Comic Industry Insiders
Comic Industry Insiders: where our goal is to get to know the people behind the scenes in the comic book industry and uncover the secrets that will help you understand and grow your own business or career in comics. Every episode, join host Atom! Freeman as he sits down with industry guests to unravel those secrets.
Listen on:
Episodes
Wednesday Aug 06, 2025
Wednesday Aug 06, 2025
This is the audio from a recasted live stream with Atom Freeman and Brian Garside.
FIND BRIAN GARSIDE
https://briangarside.com/
Follow Atom! Freeman on Twitter: @AtomBangFreeman
Producer: Blake Morgan @blakesbuzz
Research: Anthony Militano
Have something to tell us? Email the show at: info@pranadm.com
Comic Industry Insiders: where our goal is to get to know the people behind the scenes in the comic book industry and uncover the secrets that will help you understand and grow your own business or career in comics. Every episode, join host Atom! Freeman as he sits down with industry guests to unravel those secrets.
Tuesday Jul 29, 2025
Tuesday Jul 29, 2025
FIND BRIAN GARSIDE
https://briangarside.com/
Follow Atom! Freeman on Twitter: @AtomBangFreeman
Producer: Blake Morgan @blakesbuzz
Research: Anthony Militano
Have something to tell us? Email the show at: info@pranadm.com
Comic Industry Insiders: where our goal is to get to know the people behind the scenes in the comic book industry and uncover the secrets that will help you understand and grow your own business or career in comics. Every episode, join host Atom! Freeman as he sits down with industry guests to unravel those secrets.
Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
FIND CHRIS POWELLhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kahunacp/
Follow Atom! Freeman on Twitter: @AtomBangFreemanProducer: Blake Morgan @blakesbuzz Research: Anthony MilitanoHave something to tell us? Email the show at: info@pranadm.com
Comic Industry Insiders: where our goal is to get to know the people behind the scenes in the comic book industry and uncover the secrets that will help you understand and grow your own business or career in comics. Every episode, join host Atom! Freeman as he sits down with industry guests to unravel those secrets.
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
FIND LEE HEIDEL
NBRHCOMICS on all social media platforms
https://neighborhoodcomics.com/
https://leeheidel.com/
Follow Atom! Freeman on Twitter: @AtomBangFreeman
Producer: Blake Morgan @blakesbuzz
Research: Anthony Militano
Have something to tell us? Email the show at: info@pranadm.com
Comic Industry Insiders: where our goal is to get to know the people behind the scenes in the comic book industry and uncover the secrets that will help you understand and grow your own business or career in comics. Every episode, join host Atom! Freeman as he sits down with industry guests to unravel those secrets.
Tuesday Jul 08, 2025
Tuesday Jul 08, 2025
FIND DAVID WHEELER
https://www.dlair.net/
https://gamesandcomicsforukraine.org/
Chapters
01:43 David Wheeler: A Journey Through Comic Retailing
06:43 The Evolution of Dragon's Lair Comics
12:15 Franchising: The Path to Expansion
19:35 Evaluating Franchisees and Store Locations
27:00 Metrics for a Healthy Comic Store
32:20 Product Selection and Community Engagement
37:47 Navigating Challenges in the Comic Industry
44:38 The Future of Comics and Games Retailing
Follow Atom! Freeman on Twitter: @AtomBangFreeman
Producer: Blake Morgan @blakesbuzz
Research: Anthony Militano
Have something to tell us? Email the show at: info@pranadm.com
Comic Industry Insiders: where our goal is to get to know the people behind the scenes in the comic book industry and uncover the secrets that will help you understand and grow your own business or career in comics. Every episode, join host Atom! Freeman as he sits down with industry guests to unravel those secrets.
Tuesday Jul 01, 2025
Tuesday Jul 01, 2025
FIND JUSTIN JORDANInstagram: justinjordancomicsdeathorcomics.substack.com
Chapters
00:00 The Journey Begins: Writing and Finishing Comics14:30 Early Experiences in the Comic Industry26:48 Building an Audience: The Importance of Exposure42:01 Navigating Work for Hire vs. Creator-Owned Projects46:00 The Balance of Spec Work and Paid Projects54:36 Rebuilding a Career in Comics01:04:27 Introducing Death or Comics01:13:24 Bridging the Gap in Comic Markets01:25:02 The Future of Comics and Community Building
Follow Atom! Freeman on Twitter: @AtomBangFreemanProducer: Stephanie Gerk and Blake MorganResearch: Anthony MilitanoHave something to tell us? Email the show at: info@pranadm.com
Comic Industry Insiders: where our goal is to get to know the people behind the scenes in the comic book industry and uncover the secrets that will help you understand and grow your own business or career in comics. Every episode, join host Atom! Freeman as he sits down with industry guests to unravel those secrets.
Check out Blake's Buzz youtube.com/@blakesbuzz
Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
Follow Atom! Freeman on Twitter: @AtomBangFreeman
Producer: Stephanie Gerk
Research: Anthony Militano
Have something to tell us? Email the show at: info@pranadm.com
Comic Industry Insiders: where our goal is to get to know the people behind the scenes in the comic book industry and uncover the secrets that will help you understand and grow your own business or career in comics. Every episode, join host Atom! Freeman as he sits down with industry guests to unravel those secrets.
Tuesday May 27, 2025
Tuesday May 27, 2025
Find DUY TANO:
comicscube.com
YouTube: @comicscube
CHAPTERS
03:00 The Evolution of Comic Book Distribution
05:46 Challenges in Comic Sales Data
09:07 The Role of Third-Party Data Aggregation
11:51 Fan Confidence Rating and Its Importance
17:56 Balancing Art and Data in Comics
24:03 Future Implications of Data in the Comic Industry
25:26 Understanding Cultural Impact on Comics
27:54 The Current State of the Comics Industry
32:23 The Dichotomy of Comics: Collectibles vs. Content
36:47 Innovations in the Comics Market
45:23 Future Metrics: Retailer Confidence and Sell-Through Data
Follow Atom! Freeman on Twitter: @AtomBangFreeman
Producer: Stephanie Gerk
Research: Anthony Militano
Have something to tell us? Email the show at: info@pranadm.com
Comic Industry Insiders: where our goal is to get to know the people behind the scenes in the comic book industry and uncover the secrets that will help you understand and grow your own business or career in comics. Every episode, join host Atom! Freeman as he sits down with industry guests to unravel those secrets.
Tuesday May 20, 2025
Tuesday May 20, 2025
In this episode of Comic Industry Insiders, host Atom Freeman leads a roundtable discussion with guests Tiffany Babb, Jazzlyn Stone, Dave Witting, and Chip Zdarsky on the evolution of comics journalism, the significance of print media in a digital age, and the challenges faced by digital comics
Find CHIP ZDARSKY:
https://www.zcnmagazine.com/
Find TIFFANY BABB
https://www.tiffanybabb.com/
Find DAVE WITTING
https://www.csnpress.com/
Find JAZZLYN STONE
https://www.jazzlynstone.com/
CHAPTERS
02:01 The Evolution of Comics Journalism
04:40 The Role of Fanzines in Comics History
06:13 Personal Experiences with Zines
08:42 The Value of Print in a Digital World
10:17 Creating Print Media: Tiny Onion Presents
12:36 The Experience of Reading Print vs. Digital
13:14 The Importance of Criticism in Comics
15:10 The Impact of Print on Quality and Critique
16:52 The Shift from Online to Print Media
18:33 The Future of Comic Shop News
24:49 Social Media's Influence on Comics
31:16 Challenges of Digital Comics
33:41 The Disconnect Between Digital and Physical Comics
36:11 The Shift Back to Print Comics
44:07 The Future of Comics: Print vs. Digital
50:57 Optimism for the Comics Industry
59:58 Closing Thoughts and Future Directions
Follow Atom! Freeman on Twitter: @AtomBangFreeman
Producer: Stephanie Gerk
Research: Anthony Militano
Have something to tell us? Email the show at: info@pranadm.com
Comic Industry Insiders: where our goal is to get to know the people behind the scenes in the comic book industry and uncover the secrets that will help you understand and grow your own business or career in comics. Every episode, join host Atom! Freeman as he sits down with industry guests to unravel those secrets.
Tuesday May 13, 2025
Tuesday May 13, 2025
Surprise! We got our B.R.O.S. in your Comics Industry Insiders as the Data B.R.O.S. (Django Bohren, Jeff Figley, and Brian Garside) talk to their friend and fellow retailer Shannon Merrit of 901 Games.
You'll learn about his amazing Memphis store 901 Comics, as well as the other SEVEN businesses he has a hand in. You'll hear how this former Memphis Police Officer decided to turn in his badge and gun and walk a very different beat.
901 Comics - https://901-comics.com/
The Data Bros - https://databrosinc.com/
Comic Shop Assistant - https://comicshopassistant.com/
Manage Comics - https://managecomics.com/
Have something to tell us? Email the show at: info@pranadm.com
Comic Industry Insiders: where our goal is to get to know the people behind the scenes in the comic book industry and uncover the secrets that will help you understand and grow your own business or career in comics. Every episode, join host Atom! Freeman as he sits down with industry guests to unravel those secrets.