SKTCHD BOOK 2024

SKTCHD BOOK 2024 is here, and this sixth print annual from my Eisner Award-nominated site collects the very best of SKTCHD and Off Panel from 2024. It might even be the best one yet. This edition features five of my favorite pieces from the year for the site and podcast, a book only Mailbag Q&A featuring some of the best and brightest in the comics journalism, criticism, and podcasting game, a fancy cover by Super Graphic's Tim Leong, some great art, a tremendous foreword by one of the best writers in the business, and more.

So, what's actually in there? SKTCHD BOOK 2024 includes:

- A foreword by writer Kelly Sue DeConnick (FML, Bitch Planet, Wonder Woman Historia, and more)

- There's Something About Matty: Daredevil is Marvel's Greatest Ongoing of All Time, or G.O.O.A.T., and for good reason! It's been amazing for decades. But what makes Daredevil such a legendary book, and why is it that this character — both Daredevil and Matt Murdock — inspire the best out of its creators? I talked with folks like Brian Michael Bendis, Chris Samnee, Chip Zdarsky, Ed Brubaker, and more to find out.

- The Format Boom is On: Digests! Compendiums! Omnibi! Oh my! 2024 was a big year for different formats being embraced (including in things like DC's Compact Comics line), and this feature explores the story behind why that is, with perspective from folks at Image, Skybound, 2000AD, DC, and France's Urban Comics to better understand why this is happening. And it includes the story behind the origin of those Compact Comics!

- A Conversation with Chip Zdarsky: This year's big chat from Off Panel is a career-spanning one with writer/artist/magazine mogul Chip Zdarsky, where we discussed his 10 year anniversary of working in comics, existential crises, learning to drive, and his work on titles like Batman, Daredevil, Newburn, Public Domain, and more.

- Creators on How Making Comics Changed the Experience of Reading Them: Sometimes making your hobby your job can change your relationship with said hobby, and I wanted to know how much that was the case for comic creators. So, I talked with an array of folks like Kieron Gillen, Faith Erin Hicks, Kelly Thompson, Patrick Horvath, and more to get their perspective on the subject. The results are fascinating!

- “The Classic Ten-Year Overnight Success”: Writer/artist Peach Momoko's a sensation, someone whose covers are wildly popular, her work on Ultimate X-Men stands out, and her appearances at comic conventions inspire enthusiasm to the absolute max. But how did she become the superstar she is today? This profile piece tells that story, and it's built from a big interview with Momoko and a whole bunch of others to help people better understand the person behind the art.

- A Star-Studded Mailbag Q&A: A regular feature on SKTCHD and Off Panel's Patreon are my Mailbag Q&As, where I answer questions from subscribers and patrons alike about comics, the industry, the work I do, and a whole lot more. I've always wanted to do a book only edition, and this time, I did just that. Featuring questions from journalists like Heidi MacDonald and Susana Polo, critics like Oliver Sava and Tiffany Babb, and podcasters like Chris Hacker and Brad and Lisa Gullickson, this is a one of a kind mailbag you'll only find here.

The book is 120-ish pages (the final number is still being finalized), A5 sized, with interiors printed on 80 lb uncoated paper and a 110 lb soft-touch laminated cover. It's perfect bound and comes with original art from artist Tadd Galusha, whose work introduces all five of the articles, and a tremendous cover by Super Graphic's Tim Leong.

One important note is the books will not be ordered from the printer until after orders close. I'm only doing one print run, so if you want a book, now's the time! I'll also be letting orders run a little longer than usual. I'll be accepting orders until Sunday, April 27th at 5 pm Alaska time. Once the books are produced, they'll ship to Alaska, at which point I will send them out. So, it'll be a bit before your book arrives!

Speaking of arriving, I have good news on the shipping front for once! Americans will continue to have options (flat rate and media mail), but this year, International rates have a solution that is far less nightmarish thanks to the excellent Jon Auerbach and Pirate Ship. This is truly the best I can do, but the good news is most of the rates are at least half as much as last year, if not even lower than that. Which is amazing!

If you have any questions or want to talk about some sort of bulk ordering solution, please email me at [email protected] and I'll do my best to sort it out with you. Otherwise, happy ordering!