The United States Department of Nerds Podcast

What happens when Sherlock Holmes survives Reichenbach Falls and enters a world where vampires, supernatural forces, and gothic horror are real? Casus Belli joins The United States Department of Nerds Podcast to discuss Holmes: Undead #2, the latest chapter in Killer Entertainment’s six-part A Study in Crimson story arc. In this conversation, Casus takes us behind the scenes of Holmes: Undead and...

Ben Lacy returns to the USDN Podcast to discuss SAMSON #1-3: Samson Versus The New Reich! , the latest Kickstarter campaign from Biting Comics. Inspired by real historical events, SAMSON blends alternate history, superhero action, and wartime drama into a unique creator-owned comic universe. During this conversation, Ben shares the real-world history behind the series, the evolution of the Biting...

Kyle Valle and Erin Áine return to the USDN Podcast to discuss Autonomous , the innovative indie horror series helping launch Screamify's new Micro Horror format. After first joining the USDN Podcast in December 2025 to discuss ZombieCON Volume 1 , Kyle and Erin return to the Council to share the journey behind their latest project. We explore the evolution of Big Squid Productions, independent ho...

Bruno Catarino returns to the USDN Podcast to discuss Crimson Bay Issue #2, the latest installment in his creator-owned martial arts comic series inspired by classic fighting games, action cinema, and crime dramas. In this episode, Bruno shares how Crimson Bay has evolved since its debut, the importance of balancing action with character development, building an original comic universe, collaborat...

Panopticon, Surveillance, and Indie Comics with Matt Stevens What happens when a prison doesn't need guards because the prisoners believe they're always being watched? This week on the USDN Podcast, Jeff "The Chairman" Fountain welcomes writer, artist, and creator Matt Stevens to the Council of Nerds to discuss Panopticon , a psychological science fiction comic that explores surveillance, memory,...

Writer Michael Barron and artist Jack Van Thomme join The Chairman on the USDN Podcast to discuss The Secret Lives of Demon Hunters, a supernatural horror comic about marriage, monsters, hidden darkness, and the people who spend their nights hunting demons. In this episode, we talk about slice-of-life horror, the origin of The Secret Lives of Demon Hunters, building a world of demons and possessio...

Sean Wood joins The Chairman and the Council of Nerds to discuss The Fog Within, his creator-owned post-apocalyptic comic series that blends science fiction, action, mystery, and time-bending adventure. With The Fog Within #5 launching on Kickstarter, Sean shares the origins of the series, how a simple run through a foggy day sparked the concept, the challenges of building a creator-owned comic un...

How do two creators living in different countries build a creator-owned comic together? In this episode of the USDN Podcast, The Chairman sits down with writer Marco Vito Oddo and artist Victor Costa, the creative team behind OTHERKIN, an indie horror and urban fantasy comic series inspired by works such as Hellboy, Hellblazer, and Swamp Thing. The conversation explores the origins of Otherkin, ho...

Writer and creator C.E. Massari joins The Chairman on the USDN Podcast to discuss his upcoming 120-page original graphic novel, The Mafia vs. The Klan , coming from Source Point Press . Described as John Wick meets The Godfather , The Mafia vs. The Klan is a historical revenge noir inspired by real family history, Prohibition-era violence, and the question of what happens when justice fails. In th...

The Write Brothas Entertainment joins The Chairman on the USDN Podcast for a deep dive into indie comics, creator-owned sci-fi, worldbuilding, and the ambitious 88 Universe. Founded by Decarlo Tatum Jr. and Neil Newman, The Write Brothas Entertainment is built on one powerful belief: “It’s okay to imagine.” In this episode, we discuss the origins of The Write Brothas, their creative partnership, t...

Dan Sehn of Argo Comics and writer Ray MacKay join The Chairman on the USDN Podcast to discuss GWP: Guys With Powers, a creator-owned indie superhero comic launching on Kickstarter. This episode dives into the creation of an original superhero universe, the challenges of crowdfunding indie comics, the importance of promotion, and what it takes to build new heroes outside the mainstream comic machi...

What happens when a lifelong comic fan, toy collector, and convention veteran turns his passion into creator-owned comics? In this episode of the USDN Podcast, The Chairman sits down with John McLaren of Phantom Ink Comics to discuss the origins of ToteMan, Villains Anonymous, Argyle Avenger, NinjaBoy, and the journey from comic collector to comic creator. John shares the personal inspiration behi...

Sci-fi author, filmmaker, comic creator, and Hip Hop Horror pioneer Jeff Carroll joins The USDN Podcast for a deep conversation about Black speculative fiction, indie comics, Afrofuturism, Hip Hop culture, horror, AI, filmmaking, and the future of storytelling. Inspired by his documentary Why I Love Sci-Fi , Jeff discusses why imagination matters, how science fiction shapes culture, and why indie...

On this episode of The USDN Podcast, The Chairman sits down with David Luján, creator of Nerida , to discuss indie fantasy comics, creator-owned storytelling, folklore inspiration, Kickstarter comics, and building a nine-part fantasy universe from the ground up. David shares how mythology, fairytales, comics like Saga and Akira , and his own artistic journey shaped the world of Nerida . The conver...

Todd Black returns to the USDN Podcast to discuss Seekers of Science; a STEM-focused indie comic series that blends real-world science, educational storytelling, and creator-owned comics. We discuss how the project uses real scientists and real-world scenarios to make science more engaging for younger readers while exploring the role comics can play in education and inspiration. Todd also shares i...

Dionne Waterman - From Actress to Comic Book Muse What does it mean to inspire a comic book character? On this episode of the USDN Podcast, Dionne Waterman (FilmGirlDee) joins us to share her journey from acting into the world of indie comics—where she became the real-life inspiration behind Rita Rivera. We explore how that experience shaped her creative path, leading her into modeling and cosplay...

What happens after a successful Kickstarter campaign? On this episode of the USDN Podcast, we sit down with Saurabh Bhatia, founder of Comix.one, to explore the challenges indie comic creators face after crowdfunding—and how his platform aims to solve them. Drawing from his own experience launching a Kickstarter comic, Saurabh breaks down the biggest gaps in the current system: loss of momentum, d...

Parker Newman joins the USDN Podcast to discuss City of Demons , a 12-part indie noir comic set in 1920s Los Angeles and published by Wise Acre Comics. In this episode, Parker shares his journey into comics, from early inspiration to navigating the realities of indie publishing. We dive into how City of Demons evolved from a screenplay into a full comic series, the challenges of breaking into the...

On this episode of the USDN Podcast, we’re joined by Kevin Davis, creator of Skinshifter Volume 1 , an indie horror comic that explores identity, fear, and survival through a supernatural lens. We dive into the origins of the project, the creation of The Jackel Bunny—a soul-hunting entity sent by the Prince of Hell—and how Skinshifter builds a unique horror experience rooted in psychological tensi...

Tom Rasch - Marvel Comics, Black Alpha, and Creator-Owned IP On this episode, we sit down with comic artist and creator Tom Rasch to explore his journey through the comic book industry. From early inspiration rooted in classic pop culture like Batman , Spider-Man , and Star Trek , Tom developed a passion for storytelling and art that led him to pursue comics professionally.  He shares the realitie...

In the final episode of the AHA Horror Anthology series, The Chairman sits down with Evan Johnston to explore Artifacts , a sci-fi horror story set on the dangerous sand planet Threlka-5. The conversation dives into survival, desperation, cosmic horror, and the psychological toll of discovery while also reflecting on the full AHA anthology and what it represents for indie creators. From character...

What happens when one of the greatest stories ever told is reimagined through indie comics? Bruno Catarino returns to the USDN Podcast to discuss Space Odyssey , a sci-fi reinterpretation of The Odyssey that transforms myth into a galaxy-spanning journey. From redefining gods as modern systems of power to exploring the unknown depths of space, this conversation dives deep into storytelling, worldb...

In this episode of the USDN Podcast, we welcome Jasmine Crawshaw to discuss her gothic supernatural horror story The Hangwoman , featured in the AHA! Horror Anthology. Set during a time of witch trials and fear-driven justice, The Hangwoman explores themes of corruption, systemic power, and vengeance through the story of Elizabeth Hill, a woman wrongfully executed who returns to claim justice. Thi...

AHA! Episode 5 - The Bearer: Body Horror, Science, and Obsession In this episode of The USDN Podcast - where indie comics come to life , The Chairman sits down with Manoj Gedela and Lucas “Squidz” McKenzie to explore The Bearer , a chilling entry in the AHA! Horror Anthology . This conversation dives into the creative process behind a story that blends body horror, science, and obsession , followi...

Steve Honeycutt joins The USDN Podcast to discuss Escape To Earth #5 - the final issue of his sci-fi dinosaur comic series. In this episode, we explore the journey behind Escape To Earth , from its roots in serialized storytelling to its cinematic, action-driven conclusion. Steve shares insights on building a unique world that blends fugitives, alien forces, and prehistoric Earth — while also refl...