Preparing for Rodney Barnes
The next episode is fast approaching!
One of the most incredible things about the Superfan Podcast is that we, as hosts, get to delve into new subjects and hobbies with each guest we have. Subjects they rarely mention, if ever, elsewhere, because the podcast gives them a chance to discuss something they genuinely love, whether or not it has anything to do with their current project. Interestingly enough, the stuff they want to talk about is often at the very center of their creativity. So far, we have delved into fictional detectives, one-man action movies, and the music of Billy Joel. A lot has been learned, and it’s very exciting to find out what the next topic will be.
So you may be wondering, what kind of preparation do we go into for each guest? The answer is twofold. First, we make sure to know what each guest’s career has encompassed, even though we don’t discuss it on the show.
In Rodney Barnes’ case, we were already familiar with his comic book writing, which includes the 2024 Eisner-nominated graphic novel Blacula: Return of the King, with artist Jason Shawn Alexander, as well as Marvel’s The Mandalorian: Season One with Georges Jeanty, which he also adapted for the Disney+ show. Mr. Barnes is also known for his Image Comics series, Killadelphia.
Outside of comics, Barnes is well known for the animated series The Boondocks, which he executive-produced and was the head writer for, alongside creator Aaron McGruder. He was also the co-executive producer and writer of Chris Rock's TV series, Everybody Hates Chris, as well as nine episodes of Marvel's Runaways on Hulu. And for the fans, we will not leave out his involvement in the Emmy-nominated Wu-Tang: An American Saga.
Moving beyond television, there are his podcasts! Barnes was also host (as well as a writer and executive producer) for the award-winning Winning Time Podcast, the official podcast companion to HBO's Original series, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. He is the host and co-creator of the true crime fiction podcast Run, Fool!, which is a weekly collection of horror stories he narrates, which, if you get too scared…run, fool! (couldn’t resist)
Entertainment aside, Barnes actively participates on the speaking circuit, discussing his career, the media landscape, cultural and racial issues, and comic book culture. He also writes a Substack called Dark Apocrypha Presents, which encompasses pretty much everything he has going on, plus fictional stories set in the Killdelphia universe. A man who does not rest! So now that we know all about who Rodney Barnes is as a professional, it’s time to find out what he’s a Superfan of!
If you thought we were going to reveal the topic this soon, you’re wrong. BUT! What we will say is that it’s within the horror genre, which should not be surprising, given Barnes’s oeuvre. The Superfan Podcast hosts were familiar with the topic, having collectively read dozens of books on the subject and seen multiple movies.
One clue that will be given is this: Rodney Barnes was born on September 19th. Superfan Podcast Co-host Kristen Simon was born on September 20th. The topic we are speaking on was born on September 21st. Coincidence? Most likely. But it’s cool, nonetheless!
So get excited, because this week, we're busy preparing our questions and creating our cocktail and dessert recipes! We’re kicking off May with our next recording, and then rolling out with the last four episodes to conclude the first season.
Thank you for joining us on this podcast journey. Please be sure to like, share, and subscribe! You can find us on the socials at Instagram, Bluesky, Facebook, and X! Soon, you’ll be able to see the podcast on our YouTube channel as well. Follow it now so you don’t miss out!
Special thanks to our Season One sponsor, the Fanbase Press! Fanbase Press is a GLAAD Media Award-winning and Eisner and Harvey Awards-nominated comic book publisher that celebrates super fandoms and creates new ones! #StoriesMatter.
