🎙️ USDN PODCAST INTERVIEW — MARK BERTON

Into the Heart of the Unknown: Cryptid Horror, Conspiracies & AROUGHCOUNE

Author and former journalist Mark Berton joins the United States Department of Nerds Podcast to discuss Aroughcoune, a chilling cryptid horror novel that blends secret government experimentation, survival horror, Indigenous folklore, and ethical consequences rooted in reality.

Set in the wilderness of Western Pennsylvania, Aroughcoune explores what happens when science pushes too far — and when ancient knowledge collides with modern secrecy.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The real-world inspiration behind Aroughcoune
• Cryptids born from government experiments
• Journalism’s influence on believable horror
• Survival horror in isolated environments
• Folklore as a counterbalance to science
• Ethics, secrecy, and consequences
• What’s next for Mark Berton

This isn’t just horror — it’s horror that feels possible.

🔗 FEATURED LINKS

🌐 Official Websites
https://www.markberton.com
https://www.roswellpublishing.co.uk

📘 Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/markbertonauthor

📸 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/FrogElixir

🧵 Threads
https://www.threads.net/@FrogElixir

🦋 Bluesky
https://bsky.app/profile/markberton.com

🎧 USDN PODCAST
Exploring the strange, the dangerous, and the unknown.

The USDN Podcast — Where Indie Comics Come to Life.

#USDNPodcast,#MarkBerton,#Aroughcoune,#CryptidHorror,#IndieHorror,#HorrorAuthors,#FolkHorror,#CreatureHorror,#ConspiracyFiction,#WeirdHorror,#IndieBooks,#PodcastInterview,#HorrorCommunity,#SupernaturalFiction

🎙️ Indie Comics Spotlight: Evan Quiring Talks Murder City Devil & Lucha Mystery | USDN Podcast

In this episode of the USDN Podcast, The Chairman sits down with Evan Quiring, creator of Murder City Devil and Lucha Mystery, to talk noir horror, masked mythology, and over 20 years of grinding in indie comics.

From Winnipeg, Manitoba to working with publishers like Antarctic Press, Dynamite, Markosia, and Big Bang Comics, Evan shares his journey as a writer/artist, the challenges of freelancing, and what it means to finally see his creator-owned series picked up by Studio Comix Press in 2025.

We cover:

• The creation of Murder City Devil
• The pulp-inspired world of Lucha Mystery
• Visual storytelling, process, and tools
• Survival, discipline, and advice for indie creators

The USDN Podcast — Where Indie Comics Come to Life.

🔗 Evan Quiring Links

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@psyclonecomicsstudios
Website: https://www.psyclonecomicsstudios.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psyclone_comics_studios/
Studio Comix Press: https://www.instagram.com/studiocomix/

#IndieComics,#EvanQuiring,#MurderCityDevil,#LuchaMystery,#IndieComicsPodcast,#CreatorOwnedComics,#ComicCreatorInterview,#NoirComics,#HorrorComics,#LuchaLibreComics,#MaskedHeroes,#PulpComics,#StudioComixPress,#FreelanceComicArtist,#WriterArtistComics,#USDNPodcast

🎙️ USDN PODCAST — Indie Comic Spotlight: Grinding Against The Marrow w/ Snake | USDN Podcast Interview

Creator of Grinding Against The Marrow

“In every town, there’s a darkness people pretend not to see. A walkway they don’t walk down. A story they’re too afraid to hear. But sometimes… a storyteller shows up who’s willing to drag that story into the light.”

This episode of the USDN Podcast features Snake — the UK indie comic creator behind Grinding Against The Marrow, a raw, poetic, street-level character drama published by Markosia.

The story follows Soma, a homeless ex-junkie Muslim woman navigating the violence, prejudice, and claustrophobic hostility of her hometown. Blending parkour-driven action, poetry-infused narration, and brutal realism, Grinding Against The Marrow is quickly earning attention for its honesty, movement, and emotional weight.

In this conversation, we explore:

• The origins of Grinding Against The Marrow
• Creating Soma and writing survival with authenticity
• Using poetry as narrative muscle, not decoration
• Building the oppressive world of Marrow
• Working with Markosia and Webtoon Canvas
• Audience feedback and creator growth
• What’s next for Soma — and for Snake

This is a story born from fractures — and shaped by resilience.

The USDN Podcast — Where Indie Comics Come to Life.

This is The Chairman, and the Council of Nerds is adjourned.

🔗 GUEST LINKS

📖 Grinding Against The Marrow (Webtoon):
https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/grinding-against-the-marrow/list?title_no=1025007

📸 Scott Matthew Watson (Snake) — Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/snake87smw/

🛒 Publisher (Markosia):
https://markosia.com/2025/10/17/grinding-against-the-marrow-1-on-drivethrucomics-and-comixology/

Quickwire Creator Matthew Jasso Talks Phantom Hawk, Apogee Comics & Indie Superheroes | USDN Podcast

⚡🦅 THIS WEEK ON THE USDN PODCAST

We sit down with Matthew Jasso, the mind behind the lightning-charged comedy of Quickwire and the shadow-soaked vengeance of Phantom Hawk Resolute from Apogee Comics.

From reckless speedsters to brutal vigilantes, Jasso’s storytelling proves that indie comics don’t stay in one lane — they dominate all of them.

⭐ Featured Titles

Quickwire #1 – “Electron Dance”

A fast, hilarious, high-charge superhero debut starring Tyler Bao — a snack-loving speedster who never expected to become a hero.

Phantom Hawk Resolute #1

A dark vigilante rebirth filled with conspiracies, violence, and personal vengeance as Phantom Hawk targets Baseline Pharmaceuticals.

🎤 What We Discuss:

• Building comedy, action, and emotion in Quickwire
• Crafting a darker vigilante world in Phantom Hawk Resolute
• Jasso’s writing process
• The creative evolution of Apogee Comics
• The USDN Final Question

🔗 Follow Matthew Jasso

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJassoman
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejassoman/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Matthewjasso

🔗 Follow the USDN Podcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@USDN_Podcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/usdepartmentofnerds
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/usdn_chairman

🎙️ The USDN Podcast — Where Indie Comics Come to Life.

⚡🦅 The Council of Nerds is adjourned.

HEAVY METAL WORLDS & MUTANT WARLORDS — Jason Lenox on Lords of the Cosmos #5

Enter the cyber-fantasy wasteland of Lords of the Cosmos #5, where mutant warlords, mythic warriors, biomechanical nightmares, and 80s-infused chaos collide.

The Chairman sits down with creator and illustrator Jason Lenox to explore the origins of the series, the new arcs introduced in Issue #5, the explosive war on Aiden, and the meticulous line-art process that defines Lenox’s unmistakable style.

This episode dives deep into:
• The birth and evolution of the LOTC universe
• Mistress Zemba’s rising popularity
• “Aliens meets Ninja Turtles” — the Pulse storyline
• Building an 80s world for modern readers
• Fan-created characters and the dual-campaign strategy

🔗 OFFICIAL LINKS — SUPPORT & FOLLOW JASON LENOX

Indiegogo (Lords of the Cosmos #5):
https://www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/jasonlenox/lords-of-the-cosmos-issue-5

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/lenoxartist/

Press & Reviews:
https://jasonlenox.com/pressandreviews/

The USDN Podcast — Where Indie Comics Come to Life.

🎙️ USDN Podcast — “Horror Unbound” feat. Francisco Hnilo (@fah_draws)

The Chairman returns with another deep-cut dive into the world of modern horror comics — from Boom Studios nightmares to Image Comics psychological terrors. Artist & storyteller Francisco Hnilo joins the Council to break down the books redefining fear in the 21st century.

🔥 Topics Covered:
• Boom Studios’ domination of modern horror
• Psychological dread vs supernatural terror
• Experimental horror from Bad Idea & IDW Dark
• Image Comics creators rewriting the genre
• Underrated indie horror comics you should be reading
• Francisco Hnilo’s must-read horror recommendation

📚 Featured Titles & Publishers:

Boom Studios — Be Not Afraid, Grim, Hello Darkness, SIKTC, House of Slaughter, When I Lay My Vengeance Upon Thee, The Graveyard Club: Fresh Blood, Marian Heretic

Oni Press / EC Comics — Blood Type, Catacombs of Torment, Epitaphs from the Abyss, Plague House

Bad Idea & IDW Dark — Cul-De-Sac, Event Horizon: Dark Descent, The Exorcism at 1600 Penn

Image Comics — Exquisite Corpses, Hyde Street, Fashion School Serial Killer, Sleep, Universal Monsters, W0rldtr33, Mommy Blog, The Deviant, Creepshow, Blood Train

Indie Highlights — Lilith, Monsters, Don’t Run With Scissors, Masterminds, Vatican City, Let This One Be A Devil, Seance in the Asylum, Grimm Tales of Terror, The Nice House by the Sea

📌 Follow the Guest:
Instagram: @fah_draws

🕯️ Keep the lights dim, keep your comics bagged… and remember: curiosity is the beginning of every horror story.

#HorrorComics, #USDNPodcast, #HorrorUnbound, #ComicBookPodcast, #BoomStudios, #ImageComics, #IndieComics, #HorrorFans, #JamesTynionIV, #HorrorCommunity, #PodcastInterview, #ComicBookReviews, #DarkHorseComics, #VaultComics, #HorrorArt, #GraphicNovels

ATRIUM #1 — Inside the High-Stakes Thriller | Steve Bynoe Interview | Comix Asylum x USDN Podcast

In this episode of the USDN Podcast, The Chairman sits down with Steve Bynoe — writer, educator, Editorial Director at Comix Asylum, and co-creator of the action-suspense thriller ATRIUM #1.

ATRIUM marks Comix Asylum’s transition from covering comics to creating them, delivering a high-stakes, cinematic miniseries where a single donor heart becomes the center of a deadly chase.

🔥 ABOUT ATRIUM #1

Paramedics Naomi and Darnell are tasked with transporting a donor heart to a mysterious patient. But when a storm derails their route and a deadly strike team ambushes them, their mission turns into a desperate fight for survival — from city streets to the dark subway tunnels below.

A five-issue miniseries packed with tension, action, and character-driven storytelling, ATRIUM blends the energy of The Transporter with grounded, relentless suspense.

🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:

• The creation and development of ATRIUM #1
• Comix Asylum’s shift from journalism to publishing
• Building a cinematic, action-suspense comic
• Assembling the creative team:
– Steve Bynoe (Writer)
– Peter Van Horne (Writer)
– Lucas Filappi (Artist)
– Nikos Koutsis & Mike Toris (Colorists)
– Gregory Parkin (Letters)
• What readers can expect from the 5-issue series
• Future plans for Comix Asylum

📲 FOLLOW STEVE BYNOE
Instagram: @stevebynoeart
Twitter/X: @SteveBynoe47

📡 FOLLOW COMIX ASYLUM
Instagram: @comixasylum
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/comixasylum
Web site: https://www.comixasylum.com/

📢 INDIE CREATORS — WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW?
Email: thechairman@usdnpodcast.com

🎧 LISTEN & WATCH

This episode is available on:
✔️ YouTube
✔️ All major podcast platforms via Transistor
✔️ Facebook (Live Replay)

⚖️ OUTRO
This is The Chairman…
and the Council of Nerds is adjourned.

#ATRIUMComic, #ComixAsylum, #SteveBynoe, #IndieComics, #CreatorOwnedComics, #ComicCreators, #ComicBookInterview, #USDNPodcast, #ActionThrillerComics, #IndieComicPublishing, #LucasFilappi, #NikosKoutsis, #MikeToris, #GregoryParkin, #ComicBookCommunity

🎙️ USDN Podcast Interview — “SUPER CRAZY & A LITTLE WEIRD: Enter the World of N-Bolt”
Guest: James R Demery : Cartoonist / Illustrator
Host: The Chairman — USDN Podcast

Step into a world where imagination crackles with energy. In this episode, we sit down with James R Demery, the creator behind the electrifying, hyper-kinetic indie comic N-Bolt — a universe that’s super crazy, a little weird, and overflowing with style.

From his Baltimore origins to the creative spark that built the “Demeryverse,” James walks us through his artistic evolution, his storytelling philosophy, and the birth of one of the most original indie heroes on the scene.

Whether you’re an artist, writer, indie creator, or comics fan, this conversation is packed with insight, inspiration, and pure creative energy.

📚 ABOUT N-BOLT

A high-energy hero with power over raw electricity, N-Bolt’s world mixes fast-paced action, weird elements, and a vibrant art style that pops off the page. James reveals the inspirations, themes, and future plans for the character and the larger universe he’s building.

🔗 FOLLOW & SUPPORT JAMES R DEMERY

👉 Gumroad: https://jrdemery.gumroad.com/
👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jrdemery/
👉 Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/jamesrdemery

Support indie comics — creators like James make the scene powerful, diverse, and wildly imaginative.

🎧 FOLLOW THE USDN PODCAST

Where indie comics come to life and creators step behind the mic.
Subscribe for interviews, deep dives, creator spotlights, and more.

“N-Bolt is officially USDN Approved.
This is the Chairman… and the Council is adjourned.”

#IndieComics, #ComicBookCreator, #DigitalArt, #Illustration, #IndieArtist, #ComicBookInterview, #USDNPodcast, #NBolt, #JamesRDemery, #IndieComicsCommunity, #CreatorSpotlight, #ComicBookArt, #MakingComics, #Webcomics, #DigitalIllustration, #ComicBookUniverse, #ArtProcess, #DrawingComics, #ComicBookHeroes, #IndieComicsSpotlight, #BaltimoreArtists