industry Folks Share What Stood Out From the World of Comics in 2025. SKTCHD (December 10): https://sktchd.com/column/creators-on-2025-in-comics/

Carter, Justin. 2025. Animation and Video Games Lost 3 Voice Actors This Week; 90s and 00s kids likely grew up hearing voice actors Jim Ward, Jeff Garcia, and Julie Mayfield across the cartoons and games of their youth. io9 (December 13): https://gizmodo.com/animation-and-video-games-lost-3-voice-actors-this-week-2000699341

Harper, David. 2025. Double Take; Oliver and David Take on DC and Marvel and the Big Two's Surprisingly Robust Slate of Crossovers in 2025. SKTCHD (December 11): https://sktchd.com/review/double-take-dc-marvel/

Allen, Emma. 2025. Emma Allen on Otto Soglow's Spot Art. New Yorker (Online December 14; In print December 22): https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/takes/emma-allen-on-otto-soglows-spot-art

King, Tom. 2025. Supergirl; Woman of Tomorrow - Interview with Tom King. DC Comics (December 12): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ti0wowfSnw

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow | Interview with Tom King 

DC Comics Dec 12, 2025  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ti0wowfSnw

Before Supergirl takes flight on the big screen, discover the story that inspired it all. Hear from Tom King as he looks back on the sci-fi odyssey he created, alongside artists Bilquis Evely and Matheus Lopes, that transformed Kara Zor-El for a new generation. SUPERGIRL: WOMAN OF TOMORROW is on sale NOW!

WaPo reviews new Edward Gorey biography

A centennial look back at Edward Gorey's macabre art and guarded life [in print as Edward Gorey's ghoulish art and guarded life]

Review by Mark Dery

Washington Post (December 14, 2025): C4. Online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2025/12/13/edward-gorey-centennial-gregory-hischak-review/

Angela Hsieh interviewed at Story Comic

A Guidebook to Grief, Growth, and Geozoology

Barney Smith and  Angela Hsieh

Story Comic  Dec 11, 2025 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj5Il1rybcQ

Angela Hsieh's Fantastical Debut: Lu and Ren's Guide to Geozoology In this heartfelt and imaginative episode, we sit down with debut graphic novelist Angela Hsieh to talk about her upcoming middle-grade graphic novel Lu and Ren's Guide to Geozoology (Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins, May 2025). We explore her inspirations behind the story, the emotional threads of family and grief that run through the adventure, and the joys of designing a fantasy world filled with gigantic animals. Angela also shares her background, creative process, and thoughts on storytelling across cultures and generations. Whether you're a young reader, a parent, a fan of graphic novels, or someone who loves a great fantasy adventure with real heart—this episode has something for you. Listen now and take a walk through a beautifully drawn world where healing and wonder go hand in hand.

My comics photos on Flickr

Tonight I uploaded the 12,000th image. They're not all great, or even interesting, but they're at https://flic.kr/s/aHsiNijaSZ

Gabriela Epstein being interviewed by Emily Ettlinger at Fantom Comics

 

 The two friends and RISD alumni talked for an hour, took questions, went deep into a 20-year old animated tv series, and laughed a lot. Epstein was previously interviewed here - https://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2024/07/meet-visiting-cartoonist-gabriela.html 

 

 More photos are here - https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCDRsx 

 

Epstein reflecting on the new book while the 1st one is in the foreground.