The following is an interview with comic book creators Steven Prince (Monster Matador), Phil Mucci (Professor Dario Bava), and Tara Madison Avery (Stacked Deck Press) regarding their recent participation in the filming of the HBO Max series, Hacks. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Prince, Mucci, and Avery about why opportunities like this one yield excellent chances to market their comics work, their upcoming convention appearances for 2026, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: As independent comics creators and publishers, your work was recently featured on an episode of the HBO Max TV show, Hacks. What can you share with us about the genesis behind this opportunity, and how would you describe your participation in the episode?
Phil Mucci: A small team from the show scouted me and my business partner, Ian Mackay, in Artist’s Alley at LA Comic Con in October of 2025. They asked if we owned our own IP and everything we had on display at our booth. After proudly answering, “Yes!” they asked if we’d be interested in renting our booth out for an upcoming episode of the show, and maybe even appear working at our own booth. We leapt at the chance, and shared the invitation they gave us with our pal Steven Prince (Monster Matador), who we were doing an indie comics panel with.
The shoot itself was a big production — hundreds of extras hired to fill out a celebrity convention scene. Our participation was limited to the background, engaging in pantomime “sales” with the extras. After doing so many cons and horror events, we have our favorite pitch lines and responses down, but it was challenging to deliver them without making any noise! A cameraman shooting b-roll caught us doing an audible pitch to one of the background actors between takes, and shot us doing our thing for possible use in a montage, but sadly, it didn’t make the cut for the episode.
Spending time with the other “real booth owners” was easily the best part of the experience. There were nine of us in total, so I jokingly dubbed us the “Nasty 9”, which somehow stuck! We shared notes on our experiences at various shows and cons, printing costs, promotion — you name it. Now, whenever we run into each other at cons, there’s always a hearty “Nasty 9!” shout-out and lots of laughs.
Steven Prince: They must have come to mine when I stepped away at some point, but, luckily, my friends at Dabolik, Phil Mucci and Ian Mackay, told me about it.
Tara Madison Avery: Angie Fiedler Sutton, the woman behind Rainbow Space Magic, sent me a tip that Hacks was looking for actual vendors to lend authenticity to an episode set at an autograph convention. I followed up and got the gig. I brought my usual convention gear and merchandise and set up as normal. As far as I know, they never shot a scene where you could see me sitting at the table, but they also had me doing some background work.
BD: For those who may be unfamiliar, what can you share with us about your respective work in comics, and what were you able to feature in the episode?
SP: I’m primarily known as the writer/creator of Monster Matador – about a Matador who fights Kaiju to make a better world for his daughter – and had my entire set up. As is the case in a lot of shoots, a lot ended up on the cutting room floor, but if you look in the background during the scene with Reneé O’Conner (Gabrielle from Xena Warrior Princess), you’ll catch a glimpse of my Monster Matador banner, some comics, and prints. Oh, and when Deborah Vance walks in the convention center, I’m standing in the background in a white/red t-shirt.
In any case, it was fun being on set and everyone treated us really well.
PM: We have two indie horror comics series, Professor Dario Bava (a ’60s Euro monster romp) and Gringo Loco (a supernatural spaghetti western), which we produce and publish ourselves. You can see the logos out of focus in the background — and my blurry head (for about 5 frames!) — but unfortunately, nothing much beyond that. We hoped for more exposure, but the experience itself was more than worth it. We look at every invitation as an opportunity to try new
things and meet new people.
TMA: I’ve been a published cartoonist for quite some time, but a little over 10 years ago I founded Stacked Deck Press to publish comics and other kinds of books of LGBTQ+ interest. Sadly, any shots featuring my table and my books must have been left on the cutting room floor.
BD: Marketing and promotion for independent creators is always vital to finding new audiences. How do you feel that opportunities like this TV appearance help to ensure the continued success of your work?
SP: Now I get to use the “As Seen On TV” graphic wherever I go! In all seriousness, every little bit helps. I had a great time and made a lot of new friends. All the creators involved were incredibly talented. Speaking of, besides me, the Nasty 9 included:
Phil Mucci and Ian Mackay – Diabolik Comics (Professor Dario Bava, Gringo Loco)
Tara Avery – Prism Comics
Dee Hausner – Writer/Artist Kid Nebula
Alden Peters – Director (Friends of Sophia)
J.J. Carroll – Bigfoot and Jeff web series
Akili Damone – Lucid (Novel)
Dennis Calloway – Return to Earth (novel)
Jamaal A. Harley – Red Oaks Comics LLC
TMA: Any time you can get your work in front of a new demographic, you’re making progress. Thanks to Hacks, I was able to talk about my work to people in the television industry more directly than, say, at a comic convention.
PM: We knew this was a roll of the dice for promotion. There weren’t any guarantees our stuff would be seen at all. But in terms of validation, a seldom discussed aspect of indie comic promotion, it still helps. When people have never heard of your stuff, having perceived acknowledgment and approval from known brands like HBO and Hacks goes a long way towards making your work seem “legitimate.” I say “seem” because all of your work as an artist is, of course, legitimate, but to the general public, it helps them decide whether to pay money for it or not. It also made our moms very proud!
BD: Are there any other media opportunities, conventions, or signings that you have planned for the year that you would like to share?
TMA: I work with the non-profit Prism Comics, and we’re gearing up for our 5th annual Q Con in West Hollywood. It’s an all LGBTQ+ comic convention that’s free to the public. Everyone is welcome! Join us June 20th in Plummer Park!
PM: A bunch! We try to do local art markets as often as we can, but for big shows, we have Comic Con Oakland 5/9-5/10 (first time event we were also invited to at LA Comic Con!), then Comic Con Revolution 5/16-5/17, and Monsterpalooza 5/29-5/31. We’ll also be at MidSummer Scream again in August, one of our favorite shows of the year!
SP: I will be at Santa Monica Comics for Free Comic Book Day on May 2.
Monsterpalooza – May 29-31
Fan Expo Anaheim June 26-28
San Diego Comi Con – July 23-26
Carnegie Comic Collective at Muzeo – August 22
BD: Are there any other projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
SP: Monster Matador is ongoing. We will have a brand-new Kickstarter this July and you can always catch up at www.monstermatador.com. A few more things are in the works, but I can’t talk about them just yet.
PM: Our Diabolik Double Feature #2, including part 2 of Professor Dario Bava: Orgy of the Blood Freaks and Gringo Loco #2, came out last summer, so we’ve been promoting that at events. Diabolik Double Feature #1 is almost sold out of its second printing, so it’s a great time for newbs to join the fun. Currently, we’re working on an expanded second edition of Murder Vibes From The Monster Dimension, our very first Professor Dario Bava graphic novel, with a new full-length story, remastered artwork, and a new cover.
TMA: Stacked Deck Press has two new projects in the works: Four Seasons of Fear: A Year of Queer Horror, which is an all-LGBTQ+ horror comics anthology, and Death Saves, 3rd Edition, an anthology of stories about the unlikely, gruesome, or humorous deaths of RPG characters. The latter is the third in a series, and I’m working with Marvel and DC writer Josh Trujillo on it.
BD: Lastly, what would you like to tell readers who want to learn more about your featured episode on Hacks, and what is the best way to find your work?
TMA: I may not have made it on screen, but I did get to sell some of my books to Jean Smart! She was delightful and really seemed attracted to my coloring book series among other titles. If you want be cool and read what she’s reading, you can find Stacked Deck Press titles at stackeddeckpress.com and on Amazon.
SP: Go check it out on HBO Max! You can find me on all social media (@monstermatador) and www.monstermatador.com.
PM: I’d just like to encourage other creators to say, “Yes,” to unique opportunities that come your way. Within the LA comics community, LA Comic Con gets a bit of a bad rap, but despite all that, we didn’t think twice when invited to do Artist’s Alley for free — which led to the rare opportunity to be on an HBO show. You just never know! Nourish the belief that anything can happen, foster the willingness to step outside your comfort zone, and new adventures will present themselves in the most unexpected ways.
Check out our work at ProfessorDarioBava.com, and sign up to be notified about upcoming events and discount codes for tix! Thanks, Barbra!
