Dollar Bin Bandits

Whether it’s Power Records , Peter Pan Records , or other companies that produced kid friendly albums from the 50s through 80s, Brian Washington is the guy to talk to! With his incredible collection, he’s a walking encyclopedia for these audio treasures.  Support the show ___________________ Check out video versions of this and other episodes on YouTube : youtube.com/dollarbinbandits ! If you like...

Today, we welcome acclaimed graphic novelist Craig Thompson to discuss his latest tome, Ginseng Roots . In this deeply personal book, Thompson returns to his rural Wisconsin roots to explore the fascinating world of ginseng cultivation that shaped his childhood. The conversation spans Craig's artistic evolution since his breakthrough memoir Blankets , his research trips to China that informed the...

This week on Dollar Bin Bandits , we sit down with the multi-talented Tom Marvelli , a powerhouse creative whose fingerprints are all over some of the biggest superhero franchises of the last two decades. From his days at Marvel during its post-bankruptcy rebirth to shaping the futures of Hasbro’s legendary action brands, Tom’s career has been nothing short of epic. Tom is now turning the page—lit...

Ralph Macchio spent over four decades at Marvel Comics , serving as a writer, editor, and eventually Executive Editor during some of the company's most transformative periods. Beginning his career in the 1970s as an assistant to Roy Thomas, Ralph went on to edit many of Marvel's flagship titles including Daredevil , Thor , and The Avengers , overseeing Frank Miller's revolutionary run on Daredevil...

In this episode, we roll out with Bob Budiansky and Simon Furman , the legendary minds behind the original Transformers comics from Marvel and Marvel UK respectively. With Skybound 's massive compendiums reigniting interest in both series, we dive deep into how a Japanese toy line transformed into a pop culture juggernaut. Bob shares how Transformers first landed on his desk at Marvel and the chal...

It’s a project of epic proportions as writers and artists in the world of comics are taking part in a new comic featuring the creations of Don Simpson . Multimensions will see Megaton Man and other Simpson characters in the hands of various writers and artists in a new Kickstarter campaign! Contributors Bob Kroll and Joe Ely Carrales III join the show to talk about their contributions and more. Ch...

Matt Wagner , creator of the legendary independent titles Grendel and Mage , shares his journey to become one of comics' most respected writer-artists. Our conversation explores the origins and complex publication history of his signature character Grendel, which debuted in Comico Primer #2, as well as the creative process and development behind the more personal Mage trilogy. Beyond his creator-o...

The works of Jon Dexter are varied and wonderfully written. From the canine adventures Alpha Dogs to the noir Dime-Store Detective , fans revel in his imaginative stories. You can find the complete Alpha Dogs graphic novel from Simon & Shuster or wherever books are sold: simonandschuster.com/books/Alpha-Dogs . And soon, you'll be able to catch up on the Detective series and back issue 5 with Jon's...

Brett Booth has established himself as one of the industry's most dynamic and energetic artists, known for his kinetic action sequences and distinctive character designs that have graced the pages of numerous titles for both DC and Marvel. Beginning his career at Jim Lee's Homage/Wildstorm studio in the early 90s, Brett co-created Backlash and had a long run on his solo series before moving on to...

Keith Arem and Chris Yates join us to discuss their new Kickstarter project, Frost Road , a visually stunning psychological thriller. Keith, known for his extensive work directing video game performances for franchises like Call of Duty and Titanfall , and Chris explain how they developed this atmospheric tale of horror, illustrated by Christopher Shy . Frost Road tells of a desperate search for s...

Jim Calafiore has established himself as one of comics' most distinctive and versatile artists over a career spanning three decades. Known for his dynamic layouts and expressive character work, Jim first gained recognition at Valiant in the early 90s, working on titles like Armorines and Magnus, Robot Fighter . From there, it was on to DC and Marvel, where he contributed to series including Aquama...

Larry Lieber , the legendary artist and writer who contributed to the early Marvel Universe alongside his brother Stan Lee, joins us to discuss his new book CHIRPS . After briefly touching on his storied career—which includes co-creating Iron Man, Thor, and Ant-Man , and his long run on The Rawhide Kid —Larry dove into this ambitious literary departure that combines elements of fantasy, family sag...

Ed Catto is back, this time talking about the 2025 edition of Ithacon ! It's coming up this weekend, April 5-6, at Ithaca College , and Ed get into all the details: the guests, the panels, the swag, and more. You can follow Ed on X @EdCatto and Instagram @EdCatto3 , and find out more about Ithacon and get tickets here:  ithacon.org ! Support the show ___________________ Check out video versions of...

Tom Mason is a comics industry veteran and a key figure in the rise of Malibu Comics . As one of the company’s founders, he played a pivotal role in launching the creator-owned imprint Bravura and co-founding the Ultraverse line. His creator-owned series Dinosaurs For Hire —a wild, action-packed comic about gun-toting, wisecracking dinosaurs working for the government—left a lasting impression on...

Christopher Priest is one of the most influential writers in modern comics, known for his sharp wit, intricate storytelling, and groundbreaking contributions to the industry. He began his career at Marvel, becoming the company’s first Black editor and working on titles like The Amazing Spider-Man and Power Man and Iron Fist before transitioning to writing full-time. His breakthrough came with Quan...

Junior Bandit Penelope makes her debut in this interview with the Phoebe and Her Unicorn maestro, Dana Simpson ! What began as a webcomic called "Heavenly Nostrils" in 2012 has evolved into a syndicated phenomenon with over a dozen books in the series, garnering comparisons to Calvin and Hobbes . Dana's comics journey began with her earlier webcomic Ozy and Millie , which ran for a decade and is c...

Our next guests need no introduction... but we're going to do it anyway! Walter & Louise Simonson are comic book royalty, each leaving an indelible mark on beloved characters and series. The interview ranges far and wide, with Louise revealing her earliest comics memories and discussing her transition from editing to writing with Power Pack . The couple shared insights about their first writer/art...

Role-playing game (RPG) lover and independent comic book creator DM Ray is back with the second issue of The Madcaps ! A blend of fantasy, action and fun makes this a perfect fit for RPG and comic fans alike! Check out his Kickstarter for more information: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/philboentertainment/the-madcaps-issue-2? .  ____________________ Check out a video version of this episode...

The creative team behind ComiXology's Edgeworld and both past guests, Chuck Austen and Pat Olliffe , are back! This time it's a project called Defiant , a space sci-fi epic from those cool cats at DSTLRY . And twist! This is Chuck's last comic book work before he retires. We get into everything, from developing the characters and story to artistic world building and more! Unfortunately, Defiant ha...

Kyle Starks has become a standout voice in independent comics, known for his distinctive comedic storytelling and energetic art style that blends humor with action-packed narratives. His breakthrough came with the critically acclaimed Sexcastle , a graphic novel that reimagined 1980s action movie tropes with a hilarious and subversive twist. Starks has since become a prolific creator, working on t...

Scott Kolins has been a powerhouse in the comic book world for decades, known for his distinctive, high-energy style. As a penciler and cover artist, he's left an indelible mark on titles like The Flash , The Thing: Freakshow , She-Hulk and more, working with some of the most iconic characters in the Marvel and DC universes. His run on The Flash with writer Geoff Johns is particularly celebrated,...

Russ Kazmierczak has carved out a unique niche in the indie comics scene as the creator of Amazing Arizona Comics , a locally-focused superhero universe that blends satire with Southwest sensibilities. Since launching the series in 2010, Russ has produced over 40 self-published mini-comics featuring characters like Speed Cameron and Cactus Boy who battle villains inspired by Arizona politics, cult...

John Rose has been breathing new life into the iconic comic strip Barney Google and Snuffy Smith for over two decades. After joining as an inking assistant to Fred Lasswell in 1998, he took over the strip following Lasswell's passing in 2001. John has published several collections, including The Bodacious Best of Snuffy Smith and Snuffy Smith in His Sunday Best . He also regularly appears at carto...

Who's the President , Editor in Chief, Head Honcho, Big Cheese of Archie Comics ? Why, it's Mike Pellerito of course! A graduate of the Joe Kubert School , he's been at Archie since 2007, so he has some stories to tell. Plus, Mike's the co-owner of the truly excellent Aw Yeah Comics shop in Harrison, NY. He knows a lot about the comics world, which is exactly why we're talking to him today! You ca...

Kerry Callen has gone from the greeting card industry to creating incredible art for various comics. From MAD Magazine to Big Bang Comics , his work has captured fans’ imaginations. He has also written his own graphic novels including Halo and Sprocket and Dirtnap . Follow his adventures at  kerrycallen.blogspot.com . ____________________ Check out a video version of this episode on our YouTube ch...