Dollar Bin Bandits

Today we're welcoming Shea Fontana for a fun and insightful conversation about her career writing across #comics, animation, and all-ages storytelling. Shea discusses her journey from screenwriting to comics, including her work on DC Super Hero Girls and the challenges of crafting stories for younger readers while remaining engaging for longtime fans. The discussion spotlights her latest projects, including the magical underwater adventures of Mermicorno: Starfall - Game On! and the return to one of her most beloved creations with DC Super Hero Girls: High School Reunion. Along the way, Shea reflect...

Returning guest Corrisa Grant is back to discuss the latest chapter in the Worthy Chaos Comics universe with the launch of Worthy Chaos: Damnation #1. Corrisa dives into the origins of the new project, the darker themes and mythology driving the story, and the challenges of continuing to build an ambitious independent comics universe through crowdfunding and creator-owned publishing. The conversation also explores the realities of running an indie comics company in today’s market, balancing creative ambition with business demands, and how Worthy Chaos continues expanding its world and fanbase one project at a time.

The Dollar Bin Bandits welcome back returning guests Joe Pruett and legendary artist Mike Deodato Jr. to discuss The Book of Deodato Jr., the massive retrospective celebrating Mike’s decades-long career across the #comics industry. The conversation dives into Mike’s artistic evolution from his early superhero work to the darker, cinematic storytelling style that defined acclaimed runs on titles like New Avengers and Dark Avengers, while Joe shares insight into assembling the oversized hardcover packed with rare artwork, archival material, and behind-the-scenes stories from Mike’s career. Along the way, the discussion explores chang...

Today we sit down with David Steinberger and Chip Mosher to discuss the evolution of DSTLRY and the rapidly expanding world of Neon Ichiban, with a major focus on the newly unveiled Neon Ichiban 2.0 platform update. The conversation explores how their backgrounds at comiXology and BOOM! Studios helped shape their creator-first approach to publishing and collectibles, while also diving into the changing nature of fandom, curation, and premium physical media in modern comics culture. David and Chip discuss the philosophy behind Neon Ichiban’s evolution, the challenge of balancing collectibility with accessibility...

The Bandits welcome Jim Zub for a wide-ranging conversation about his career in #comics, with a special focus on his recent Conan the Barbarian work. Jim discusses the challenge of taking on one of fantasy’s most iconic characters, balancing classic Robert E. Howard influences with modern storytelling, and why Conan continues to resonate with readers decades after his creation. The discussion also explores Jim’s broader journey through the industry, from self-publishing and creator-owned projects like Skullkickers to major runs on franchises including Dungeons & Dragons, Avengers, and Thunderbolts. Along the way...

The Dollar Bin Bandits welcome legendary creator Dan Brereton back to the show to talk monsters, mood, and the long-awaited return of his beloved noir-horror universe in Nocturnals: Darkly. Dan digs into the origins of the new graphic novel, why the Nocturnals characters continue to resonate decades later, and how his lush painted artwork has evolved over the years while still channeling the same spooky pulp energy fans fell in love with in the ’90s. We also chats with Dan about crowdfunding, creator-owned comics, and the challenges of balancing storytelling with jaw-dropping visuals.

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The Dollar Bin Bandits sit down with Bryan Liddiard and Jon Bryans to discuss the long history and enduring cult appeal of Panda Khan, the martial arts-inspired anthropomorphic comic that became one of the standout independent books of the late black-and-white boom era. The conversation explores the origins of the character, the influence of kung fu films and 1980s comics culture, the challenges of creating independent comics during a rapidly changing market, and the surprising legacy Panda Khan has maintained with collectors and fans decades later. Bryan and Jon also reflect on creator-owned comics...

Returning guest Diana Schutz joins us for a candid and wide-ranging look back at her decades helping shape Dark Horse Comics as the legendary publisher celebrates its 40th anniversary and faces a new era following the departure of founder Mike Richardson. Diana reflects on the early days of Dark Horse, the company’s creator-first philosophy, and the editorial voice that helped separate it from the Big Two, while also discussing the challenges, risks, and missed opportunities that came with navigating multiple eras of the comics industry.

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On this episode, we sit down with Morgan Siebert, curator of the Super Museum, for a conversation about preserving the legacy of the Man of Steel and celebrating one of pop culture’s most enduring icons. Morgan shares stories from the museum’s incredible collection of comics, props, toys, and memorabilia, discusses what it’s like running a museum dedicated to Superman, and reflects on how the character has evolved across generations of fans. The episode also dives into the history of the Superman Celebration, rare collectibles, and the unique role Metropolis, Illinois plays as Superman’s...

Returning guest Judd Winick introduces Hilo Presents, a new imprint expanding beyond the beloved Hilo series to bring his signature action-packed storytelling and humor to brand new stories and worlds. The Mighty launches as the first book under this banner, and Judd breaks down the story of Miranda Luna, an average kid in Willow City navigating multiple changes—rising crime, increased bullying, a mysteriously acting family, and her own body's unexpected transformations including super-strength and sudden hair growth—while grappling with a local legend about a giant, furry, mythical creature that protects th...

In a galaxy not so far away, we sit down with artist Stephane Leonardi to talk shop on the ever-evolving world of sketch cards, with a heavy lean into his standout work on Star Wars and Marvel Universe sets. Leonardi breaks down the unique challenge of telling a complete, dynamic story in just a few square inches, sharing insights into his process, materials, and the hustle behind commission-driven art and collector culture. The conversation celebrates the intersection of fandom and artistry that makes sketch cards such a vital (and addictive) corner of the hobby.

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Will Meugniot joins the Bandits for a wide-ranging conversation spanning his decades-long career across #comics, animation, and toy design. He traces his path from discovering comics and early cartoons to breaking into the industry professionally, touching on his co-creation of DNAgents with writer Mark Evanier and discussing how the character designs came together. The bulk of the conversation focuses on his extensive animation work, including his roles as producer and director on X-Men: The Animated Series, where he helped adapt decades of Marvel mythology for a new generation of fans, as well as his...

Roy Thomas returns to discuss A Life in Four Colors, 1940–1966, his long-awaited autobiography published by TwoMorrows. In the book, the man Stan Lee dubbed "Rascally Roy" and "Roy the Boy" tells the full, uncensored story of his emergence as one of the brightest stars in the Marvel Comics firmament. Readers get a ringside seat at some of the earliest comics conventions, and at the fateful 1965 New York Herald Tribune interview that caused a seismic rift between Lee and Kirby. The full-color hardcover is illustrated with rare and unseen art and behind-the-scenes photos from the daw...

Craig Rousseau stops by to talk about The Perhapanauts: Treasure Obscura, the latest Kickstarter in his ongoing effort to bring remixed and remastered editions of the beloved cryptid-adventure series back into print. Co-created with writer Todd Dezago, The Perhapanauts follows a team of strange creatures — including a sasquatch, a ghost, a telepath, and more — investigating other weird and unexplained phenomena. This new self-published edition of volume four is a radical reimagining of the long out-of-print collection, trimming some material while adding the 2025 one-shot "Choopie's Bad Bad Day!" and an all-new eight-page story called "Still in...

We sit down with Garth Ennis for a wide-ranging conversation that blends career reflection with a deep dive into Babs: Black Road South. Garth discusses his early discovery of comics and how his 2000 AD roots continue to shape his storytelling instincts, particularly his emphasis on clarity, character, and structure. He reflects on long-running themes in his work—war fiction, flawed antiheroes, and the balance between satire and humanism—while also addressing how projects like The Boys have evolved beyond their original context. Turning to Babs, Ennis unpacks his take on sword-and-sorcery, the appeal o...

We welcome back Ed Catto to talk all things Ithacon 2026, diving into what makes one of the longest-running comic conventions in the country such a unique and creator-friendly experience. Catto shares how this year’s show continues Ithacon’s tradition of blending legendary guests with up-and-coming talent, while also emphasizing its relaxed, community-driven vibe. He discusses the challenges and rewards of organizing the event, highlights some of the special programming and notable attendees fans can look forward to, and reflects on why smaller, more intimate conventions like Ithacon remain vital to the comics ecosystem.

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Today we sit down with Dick DeBartolo—longtime MAD Magazine writer and “The Giz Wiz”—for a lively conversation that bounces between comics, comedy, and gadgets. Dick shares how he broke into MAD during its legendary era, what it was like working alongside icons like Al Jaffee and Don Martin, and how the magazine’s anything-goes humor shaped his creative instincts. He also digs into his parallel career in tech and radio, explaining how his love of quirky gadgets led to his long-running “Giz Wiz” persona. Throughout the interview, DeBartolo’s trademark wit and self-deprecating humor shine through, o...

Comics legend Jim Starlin returns to talk about the latest chapter in his ongoing Dreadstar revival — Dreadstar vs. Dreadstar, the newest original graphic novel in a series he's been building through Kickstarter since his triumphant return to the character in 2021. The conversation covers the full arc of Dreadstar's history — from its origins as the first title ever published under Marvel's Epic imprint, through its run at First Comics and brief Malibu revival, to the decision to bypass the big publishers entirely and build a new audience directly through crowdfunding. Jim talks about what it's like...

Ray Reynet, a Miami-based writer, illustrator, animator, and founder of Farlook Studios, stops by to talk about building an entire indie comics universe from the ground up — starting from sketching characters as a self-taught kid in South Florida all the way to self-publishing a growing catalog that includes the mythology-fueled adventure series Junket: Hidden Worlds Revealed, The Dwellers, Gunny, and his newest project The Groundsmen. We dig into what it actually looks like to wear every hat at once — writing, illustrating, animating, designing, marketing, and running successful crowdfund...

North Carolina-based artist Rodney Bennett joins the show to talk Legend of the Black Starr, his self-published indie superhero series set in 1938 and published through his own Vision Alive Studios. The guys dig into the book's first story, "No Rest for the Weary," a pulp-flavored blend of horror, sci-fi, and superhero action that follows a young vigilante called the Black Starr as he infiltrates a mortuary to rescue an abducted girl — only to stumble onto zombie attacks, weird science, and a full-blown government cover-up. Rodney talks about his background as a Studio...

Writer Carlos Yacolca and editor Alberto Rayo join the show to talk Before We Sail, a post-apocalyptic graphic novella set in a crumbling Lima, Peru. Yacolca, making his comics-writing debut, explains how the whole project was sparked by a chance tweet from Rayo offering free editorial mentorship to the first person who replied — and how what began as a sprawling, geopolitical zombie story gradually evolved, through months of intensive feedback from Rayo and legendary V for Vendetta co-creator David Lloyd, into something leaner and more emotionally driven. The guys dig into what that...

 A self-taught artist, Dakota Alexander has carved out a distinctive niche as a cover and pin-up artist with a deep passion for Golden Age characters and vintage aesthetics. On this episode, Dakota walks us through his path into comics — from posting artwork on Facebook and Reddit during the pandemic to landing commissions through projects like The Liberty Brigade and The Masters series, where his character sheets appear across multiple issues. Dakota also breaks down his meticulous process for recreating period-accurate Bronze Age art, from emulating the Kane/Romita Sr. Spider-Man house style to adding weathered newsprint textures and tweaking color b...

In this episode, Stephen Bissette and Chris Stevens join us to discuss the long-awaited return of Tyrant, Bissette’s deeply personal, unfinished dinosaur epic from the 1990s, and the journey to finally bring it back through a new Kickstarter campaign. The conversation explores how Tyrant—a raw, almost documentary-style story following a Tyrannosaurus Rex’s struggle to survive—became a cult favorite despite its original short run and lack of commercial success, as well as why Bissette had long resisted revisiting the project until renewed fan interest and Stevens’ persistence convinced him the time was right. They dive into the painst...

Returning guest Chris Yates dives into his current Kickstarter campaign for Marcus Walker: Kingslayer Protocol, a kinetic sci-fi comic that blends hard-hitting action with compelling world-building in a dangerous future landscape. Chris reveals where the concept originated, introduces his creative team and their collaborative process, and explains the themes he's exploring while describing the tone readers can expect from the series. He also shares lessons learned from previous Kickstarter experiences that he's applying to this launch while addressing what sets Marcus Walker apart from other sci-fi comics. 

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Mark Spears joins us to reflect on his #comics career, including his extensive cover work—highlighting favorite pieces and his approach to creating compelling cover art that differs from interior storytelling—and the creation of his hit series Monsters that helped shape his creative journey. Mark shares insights on balancing roles as both writer and artist, the biggest challenges he's faced in the industry, and celebrates the release of Midknight Man #1, revealing the inspiration behind the distinctively-spelled hero, the concept and themes he's exploring, and what readers can expect from the debut issue.

Former member of the DC Comics publicity team Michael Shelling pulls back the curtain on what it's like generating buzz for major comic book launches and universe-wide events, sharing behind-the-scenes stories from campaigns he worked on and explaining the day-to-day responsibilities of comic book publicity in an increasingly crowded media landscape. Michael reveals the relationship between publicity teams and creative talent, discusses campaigns that exceeded expectations alongside those that didn't go as planned and the lessons learned, and reflects on the most challenging aspects of marketing comics versus other entertainment.

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Hive Head Studios founder Dennis Robinson recounts how he went from #comics fan to creator, explaining the vision behind launching his own studio and introducing Lycan: Solomon's Odyssey, an epic supernatural adventure following the world's first werewolf, Solomon, on a journey that blends horror and action-adventure. Dennis details what backers can expect from Chapter 4—currently live on Kickstarter—including where it fits in the overall story arc and whether he's building toward a definitive ending or crafting an ongoing saga. He also introduces his creative team, describing their collaborative process from script to...

Malibu Comics founder and Platinum Studios CEO Scott Mitchell Rosenberg traces his path from launching one of the most innovative independent publishers of the 80s and 90s—pioneering computer coloring technology and creating the ambitious Ultraverse shared superhero universe—to becoming a major player in Hollywood adaptations with properties like Men in Black and Cowboys & Aliens that became blockbuster films. Scott reveals the story behind Malibu's groundbreaking titles, the decision to sell the company to Marvel in 1994, and his strategic pivot to founding Platinum Studios with a focus on...

Forged in Fire judge and blade expert Doug Marcaida, known for his iconic "It will KEAL" catchphrase, shares how he transitioned from martial arts and weapons expertise into creating comics. He introduces his series Lineage, which blends his authentic knowledge of combat and edged weapons into a compelling narrative with rich world-building and mythology. Doug explains the concept and inspiration behind Lineage, introduces the main characters and tone of the book, and details his current Kickstarter campaign for issues #2-4. He addresses how his expertise influences the authenticity of the action sequenc...

In this special combined two-part interview, manga pioneer and Antarctic Press founder Ben Dunn shares the story of establishing one of America's first manga-focused publishers in 1984 and creating the long-running Ninja High School series in 1987. He reflects on how American audiences responded to manga-style storytelling in the 80s and 90s versus today and the challenges of sustaining a creator-owned series for over 100 issues. Ben also talks about his diverse body of work including Warrior Nun Areala—which was adapted into a Netflix series—and his innovative educational manga teaching spelling and grammar, whi...

Returning guest Joseph Illidge reflects on his deep roots with the groundbreaking Milestone initiative that launched in 1993 with iconic characters like Static, Icon, and Hardware, tracing the lineage from the original Milestone Media through its integration into the DC Universe. We focus heavily on his just-released History of the DC Universe: Dakota Incident, which bridges different eras and continuities, breaking down what the "Dakota Incident" refers to and its significance to the Milestone story, his collaboration with other creators, and what both new readers and longtime fans will discover in the book. He addres...

World-renowned candy and snack food historian Jason Liebig, featured expert on the History Channel, discusses his journey from discovering #comics to building one of the most extensive vintage candy and snack packaging collections in existence. Liebig explores the strong connection between comics and candy culture through vintage advertisements and character tie-ins and shares memorable and surprising items from his collection, including the weirdest time-specific products he's uncovered. He also reveals the grail items still on his wish list, discusses what drives him to preserve this often-overlooked pop culture history through his website and social media, an...

In today's interview, Steve Houston of Torpedo Comics discusses his journey from comic book collector to shop owner and television expert. He shares the origin story of Torpedo Comics and what makes his Las Vegas store unique, particularly his specialization in high-value and graded books that led to his role as the go-to comics expert on History Channel's Pawn Stars. Steve reveals memorable moments from the show including rare and valuable finds, explains how appearing on one of television's most popular programs has changed his business, and breaks down his process for authenticating and a...

In this special crossover event, Brad and Lisa Gullickson of the Comic Book Couples Counseling podcast discuss their unique approach blending relationship dynamics with comic book analysis, sharing heated on-air debates and titles they've both loved. We give special focus to their YouTube series The Stacks, which recently returned for a second season and features creators discussing their favorite #comics. Brad and Lisa explain their guest selection process, memorable and unexpected answers they've received, how the series has changed their thinking about comics fandom, and their dream guests for future episodes.

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In this interview, writer, editor, and publisher James Aquilone discusses his journey into horror and weird fiction, founding Monstrous Books, and creating projects like the noir-horror-comedy Dead Jack, Zombie Detective alongside major anthologies such as Classic Monsters Unleashed and the Kolchak: The Night Stalker 50th Anniversary graphic novel. Aquilone reflects on what reviving the legendary Weird Tales brand means to him personally, details his new Kickstarter project including his approach to selecting contributors and the tone backers can expect, addresses the challenges of producing a legacy anthology in today's...

In today's interview, authors Jim Amash and Eric Nolen-Weathington discuss their new book, Jim Aparo: Brave & Bold Artist, exploring why they wanted to shine a spotlight on the legendary but perhaps underappreciated artist whose distinctive style—characterized by crisp inking, dramatic shadows, and expressive faces—defined Batman and other DC characters for generations of readers. The collaborators share insights from interviews and research into Aparo's life and career, highlighting his iconic run on The Brave and the Bold alongside essential work on Aquaman, Phantom Stranger, and The Spec...