There’s been a big uptick in comics podcast by comics professionals in the last year or so, and we welcome it. One such venture is The Superfan Podcast, but as you cannot yet listen to it, it must go into the “highly anticipated” column.
The podcast is presented by Superfan Promotions, the well known comics PR agency, and co-hosted by an assortment of notables: Superfan’s David Hyde, artist/designer Christian Gossett (Eyes of Wakanda, The Red Star) and editor Kristen Simon (Executive Editor at Mad Cave Studios’ Nakama Press). Thus far the chatfest has been in pro-production mode, stockpiling interviews for its summer debut. Guests include acclaimed comic book writer, Peabody Award-winning screenwriter and producer Rodney Barnes (Killadelpha), Eisner Award-winning and Hugo Award nominated writer Kelly Sue DeConnick (Wonder Woman Historia), acclaimed comic book writer, novelist, and Emmy Award-winning screenwriter Marc Guggenheim (Star Wars: Jedi Knights), Harvey Award-winning and New York Times bestselling cartoonist Matt Kindt, Eisner Award-winning writer Marjorie Liu (Monstress), and New York Times bestselling and Caldecott Honor-winning cartoonist Patrick McDonnell (Mutts).
But that is all to come.
In the meantime, Gossett and Simon will be attending this weekend’s Comic Con Revolution in Ontario, CA in conversation with guests Stephan Franck and Ray-Anthony Height at the We Are Superfans panel. The announcement of this panel was accompanied by portraits of the participants by Gossett – which we are assured is only ONE of the bonus extras that the Superfan Podcast will present. We’ve heard rumors about cocktail recipes and desserts and many other extras. And they have a team: Season One will be edited by Bryant Dillon with production help by Fanbase Press, the title sponsors of Season One. Most strikingly, the Superfan Podcast logo is designed by Criswell Lappin, former Creative Director of the legendary Metropolis Magazine.
When you to go to all that extra length we approve, so here’s more on the podcast and CCR in the PR:
At the We Are All Superfans panel, Stephan Franck — an award-nominated animator, writer, and director and theacclaimed cartoonist of Palomino — will discuss his love of UFOs, while Eisner-award winning artist and Midnight Tiger creator Ray-Anthony Height (DC Power: Rise of the Power Company) will discuss his love for BBQ. The We Are Superfans will be held on Saturday, May 17th, at 3:30 PM PST.
“The Superfan Podcast will launch later this year,” said co-host Christian Gossett. “But, in the meantime, we couldn’t resist heading to Comic Con Revolution Ontario for a deep dive conversation with two of our favorite comic creators. It’s so rewarding and invigorating to talk with creative people about the things that they’re most passionate about.”
“I come from a household where it was pretty much me and my dad most of my life and he was an excellent cook,” said Height. “He studied it like he was becoming a chef. It was a big part of who we were, and I learned the basics early. I’ve always been interested in cooking ever since and with a family whose roots are in the south a BBQ cookout was a way of life. You learn fairly quickly that BBQ isn’t just cooking meat. It’s an art form! Since the moment I learned that when I started to help my dad on the grill, I was hooked. One of the great things in life is knowing that well-cooked brisket could change your life!”
“When I was 9 years old at summer camp, another kid showed me an incredible French “non-fiction” comic called The Flying Saucers Files,” said Franck. “That book single-handedly started my life-long fascination with the subject of UFOs, as well as a profound mistrust towards it that, to this day, I am still trying to reconcile!”
Franck’s company Dark Planet Comics just launched a Kickstarter campaign for their 2025 releases: a hyper-timely dystopian sci-fi comic called Romance in the Age of the Space God and two brand new volumes of Palomino, the Ringo Award-nominated neo-noir graphic series set in the lost culture of Los Angeles’ country music clubs. Meanwhile, DC Comics recently published “Dynamic Duo,” Height’s collaboration with writer Vita Ayala and artist Chris Sotomayor in DC Power: Rise of the Power Company. His Substack is https://www.studioskyetiger.com.
“It’s always such a thrill to hear what fandoms our guests are into,” co-host Kris Simon shared. “We can’t wait to dive into UFOs with Stephan, and Ray’s passion for being a pitmaster is so fitting since the Superfan Podcast always brings a little of our own flavor with a custom cocktail and dessert recipe to match the guests’ topics!”
Guests at Comic Con Revolution Ontario include Smallville’s John Schneider, Erica Durance, Tom Welling, and Michael Rosenbaum, alongside the likes of John Barrowman (Arrow, Torchwood), Booker T (WWE), Greg Cipes (Teen Titans), Rachael Leigh Cook (She’s All That), Richard Epcar (Mortal Kombat), Mick Foley (WWE), Brian Drummond (Dragon Ball), Ali Hillis (Final Fantasy) and Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters), Khary Payton (The Walking Dead), and Tara Reid (Josie and the Pusseycats) and comic all stars like Mark Bagley (Ultimate Spider-Man), Joshua Cassara (Deadpool/Wolverine), Ron Lim (Silver Surfer), Todd Nauck (Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man), and Dustin Nguyen (Descender).