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, the realities of indie publishing, and what it’s been like revisiting Panda Khan for a new generation of readers.

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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 hometown in the real world.

Check out all that's going on at the Super Museum on their website, supermuseum.com, or by following them on Instagram @supermanmuseum.

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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 the city in times of need. He discusses his approach to balancing themes of growing up and feeling out of control with fun middle-grade adventure, explains how The Mighty compares to Hilo in tone and audience, and shares his vision for the Hilo Presents imprint including plans for additional books, whether he's still working on Hilo simultaneously, and where readers can find The Mighty.

As always, you can find Judd on Instagram @juddwinick.

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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.

You can follow Stephane on his site, stephaneleonardi.com, or on Instagram @artofstephaneleonardi.

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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 contributions to Batman: The Animated Series, G.I. Joe, and Captain Planet. Will reflects on the technical constraints of 80s and 90s animation production and how those limitations often drove creative solutions, while also discussing the differences between storyboarding for animation and laying out a comics page. He shares thoughts on the evolution of the animation industry, collaborators who shaped his storytelling instincts, and which projects brought him the most satisfaction — as well as a few that never made it to screen but still linger in his imagination.

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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 dawn of the Silver Age, and Roy teases that he's already hard at work on a follow-up volume covering the rest of his Marvel tenure from 1967 to 1980.

You can find the book from TwoMorrows here: https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1878.

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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 Brazil," a follow-up to the earlier tale "Big in Brazil." Craig shares the journey of shepherding the Perhapanauts through multiple publishers over the years and his passion for getting these books into a definitive, shelf-worthy format for longtime fans and new readers alike.

You have until 4/29 to back the project here: kck.st/3PU8rQ0! You can follow Craig on his site, craigrousseau.com, or on Instagram @craigrousseau.

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