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.