Storycomic Presents: Interviews with Amazing Storytellers and Artists

#DVSM #GaryHodges #IndieComics #GraphicNovel #SciFiHorror #HorrorComics #SciFiComics #FoundFootageHorror #DocumentaryStyle #Worldbuilding #ComicCreator #IndieCreator #GraphicNovelSeries #ComicsInterview #Storycomic

On this episode, I’m joined by indie comic creator Gary Hodges, who’s been making comics for about 8 years and is building a seriously cool graphic novel series called DvsM.

DvsM is a character-focused sci-fi/horror story told through eyewitness accounts of a highly classified war that supposedly took place from the 1970s into the early 2000s. Each installment shows the conflict from a different vantage point — a soldier, a scientist, a “man in black,” and more — so the series reads like an in-world documentary. Gary describes it as “if Ken Burns did a documentary on War of the Worlds,” and once you hear him explain the structure, you’ll get why that’s the perfect comparison.

We talk about building tension through testimony, how you keep a big secret-war mythology coherent across multiple perspectives, and what it takes to keep an indie series moving over years — from story planning to art decisions to connecting with readers.

If you like sci-fi horror, faux-documentary storytelling, and indie comics with real ambition, you’re going to have fun with this one.

Find Gary online:

The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.

See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/

Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano

See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/

Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:

Follow us:

Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com

www.patreon.com/storycomic

www.facebook.com/storycomic1

https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/

For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at [email protected]

Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:

https://marekbennett.com/

https://www.hexapus-ink.com/

https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/

https://www.vonallan.com/

https://higgins802.com/

https://shewstone.com/

https://www.simkikuznick.com/

Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

On this episode, I’m joined by children’s book author Maureen Devlin, creator of the Backer & Backer series — a set of books built around one of the best questions kids ask: “How did that get here?”

Each story starts with something familiar — an apple, a warm hat, a bouncy ball, a kid-made picture, even a puppy — and then goes “backer and backer” to explore the origin of everyday things in a way that’s playful, clear, and genuinely educational for young readers.

We talk about what inspired the series (including reading with her twin daughters), how she builds curiosity into the rhythm of a read-aloud, and why she’s so intentional about mixing fun with real-world facts.

We also highlight the illustrator, Nancy D. Conde, whose whimsical artwork helps make the “how it’s made / where it comes from” journey feel like an adventure instead of a lesson.

If you’ve got a curious kid (or you’re raising one who asks “why?” 400 times a day), this episode is for you.

The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.

See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/

Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano

See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/

Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:

Follow us:

Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com

www.patreon.com/storycomic

www.facebook.com/storycomic1

https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/

For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at [email protected]

Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:

https://marekbennett.com/

https://www.hexapus-ink.com/

https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/

https://www.vonallan.com/

https://higgins802.com/

https://shewstone.com/

https://www.simkikuznick.com/

Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

#EclaronaChronicles #VMLaFountain #VermontAuthor #EssexJunction #FantasyBooks #FaeFantasy #EpicFantasy #QueerFantasy #InclusiveFantasy #IndieAuthor #WomenWhoWrite #FantasyWorldbuilding #DestinyBook #ReckoningBook #Storycomic

On this episode, I’m talking with Victoria (V.M. LaFountain), a fantasy author right here in Essex Junction, Vermont, and creator of the Eclarona Chronicles—a big, sprawling series packed with Fae, magic, and a whole lot of characters who don’t feel like background furniture.

We dig into her published books Destiny and Reckoning, and what’s coming next with Fated and Secrets. But what makes this conversation really interesting is how the series evolves: it starts with the wonder of magic and worldbuilding, then shifts into a story about “Life Equality”—what happens when people are accepted socially, but still overlooked by the law.

We talk about building a fantasy world that actually feels diverse (Elementals, Giants, and more), moving queer characters from the edges into the center of the story, and how Victoria uses fantasy as a mirror for real life.

If you like big-cast fantasy, social stakes that don’t feel preachy, and a creator who’s building something ambitious from right here in Vermont, this one’s for you.

The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.

See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/

Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano

See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/

Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:

Follow us:

Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com

www.patreon.com/storycomic

www.facebook.com/storycomic1

https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/

For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at [email protected]

Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:

https://marekbennett.com/

https://www.hexapus-ink.com/

https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/

https://www.vonallan.com/

https://higgins802.com/

https://shewstone.com/

https://www.simkikuznick.com/

Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

#Snoodles #SnoodlesInSpace #EscapeFromZoodletraz #StevenJoseph #AndyCase #ChildrensBooks #KidsGraphicBooks #ReadAloud #KidsLit #Illustration #Imagination #ScreenFreeFun #Worldbuilding #IndieBooks #Storycomic

Kids are surrounded by screens, and sometimes it feels like imagination is getting squeezed out of the day. That’s why this episode is such a blast.

I’m joined by Steven Joseph, author and creator of the Snoodles Universe, and (if schedules line up) illustrator Andy Case, the multi-award-winning artist behind the series. Together they’ve built a laugh-out-loud world packed with “oodle-words,” wild visuals, and stories that sneak real life lessons into the silliness.

Their latest book, Snoodles in Space: Escape from Zoodletraz!, cranks the chaos up with a jailbreak adventure that’s all about teamwork, creativity, and discovering that the silliest idea might be the one that saves the day.

We talk about the premise, where this story fits in the Snoodles Universe, why “imagination deficit” is a real thing, and how Andy’s day job in tech education shapes how he thinks about kids, creativity, and reading.

And yes — there’s music too: Noodleham Rocks, a companion soundtrack connected to the Snoodles world.

The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.

See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/

Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano

See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/

Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:

Follow us:

Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com

www.patreon.com/storycomic

www.facebook.com/storycomic1

https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/

For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at [email protected]

Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:

https://marekbennett.com/

https://www.hexapus-ink.com/

https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/

https://www.vonallan.com/

https://higgins802.com/

https://shewstone.com/

https://www.simkikuznick.com/

Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

#LaurenEnnis #DaughtersOfAttrition #GraphicNovel #IndieGraphicNovel #ChildrensBooks #MiddleGradeBooks #HistoricalFiction #Kabul #AfghanistanStories #BooksThatMatter #ABoysBestComrade #DogBooks #Moscow1938 #AuthorInterview #Storycomic

On this episode, I’m joined by author Lauren Ennis, who writes historical fiction that hits you right in the heart—and doesn’t pull punches when it comes to what kids endure when the world shifts under their feet.

We talk about her brand-new graphic novel Daughters of Attrition, a story set against the fall of Kabul, centered on Noor, a ten-year-old girl sent to a Kabul orphanage after her father is killed while assisting American forces against the Taliban. At the orphanage, Noor forms a deep friendship with Laila, a rebellious, artistic kid who helps her hold onto imagination and hope while danger closes in.

We also dig into Lauren’s middle-grade historical novel A Boy’s Best Comrade, set in Moscow, 1938, where a young boy named Yuri and his dog Sasha are forced onto the streets after the NKVD arrests Yuri’s parents—turning a loyal promise (“take care of Yuri”) into a fight for survival.

If you care about stories that spotlight friendship, resilience, and the bond between kids and the people (and animals) who stick with them—this conversation is for you.

The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.

See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/

Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano

See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/

Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:

Follow us:

Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com

www.patreon.com/storycomic

www.facebook.com/storycomic1

https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/

For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at [email protected]

Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:

https://marekbennett.com/

https://www.hexapus-ink.com/

https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/

https://www.vonallan.com/

https://higgins802.com/

https://shewstone.com/

https://www.simkikuznick.com/

Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

#ReturnOfTheRooftopKoreans #TaeYeonLee #IndieComics #GraphicNovel #ComicCreator #IndieGraphicNovel #ComicsInterview #Worldbuilding #ComicWriting #ComicArt #Storytelling #CulturalIdentity #HistoryInComics #IndiePublishing #Storycomic

This one’s a ride.

On the show today, I’m joined by Tae-Yeon Lee, creator and writer of the 140+ page graphic novel Return of the Rooftop Koreans—a full-color, perfect-bound indie project that blends real history, modern tension, and high-energy action into something that’s loud, stylish, and a lot more thoughtful than you might expect.

We talk about how Tae built a large-scale book from the ground up: the early concept, the worldbuilding choices, and what it takes to assemble and manage an international art team. We also get into the tricky (and important) work of adapting real cultural history into a fictional narrative without sanding off the nuance—while still delivering a story that keeps you flipping pages.

If you’re a comic reader, a creator, or somebody who loves hearing how big indie swings actually get made, you’re going to get a lot out of this conversation. Tae brings humor, honesty, and a sharp perspective—plus practical advice for anyone trying to launch and market a serious indie book.

The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.

See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/

Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano

See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/

Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:

Follow us:

Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com

www.patreon.com/storycomic

www.facebook.com/storycomic1

https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/

For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at [email protected]

Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:

https://marekbennett.com/

https://www.hexapus-ink.com/

https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/

https://www.vonallan.com/

https://higgins802.com/

https://shewstone.com/

https://www.simkikuznick.com/

Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

#StolenMountain #IMAiken #VermontAuthors #VermontBooks #LiteraryThriller #LegalThriller #SmallTownSecrets #MysteryNovel #IndiePress #CatalystPress #NewBookRelease #BookInterview #AuthorTalk #TrowbridgeVermont #VermontArtistsAndAuthors

This episode is a real treat for anyone who loves Vermont-set fiction with teeth.

I’m joined by Vermont author I.M. Aiken to talk about her newest novel, Stolen Mountain (Catalyst Press). Set in her fictional town of Trowbridge, Vermont, this one reads like a legal thriller with small-town pressure cooked right into it: a swanky ski lodge project, local power players, crooked law enforcement, and a whole lot of things that don’t add up.

At the center is Brighid Doran, an EMS Captain turned sleuth, who starts looking closely at The Branston Club—and quickly finds out that asking questions in a small town can get you in trouble. With help from attorney Morgan Chadwick and an FBI presence looming in the background, Brighid tries to untangle a scheme that could cost her friends and neighbors millions… while also dealing with the strain of her wife Major Sarah “Sam” Ann Musgrave’s repeated deployments.

We also talk about I.M. Aiken’s larger “Trowbridge” world—her debut The Little Ambulance War of Winchester County, her Trowbridge Dispatch short stories, and the fact that she records her own audio versions of her work.

If you like mysteries, legal tension, and Vermont stories that feel lived-in, you’ll want this one.

The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.

See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/

Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano

See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/

Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:

Follow us:

Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com

www.patreon.com/storycomic

www.facebook.com/storycomic1

https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/

For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at [email protected]

Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:

https://marekbennett.com/

https://www.hexapus-ink.com/

https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/

https://www.vonallan.com/

https://higgins802.com/

https://shewstone.com/

https://www.simkikuznick.com/

Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

#BernieSmith #GigabyteMagazine #TechNews #TechJournalism #ArtificialIntelligence #AINews #CyberSecurity #InfoSec #Robotics #DigitalMedia #OnlinePublishing #CreatorEconomy #TechTrends #Storycomic #PodcastInterview

Every 100 episodes, I keep a weird little tradition alive: I interview another Barney or Bernie Smith. This time it’s Bernie Smith, CEO of Gigabyte Magazine, a tech outlet focused on what’s happening right now in AI, cybersecurity, robotics, and tech culture.

We talk about what it takes to run a modern digital publication when the internet moves fast and attention spans move faster: how Bernie decides what’s worth covering, how he separates signal from noise, and how you build reader trust when everyone’s skeptical. We also get practical—simple cybersecurity habits regular people and small businesses can adopt, what Bernie thinks is truly useful in AI versus what’s overhyped, and what robotics changes are most likely to show up in everyday life sooner than folks expect.

Then we finish with some rapid-fire fun: best and worst tech trends, tools he can’t live without, and what he’d tell anyone trying to start a niche media brand today.

The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.

See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/

Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano

See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/

Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:

Follow us:

Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com

www.patreon.com/storycomic

www.facebook.com/storycomic1

https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/

For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at [email protected]

Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:

https://marekbennett.com/

https://www.hexapus-ink.com/

https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/

https://www.vonallan.com/

https://higgins802.com/

https://shewstone.com/

https://www.simkikuznick.com/

Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

#CosmicWars #KickstarterComics #IndieComics #ComicBookKickstarter #SciFiComics #SpaceOpera #ComicCreators #GraphicNovel #Worldbuilding #IndieCreator #ComicArt #NerdCulture #BackThisProject #NewComicSeries #Storycomic

What happens when a universe you started building as a kid finally hits the launch button?

In this episode, I’m joined by comic creator Samuel Vera to talk about CosmicWars: Guardian of the Arthenian Star—a star-spanning story where a fallen hero, a tyrant’s legacy, and a galaxy on the brink collide, with magic and science shaping destiny.

We dig into where this saga began, what makes the Arthenian Star so important, and how Samuel approaches character, lore, and big cinematic stakes on the comic page. If you love cosmic adventure, epic worldbuilding, and indie comics with serious heart, you’ll want to hear this one.

Support the project on Kickstarter , and tell Samuel you heard about it here.

The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.

See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/

Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano

See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/

Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:

Follow us:

Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com

www.patreon.com/storycomic

www.facebook.com/storycomic1

https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/

For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at [email protected]

Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:

https://marekbennett.com/

https://www.hexapus-ink.com/

https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/

https://www.vonallan.com/

https://higgins802.com/

https://shewstone.com/

https://www.simkikuznick.com/

Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

#LycanSolomonsOdyssey #LycanComic #WerewolfComic #KickstarterComics #IndieComics #HorrorComics #MythologyComics #AncientEgypt #GraphicNovel #ComicBookSeries #ComicCreator #Worldbuilding #BackThisProject #IndieCreator #Storycomic

What if the world’s first werewolf didn’t just survive… but kept walking through history, chasing answers that the gods themselves might not want to give?

In this episode, I’m joined by Dennis Robinson to talk about Lycan: Solomon’s Odyssey (Chapters 1–4)—a horror-adventure series that follows Solomon across ancient eras as he searches for a way to end his lycanthropic curse. In this latest stretch, Solomon’s journey leads him toward the gods of Ancient Egypt, pushing the story into new myth, new dangers, and higher stakes than ever.

We get into how Dennis blends mythology, folklore, history, and religion with darker human themes, and how he keeps the series grounded while still going big with time, place, and legend.

If you love indie comics that feel like “ancient myth colliding with horror”—and you want to catch a series while it’s actively growing—this one’s for you.

The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid.

See more of Morgan’s Work at: https://morganquaid.com/

Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano

See more of Greg’s work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/

Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started:

Follow us:

Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com

www.patreon.com/storycomic

www.facebook.com/storycomic1

https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/

For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at [email protected]

Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:

https://marekbennett.com/

https://www.hexapus-ink.com/

https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/

https://www.vonallan.com/

https://higgins802.com/

https://shewstone.com/

https://www.simkikuznick.com/

Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!