Behind the Panels — Episode 5 | Retail Insight, Indie Publishing & Power Hour

In Episode 5 of Behind the Panels, we sit down with Shawn Hudachko, owner of Comics Elite and creator/publisher of the Power Hour series.This conversation bridges both sides of the comic industry — retail and creation.Shawn shares insight from his experience running a comic retail/resell business while also building his own publishing projects. We discuss the development of Power Hour, the realities of bringing a book to market, and what it truly takes to move from creator to shelf placement.In this episode, we dive into:What retailers actually look for in indie comic submissionsCommon mistakes creators make when approaching comic shopsHow retail margins and wholesale realities workThe importance of cover design and presentationBuilding relationships with local comic storesThe balance between creativity and business strategyIf you’re an independent creator trying to understand how to get your book into stores — or a fan curious about what happens behind the retail counter — this episode delivers real-world insight from someone who operates on both sides of the industry.Creating the book is only part of the journey.Getting it into readers’ hands is where the real work begins.🎙️ Subscribe to Behind the Panels for in-depth conversations with independent creators, retailers, and industry professionals exploring the creative and business realities of comics.