SUPERFAN PODCAST’s Cocktail, Mocktail, and Dessert Recipes Inspired by Mike Flanagan’s MIDNIGHT MASS

The Superfan Podcast is back with all new episodes for season two! This Friday's episode features New York Times bestselling cartoonist Johnnie Christmas, who discusses the mystery of Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass: "It's four years later and I'm still thinking about it and we're talking about it now, so hopefully more people will see it.... It's one of the best TV shows I've ever seen."

Along with a discussion on Mike Flanagan's modern classic, the episode is accompanied by a themed dessert, cocktail, and mocktail you'll want to try for yourself. And as a special treat for Daily Dead readers, we've been provided with the recipes below. To listen to the latest episode and to get the show notes (which include the recipes every week), subscribe to the Superfan Podcast at: https://substack.com/@spfanpodcast?utm_source=user-menu

Superfan Podcast Episode 9: What happens when a vampire story disguises itself as a meditation on faith, guilt, and redemption?

This week on the Superfan Podcast, we talk with cartoonist Johnnie Christmas, a #1 New York Times bestselling graphic novelist and creator of Swim Team, about his deep appreciation for Midnight Mass, the haunting Netflix limited series from filmmaker Mike Flanagan.

Set on an isolated island community, Midnight Mass begins with the arrival of a charismatic young priest who brings miraculous healings, renewed religious fervor… and a growing sense that something deeply unsettling is unfolding beneath the surface.

For Johnnie, the show’s power lies in how it blends vampire lore, religious ritual, addiction, and redemption into a single layered narrative. Raised Methodist but no longer practicing, he found the rituals and hymns of the show both nostalgic and unsettling…an emotional mix that makes the story resonate on a deeper level.

The conversation dives into:

• Why Midnight Mass might be the most original vampire story in years
• How the show uses religious symbolism and ritual as storytelling architecture
• The unforgettable emotional impact of Riley’s boat scene
• Why Flanagan’s writing feels thoughtful rather than clever-for-clever’s-sake
• The rare satisfaction of a horror series that actually sticks the landing

Along the way, we also discuss storytelling craft, monologues that feel like sermons, the dangers of eternal life, and why sometimes the best fandoms come from stories that are still new to us.

As Johnnie puts it, Midnight Mass is the rare modern vampire story that reminds you there are still new angles left to explore.

More About the Superfan Podcast: 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 debuts 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.

“As AI continues to creep into our lives, it’s arguably more important than ever to celebrate the people who make the art we love,” said co-host David Hyde. "It’s been tremendously rewarding to talk with creative people that we admire about the things that they’re deeply passionate about.”

“When I listen to my favorite creators speak, what I’m hoping for are insights about the moments that we so rarely hear described,” said co-host Christian Gossett, who 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. “How is what creators love built into what they do? What is it they are trying to bring to their chosen genres? What cultural gap are they unknowingly attempting to fill? The Superfan Podcast has helped inspire these kinds of conversations, and that’s very exciting for us.”

Gossett is best known for his radical concept drawing of a double-bladed lightsaber, which was personally approved by George Lucas and was later introduced as the signature weapon of Darth Maul. For both season one and two of the Superfan Podcast, he has drawn portraits of each of the guests. Season one features Rodney Barnes on Stephen King, Marc Guggenheim on Billy Joel, , Kelly Sue DeConnick on Alan Alda, Matt Kindt on John le Carré, Marjorie Liu on gardening, and Patrick McDonnell on Frank Zappa.

“Especially with everything going on in the world, it feels extra important to celebrate joy and creativity,” said co-host Kris Simon. “The conversations on the Superfan Podcast are deep dives into fandom. It’s a genuine thrill to chart someone’s fandom and how it’s evolved over time, whether we’re talking with Maia Kobabe on eir favorite K-Pop songs and K-pop fan fiction or chatting with Johnnie Christmas about the catharsis of Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass.”

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.

For more information, follow the Superfan Podcast on Substack, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube and visit https://superfanmedia.net. For show notes, behind-the-scenes information, dessert and cocktail recipes, and round table fandom conversations and interviews, follow the Superfan Signal.

Cocktail

Midnight Mass
The Midnight Mass cocktail comes to us from the folks at Death & Co. This rich and aromatic drink blends rum, cardamaro, Benedictine, Jerry Thomas bitters, and an orange twist—dark, herbal, and slightly mysterious.

• 2 oz. Scarlet Ibis rum (Rhum Barbancourt used)
• 3/4 oz. Cardamaro
• 1/4 oz. Benedictine
• 1 dash Jerry Thomas bitters (Hella aromatic used)
• 1 orange twist as garnish

Given the themes of the show, which address alcoholism and addiction, it seemed absolutely essential to have a mocktail.

Mocktail

Midnight Margarita
A zero-proof citrusy take from Witchcraft Cocktails, the Midnight Margarita features agave, pomegranate, blackberry, and more.

Dessert

Angel’s Blood Affogato: A dark and divine dessert inspired by Netflix’s Midnight Mass
Espresso poured over ice cream with cherry syrup, dark cocoa powder, and chocolate shavings. A decadent, slightly sinister twist on the classic Italian dessert.

Serves 2 (or 1 if you’re in full Riley Flynn brooding mode)

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Ingredients

• 2 generous scoops vanilla bean ice cream
• 2 shots freshly brewed espresso (or ⅓ cup strong coffee)
• 1 ½ oz cherry syrup (non-alcoholic)
• 1 tsp dark cocoa powder
• Pinch of sea salt
• Optional garnish: dark chocolate shavings or a maraschino cherry

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Instructions

1. Prepare the “blood.”
   In a small saucepan, warm the cherry syrup with the cocoa powder and sea salt. Stir until smooth and slightly thickened (1–2 minutes). It should look like dark red syrup.
2. Brew the darkness.
   Make your espresso shots and let them rest for 30 seconds so they’re still hot but not boiling.
3. Assemble.
   Place one scoop of ice cream into each glass or coupe. Pour half of the espresso over each, then drizzle the warm cherry-cocoa syrup in a slow spiral.
4. Finish with temptation.
   Garnish with a few dark chocolate shavings, and a maraschino cherry.

Portrait of Johnnie Christmas by Superfan Podcast Co-host Christian Gossett