Q&A: Discussing First Horror Films, Favorite Halloween Candy, and Memorable Costumes with SUPERFAN PODCAST Co-Hosts Christian Gossett, Kristen Simon, and David Hyde

2025/10/03 17:08:08 +00:00 | Jonathan James

Featuring comic book creators discussing the things they are passionate about other than comics, the Superfan Podcast takes a unique approach to the wondrous world of comic books, digging deeper into the human side of the industry and ultimately giving listeners a better understanding of the brilliant minds behind their favorite comics and graphic novels.

Co-hosted by comic book writer/artist Christian Gossett, comic book editor Kristen Simon, and comic book publicist extraordinaire David Hyde, the first three episodes of the Superfan Podcast are now available to listen to on multiple platforms, featuring insightful conversations with Rodney Barnes, Marc Guggenheim, and Kelly Sue DeConnick (which was just released today)!

To celebrate the launch of the Superfan Podcast and with Halloween season now upon us, Daily Dead had the great pleasure of catching up with the co-hosts to discuss their first horror films, favorite Halloween candy, memorable costumes, Halloween playlist recommendations, and more!

Below, you can read our full Q&A with Christian, Kristen, and David, and as a special treat, we also have preview pages from The Night Eater, which is one of David's reading recommendations for the Halloween season.

For more information, be sure to follow the Superfan Podcast on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube and visit https://superfanmedia.net. For behind-the-scenes information, dessert and cocktail recipes, and show notes, follow the Superfan Signal Substack, which has paid subscriber-only content.

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What was the first horror film you remember watching and what impact did it have on you?

Christian Gossett: Motel Hell with Rory Calhoun. It was so lame. The impact it had on me was that I realized I should stop hanging out with the losers who thought it was a good idea. And I did, which was great because several of them later did time. Bullet dodged. Thanks, horror genre!

Kristen Simon: Dawn of the Dead, 1978, at a drive-in theater, double feature. First one was a kid’s movie, then we had to go to bed, and blankets were draped over the front seat headrests so we couldn’t see the next adult movie. But I peeked over, and then I had nightmares, and my parents were not happy. However, the bigger impact was in 1982, the year the movie Alien was released on VHS. My parents were friends with a couple who had two kids who were my age and my brother’s. We went to their house to watch it all together, the eight of us. Why my parents let me see that at age nine, I will never know. I can rewatch Dawn of the Dead with no problem, but to this very day, I really have to steel myself to watch anything Alien-related, including Alien: Earth.

David Hyde: I actually don’t remember the first horror film I ever watched! I didn’t grow up watching horror films, for the most part. And that would surprise most people who know me, since I’m known for being an enthusiastic fan of Halloween.

For me, the spooky season starts on August 1st, and every year my family decides on one theme or common thread for the spooky season viewings. Last year, my wife and I watched probably a dozen bloody, visually stunning giallo films, many of which were streaming on the Criterion Channel. This year, the two of us are watching one Stephen King film adaptation each week. This decision was one hundred percent inspired by the conversation with Blacula and Killadelphia writer Rodney Barnes about his love of the modern master of horror on the Superfan Podcast. Talking to Rodney reminded me just how much King understands horror, of course, but also how much he has to say about the American family.

But my very first horror movie? It was probably enjoying a late night screening of an ’80s horror flick like A Nightmare on Elm Street with my friends Jed and Justin. The impact was clearly less about the movie itself and more about the joy of watching a horror flick with friends.

Do you have a favorite Halloween candy or treat that you must have every October?

Christian Gossett: There were these great local bakeries in North Hollywood when I was a kid, and they’d make the best shortbread-style cookies with this orange frosting that I haven’t been able to find since. So good. Being cast out of that better timeline by the cosmic breach known as the Reagan era, I now enjoy the Halloween-themed Reese’s cups.

Kristen Simon: Candy corns. Fight me, I’m ready.

David Hyde: I don’t want to fight, Kris, but I love a good sugar cookie. I live in Atwater Village, in Los Angeles, and have the good fortune to live a few blocks away from the Village Bakery, where they make delicious and spooky cookies.

What's your most memorable Halloween costume you've ever worn?

Kristen Simon: Darth Vader in the mid-’90s. I had (have!) the actual helmet that is two parts that velcro together. Incredibly official-looking. When I separated those two pieces and revealed myself to people, they were expecting a guy, and were absolutely floored.

Christian Gossett: My brother’s wife was born on October 31st, so one year, my daughter and I joined them and my nieces at Disneyland on Halloween. My brother’s wife dressed up like Mary Poppins, which is no stretch for her at all, she killed it. My brother dressed up as Bert in support, and I was a second chimney sweep. We had charred brooms and everything. And of course, they gave her that huge “it’s my birthday button” and the cast members were very happy to shout out, “Happy Birthday, Mary Poppins!” in our direction all night long. It was so great.

David Hyde: Did I mention I’m an enthusiastic fan of Halloween? I’ve been Dracula, Batman, Dale Cooper, a victim of the Creature from the Black Lagoon, a Pharaoh, and more… But my most memorable costume was the year I was the Frankenstein monster, and my then-girlfriend (who is now my wife) was the Bride. She did not originally know why I was suggesting those costumes. My plan was to propose at our Halloween party, buuuuuut the plan changed. The day I got the ring, I was too excited. The night I got the ring, I proposed at the fountain at Lincoln Center. We still wore the costumes at the Halloween party, only now she had a ring! And the monster had his bride.

If you had to recommend one song for a Halloween playlist for our listeners, which track would you pick and why?

David Hyde: “I Put A Spell on You” by Sceamin’ Jay Hawkins. You could actually, in fact, make a great playlist of just covers of this song: Nina Simone! Them! Credence Clearwater Revival! Buddy Guy! Annie Lenox! Chaka Khan! Marilyn Manson! She & Him! Bonnie Tyler! (Yes, reader, Bonnie Tyler.) But this song is entrenched in pop culture today because of Screamin' Jay Hawkins. When I was in high school I saw Sceamin’ Jay Hawkins in Jim Jarmusch’s film Mystery Train and I thought he was the coolest. I had a picture of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins in my locker. Anyhow, it is a great song. Listen to it and listen to it again.

Kristen Simon: "Werewolves of London" by Warren Zevon. That’s my Halloween vibe. Or maybe "Feed My Frankenstein" by Alice Cooper. That’s also my vibe.

Christian Gossett: "Monster Mash," but the version from Return of the Living Dead Part II. I’m biased because I did the lead vocal. Badly, sure. But dammit, it was still me.

What is the best horror movie franchise sequel and why?

David Hyde: I usually prefer when there’s not a sequel. My controversial take is that there should only be one Alien movie. But, boy, do I love Scream. And I love the Scream sequels and all their clever, pulpy, murderous fun. The reason these movies work for me is that they are great movies about movies, but they’re also about family. They are clever, but they have heart. Plus, the Ghostface mask is iconic and still creepy today, no matter how many movies they make.

Kristen Simon: Evil Dead II / Army of Darkness. Evil Dead II reinvented itself and leaned into humor, which took the edge off horror movies for me. And when Army of Darkness hit, oh man. That entire movie is quotable.

Christian Gossett: The Star Wars sequels. Terror beyond imagination. Zombie Palpatine? Dagger Maps? That tentacle ear thing? Never putting Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, and Threepio together onscreen? This entire timeline is still scarred in a way that would make Lovecraft sob. The horror… the horror…

So many people focus on horror movies during Halloween, but do you have a favorite horror book, graphic novel, or video game recommendation for our readers?

Kristen Simon: Clive Barker’s 1988 novella called Cabal, in Books of Blood Volume 6. I was a huge Clive Barker fan for a while, and even met him a couple of times, which just made me more of a fan. Of course, I have not read it in over 25 years, so I have no idea if it holds up or not! I’m giving it a shout-out anyway, because come on…Hellraiser.

David Hyde: Marjore Liu, the Eisner Award-winning writer, is best known for Monstress, her long-running collaboration with artist Sana Takeda, but what I want to recommend to everyone—and I mean everyone who reads this—is that they should go read The Night Eater trilogy by Marjorie and Sana. Just know this: this horror story will burrow deep into your brain and live there. And the rent will not be paid.

Marjorie is actually a big fan of horror. You could say that she’s a connoisseur, even. I will admit I was convinced she'd come on the Superfan Podcast to talk about a horror movie, but instead we had a delightful conversation about her passion for gardening. Don’t worry, though, we do talk about horror a little. After all, who doesn’t love a good killer plant movie?

Christian Gossett: Yes. If you have not seen Over the Garden Wall, please do so this October. It’s so beautiful and terrifying and inspiring and haunting, and it does so in a way that will stay with you forever. Repeated thanks to my daughter for demanding I see it.

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Press Release: Have you ever wondered what inspires and fascinates the writers and artists who create comics and graphic novels? Welcome to the Superfan Podcast, where the people who make the comics you love talk about the things that they love… that aren’t comics. Join co-hosts Christian Gossett (Story Artist, Eyes of Wakanda, The Red Star), Kristen Simon (Executive Editor at Mad Cave Studios’ Nakama Press), and Superfan Promotions founder David Hyde, as they launch an all-new podcast series, where they’ll interview superstar comic book writers and artists about what they’re passionate about — outside of comics.

The Superfan Podcast debuts on September 19 with a conversation with Peabody Award-winning screenwriter and producer Rodney Barnes (Killadelphia) talking about Stephen King. In the pilot episode, Barnes reflects on what makes for a seminal Stephen King story and what the King of Horror’s novels reveal about American life. Barnes also opens up about his own creative journey, which was forever transformed in unexpected ways by his up-close and personal experience on the film The Green Mile, with his favorite novelist.

Season one of the Superfan Podcast includes an all-star line-up of award-winning writers and artists. Acclaimed comic book writer, novelist, and Emmy Award-winning screenwriter Marc Guggenheim (Star Wars: Jedi Knights) chats about growing up on Long Island obsessed with the music of Billy Joel. Eisner Award-winning and Hugo Award-nominated writer Kelly Sue DeConnick (Wonder Woman Historia) talks about being inspired by actor, director, screenwriter, and author Alan Alda — and her decision to get Alan Alda knuckle tattoos. Harvey Award-winning and New York Times bestselling cartoonist Matt Kindt (Mind MGMT) decodes the joy of John le Carré’s spy novels. Eisner Award-winning writer Marjorie Liu (Monstress) discusses being the keeper of a plant passed down for generations and why gardening is her obsession. And New York Times bestselling and Caldecott Honor-winning cartoonist (and former musician) Patrick McDonnell (Mutts) reveals why he’s fascinated by Frank Zappa. For each episode, the co-hosts also share a conversation-appropriate dessert recipe, as well as a cocktail and/or mocktail inspired by the interview.

“Comic book writers and artists are often asked the same questions over and over,” said Hyde. "What's exciting for us – and for our guests – is that we’re having a conversation that is freed from the usual promotional constraints. One of the most rewarding parts of the podcast is that we do a lot of preparation and research into the primary topic, but there’s almost always an unexpected rabbit hole that leads to discussing another passion altogether. These are deep dive dialogues — full of passion, memories, and mementos, and a lot of laughter.”

“As co-hosts, we bring decidedly different sensibilities to the Superfan Podcast,” said Kristen Simon. “As a comic book editor, I spend my days unpacking stories, beat by beat. As a publicist, David Hyde is focused on getting a book into the hands of the right journalist and then getting that journalist to ask interesting questions. Concept and Character Design has been Gossett’s specialty for most of his career. Our different backgrounds inform our points of view on the podcast, sometimes in unexpected ways, but what the three of us have in common is that we’re curious people who really enjoy each other’s company, and that sense of curiosity is central to the podcast.”

Gossett was the writer, artist, and creator of the hit Image Comics series The Red Star before working on movies for George Lucas, Peter Jackson, and Tim Burton, and directing television episodes for the CW network. He recently provided story art for Netflix’s Twilight of the Gods and the Disney+ original animated series Eyes of Wakanda. He is, arguably, best known for his radical concept drawing of a double-bladed lightsaber, which was personally approved by George Lucas and was later made famous as Darth Maul's signature weapon. For season one of the Superfan Podcast, he has drawn portraits of each of the guests.

“The guest portraits are about trying to capture the moment and feel of our freewheeling conversations,” said Gossett. “I’m less interested in nailing an exact likeness, per se, than I am in capturing the vibe. This is a podcast about joy and the excitement that comes from being a fan, and we want to celebrate that feeling – on the show, with the portraits, with the mid-century inspired logo, and with the Superfan theme song.”

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

“We’ve been quietly working on the podcast for quite some time, bringing together an incredible group of talented people,” said Hyde. “Our goal from day one is to create something unique, something fun and joyous. The idea is that these might be the conversations you’d overhear at a great party – and everyone’s invited."

For more information, follow the Superfan Podcast on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube and visit https://superfanmedia.net. For behind-the-scenes information, dessert and cocktail recipes, and show notes, follow the Superfan Signal Substack, which will have paid subscriber-only content.

Guest and Co-Host Portraits by Christian Gossett: