The United States Department of Nerds Podcast

The USDN Podcast - Where Indie Comics Come to Life.

In this episode, The Chairman sits down with Chris Stall & Kris Mendoza of CHK Comics to kick off a special AHA! Horror Anthology series.

What started as a simple idea quickly turned into a full indie horror project driven by DIY mentality, punk culture, and a passion for storytelling. From assembling creators to shaping a diverse range of horror stories, this conversation explores what it really takes to build an anthology from the ground up.

This episode covers:
 • The origin of AHA!
 • Indie comics and DIY culture
 • Building a creator-driven anthology
 • Horror storytelling across multiple styles
 • The realities of indie publishing

🔗 Kickstarter:
 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/imchrisstall/chk-comics-presents-aha-a-horror-anthology

📲 CHK Comics:
https://www.instagram.com/chkcomics/
https://www.threads.com/@chkcomics

📲 Chris / Longbox Punk:
https://www.youtube.com/@longboxpunk
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:eajy32ziw5awu7lz2k4b76dx
https://bsky.app/profile/longboxpunk.substack.com

📲 Kris Mendoza:
https://www.instagram.com/punkrockkris
https://www.threads.com/@punkrockkris

💥 Collector Tip of the Week:
 https://www.bcwsupplies.com/?acc=usdn
 Code: USDN

Affiliate disclosure: USDN may earn a commission if you use our link or code.

 📩 Business / Media Inquiries:
 [email protected]

Len Mihalovich, creator and publisher behind Lenovations Press, joins the USDN Podcast to discuss building a lasting indie comics universe across decades.

From the 1990s indie comic boom to today’s creator-driven landscape, Len shares his journey from rejection letters and early publishing struggles to launching Section 12 and establishing a boutique publishing model focused on quality and longevity.

We explore:
 • Breaking into comics in the 90s
 • Indie publishing challenges and distribution collapse
 • The evolution of Section 12
 • Building Lenovations Press
 • Creating comics beyond Kickstarter
 • Sustaining a long-term indie publishing vision

This episode is a deep dive into persistence, storytelling, and what it really takes to build something that lasts in indie comics.

🔗 FOLLOW LENOVATIONS PRESS

🌐 Website: http://www.lenovationspress.com
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lenovations
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lenovationspress/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LenovationsPress/
💰 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lenovationspress

🧰 COLLECTOR TIP OF THE WEEK (USDN)

Protect, store, and upgrade your comic collection with BCW Supplies.

🛒 https://www.bcwsupplies.com/?acc=usdn
 
💸 Use code: USDN for 10% off

Affiliate Disclosure: USDN may earn a small commission if you use our link or code. This helps support the show at no extra cost to you.

📢 ABOUT USDN PODCAST

The USDN Podcast is a creator-focused media platform dedicated to indie comics, crowdfunding, and the people shaping the future of storytelling.

🎙️ Hosted by The Chairman
 📅 New episodes weekly

Business / Media Inquiries: [email protected]

Donal Thoms-Cappello - Building the Sci-Fi Universe of POWERSCAPE

In this episode of the USDN Podcast, we sit down with Donal Thoms-Cappello, creator of the sci-fi series POWERSCAPE.

Set in the year 2798, POWERSCAPE explores a future where civilization survives within franchise cities powered by limited energy resources and structured around competition.

We discuss the origins of the series, its 20-year development, and how themes of sports, philosophy, and societal structure influenced its creation. Donal also shares insights into storytelling, worldbuilding, and the evolving landscape of comics.

🔗 Follow Donal Thoms-Cappello

GlobalComix
 https://globalcomix.com/c/powerscape-

Patreon
 https://patreon.com/powerscape_comic

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

BlueSky
 https://bsky.app/profile/powerscapeuniverse.bsky.social

Facebook
 https://www.facebook.com/65DollarFuneral/

🛒 Collector Tip of the Week

Protect and store your comic collection with supplies from BCW Supplies.

Use our affiliate link:
https://www.bcwsupplies.com/?acc=usdn

Use code USDN for 10% off your order.

Affiliate Disclosure: USDN may earn a small commission if you use our affiliate link or code. This helps support the show at no extra cost to you.

📺 Subscribe to USDN

http://youtube.com/@USDN_Podcast

Business / Media Inquiries:
 [email protected]

#usdnpodcast #indiecomics #comicbooks #scifi #scificomics #worldbuilding #creatorowned #kickstartercomics #comiccreator #indiecreators

Welcome to The USDN Podcast - where indie comics come to life.

In this episode, host The Chairman sits down with Paul Eza, creator of The Olympian and founder of Acorn Comics.

We dive into the origins of The Olympian, a story blending Greek mythology, small-town life, and a reluctant hero chosen by fate. From a mysterious talisman to mythological creatures like a Minotaur and a talking squirrel, this series delivers a fresh take on classic legends.

Paul also shares his journey from law to comics, launching Acorn Comics, and what it takes to build a sustainable indie publishing brand through Kickstarter.

🚀 Back The Olympian on Kickstarter:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ezaesq/the-olympian-1-2

🔗 Connect with Paul Eza:

Website: http://www.acorncomics.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acorncomics/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acorn.comics
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@acorncomics
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ezaesq.bsky.social
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AcornComics19

🎙️ New episodes weekly.
 Real creators. Real stories. Real indie comics.

On this episode of The USDN Podcast, The Chairman sits down with Collin McLamore, creator of Skyline Comics and the growing Skyline Universe.

Collin discusses the origins of his flagship character Outline, the personal and grounded themes shaping his first series, and what it means to start building a creator-owned comic universe at a young age. The conversation also explores the realities of indie comics, the challenge of marketing through social media, and the long-term vision for Skyline Comics.

If you enjoy discovering new indie comic creators and hearing the stories behind the books, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Follow Skyline Comics:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@skylinecomics
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialskylinecomics
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@skyline-comics

Collector Tip of the Week: Protect your comics with BCW Supplies using the USDN affiliate link: https://www.bcwsupplies.com/?acc=usdn
Use code USDN for 10% off.

Affiliate disclosure: USDN may earn a commission if you use our link or code.

In this episode of The USDN Podcast, The Chairman sits down with Deece Casillas, stand-up comedian turned comic creator and founder of Inferno Comics.

Deece discusses the origins of his indie comic Kill Stan, a dark character-driven story centered around trauma, purpose, and the complicated human desire to keep going even when everything feels lost.

The conversation explores Dees’ journey from comedy writing into the world of comics, the creation of Inferno Comics, and what it takes to build a creator-owned publishing label in the modern indie comic landscape.

Topics include:

• The inspiration behind Kill Stan
• Launching Inferno Comics
• The rise of indie and creator-owned comics
• Marketing and selling comics independently
• Why authentic storytelling matters more than ever

If you're passionate about indie comics, creator journeys, and the future of independent storytelling, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Support the show

BCW Comic Book Supplies

https://www.bcwsupplies.com/?acc=usdn

Use code USDN for 10% off your order

Affiliate disclosure: USDN may earn a commission if you use our link or code.

#IndieComics, #KillStan, #InfernoComics, #ComicBookPodcast, #CreatorOwnedComics, #IndependentComics, #ComicCreators, #GraphicNovels, #ComicCommunity, #NerdCulture

Welcome to The USDN Podcast - where indie comics come to life.

On this episode of the USDN Podcast, The Chairman is joined by Akihiro Goska, director of Froglight Studio, an emerging indie manga studio from the Philippines.

Akihiro shares how his creative journey began with Wattpad writing during lockdown, how Froglight Studio came together, and what it takes to build a collaborative manga project from the ground up. The conversation explores leadership, artistic growth, creative teamwork, and the studio’s first major story, Snow’s Warm Embrace.

They also discuss the rise of manga creation outside Japan, the challenges of building recognition as a new studio, and Froglight’s future plans in both manga and animation.

Follow Froglight Studio:
Facebook: Froglight Studio
Instagram: Froglight Studio
TikTok: Froglight Studio

Subscribe and join the Council of Nerds for more interviews with indie comic creators, storytellers, crowdfunders, and rising voices in the world of comics. 

On this episode of the USDN Podcast, host The Chairman sits down with creator David Biggs, founder of Disco Punk Comics, to explore the origins of his upcoming indie comic series Once Upon a Hive in the West.

Inspired by spaghetti westerns and the strange realities of insect life cycles, the series imagines a gritty frontier where bugs become gunslingers, outlaws, and legends of the Wild West.

David shares the story behind launching Disco Punk Comics, the lessons he's learned navigating the indie comics scene, and how collaboration and community are shaping the future of his publishing label.

The conversation also dives into the realities of indie comic production - crowdfunding, working with artists, building creative teams, and balancing the passion of storytelling with the business of comics.

For anyone interested in indie comics, Kickstarter publishing, and creator-driven storytelling, this episode offers an inside look at what it takes to build a comic from the ground up.

Follow David Biggs / Disco Punk Comics

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discopunkcomics
Website: https://discopunkcomics.com

Russell Berger joins The USDN Podcast to discuss A Knight’s Title, his long-running independent sci-fi fantasy saga, and the realities of building a creator-owned universe without the backing of a major publisher.

In this conversation, Russell shares how his love of creative writing began in elementary school, how influences like King Arthur, Star Wars, Highlander, anime, and comics helped shape his storytelling, and why A Knight’s Title evolved into an episodic format instead of a traditional single-volume release.

The episode also explores the business and mindset side of independent creation — from self-publishing out of necessity, to the difficulty of audience growth, to the importance of consistency, branding, and staying connected to readers.

Russell also discusses the meaning of knighthood in his universe, the role of “blood abilities” in the story, his plans for future physical editions, and why he believes animation would be the ideal adaptation format for A Knight’s Title.

This is a strong conversation for anyone interested in indie publishing, worldbuilding, serialized storytelling, and the creator mindset it takes to keep going when no one hands you the opportunity.

Follow Russell Berger

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/KingDarkhart
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KingDarkhart?mibextid=LQQJ4d
X: https://x.com/KingDarkhart
Official Website: https://www.aknightstitle.com/

#indiecomics, #scififantasy, #selfpublishing, #authorinterview, #creatorowned, #worldbuilding, #indieauthor, #podcast, #fantasybooks, #scifiwriter

Mark C. Dooley - The Genesis of a Fanboy & The Actual Adventures of Mark and Dee

Mark C. Dooley joins The USDN Podcast to talk about growing up a comic book fan before fandom was mainstream — and how the 1960s Batman TV era temporarily turned bullying into popularity overnight.

Mark is the creator of MARK AND DEE: GENESIS OF A FANBOY (an autobiographical comic strip series spanning childhood into the teen years) and THE ACTUAL, SEMI-TRUE ADVENTURES OF MARK AND DEE (a contemporary series centered around community, friendship, and comic shop culture).

We dive into Batmania, creativity as survival, meeting Dee at age 12, turning real-life triumph and tragedy into comics, and why indie storytelling hits different when it’s lived.

We also spotlight Mark’s current Kickstarter for GENESIS OF A FANBOY Volume One, collecting years of strips into a single book, plus what’s next with THE ACTUAL Volume One and Issue #6 (the wedding story).

Guest Links:
Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/markanddee/mark-and-dee-genesis-of-a-fanboy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.c.dooley/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markcdooley/
Substack: https://substack.com/@markcdooley1
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mcdooley1.bsky.social
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/u10978651
Blogspot: https://deboss1.blogspot.com/