Dollar Bin Bandits

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 pu...

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 Ki...

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  ...

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...

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 cr...

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 a...

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 su...

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...

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 f...

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...

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...

Today we sit down with artist and writer  Rae Allen  to discuss her new series  Carmen Red Claw: Belly of the Beast , co-written with  Mike Mignola  and set in the  Hellboy Universe . Rae shares how she built Carmen, a supernatural gun-for-hire in the 1870s Southwest, from a tiny piece of Lobster Johnson lore that caught Mignola's attention, discussing her striking visual design and shoulder demon...

Indie creator  Russ Kazmierczak  is back on the Bandits, celebrating his crossing the 55-issue milestone of  Amazing Arizona Comics , reflecting on how the series has evolved since his last appearance, and the challenges of maintaining a long-running independent series. Russ also dives deep into his 10th year participating in the  24-Hour Comic Challenge , explaining the concept, his process of ba...

In this middle episode of Indie Week,  Snake  (Scott Matthew Watson) discusses his journey from discovering comics to developing his own distinctive voice as a creator to detailing his new series  Grinding Against the Marrow , a dark and visceral story that defies easy genre classification. Watson breaks down the striking title's meaning, introduces the series' key characters and their driving mot...

In today's interview, indie creator  Marvin Wynn  discusses creating  The Edge , a series blending elements of  The Bourne Identity ,  The Fugitive , and  Justice League of America  that centers on characters with varied superpowers gained through exposure to a mysterious genetic-altering substance spreading globally. Marvin details his collaboration with Philippines-based artist Mark Vuycan Kiat...

Vintage toy collector and pop culture historian  Brian Heiler  pops by to discuss his collecting journey, explaining how his fascination with 70s and 80s ephemera led him to create  Plaid Stallions , an extensive online archive that has become an invaluable resource for researchers and nostalgic fans alike. Heiler shares his process for acquiring and digitizing rare materials, reveals some of the...

In this interview celebrating the  25th anniversary of  Ultimate Spider-Man , legendary artist  Mark Bagley  reflects on his career from winning the Marvel Try-Out Book contest through defining runs on  New Warriors ,  Amazing Spider-Man ,  Thunderbolts , and his iconic collaboration with Brian Michael Bendis on  Ultimate Spider-Man . Mark discusses the creative rhythm of working with Bendis for 1...

In this episode, we welcome  Keith Finch  to discuss his journey from #comics fan to creator, the founding of  Full Service Comics , and his ambitious project adapting the obscure 1985  Morphodroids  toy line into a comic book series. Finch explains the meta-narrative where the toys existed within the comic's universe, distinguishing Morphodroids from Transformers, and how he assembled an internat...

In our second editors roundtable episode,  DC Comics  veterans  Paul Levitz ,  Mike Carlin , and  Jack C. Harris  discuss the realities of editorial work, from assembling creative teams and managing personalities, to the daily struggles that fans sometimes romanticize about the job. The three editors reflect on decisions they knew would be debated for decades, highlight each other's editorial stre...

In the final installment of One of Us Week,  Chris Piers  of the  Comic Tropes  YouTube channel discusses his journey from a former real-life superhero to launching his educational and entertaining video series covering comic book trends and themes, creator histories, and lesser-known series and storylines. Chris details his research process, how he balances insightful analysis with comedy, and re...

In our second edition of One of Us Week, hosts  Robb Milne ,  Bryan Stratton , and  Jamie Wenger  of the  Marvel by the Month  podcast drop by to discuss their ambitious chronological journey through Marvel Comics history. They explain how they came together to launch the show, their approach to tackling Marvel's publication timeline month by month, their research process and selection criteria, a...

In the inaugural episode of One of Us Week, host  Dave Wexler  opens up about how he built and manages two different comic shows — his  West Coast Davengers  YouTube channel, where he blends weekly live comic sales, guest interviews, and on-location con coverage with a fan-first energy, and his  Direct Edition  podcast, a weekly, free-form show that features in-depth conversations with creators an...

As one of the Dollar Bin Bandits earliest guests, independent comic creator Len Mihalovich has been very busy in the past few years. With his popular creations Section 12 and Tracksuit Man under his banner Lenovations Press, he is now growing his brand bringing on new artists and writers. Some of those projects include Red Mask, The Wild West Adventures of Buffalo Bill and others. To learn more ch...

Today we sit down with acclaimed writer  Jason Aaron  for a wide-ranging, creator-focused conversation about craft, collaboration, and longevity in comics. Jason reflects on defining runs like  Thor ,  Wolverine and the X-Men , and  Absolute Superman , breaking down how he approaches character- and world-building, as well as big stories that still feel personal. He also discusses what continues to...

In this episode, we sit down with indie creator  James Coats  to talk shop about building comics from the ground up, from his creator-owned projects  Dino Beasts  and  Galaxy Gods  to his role in co-founding  Power Pulp Comics . Coats breaks down how his love of big concepts, retro genre energy, and hands-on collaboration shapes both his own books and the wider Power Pulp lineup. The conversation...