Dollar Bin Will Be At SC Comicon April 2 and 3

We will be at SC Comicon selling our wares and promoting our podcast at table 1024! We will also be recording panels, moderating, and helping out where needed. Join us at the TD Convention Center in the lovely city of Greenville, SC April 2 and 3 for a rocking good time!

Here are the Top 10 things that we are most excited about at SC Comicon!

Helen Slater

1 - Helen Slater - Adam is a huge Supergirl fan so he is super excited to get to meet actress Helen Slater. When he was going through her film career he got more and more excited. She has been on Supernatural, Smallville, Greek, Boston Public, Caroline in the City, and Batman:The Animated Series. In other words, she has been in a lot of Adam's favorite shows!

2 - Sanford Greene - We here at the Dollar Bin have been thoroughly enjoying Power Man and Iron Fist. Sweet Christmas this book is good! Adam is especially looking forward to talking to artist Sanford Greene about his work on the book and maybe even picking up some art by him.

Art by Sanford Greene

3 - Budd Root - Shawn is super stoked to see artist Budd Root because she is finally going to commission him to do a Cavewoman piece for her. A piece by him has been on her "To Get" list for a long time now.

4 - Panels - Members and friends of the Dollar Bin will be moderating a number of panels throughout the weekend! There will be a number of spotlight panels with the likes of Greg Capullo and George Perez. Also there will be discussion panels on topics ranging from cosplay to painting. Stay tuned for more information about the Schedule of Events at SC Comicon!

Book by Joey Weiser

5 - Joey Weiser - Adam and Shawn were talking the other day about what a prolific cartoonist Joey Weiser is. He has a creator-owned series, Mermin, through Oni Press. He did a strip, Monster Isle, for years. He has several graphic novels under his belt. He is an occasional colorist. On top of all of that he works on the super popular Spongebob Comics that are published internationally. Weiser is definitely on the top of Adam and Shawn's list of favorite cartoonists!

6 - IR Harris - IR Harris is a writer and artist based in Asheville. She is such a nice and energetic person! Every interaction that the Dollar Bin has had with her has been incredibly positive. This convention we intend to remedy the fact that we have yet to read her work.

7 - Joe Everson - Joe Everson is an incredibley talented painter who happens to be local to the Greenville area. His studio is in Taylors Mill. If you are in the neighborhood you should take advantage of First Fridays there and check out the space and the other artists there. Recently at a Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey game Everson sang the national anthem while live painting. It was amazing!

Image by J Chris Campbell

8 - Wide Awake Press - A few of the members of Wide Awake Press will be present at SC Comicon. We love hanging out with these guys! J Chris Campbell, Duane Ballenger, and Wes Brooks will all be near the Dollar Bin table so if you come see us they will be very close by. Campbell is the leader and herder of Wide Awake Press. He has been creating some stellar new work so we can't wait to stop by and see what he has in store. Ballenger is one of the funniest guys in comics. His off-the-wall style is perfectly encapsulated in his mini-comics. Check out his work pronto! Brooks is the pretty face behind Undead Speed Equipment. But don't let that face fool you, he is the dark and brooding edgy side to Wide Awake. And I'm sure he will love us describing him as such! His design sense is crazy awesome! Be sure to pick up his new sketchbook and tell him that the Dollar Bin sent you!

9 - Digging - One of Shawn's favorite things to do at conventions is dig for obscure comics and oddball toys. She often does this with various members of Wide Awake Press and even her husband if they can manage to align their schedules. Looking at the vendor list it looks like there will be some quality digging to be had!

10 - Drink and Draw - Last year's Drink and Draw was a lot of fun and this year's is shaping up to be even better. It will be at the Hilton this year. We are looking forward to picking up some great pieces and contributing to Team Cul de Sac and Hero Initiative in the process.

Episode 355: Interview with Mark Alessi

Credits from Ruse issue 1

Credits from Ruse issue 1

It's been a while since our last post and they seem fewer and further in between, but when we post, we are making it count.  Case in point, this week on the Dollar Bin, Joel and Adam bring you an interview with one of the principle founders of CrossGen Entertainment, for the first time in over ten years, Mark Alessi.  In the interview Alessi shoots straight in an attempt to put an end to the inaccuracies and noise that surrounds him from his day with CrossGen.  In an effort to do such, he regales stories of Mark Waid, Ron Marz, Joshua Middleton, Dexter Vines, Scot Eaton, Bart Sears, Joe QuesadaSteven Spielberg, and more.

Runtime 1 hour 12 minutes 36 seconds

Episode 354: We're Back, Ya'll!

Art by Wes Brooks

Art by Wes Brooks

What's that in the air?  Why its old man Dollar Bin here to ring in the new year.  That's right, Heather, Shaka, Brian, Wes, Ted, and Adam got together one more time to talk everything (comics(ish)).  Welcome back.

Runtime 1 hour 1 minute 15 seconds

HeroesCon 2015: Cover Design Panel

HeroesCon 2015:  Cover Design Panel

What makes a great cover stand out on the crowded comics’ shelves? Mental Floss columnist RICH BARRETT discusses this with FRANCIS MANAPUL (Flash), DAVE JOHNSON (Silk), JIM RUGG (Street Angel), TULA LOTAY (Supreme: Blue Rose) and NATHAN FOX (Captain Victory).

Runtime 1 hour 1 minute 24 seconds

HeroesCon 2015:  Cover Design Panel

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HeroesCon 2015: Hip Hop Family Tree Panel

Cover by Ed Piskor

Cover by Ed Piskor

The Dollar Bin’s ADAM DAUGHHETEE talks Hip Hop Family Tree-the groundbreaking series from Fantagraphics- with writer/artist and Eisner Award winner, ED PISKOR.

Runtime 52 minutes 35 seconds

Dollar Bin 2.0 Episode 003: Post HeroesCon 2015 Signs

One of the things Shawn and Adam like to do that they rarely get the chance to, is go around the show and get books signed by the creators who put so much time into them.  This year they were able to put aside some time to do this and talk some with the creators as well.

HeroesCon 2015: Historical Comics Panel

Art by Matthew Roberts

Art by Matthew Roberts

The Dollar Bin’s ADAM DAUGHHETEE discusses the challenges and influences involved with creating historically based comic stories with CHRIS SCHWEIZER (Crogan’s Adventures), ED PISKOR (Macedonia, The Beats) and MATTHEW ROBERTS (Manifest Destiny).

Runtime 57 minutes 28 seconds

Episode 353: Post HeroesCon 2015 Wrap Up

Episode 353:  Post HeroesCon 2015 Wrap Up

HeroesCon 2015 was a whirlwind! We can't believe it was only last weekend, June 19-21. Sit back and listen while Wes Brooks, J Chris Campbell, Adam Daughhetee, and Shawn Daughhetee take a stroll down memory lane and reminisce about their time at the convention. You will hear such interesting stories as Friday at the con, Saturday dinner at Phat Burrito, hanging out with friends, selling things, buying things and much more!

Runtime 1 hour 33 minutes 58 seconds

Episode 353:  Post HeroesCon 2015 Wrap Up

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HeroesCon 2015: Teaching Comics Through a Historical Context

HeroesCon 2015: Teaching Comics Through a Historical Context

Whether it is Watchmen, Maus, Batman, or Spider-Man all comics are a representation of the time of their creation. Join us as we consider how best to put comics in a historical context. In this discussion we will be focusing on how comics can give insight into history and vice-versa. Panelists include WILL ALLRED (University of Arkansas), TOM HEINTJES (Hogan’s Alley), ANDY KUNKA (Comics Alternative, USC Sumter), BRIAN PUACA (Christopher Newport University), and DEREK ROYAL (Comics Alternative, Brown Books), with SHAWN DAUGHHETEE moderating.

Runtime 1 hour 9 minutes 20 seconds

HeroesCon 2015: Teaching Comics Through a Historical Context

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Episode 351: SC Comicon 2015 Wrap-Up

Episode 351:  SC Comicon 2015 Wrap-Up

Recorded a week later and posted, well, now is our SC Comicon 2015 wrap-up.  Join Wes Brooks, Brian, Shaka, Shawn, and Adam as they discuss the many highs and few lows of SC Comicon and the Saturday night Drink & Draw.

Runtime 1 hour 17 minutes 54 seconds

Episode 351:  SC Comicon 2015 Wrap-Up

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SC Comicon 2015: Crafting an Idea

SC Comicon 2015:  Crafting an Idea

What does it take to turn a raw idea into a completed book?  Learn from great story craftsmen Van Jensen, Chris Schweizer, and David Weber, as they walk you through their creative process.

Moderated by Brian Eison

Runtime 1 hour 11 minutes 20 seconds

SC Comicon 2015:  Crafting an Idea

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SC Comicon 2015: Art of Sci-fi

Art by Georges Jeanty

Art by Georges Jeanty

Sci-Fi is a staple theme in comic books, yes, even superhero ones.  Artists, Kelly Yates (Dr Who) and Georges Jeanty (Serenity), discuss their contributions to the Sci-Fi genre of comics in a panel that is out of this world.

Moderated by Adam Daughhetee

Runtime 43 minutes 3 seconds

SC Comicon 2015: Breaking into Comics

Learn from up and comers who are just entering the comics industry.  Bridgit Connell, Joey Weiser, and Jackie Lewis talk about the trials and tribulations leading up to turning comics into a paying gig.

Moderated by: Brian Eison

Runtime 57 minutes 2 seconds

SC Comicon 2015: Cover Artists

Cover art by Chris Brunner and Rico Renzi

Cover art by Chris Brunner and Rico Renzi

You walk into your local comic shop and what do you see?  Comic book covers everywhere.  In a sea of images, it’s the comic book cover’s job to draw your attention.  In this SC Comicon panel, cover artists Dave Dorman, Chris Brunner, and Sanford Greene give you the low down on what goes into designing the right cover for the job.

Moderated by: Adam Daughhetee

Runtime 1 hour 8 minutes 50 seconds

SC Comicon 2015: Board Games

Ever wonder how people keep coming up with ideas for great board games year after year?  Join board game creators, Richard Launius in a SC Comicon panel discussion about board games and get an answer to that question, “How do you do it?”

Moderated by Josh Dean

Runtime 1 hour 10 minutes 41 seconds