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The Superfan Podcast launches Season 2 with more Guests Talking about What They Love Besides Comics

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SuperFan Podcast Season 2

What fascinates, captivates, and influences the people who create comics and graphic novels? In Season Two of the Superfan Podcast co-hosts Kristen Simon (Executive Editor at Mad Cave Studios’ Nakama Press), Christian Gossett (Story Artist, Eyes of Wakanda, The Red Star), and Superfan Promotions founder David Hyde will talk with some of the biggest stars of the comic book industry to find out what they’re passionate about — outside of comics.

The Superfan Podcast season two debuted with a conversation about professional wrestling with Eisner and Ignatz Award winning cartoonist, designer, zinemaker, and illustrator Jim Rugg (True Crime Funnies, Hulk Grand Design). In the freewheeling, no-holds-barred episode, Rugg reflects on who has the best gimmick in wrestling, the appeal of heels and heroes, and the art of kayfabe.

Season Two of the Superfan Podcast features an all-star line-up of award-winning writers and artists, including Gender Queer cartoonist Maia Kobabe on the appeal of K-pop, #1 New York Times bestselling cartoonist Johnnie Christmas (Swim Team) on the mystery of Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass, Eisner Award-winning artist/designer Paul Pope (THB) on the glorious career of guitarist Rowland S Howard, Eisner Award-winning artist Erica Henderson (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl) on her love of Terry Pratchett’s seminal, satirical Discworld novels and acclaimed artist Elsa Charretier (Love Everlasting) on the many merits of game-based dog training. For each episode, the co-hosts also share a dessert recipe and a recommended cocktail and mocktail inspired by the conversation.

In the K-pop world…there’s people buying every single album a whole group has released, or maybe every single variant album a group has released, or they’re trying to collect every single photocard ever released of a specific member of a specific group…The collecting impulse is strong!

-Maia Kobabe

Listen to this week’s episode with Maia Kobabe now.

Each episode of the podcast is paired with a dessert and a cocktail and/or mocktail.

Folks who want to get the show notes which include the recipes each week, should subscribe here.

Featured Segment Extras

Cocktail

There is an amazing BTS recipe site called BTS Army Kitchen. Check. It. Out.

Super Wave

Ingredients

  • 2 oz coconut water
  • 2 oz pineapple juice
  • 2 oz blue Curaçao
  • 1 oz coconut rum
  • Swedish Fish (garnish)

Directions
Shake ingredients with ice, pour over ice, and garnish with Swedish Fish.

Recipe source
https://www.btsarmykitchen.com/post/super-wave

Mocktail

Shooky’s Cookie Crumble Latte

Ingredients

  • 2 oz freshly brewed coffee or espresso (cooled)
  • 1 cup milk
  • ½ cup sugar cookie syrup
  • Coffee ice cubes

Directions
Pour syrup into a glass, add coffee ice, top with milk and coffee, stir, and enjoy.

Recipe source
https://www.btsarmykitchen.com/post/shooky-s-cookie-crumble-latte

Dessert

BTS-Approved Street Snack: Quick & Easy Hotteok (Korean Sweet Pancakes)

If K-pop had a smell, it might just be cinnamon sugar melting inside a crisp, golden pancake. Hotteok (호떡) is a classic Korean street dessert that’s been fueling idol trainees, fans waiting in concert lines, and late-night café crowds for decades. Think of it as Korea’s answer to the doughnut + crepe + hug combo — soft, sweet, and a little dramatic when that caramel filling oozes out.

The Superfan Podcast is a production of Superfan Media. Season Two’s episodes have been edited by Bryant Dillon with production help by Fanbase Press, who are title sponsors of Season Two’s episodes.

The Superfan Podcast theme song is performed by the band Low in the Shag, featuring Daniel Shulman on bass, Sasha Brustinov on keyboards, Ziv Fisher on drums, Eric Garcia on guitar, Jacob Shulman on saxophone, and Derek Zimmerman on percussion. The song was written by Daniel Shulman, who has played bass for Garbage and is currently performing with The Halloween Jack, alongside Gilby Clarke (Guns N’ Roses), Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction), and Eric Dover (Alice Cooper). The Superfan Podcast logo is designed by Criswell Lappin, former Creative Director of the legendary Metropolis Magazine, whose design work can be seen at criswelllappin.com.

Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer: A Memoir Gets an Annotated Edition from Oni Press in May 2026

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Oni Press will publish a special annotated hardcover edition of Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer: A Memoir. The cartoonist’s earnest, heartfelt, and intensely cathartic graphic memoir chronicling eir personal journey of self-identity has been widely heralded as one of the most important and influential graphic novels of the 21st century. Gender Queer: The Annotated Edition will feature all-new commentary from academic and creative communities to further shed light on the creation of Kobabe’s work, from exploring the technicalities of comic creation to highlighting personal anecdotes from a host of writers and artists discussing their own experiences growing up queer and genderqueer. The new hardcover edition will be published by Oni Press in May of 2026.  

Gender Queer: The Annotated Edition promises to be a wonderful educational tool for years to come. Along with commentary from Maia Kobabe, the new edition features annotations from fellow cartoonists Jadzia Axelrod and Ashley R. Guillory, cartoonist and editor Justin Hall, cartoonist and educator Kori Michele Handwerker, designer and animator Phoebe Kobabe, author Hal Schrieve, cartoonist and comics professor at California College of the Arts Rani Som, co-creator of Lumberjanes and editor Shannon Watters, as well as original acquiring editor Andrea Colvin. Gender Queer: The Annotated Edition also includes commentary by prestigious academic figures, including Dr. Sandra Cox, Ajuan Mance, Matthew Noe, and many more. 

In 2014, Maia Kobabe—who uses e/em/eir pronouns—thought that a comic of reading statistics would be the last autobiographical comic e would ever write. At the time, it was the only thing e felt comfortable with strangers knowing about em. Then e created Gender Queer: A Memoir. Maia’s autobiography charts eir journey of self-identity, which includes the mortification and confusion of adolescent crushes, grappling with how to come out to family and society, bonding with friends over erotic gay fan fiction, and facing the trauma and fundamental violation of pap smears. Started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, Gender Queer is more than a personal story: It is a useful and touching guide on gender identity—what it means and how to think about it—for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere.

Since its original publication in 2019, Gender Queer: A Memoir has been repeatedly cited as one the most banned books in the United States. It has also been widely heralded as one of the most important and influential graphic novels of the 21st century, earning near-universal critical acclaim as a seminal work of LGBTQIA+ nonfiction and ALA Alex and Stonewall Book Awards in the process. 

Alberta looks to Censor Books Looking to “Find the Line” for “Age-Appropriateness”

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Looks like the US is exporting something after all to Canada, book bans! Calgary‘s Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides made a surprise announcement for plans to “find the line” for age-appropriate books for schools. The announcement was a surprise to both the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) and Edmonton Public School Board (EPSB) who are left scrambling after the decision. The books have been pulled from libraries in response to “review their content.”

Four graphic novels were referenced during the announcement. Nicolaides claims they contain mature contant such as depictions of sexual activity and nudity. The four graphic novels are Gender Queer, by Maia Kobabe; Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel; Blankets, by Craig Thompson; and Flamer, by Mike Curato. All of the graphic novels are regularly on “banned” lists in the United States.

On Amazon, Gender Queer is listed as 18 years and up on its “reading age” listing, Fun Home is 15 years and up, Blankets doesn’t have an age range listed, and Flamer is listed for ages 14 to 18 years old. Books are often listed with age ranges they’re meant for, this isn’t a new phenomenon.

Calgary is “consulting with parents” to create standards for what is and what isn’t appropriate for school libraries. So, make your voice heard to prevent the slippery slope these witch hunts turn in to.

While Nicolaides said:

I want to be clear right from the onset, this is not a question of banning specific books or specific titles, but rather, establishing clear policies and guidelines for all school divisions to follow.

We know that’s never the case and when given an inch, these sort of “think about the children” movements quickly slide into book bannings with fascist overtones.

Alberta doesn’t have a single provincewide standard to guide school boards leading to different approaches in what is chosen for school libraries.

Nicolaides’ press secretary said the books were found in 57 public schools across Calgary and Edmonton but didn’t disclose which ones with Nicolaides himself stating that ” many of these books exist in elementary schools.” As noted above, none of the books are listed as age appropriate for elementary schools.

The school boards, libraries, and Teacher’s Association said they were blindsided by the announcement and undermines the partnership they expect.

Feedback is being gathered through an online survey until June 6 and Albertans can provide input about what they believe is acceptable for school library collections. Really, the survey is open, so anyone can provide input… hint, hint.

The province doesn’t have the authority to “ban” books from school libraries and hopes to have new policies in effect by this September in time for the 2025-26 school year.

In the United States during 2023 and 2024, more than 10,000 book bans affecting more than 4,000 titles were put in place in the United States according to PEN America. In 2024, Canada saw 97 books challenged.

3 Graphic Novels make the top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2023

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Gender Queer

Book challenges and book burnings are in vogue right now and being used in a culture war to shore up support for rightwing grifters who have little to go on for support beyond attacking others. The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom each year compiles a list of the top 10 most challenged books. This year, three graphic novels made the list.

There were 4,240 unique books targeted for censorship in 2023 which as an increase of 65% from 2022. There were 1,247 demands to censor library books, materials, and resources. The number of titles targeted for censorship at public libraries increased by 92% over the previous year, accounting for about 46% of all book challenges in 2023.

All three graphic novels challenged contain LGBTQIA+ and were claimed to be “sexually explicit.”

Maia Kobabe‘s Gender Queer again topped the list with 106 challenges. The graphic novel has topped the list for the past three years. Mike Curato‘s Flamer was fifth with 67 challenges and Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan was ninth with 55 challenges.

You can see the full list here.

Around the Tubes

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It’s a new week and we’ve got some of the news and reviews you might have missed this past weekend! Hope you all had a nice one so here’s some links to kick off the week!

CBR – Why Did a Real Comic Book Company Make a Fake Comic Book For The Lost Boys? – Some cool history.

The Beat – Studio Coffee Run: WBD buries The Rock and more – This has been interesting to watch.

The Beat – Scholastic to publish new Maia Kobabe graphic novel in ’25 – Very excited for this.

Reviews

The Beat – It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth
CBR – Scotch McTiernan’s Holiday Party #1

It's Lonely at the Centre of the Earth

Gender Queer Virginia Case is Officially Over

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Gender Queer

In August, a Virginia judge dismissed the obscenity lawsuit against Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer: A Memoir and Sarah Maas’ A Court of Mist and Fury. Virginia Beach Circuit Court Judge Pamela Baskervill ruled that neither book meets the standard for obscenity under Virginia law and that the obscenity law itself was unconstitutional.

Though the case was dismissed there was still a chance the two individuals behind it, Republican State Delegate Tim Anderson and failed Republican congressional candidate Tommy Altman, could appeal and drag it out further. Anderson vowed the “fight would continue” and that Altman was reviewing the appeal options.

Now, with the deadline passed, the case is officially over. Neither Anderson or Altman have appealed the case which settles this particular flashpoint.

It’s a battle won within an ongoing culture war. Gender Queer is one of the most challenged books in the country and become a flashpoint being used in political elections as an attack point by the right.

Virginia Judge Dismisses Gender Queer Book Ban lawsuit

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Gender Queer

A Virginia judge has dismissed an obscenity lawsuit that put Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer: A Memoir and Sarah Maas’ A Court of Mist and Fury further in the spotlight and possibly restricted in the commonwealth. Following a hearing this Tuesday, Virginia Beach Circuit Court Judge Pamela Baskervill ruled that neither book meets the standard for obscenity under Virginia law and that the obscenity law itself was unconstitutional.

Republican State Delegate Tim Anderson and failed Republican congressional candidate Tommy Altman decided to abuse a little-used rule that allows indviduals to launch obscenity proceedings in the state. Both felt the material in the books were explicit and unsuitable for those under 18.

The lawsuit would have restrict not just the sale of the book but potentially even individuals sharing the books with each other.

Judge Pamela Baskervill dismissed the case stating that Altman and Anderson hadn’t provided substantial evidence the books were obscene and that Virginia’s laws around obscene books violated the First Amendment. You can read ruling 1 and ruling 2.

Losing attorney Anderson stated on Facebook the fight would continue and that Altman is reviewing the appeal options stating they feel the standard for obscenity for children should be different than for adults. Both we’re sure were very pro empowering parents in the most recent election but seem to not think parents can make those decisions for their kids. That makes them hypocrites.

Gender Queer has become a target in the national attacks on literature. It’s yet another example of the book banning that is being pushed by right-wing provocateurs to make gains politically by stoking “culture wars”.

As has been shown, a dark money network is funding campaigns against “Critical Race Theory”, something not being taught in schools. This book banning is an off-shoot of that showing these pushes are about as natural as an oral bowel movement. The “movement” is being used as a wedge issue to whip up voters by the right since they have nothing else to run on. It attempts to pit parents vs. bureaucrats (and teachers and librarians), a match that’s unfortunately pretty easy to get traction on. The movement has been working for decades and continues the right-wing push to take over at the local level, first at the state and now even lower to get their regressive agenda passed.

Small Press Expo 2022 Announces Additional Special Guests

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Small Press Expo has announced additional Special Guests for SPX 2022. It’s the first in-person show in three years taking place on Saturday September 17 and Sunday September 18 with programming and workshops about the amazing world of independent comics, along with over 500 creators on the exhibitor floor.

SPX 2022 is honored to have the following creators as Special Guests to this year’s show:

Maia Kobabe is the author of Gender Queer: A Memoir, winner of an Alex Award, Stonewall Honor, and the most banned book in the US in 2021. It is being released in a deluxe hardcover edition that features a brand-new cover, exclusive art and sketches, a forward by ND Stevenson (Lumberjanes, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power) and an afterward by creator Maia Kobabe. Started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, Gender Queer is more than a personal story: it is a useful and touching guide on gender identity—what it means and how to think about it—for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere.

Ronald Wimberly (born 28 April 1979) is an American artist (a cartoonist and filmmaker). He has published several graphic novels, as well as shorter works for The New Yorker, DC/Vertigo, Nike, Marvel, Hill and Wang, and Dark Horse Comics. Wimberly was the 2016 Columbus Museum of Art comics resident, and was a two-time resident cartoonist at Angoulême‘s Maison des Auteurs. He is the recipient of the 2008 Glyph Comics Award, and has been nominated for two Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards.

Rumi Hara was born in Kyoto, Japan, and started printing her comics on a tiny home printer while working as a translator in Tokyo in 2010. After receiving an MFA in illustration from Savannah College of Art and Design, Rumi moved to New York in 2014, where she now lives and works as an illustrator and comics artist. Her comics series Nori was first self-published as minicomics and was nominated for an Ignatz Award in 2018.

Gabrielle Bell’s work has been selected several times for Best American Comics and the Yale Anthology of Graphic Fiction, and has been  featured in The Believer, McSweeney’s and Vice magazines. Her story, “Cecil and Jordan In New York,” was turned into a film by Michel Gondry. The Voyeurs was named one of the best Graphic Novels of the year by Publishers Weekly. Inappropriate, her most recent collection of absurd short comics, garnered two Ignatz Award nominations and was named “One of the Best GNs of the Year” by The Library Journal. Gabrielle Bell lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Bianca Xunise is a cartoonist based out of Chicago, Illinois and will debut at SPX a brand new zine, Midnite Crawling, which is a collection of short stories about music and the punk subculture. In 2017 Xunise earned an Ignatz for Promising New Talent for their comic Say Her Name, an autobiographical story of police brutality and social justice. In 2020 Xunise earned their second Ignatz for their contribution to Be Gay, Do Comics published by IDW. Xunise has collaborated with Vogue, The Washington Post, The Nib, and Believer Magazine. They are also a contributor to the book How We Fight Supremacy: A Field Guide to Black Resistance along with Ta-Nehisi Coates, Tarana Burk, and Harry Belafonte. Bianca became the first nationally syndicated non-binary cartoonist when they joined the comic strip Six Chix in 2020 as their first black creator.

Review: Gender Queer: A Memoir – Deluxe Edition

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Maia Kobabe talks about eir’s journey of discovery of eir gender identity with an interesting focus on advocates, friends, and humans everywhere.

This special deluxe hardcover edition of Gender Queer features a brand-new cover, exclusive art and sketches, a foreword from ND Stevenson, Lumberjanes writer and creator of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, and an afterword from Maia Kobabe.

Story: Maia Kobabe
Art: Maia Kobabe
Color: Phoebe Kobabe

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

Bookshop
Amazon
comiXology/Kindle
Zeus Comics

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