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USDN Podcast is a cinematic indie comics interview series hosted by the USDN_Chairman and the Council of Nerds spotlighting the creators, storytellers, and worldbuilders shaping the future of independent comics.
Each episode dives beyond headlines into the real journeys behind the books from Kickstarter launches and creative struggles to the philosophies driving todayโs indie storytelling movement.
This isnโt about rumors or recycled news.
Itโs about the people creating the worlds.
Through in-depth conversations, creator spotlights, and crowdfunding discussions, USDN explores:
โข The rise of indie comics
โข The business of crowdfunding
โข The art of worldbuilding
โข The realities of independent storytelling
USDN is where indie comics come to life for the fans, by the creators, and powered by the community.
You are listening to the USDN on the
DFPN.
Thank you.
New Orleans,
The last time we entered these streets,
an innocent man had been betrayed,
executed,
and dragged back from death carrying
something that should have remained
buried.
Something cursed.
Something angry.
Something that had unfinished business
with the living.
and the dead.
We watch the plague rise from the shadow
of lucky devil comets and begin a war
against corruption,
damnation and the forces waiting just
beyond the gates of hell.
But resurrection was only the beginning.
Now the plague has escaped the grave once
again.
A new black and white edition is preparing
to emerge eventually.
The nightmare has spread to Global Comics,
and somewhere in the darkness,
issue number two is beginning to take
shape.
Tonight,
Lucky Devil Comics returns before the
council to tell us what happened after ill
fate,
what they learned surviving the first
chapter,
and just how much deeper the curse is
about to go.
So lock the doors, keep the lights on,
and whatever you hear scratching outside,
I wouldn't answer that because tonight the
plague returns.
Ladies and gentlemen,
the Council of Nerds is now in session.
Nikki, Stiles,
welcome back to the Council, my friends.
Thank you for having us.
How was that?
Oh, that was a great intro.
That was clutch, right?
That was clutch.
So the last times you guys were here,
We were launching the plague number one.
It was very much a make or break
for y'all.
Now you're back.
The book is now on global comments.
You got another campaign that will be
coming soon.
And issue number two is moving forward in
production.
Take us from that first interview to
tonight.
What actually happened with the plague
once issue one went out into the world?
It's kind of a tough process for us.
Like I mentioned before,
like we're not from the industry,
so we had a lot to learn.
But since it came out,
like a lot has happened and it's kind
of moved quickly.
We've been doing a bunch of conventions.
Did a launch party.
Launch party.
Yeah.
I've seen all that, yeah.
Yeah,
now we're on Global Comics and we were
actually featured as the number two indie
breakout title and featured by them on
their YouTube.
That was really cool.
It's just cool to see your work
acknowledged and being appreciated.
We also got a review from Comic Crusaders
and stuff like that,
so it's also nice to get a proper
review done.
And it's well deserved.
I mean, I mean, this book was real.
If it didn't fund,
it was never going to see the light
of day.
So I'm for one happy that it did
fund.
I was probably one of the few people
that got to read what this comic book
may become for anybody else.
And I was happy to do it.
It was such a great book.
And I was it was one of those
where.
I'm like,
if I had the money to do it
myself,
I would just fund this myself because it
deserves to be made.
So I was happy.
The moment I seen it had got funded,
I was like, let's go.
You know, because it was all I knew.
I know how much hard work goes into
this.
And it was one of those where I
knew, like,
I hoped all these people that back this
is understanding and they're patient
because the book still has to finish
getting made.
You know,
this artist still has to do their thing.
Colorist, the letterer,
all these people still need to do their
thing to the book.
So but I'm so happy that you found
success with it and that.
It's here.
You know,
people can get it from your store.
They can read it on Global Comics.
And to me,
that's really awesome and much deserved.
Yeah, thank you, man.
Yeah.
And I feel like also, like,
because we have to learn so much so,
like, so soon, like,
we're better prepared for issue two.
Like,
I feel like everything is going to be
a lot smoother and, like,
now we know what to expect.
You know what I mean?
We're, like, yeah.
Mm-hmm.
I learned to come back on the dialogue
because that was like one big kind of
piece of feedback we got.
But I mean, with issue one,
it's tough because you got to set the
world.
You got to build up the characters.
But I feel like with issue two,
I don't want to reveal too much,
but I feel like it's a lot more
action, less dialogue.
It's a lot more easy, fun read.
I can attest because I'm, again,
one of the lucky few.
And I've gotten the sample platter of
issue two.
Fantastic.
It's a smooth read,
a smooth transition from issue one to
issue two.
And I'm excited, dude.
I'm so ready for y'all to launch that.
I know it's probably still a little bit
down the road,
but I'm really excited for that when it
comes out.
but was there a particular moment,
whether it was reader reaction, a cell,
somebody reaching out to you or something
else when you realized, okay,
people actually want more of this.
Yeah, we got, uh,
it first came from like our Kickstarter
backers.
I mean, um,
at first I was a little bummed out
cause we didn't get any feedback right
away,
but then all of a sudden we just
got like a flood of feedback.
So I guess it took a little bit
of time for people to read it and
digest it.
But, uh,
when we did start getting the feedback,
I was like, wow, like people are really,
really digging it.
And it just makes me want to just,
you know, pump up more issues,
makes me more enthusiastic.
And like I said,
it's just nice to be appreciated.
Yeah.
And especially when, um,
say that they're like,
they're going to come back for issue two.
Like they're, they're like,
cause I know that sometimes like the
backers for one project,
it doesn't mean that they're automatically
going to go to the next campaign.
So just to hear some people say like,
Oh, I can't wait.
Oh,
like I'm going to put my names in
the credits again, like that.
Like it's so sweet.
And it's really awesome that you're,
you're getting that feedback and people
are already willing to come back for issue
two.
And it's one of those big things we
always say is like,
The audience is there now, right?
It's just now you have to keep them
there.
And that's where social media and all that
other stuff comes,
just pumping out updates and showing
people, hey, issue two, here's a teaser.
And that's where that real hard work
begins because now you're a part of it.
Now you have an audience behind you
waiting for issue two.
And don't keep them waiting.
yeah it's it's kind of a tough thing
to to manage because when you're doing
this i mean you're the writer you're the
marketer you're the graphic designer
you're doing everything so it's it's tough
to uh keep up but usually if things
are quiet like if you're not getting the
newsletter it means things are working
behind the scenes over here so you know
if things are quiet don't worry it just
means we're busy beavers yeah
I expect it, man.
Cause I know how you feel, man.
I'm a women party over here and I
do it all.
So,
but let's look back at ill fate real
quick.
Last time we spent a lot of time
talking about what you wanted the plague
to become.
Now you've actually put the first chapter
in readers hands.
What did readers respond to in ill fate
that either surprised you or confirmed
that you were owned to something with the
plague?
Yeah, actually,
I was pretty surprised because I honestly
haven't said too much about the story.
I've kind of hinted at things,
but with the reviews we got and just
people talking about it,
it's like they just get it.
They get the character.
They get that it's more than just revenge
or just action or just blood.
There's a real soul to Diego and the
characters around him.
So, I mean,
it's crazy to see that the fans are
so astute that they can pick up on
things without you beating them over the
head with it.
Mm-hmm.
I like it.
Diego...
he wormed his way into our hearts like
very quickly because you could tell like
he wanted to do the right thing.
And he also kind of was like,
I need my job too.
But in the end,
he still did the right thing and fucking
paid for it, you know?
But yeah,
all I got to say is Diego as
the plague is like really dope,
especially seeing his transition into
issue two.
And at the end of issue one as
well,
when we first see him as the plague,
Really dope character development.
Really cool character to begin with.
The design, the way he's made.
Yeah, I'm excited.
I'm excited for issue two.
But right now we're going to still talk
about a little bit of issue one.
When you look back at... Oh, go ahead.
Go ahead.
I was going to say,
I also like that people can also feel
the old school storytelling and also they
pick up on the vibe.
You know what I mean?
Because I feel like it is kind of
hard to...
do something and have it kind of
translate.
So it's, I like that.
Like, yeah,
it's hard when you have like a vision
and you're kind of limited by the panels
and pages and stuff.
Like for instance, with Diego,
I wanted to show him more as like
a conflicted kind of guy.
Like he's got a lot of insecurities.
He's got a lot of, you know,
faults and the original story before a lot
of it got condensed was,
was that when he did find out about
the conspiracy, what was going on,
he kind of just wanted to cut and
bail.
But it was actually Nina that kind of
grounded him and gave him that...
that kind of moral compass.
So some,
some of it had to get kind of
cut out a little bit for the story,
but I was really like pleasantly surprised
to see that people also like Nina and
that she's like Diego's heart.
She, she was like the, uh,
the moral compass for him.
So it's just cool to see.
Was that in the original version that I'd
seen?
I can't recall is it's been so long
but yeah,
I know he's been a hot minute because
that all sounds familiar and I don't know
if that's because I seen the original
version before the artists ever finished
or what it was but yeah,
it might have been because Nina had a
bit more of an integral part like the
the Intention was to show that Diego He's
very conflicted Nina is very grounded very
like Immutable like her morals or
principles Yeah
They don't waver.
So that kind of dynamic between them is
supposed to come into play later.
Like Diego,
he's influenced by revenge and stuff.
But because there's more going on than
just personal vendetta,
he's got to come back to this mindset
of doing what he's doing for more than
just himself.
For people that need help.
Being more like an atypical kind of hero
than an anti-hero.
Yeah.
Sometimes you just gotta get those ass
whippings out of the way first,
and then you can go, okay,
now I can actually be the hero I
need to be.
Yeah,
you gotta hook people with the action,
then you keep them with the heart.
Exactly, exactly.
So,
when y'all look back at issue one now
as creators,
rather than as guys desperately trying to
get the damn thing finished,
what would you say ill fate taught you
about making the plague?
Uh,
Well, I'll be honest,
we're still pretty desperate, so.
Aren't we all, buddy?
Aren't we all?
It's available on your website.
Yeah,
it's available at LuckyDevilStore.com.
We have the digital version.
We got the physical.
And there's global comics.
And if you have a gold membership,
you can read the whole thing for free.
But otherwise, you can see like the first,
was it like five pages?
I think it's the first five pages.
I think it's the first five or six,
yeah.
you just wanted to check out like a
preview go on global comics we got some
of the art available there show you some
from i don't know if you can see
this but there's a little snapshot some of
the action from issue one and what i
like about issue one is that um like
the first half of the story it's very
like dystopian it's kind of dark and uh
yeah kind of great kind of kind of
gloomy
But as those supernatural aspects kind of
kick in, it becomes more colorful,
more kind of like surreal.
Even, yeah,
like the panel shapes start changing.
Like, yeah.
As the pace kind of changes.
It's a really, really dope story.
And if you've not read it yet,
people out there, give it a shot.
Give it a read.
You will enjoy it.
So...
I had a segment here planned where we
were going to talk about the black and
white version.
We acknowledge that the Indiegogo campaign
isn't going to happen right now.
But what?
So one of the big reasons you're back,
of course,
was going to be because there's a black
and white edition that's going to come
out.
And the original book, of course,
was full color.
What made y'all decide y'all wanted to
strip away the color and put it in
black and white?
Well, like early on,
that was kind of an idea I was
kicking around,
but then I kind of abandoned it because
it was just enough of a task just
to get the colored version out.
So I just kind of forgot about it.
But as we started doing conventions and
hearing feedback, we kept hearing like,
you guys have a black and white edition.
Yeah.
So I was like, okay,
so I guess it's something we got to
do.
Like if that's what people want.
And originally I had wanted it too.
So it's going to happen eventually.
Okay.
It's going to have to take a bad
seat right now due to the Indiegogo.
Indiegogo is one of those platforms,
if you don't do it strictly the A,
B, C, D, E, F, G way,
their rules, their way, they make it hard.
So hopefully soon,
whether it be Fun My Comic, Indiegogo,
or Kickstarter again,
hopefully y'all make that black and white
version because that would be kind of
cool.
I'm thinking, if anything,
we'll get it out and available by the
time issue two starts rolling around.
I'm hoping that issue two,
we can do it right before the end
of the year, hopefully.
Yeah,
we want to get it out as quickly
as possible.
My end goal,
my ultimate goal for this is to do
an issue bimonthly.
It's kind of ambitious,
but who likes waiting for the next issue?
I know, I know.
Trust me.
And then sometimes they don't come,
you know, and then that's,
that's even worse because I've had indie
comics that I bought in the shop from
an actual, you know,
bigger name organization and they kill it
at number three or something.
And you're like,
there was only two more books.
Like it was a five issue run.
I can't get those last two.
So that, that, that always sucks.
And I,
I'm not saying that's going to happen to
y'all, but,
I got my own theories on that.
I feel like for a lot of people,
the end goal is a movie.
Some of those writers find out that it
might not be a movie deal.
They kind of scrap it.
I don't know.
I'm just theorizing here.
It might be.
I don't know.
I can't speak for them.
It's one of those where...
It's weird for it to be a five-issue
book and then it gets scrapped at number
three.
Who did you piss off for them to
cancel you?
It's like in today's culture,
if something doesn't hit right away and
get massive numbers,
it just gets scrapped.
Whereas sometimes things take time to
build up, gain a fan base.
Sometimes people don't get it right away.
They don't get the vision right away.
But yeah, it's like today,
it's like if it's not an instant hit,
it just gets scrapped,
which is unfortunate.
Because like for me,
a lot of the stuff that I like
is like an acquired taste.
Like when it comes to music or even
forms,
sometimes it takes a little time to
digest.
That's why it felt so weird.
I never raised the back of my chair
up.
Let's talk about your adventure onto
Global Comets.
What made y'all go with Global Comets
versus another online platform?
For me,
I just personally like Global Comets.
I like the reach that it has.
I think it has over...
I don't know how many million users,
but I feel like it's a great place
to get noticed.
It's a great place for reach.
I also found it because I noticed some
people were putting their comics on there
and also they were putting up for free.
So I just started to go and read
a whole bunch of random comics and I'm
just like, we should be on here too.
She has read more comics in the last
six months than she has her entire life.
It's true.
So how hard was it for y'all to
get your comic with them versus somebody
else?
Did y'all research anybody else,
or was it just like you discovered Global
Comics and was like, yep, Global Comics.
I felt like when I was navigating it
and stuff,
I just felt like it was just so
simple, and I loved that about it.
And even uploading your stuff,
I just felt like everything was just so
user-friendly, and I just...
i just i just thought like let's just
go for it i mean i made a
list of other platforms i was interested
in using but part of it is honestly
just because of like the upkeep i got
to be on top of everything i got
to do the instagram the graphics i got
to do everything all the time so it's
it's uh just having like a global comics
right now is enough for us to you
know be busy all the time checking the
analytics and all that kind of stuff so
And it was so awesome to wake up
one morning.
Oh,
we were checking the analytics and we saw
some people were coming from indie gems.
I'm like, what's that?
Because at the time,
I'm still so new to global comics.
So then I found out there's a YouTube
channel.
And then that's where I saw our issue.
Yeah,
we didn't even get notified that we were
the number two spot.
We just had a huge spike.
I was like, whoa, what's going on?
When I saw it, it was morning.
I felt like I was kind of dreaming.
I'm like,
Plants in there?
Like, what?
For us, it's just surreal because, like,
this is just, like,
a project that's been in our minds for
so long.
So now that it's real and there's so
many people seeing it, it's just kind of,
like, a surreal, weird thing.
It's cool, though.
I mean, it should be.
I mean, your brainchild is now, you know,
out there for people to read and to
enjoy.
And I think that's one of the biggest
things when you start writing something
like this is like you want people to
read it.
That's why you did it.
You know,
and then to have just a sudden spike
of people showing interest in reading it,
it hits you in the feels, right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
And also, what I thought was cool, too,
is as I was discovering the website,
I noticed that you could link your
crowdfunding.
You could put up a preview issue and
then link your crowdfunding platform from
there.
And I was like, oh, this is awesome.
I feel like I'd like to dabble and
see what's available.
I do think it's a very good platform.
They are very pro-indie.
You can see they're trying to promote it
as much as possible.
Honestly,
we need it because it's hard to compete
with Marvel and DC.
You're not meant to compete with them.
You're competing with yourself and how
hard you can push yourself in this.
At the end of the day,
we all pick each other up and lift
them up with us.
Yeah,
and I don't think we should ever feel
like we are trying to compete with Marvel
or DC or the Image Comics of the
world because we're not going to do it.
We don't have a billion-dollar empire
behind us holding us up.
We have each other,
and that's how it is.
And we do a damn good job of
picking each other up.
Yeah,
and I also feel like I'd rather have,
like, a small dedicated base than just to,
like, have, like, a wide, like, casually,
like, just, you know...
The bigger your fan base,
the less you can make everybody happy
because there's so many different,
you know, views.
There's so many different tastes.
So it's, like,
the bigger your fan base gets,
it's the harder it is to please everybody.
And you're never going to please everybody
anyway.
So we're just doing what we...
what we want to do, you know,
and hopefully people like that.
Yeah.
At the end of the day.
Yeah.
I mean, I know it sounds,
anytime I say this,
I know it sounds kind of selfish,
but we do this for ourselves, you know,
at the end of the day,
we create for ourselves.
We make what we want to read because
at the end of the day,
that's really what you're doing is writing
something that you yourself want to read.
And then if other people jump on board
and read it with you and enjoy it
with you,
It's a win-win.
Honestly,
I don't feel like I'm personally much of
a writer.
I'm not from the industry.
I don't have any education in writing.
If somebody hired me to write some kind
of script,
I wouldn't be able to do it.
I can only write what I think is
cool.
I think it wouldn't work otherwise.
That's like ninety percent of us, man.
None of us are writers.
We didn't go to school for writing.
I just kind of...
fell into this one day and just stuck
around and love it.
Yeah.
And honestly,
I feel like some of the coolest comics
and stories that have come out in the
last, you know,
I don't know how long the coolest stuff
has been indie comics.
Cause there's no committees or boards or
people telling you,
telling you you can do this.
You can't do that.
Yeah.
You know,
you don't have editors or anything.
You just do what you want.
Although I do recommend you get an editor.
Editors are always good.
This is my editor right here.
Nikki does it all.
Nikki does it all.
That's how it is.
Happy wife, happy... Exactly.
Happy wife, happy life, right?
I learned it the hard way, apparently.
But... So...
There's something I think is important
about where Lucky Devil is now.
You've got your own store, crowdfunding,
digital distribution through global
comics,
and another issue entering the pipeline.
That's no longer saying,
can we make a comic?
That's starting to become how do we keep
comics?
making comics and what have you learned
about the business side of independent
common sense ill fate that you simply
couldn't have understood before actually
releasing the book and i'm pretty sure you
have a laundry list of stuff you learned
from this campaign well i mean like on
the surface the biggest thing is like it
doesn't matter how great your project is
or how well written it is or you
know aesthetically if it looks awesome
If there's no marketing behind it,
if people aren't seeing it,
it's not going to get funded.
It's not going to get, you know, pushed.
So you have to do marketing,
whether you like it or not,
or whether you're good at it or not.
So it really is a business.
Uh,
you just have to kind of find that
balance between being creative and being a
business person.
Yeah.
Yeah, and there's also, like,
all these logistics to, like,
thinking about distribution, shipping,
this, that, printing.
Like, there's so much things that,
you know, you can make the products,
but when you actually try to get it
out there, then you realize, oh, like,
all these things that come up.
Yeah.
It's also interesting to see, like,
the reader's kind of like perception of
things, like from doing conventions,
sometimes we'll have people come up and
say, so are you the artist?
And I'll say, no, I'm the writer.
And they'll be like, okay.
Like, it doesn't matter.
Like at that point.
Yeah.
But they're only interested.
It's only legitimate if you're the artist.
Yeah.
But it's like, well,
but I'm the person that wrote it.
Like I'm the person that designed the
character.
I'm the person that told,
told the artist to do this angle,
to do this and to, you know,
And it's just weird that like some people,
their perception is just like,
if you're not the artist, you're.
I've never understood that.
And I see that conventions too.
And like, like,
I don't understand the theory or the
thought of that.
Like if you're the writer is literally
your mind,
your story that the artist simply
translated for you on the paper.
But everything else is yours.
The characters, the designs, the outlines,
like everything is yours.
All the artists did.
And I'm not taking nothing from any
artists out there because I know a lot
of amazing artists is they translate what
you want onto the paper.
And, you know,
every now and then they will be like,
hey,
I know this is the direction you're going,
but have you thought about this or that
or this?
You know, and that's great.
But at the end of the day,
the guy who wrote it, I think,
deserves a little bit more credit than
like, oh, you're not the artist.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And that is true.
A lot of times I'll have a certain
vision for a scene or a panel,
and I'll kind of be dead set on
it,
but then when I get the artist or
the art back from the artist,
I'll kind of see something that I didn't
see.
Or they'll just add little elements that I
kind of overlooked.
That's a sign of a great artist, though.
Yeah.
I also noticed that some people, they...
They'll literally say like, oh,
I only read like Marvel and DC.
Like I don't do the indie thing.
Like some people like they have like a
strong like boundary and they just don't
even want to humor it.
They're just like, no, like,
or I don't like read comics and stuff
like that.
I feel like you sometimes say that a
lot.
That has happened multiple times where at
a convention, somebody will come up,
they'll pick up the comic.
They'll literally read every page right in
front of us.
And I'll say, so what did you think?
And they'll be like, I don't read comics.
Like, what were you doing?
Just staring at the pictures?
You know, you're... You sit there for,
like, thirty minutes, right?
And you just read the book in front
of me.
And you're gonna tell me I didn't read
the book?
Oh, they go to look at the cosplay.
That's what they do.
Or, like, they're there for, like,
Pokemon cards and stuff like that.
Yeah, like,
I noticed that a lot of these, uh...
Like, if you do, like,
a collector's kind of market kind of
thing,
you see people with binders sometimes.
They have a list of cards they're going
to collect.
They're, like,
they're just focused on their niche.
And the comics are, like,
not even an afterthought.
They're just, you know, decorations.
And aside that, you know, we've managed,
we still,
people still want to call them comic cons,
comic conventions.
But they, comics are,
they all take the back seat now at
most of these conventions.
And that's the one thing I did like
about San Diego this year,
New York last year is you're starting to
see more of the comic book come back
into it.
I mean, yeah,
you still have Hall H where they're going
to have, you know,
the billion dollar Marvel stuff behind
there with the movies and stuff like that.
But everybody I talked to that was there,
they were like,
there was the focus was definitely back
more on comic books versus the other
stuff.
So we'll see how it evolves over the
next couple of years.
I do wish we could just go cause
Pokemon, they, they get like these huge,
like little conventions every weekend
somewhere.
Like I know there's one in my town,
like once a month, like a big,
they get like the,
the little convention center at the
Marriott or whatever.
And it's just Pokemon vendors upon Pokemon
vendors upon Pokemon vendors.
And, um,
like once or twice a month they do
this yeah i'm just like we should really
do that for comic books that would be
kind of cool yeah i'm thinking like our
business plan should really shift to where
we're like i just buy pokemon cards sell
them so i can find this i mean
my daughter collects pokemon and she just
flipped pokemon to into a switch too so
She sold one car.
I was always more of like a Dragon
Ball Z kid.
I never got into Pokemon, but I mean,
it's like everywhere I look,
it's just Pokemon, Pokemon, Pokemon.
I can't stand it.
I mean, my daughter, she's big into it.
And like I said, she bought a pack,
pulled the chase card, went,
sold the chase card,
went and bought a Switch too.
Wow.
In a matter of like,
No way.
I have a theory that eventually Pokemon
cards are just going to replace cash
entirely.
It's just going to become the new global
dollar.
They said the same thing about crypto and
how that worked out.
So... But...
So how are you trying to make the
lucky devil ecosystem work now with your
own store, crowdfunding, global comments,
conventions, and direct sales?
So, and it's kind of cool.
You're no longer relying directly on
anyone place to find retailers.
Like how are y'all kind of like making
all that work together to benefit you and
how, like,
when you go to do the Kickstarter for
issue two, like do you,
are y'all in the green on this or
like,
is it going to be another one of
those?
Like if we don't fund,
we don't make issue two.
Well, because like issue two is already,
um, it's pretty far into production.
So I don't think this next one is
going to be a make or break, but,
uh,
It is really important,
especially like as a small business,
to find some kind of ecosystem or some
kind of system to fund things.
So right now it's just been the
Kickstarters and then conventions.
And hopefully at some point it will grow
enough to the point where it just becomes
like this system that we have in place.
With any business,
sometimes you're going to pour a lot of
money into it in the beginning,
but hopefully soon it can become a thing
where it can sustain itself.
It goes back to say,
you have to spend money to make money,
right?
Yeah.
And comic books is no different.
Yeah.
If not,
then I'm going to have to go back
to selling pics or something.
No, don't put your feet there, please.
Put those corns and bunions away, man.
What are you doing?
Trying to make some money.
Feed finder.
You can find us on feedfinder.com.
I feel you, man.
I'm going to start selling bean pits on
my cats.
But...
Let's talk about the thing I know people
who finished Ill Fate actually want us to
talk about.
And that's what happens next.
You guys are preparing issue two for
production.
Without spoiling Ill Fate or somebody
discovering the plague tonight,
where are you in the process?
And what can you tell us about where
the story is going?
And I'm going to leave my mouth shut
because I got to read a little bit.
You know.
It's good.
I'll just leave it at that.
It's good.
Thank you, man.
Yeah,
I don't want to give away too much,
but because we're so early into this
story,
basically Diego doesn't know what's going
on.
He's kind of just thrust into this.
You know, he's like on a roller coaster.
So he's,
right now he's kind of discovering what he
is, what he can do.
And all the while trying to juggle like
his personal vendetta and struggling with
his own like
morals and principles so uh without saying
too much that's kind of what's being
explored in issue two and there's gonna be
a lot more action yeah yeah there will
be a lot more action i'm excited for
that i think you sent me what the
first eight pages something like that is
it eight pages i think eight or ten
yeah and um
Yeah, like I said,
it's just like this smooth transition from
issue one into issue two.
And him reconnecting with somebody from
his past.
Well, I say past,
but it's not really that much time has
actually passed.
But yeah,
it's kind of cool in seeing like...
Because it's literally, like,
between issue one and issue two,
it's like, what,
a day between it has passed or something
like that?
Or a couple of days at most,
it feels like?
Well, at the end of, like, issue one,
it's kind of hinted that, like,
after Nina dies, Diego kind of goes into,
like, this slump.
And there is, like,
a period of time that...
I'm going to spoil this.
Yeah.
But there's a period of time that passes
by,
so we kind of hint at the fact
that some time has passed.
Yeah,
but days kind of blur together when you're
depressed and stuff like that.
But yeah,
it's not a huge amount of time.
It's just so seamless, though.
The way Issue One went into Issue Two,
it's seamless.
Yeah, it's
You nailed the intro on that one, bud.
Thank you.
I definitely took a lot of feedback from
people who had read the first issue.
And I wanted to cut back on a
lot of the dialogue and beating people
over the head with the story.
And I just wanted to focus on just
the emotion of it and just telling it
through the imagery and stuff like that.
Sorry.
So issue one had to introduce this world,
establish the plague, set the rules.
Now that you've done all that,
how much more dangerous or just plain
fucked up can you allow issue two to
become now?
Yeah.
Well,
my idea for issue two is kind of
start off a little bit slow just for
the first couple of pages.
Kind of gets you feeling a little bit
emotional and,
And then quickly just drop you right into
the action.
Things get brutal.
Things get crazy.
And we're not going to hold back.
So it's going to be very visceral,
especially with the image,
like the cover image that I have in
mind.
People are new to the plague scene for
the first time.
As soon as they see the cover,
they're going to know exactly what kind of
story this is.
Yeah,
it's the kind of cover that I think
we should have like a censored version and
like an uncensored version kind of thing.
Polly Baggett.
Especially because, like, you know,
some of you do conventions and there's
little kids running around.
So it's just like, OK,
let's let's have some.
You got to put a little piece of
cardboard over the front.
Yeah, exactly.
Something sticky note.
Yeah.
I like it.
But when you first came here to USDA
and you told us the plague was intended
to be this ongoing saga.
Yeah.
Well,
now we're actually getting to test that
promise.
Has your vision for the larger story
changed since making issue one?
Do you have a clearer picture now of
how the pledge story goes and what this
world can eventually become with Diego as
the plague?
I'll say like the original vision hasn't
changed much because I know where I want
the story to go.
And I have so many different interests,
like history and just a little bit of
everything.
So I don't want to say I'm dragging
it on,
but I want to kind of hit all
the different elements that I want to
explore.
Yeah.
Um, so the original vision hasn't changed,
but I think I might kind of condense
some things because one thing I've
learned, like I said,
is that people don't want to have this
story that's dragged out and they don't
want to beat over my head with stuff.
So I think I am going to take
a look at like my overview of the
story and just kind of indent some things
that are redundant and unnecessary.
Yeah.
I also feel like because I know so
much of the story and I know so
many characters,
I'm so overly excited that I can't wait
for us to start pumping out the issues
because it's like,
I can't wait to get to this part
and that part.
If I was rich,
if I won the lottery,
then we'll be pumping them out like crazy.
Her enthusiasm is so infectious.
I fucking love it.
Yeah, she's our biggest fan.
She's keeping this thing afloat.
A lot of times I just want to
drop out.
I'm just like, I'm exhausted.
But she's like a little energizer bunny.
That's why she's there for me.
Keep the boat afloat.
Yeah.
And I feel like when I get like
into things,
like when I was like a teenager,
I was into like anime.
Then I was like, oh,
I need to learn Japanese.
And I was just like learning how to
write Japanese.
Like I get so into it.
So like with a project like this,
like I'm like,
I can't just be casually into it.
I'm all in, like, let's go.
She's like Bane.
She was bored into the night.
So if we're sitting here doing Lucky Devil
interview three,
what do you hope has happened between
tonight and that conversation and that
conversation will happen?
I think the biggest thing is
Like I said,
I have so many stories that I just
want to pump out as soon as possible.
So I think the main thing is just
finding some kind of financial ecosystem
where we can do this in a stable
way that's not going to break the bank
and we can get the issues out on
a reasonable time.
Because the fans are really important to
me.
I'm a fan too.
I don't want to wait forever for a
lot of the content that I'm interested in.
Yeah,
I think it just comes down to that,
just building an ecosystem and just
creating some kind of steady flow.
Yeah, me too.
I wish that it's like every podcast,
it's like, oh yeah,
the next one's in production,
the next one's in production.
I'm really hoping that it can become more
of a regular thing and we can just
pump them out a lot faster.
I do know issue two is in production
because I've read it.
Well, pieces of it.
So for anybody out there wondering,
issue two is a real thing.
I have laid my eyes upon it and
it was glorious.
So it is happening and I'm excited for
it to happen.
The art,
the color on it looks fantastic on it.
So I'm really excited about issue two and
when it's ready to launch and
You know how to get a hold on
me and we'll run it back again.
Yeah, that sounds great.
Yeah, we're excited for it.
So hopefully it comes sooner rather than
later.
I hope so too, man.
Can't keep me waiting forever.
But before we close up this crypt,
let's make sure everybody knows exactly
where they can find you.
So for everybody discovering you tonight
for the first time,
where should they start and where can they
read the book?
There it is.
I got a little handwritten note here.
So you can find us on Instagram at
Lucky Devil Comics Official.
We're on Facebook,
just Lucky Devil Comics.
We also got our own website,
LuckyDevilStore.com.
Where you can get the digital,
the physical copy.
We got merchandise like t-shirts, hats,
a little bit of everything.
Got wallpapers.
You can get this t-shirt there.
Oh, yes.
I was so happy to see you wearing
it.
I modeled it for y'all.
I was like,
I'm going to model a shirt for them.
I wish I wore it.
But you rock the Power Rangers.
We got Stiles over here styling in the
three-button Henley looking too cool for
school.
Here we go.
Caped Wonder said he loved the first issue
and he's pumped for issue two.
If Stiles has his way,
he has said it will be a hundred
plus.
Let's make it three hundred.
Why not?
Oh, God bless you, Stiles.
But I'd love to give you the final
words.
So to all to the people who supported
ill fate,
the readers who have discovered you since
and somebody sitting there wondering
whether they should take a chance on the
plague.
What do you want to say to them
tonight?
The floor is yours.
And Nikki is for y'all to say what
you want to say.
I'll start just saying like I'm so happy
that you know people took a chance on
our Kickstarter I feel like it really was
a risk we we only had about half
of it done you know you never know
if something's gonna fall through you know
so I was so happy that so many
people took a chance and even bought like
merch like t-shirts and stuff like that
because like um you know at that point
you don't even know anything about us but
you're still willing to like represent us
and like
take a chance on us and i'm so
happy that now we have like a the
first issue is like a proof of concept
and that um we're just trying to
constantly better we get better and
constantly try to like you know give a
good product to people so i'm just so
happy for everyone anyone who took a
chance and if you'd like to give us
a chance i'd be so grateful as well
and the cover just looks cool that's
that's enough reason to buy it i know
it really is you're like nine the poster
is cool too by the way i got
that too
It's not made it up to a wall
yet, but it is going to happen.
Oh, it's reflective.
Yeah, it's got a really bad glare.
Let's put it back.
I have the same one.
It's in a binder, right?
Not in a binder,
but it's in a plastic tote.
And eventually it's going to make it to
the wall.
I just got to figure out what kind
of...
I'm trying to match all my frames
together.
And the one frame that I have, like,
that manufacturer is no longer making,
like, big-sized poster frames.
So I'm like, well, shit.
So now I got to find different poster
frames.
You know what?
We got ours from, like, Michael's.
And sometimes they'll have, like,
I don't know if it's the same thing
in Michael's, like, US as Canada, but,
like, they'll have, like, you know,
buy one,
get one fifty percent off for the frames.
So even though they're kind of pricey.
Hold on,
Michael's has to pay us for that.
Oh, sorry.
I'm just saying, always check the coupons.
Because sometimes, even if...
We are looking for advertisers.
Yeah.
Come on.
I'll let you run in styles, like...
like what,
what is it that you would like to
just say to everybody out there about the
book and just the future and where they
can find you?
Yeah.
So like,
this was really written kind of like as
a love letter to people who grew up
on eighties and nineties, uh,
like really in your face, bold comics,
like spawn swamp thing, uh,
you know, people who love X-Files.
I think if you're into that kind of
stuff, you'll really dig the plague.
And aside from that,
everybody who's supported us so far,
really appreciate it.
It means everything to us,
especially so early on in this stage.
So yeah,
I just want to say thank you to
everybody.
And for anybody wondering,
all those links that they just shared are
down in the description below.
So make sure you hit those links.
Give them a follow.
And while you're in the mood to follow
people,
make sure you hit the USDN link tree.
Give us a follow there as well.
And y'all ready for this?
I told y'all I did y'all a special
outro.
So we're going to roll that outro now.
Done by yours truly.
So the last time Lucky Devil Comics joined
us,
the plague was fighting for a chance to
exist.
Tonight,
we learned what happens when the dead
refuses to stay buried.
Ill fate survived.
The world is expanding.
Eventually,
a new black and white edition will prepare
to crawl from the shadows.
The plague has found new readers through
Global Comics.
And issue two is waiting somewhere just
beyond the darkness.
So this isn't where we close the book
on the plague.
Not anymore.
Because Lucky Devil Comics came before the
council tonight with something they didn't
have the first time.
A new chapter.
To everyone watching and listening,
make sure you support independent comics.
Seek out the creators willing to build
these worlds without permission.
And when you find something you believe
in, help keep it alive.
And to my good friends at Lucky Devil
Comics, Nikki Stiles,
when the plague rises again,
The council will be waiting.
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm the chairman,
Stiles and Nikki of Lucky Devil Comets.
This has been the United States Department
of Nerds, where indie comics come to life.
The council is adjourned.
Y'all be safe out there.
Give it a second.
Something's about to happen.