Every few months, the discourse turns to comics journalism. What is it? What’s its value? Does it even exist anymore? Of course, if you read SKTCHD or listen to Off Panel every week, these questions are easy to answer. For years, David Harper has been our go-to source for what’s happening within the comics industry, and due to recent events in his own life, he’s upped his game and committed to comics journalism in a fashion he previously has not. Can the industry sustain him? That all depends on us.

This week, we chat with David Harper about his total immersion into SKTCHD/Off Panel. We confront him about his pivot to video, the state of comics journalism, and how he ignores the recurring Chicken Little screams of “The sky is falling.” It’s not all so dire, though. We also discuss his ideal comic book shop and the books he’s absolutely loving in 2025.

Stories and storytellers are vital to human existence, but for various, always frustrating, reasons, we must continually be reminded of this. You, dear listener, are already fighting the good fight, but how do we get others to join us? Share, baby, share. Below you’ll find links not only to David Harper’s good work, but also to the good work of others working within the field of comics journalism. Give them your clicks, give them your eyes, and maybe, just maybe, if you can afford to do so, give them your dollars.

Support Comics Journalism

Subscribe to SKTCHD

Become an Off Panel Patron

Become a Patron of The Beat

Become an AIPT Patron

Get Your Copy of The Comics Courier

Support a Journalist on his Journey to Creator

Become a Comic Book Couples Counseling Patron

This Week's Sponsors

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Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode:

Subscribe to the CBCC YouTube Channel and Prepare for The Stacks

Zack Quaintance on The Death of Comics Bookcase

Tiffany Babb on The Comics Courier

Chip Zdarksy on Zdarksy Comic News

Brad and Lisa Guest-Star on Off Panel

Final Round of Plugs (PHEW):

Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.

The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page.

Don't forget to grab your tickets for our September 28th Alamo Drafthouse Winchester screening of Event Horizon, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies.

And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.

Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts.

Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators.

Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.