He Was Dying… Then the Government Turned Him Into a Weapon | PorTroyal Smith – The Rogue Recordings
He was dying.
Then the government offered him survival.
The price? Becoming a weapon.
In this episode of The USDN Podcast, we sit down with PorTroyal Smith (Nathan Lebens), author of The Rogue Recordings, to explore a superhero saga grounded in military realism, moral ambiguity, and the true cost of power.
From operating missiles in North Dakota to building a layered narrative about government-created super soldiers, PorTroyal shares the journey behind Shadowalker and Shadowar — and the question that defines the series:
When survival changes who you are… are you still the hero?
We discuss:
• Military influence in storytelling
• Weaponized humanity
• Power and moral consequence
• The evolution from Shadowalker to Shadowar
• Writing stories that deepen on a second read
📚 Featured Works — The Rogue Recordings Series
Power always comes with a cost.
The USDN Podcast — Where Indie Comics Come to Life.
#USDN, #PorTroyalSmith, #Shadowalker, #Shadowar, #IndieAuthor, #SciFiFiction, #SuperheroBooks, #PodcastInterview, #WritingCommunity, #Storytelling, #BookPodcast
What is The United States Department of Nerds Podcast?
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 today’s indie storytelling movement.
This isn’t about rumors or recycled news.
It’s about the people creating the worlds.
Through in-depth conversations, creator spotlights, and crowdfunding discussions, USDN explores:
• The rise of indie comics
• The business of crowdfunding
• The art of worldbuilding
• The realities of independent storytelling
USDN is where indie comics come to life — for the fans, by the creators, and powered by the community.