Independent comic creator Nicholas Casbarro is creating every aspect of his Vitalerium project. Blending music, animation, and comics together, his project is truly mind blowing. He’s also done double duty, writing both a novel and comic for Vitalerium.

Check it out at vitaleriumseries.com.

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Check out video versions of this and other episodes on YouTube: youtube.com/dollarbinbandits!

If you like this podcast, please rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you found this episode. And if you really like this podcast, become a member of the Dollar Bin Boosters on Patreon: patreon.com/DollarBinBoosters.

You can follow us @dollarbinbandits on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky, or @DBBandits on X. You can email us at dollarbinbandits@gmail.com.

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Dollar Bin Bandits is the official podcast of TwoMorrows Publishing. Check out their fine publications at twomorrows.com.

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Thank you to Sam Fonseca for our theme music, Sean McMillan for our graphics, and Pat McGrath for our logo.

Today, we welcome acclaimed writer Devin Grayson to discuss her groundbreaking career that began with her first published script "Like Riding a Bike" in Batman Chronicles in 1997 and led to her becoming the first woman to create, launch and write an ongoing Batman title with Batman: Gotham Knights. Devin shares her journey from studying creative writing at Bard College to becoming one of DC's most prominent writers, working on titles like Catwoman, Nightwing, and The Titans and contributing to the award-winning No Man's Land story arc. We explore her character creations that have transcended comics, including Black Widow's Yelena Belova and The Titan's Damien Darhk. Devin also discusses her recent work including the original graphic novel Rewild through Dark Horse's Berger Books imprint, her Marvel novel Doctor Strange: The Fate of Dreams, and her deeply personal creator-owned series USER about gender identity and online role-playing.

You can follow Devin on her site, devingrayson.net, as well as Instagram and Bluesky @gothamette.

Support the show

___________________

Check out video versions of this and other episodes on YouTube: youtube.com/dollarbinbandits!

If you like this podcast, please rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you found this episode. And if you really like this podcast, become a member of the Dollar Bin Boosters on Patreon: patreon.com/DollarBinBoosters.

You can follow us @dollarbinbandits on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky, or @DBBandits on X. You can email us at dollarbinbandits@gmail.com.

___________________

Dollar Bin Bandits is the official podcast of TwoMorrows Publishing. Check out their fine publications at twomorrows.com.

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Thank you to Sam Fonseca for our theme music, Sean McMillan for our graphics, and Pat McGrath for our logo.

In what may be a first for the podcast, we talk to a real, live comic shop owner! It's Nathan Machado, owner and manager of Blackhole Comics in Norwood, MA. Nate shares his comic origin story and how he went from a manager at one of New England Comics' other locations to taking over and rebranding this one. He opens up about the realities of comics retail, from dispelling misconceptions about running a shop and navigating the challenges of ordering decisions to balancing pull-list customers with attracting new readers. We explore how to create a welcoming environment for intimidated newcomers, his strategies for recommending comics to first-time readers, and the importance of events like Free Comic Book Day and signings to build community around his shop.

You can follow Blackhole Comics on Facebook.

Support the show

___________________

Check out video versions of this and other episodes on YouTube: youtube.com/dollarbinbandits!

If you like this podcast, please rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you found this episode. And if you really like this podcast, become a member of the Dollar Bin Boosters on Patreon: patreon.com/DollarBinBoosters.

You can follow us @dollarbinbandits on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky, or @DBBandits on X. You can email us at dollarbinbandits@gmail.com.

___________________

Dollar Bin Bandits is the official podcast of TwoMorrows Publishing. Check out their fine publications at twomorrows.com.

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Thank you to Sam Fonseca for our theme music, Sean McMillan for our graphics, and Pat McGrath for our logo.

In our latest episode, we sit down with veteran comic book artist Mark Pennington to explore his remarkable career spanning four decades in the industry. Mark shares his journey from graduating the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art in 1985 to starting his career doing designs for iconic toy lines like G.I. Joe at Hasbro before transitioning to comic book inking in 1988. We dive into his extensive work across major publishers including Marvel, DC, Image, CrossGen, and others, inking legendary titles like X-Men, Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, Eclipso, Violator and more, with particular focus on his acclaimed work on Shade, the Changing Man, which earned him an Eisner nomination for Best Inker in 1993. Mark discusses the often-underappreciated art of inking, his collaboration process with pencilers, working on high-profile titles like Hellblazer and JLA, and how the industry has evolved since he started. We also explore his move into self-publishing and his continued passion for both commercial comic work and fine art.

You can follow Mark on Instagram @markpenningtonart.

Support the show

___________________

Check out video versions of this and other episodes on YouTube: youtube.com/dollarbinbandits!

If you like this podcast, please rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you found this episode. And if you really like this podcast, become a member of the Dollar Bin Boosters on Patreon: patreon.com/DollarBinBoosters.

You can follow us @dollarbinbandits on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky, or @DBBandits on X. You can email us at dollarbinbandits@gmail.com.

___________________

Dollar Bin Bandits is the official podcast of TwoMorrows Publishing. Check out their fine publications at twomorrows.com.

___________________

Thank you to Sam Fonseca for our theme music, Sean McMillan for our graphics, and Pat McGrath for our logo.

Since he was a child, Travis Landry has been part of the auction and antique community. Today, you can find him appraising treasures on the hit PBS show Antiques Roadshow, where he works in pop culture, comics, cards, toys and more. All the things we love, he loves too, and it comes across in this interview and on screen. Check out his own auction house, Landry Pop Auctions, here: landrypop.com.

You can follow Travis on Instagram @popculturetravis.

Support the show

___________________

Check out video versions of this and other episodes on YouTube: youtube.com/dollarbinbandits!

If you like this podcast, please rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you found this episode. And if you really like this podcast, become a member of the Dollar Bin Boosters on Patreon: patreon.com/DollarBinBoosters.

You can follow us @dollarbinbandits on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky, or @DBBandits on X. You can email us at dollarbinbandits@gmail.com.

___________________

Dollar Bin Bandits is the official podcast of TwoMorrows Publishing. Check out their fine publications at twomorrows.com.

___________________

Thank you to Sam Fonseca for our theme music, Sean McMillan for our graphics, and Pat McGrath for our logo.

Independent comic creator and veteran Michael Oden has created worlds of fantasy and action, including his latest project Elysian Fields: Reborn! This tale features beautiful art set during mythical Ancient Rome. Michael has also created titles such as The Embrace, Judex, SPQR's Bizarre Adventure, American Bliss: Father's Pride, and others under his 9 Realms Publishing imprint.

You can follow Michael and 9 Realms on Instagram @9rpcomics.

Support the show

___________________

Check out video versions of this and other episodes on YouTube: youtube.com/dollarbinbandits!

If you like this podcast, please rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you found this episode. And if you really like this podcast, become a member of the Dollar Bin Boosters on Patreon: patreon.com/DollarBinBoosters.

You can follow us @dollarbinbandits on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky, or @DBBandits on X. You can email us at dollarbinbandits@gmail.com.

___________________

Dollar Bin Bandits is the official podcast of TwoMorrows Publishing. Check out their fine publications at twomorrows.com.

___________________

Thank you to Sam Fonseca for our theme music, Sean McMillan for our graphics, and Pat McGrath for our logo.

Our latest is a deep dive with acclaimed comic book writer Steve Orlando, exploring his journey from 12-year-old aspiring writer to becoming one of the most prominent voices in superhero comics. Steve discusses his breakthrough work launching the 2015 Midnighter series and its sequel Midnighter and Apollo, both of which earned GLAAD Media Award nominations, and how he approached writing those characters with authenticity and respect. We explore his major DC work including runs on Supergirl and Justice League of America as part of the DC Rebirth initiative, as well as his creator-owned work at Image including Virgil, Crude, and stories in the Eisner Award-nominated Outlaw Territory and Eisner-winning Love is Love anthology. Steve also shares insights into balancing his passion for inclusive storytelling with mainstream superhero narratives, his experience working across multiple publishers from DC and Marvel to Image and Dynamite Entertainment, and his ongoing work throughout the comic book world.

You can follow Steve on Bluesky @thesteveorlando and Instagram @the.steve.orlando.

Support the show

___________________

Check out video versions of this and other episodes on YouTube: youtube.com/dollarbinbandits!

If you like this podcast, please rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you found this episode. And if you really like this podcast, become a member of the Dollar Bin Boosters on Patreon: patreon.com/DollarBinBoosters.

You can follow us @dollarbinbandits on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky, or @DBBandits on X. You can email us at dollarbinbandits@gmail.com.

___________________

Dollar Bin Bandits is the official podcast of TwoMorrows Publishing. Check out their fine publications at twomorrows.com.

___________________

Thank you to Sam Fonseca for our theme music, Sean McMillan for our graphics, and Pat McGrath for our logo.

The terrific man behind Terrificon is back! That's right, we welcome Mitch Hallock to talk all things Terrificon 2025, as he prepares for the convention's milestone 10th anniversary celebration at Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino from August 8-10. Mitch discusses how his Big Fedora Marketing is bringing more guests, more surprises, and more fun to Connecticut's premier comic convention for this anniversary year, and shares his journey from comic fan to creating what has become the largest gathering of comic book creators in New England. We explore the convention's growth since its 2012 launch, the significance of Governor Ned Lamont's official proclamation declaring August 8-10 as "Terrificon Days" in Connecticut, and what fans can expect from this year's lineup of artists, writers, actors from popular films and TV shows, cosplay contests, and special anniversary programming. Mitch also opens up about the challenges and rewards of producing a major comic convention, his vision for maintaining Terrificon's reputation as one of the country's premier "real comic cons," and how the convention continues to serve as a cornerstone event for comic book culture in the Northeast.

Buy tickets (now!) and see all the guests, panels, and more at terrificon.com! They're also all over social including @ItsTerrifiCon on X and @terrificon_ct on Instagram.

Support the show

___________________

Check out video versions of this and other episodes on YouTube: youtube.com/dollarbinbandits!

If you like this podcast, please rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you found this episode. And if you really like this podcast, become a member of the Dollar Bin Boosters on Patreon: patreon.com/DollarBinBoosters.

You can follow us @dollarbinbandits on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky, or @DBBandits on X. You can email us at dollarbinbandits@gmail.com.

___________________

Dollar Bin Bandits is the official podcast of TwoMorrows Publishing. Check out their fine publications at twomorrows.com.

___________________

Thank you to Sam Fonseca for our theme music, Sean McMillan for our graphics, and Pat McGrath for our logo.