Lost Interviews, Vol. 1 | Episode #462

·1 hr 36 min·5 clips

Chris explains how drawing comics became his escape from depression while working two full-time jobs.

The episode is a curated collection of interviews recorded at various 2023 conventions but previously unreleased. Host Josh introduces the episode by apologizing for the delay and explaining structural changes in the Victims and Villains organization. The first set of interviews comes from Wilkes Comic-Con in North Carolina, featuring comic creators Chris and Dennis from Atomic Creators. Chris discusses his comic 'Crit,' based on a Dungeons & Dragons game, and how drawing helped him cope with depression while working two jobs. Dennis shares his comic 'Celestial Knight,' a character he created 35 years ago but hid due to stigma, revealing how childhood racism led him to art as an escape. Both emphasize the supportive indie comic community for mental health. Next, artist Michelle Lodge discusses her noir comic 'Home Free' and how immersing in dark themes affects her mental health, balancing it with whimsical pop art. The episode shifts to Galaxy Con interviews, starting with Katherine Babiera, author of 'Poe for Your Problems,' who explains how Edgar Allan Poe's writing helped her through severe depression. Will Smith, an artist on the cyberpunk comic 'South Town,' talks about the challenges of indie publishing with full-time jobs. Hector from Faith and Fandom describes his mission to create a faith-friendly space at cons, facing both support and opposition. The episode concludes with filmmaker Nick Norman Butler discussing his thriller 'My House' and a suicide prevention message with statistics and resources.

As heard by us

A delayed interview traces how Poe fandom, satire, creativity, and mental health can meet in one conversation.

Victims and Villains gathers previously unreleased conversations from 2023 conventions and film festivals, with Josh positioning the episode as a belated return to interviews that had been waiting in the archive.

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Why you'd press play

Press play for a Poe conversation that turns fandom into a way back toward the world.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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