Episode Details

Raised to Kill, Fighting Monsters — Akemi & Indie Comics with John Holland

Some stories are born from imagination. Others are forged through survival.

In this episode of The USDN Podcast, we welcome writer and publisher John Holland of Die Bold Comics to the Council to discuss Akemi, his upcoming Fund My Comic crowdfunder launching around the time of this conversation.

Akemi tells the story of a young woman raised as an assassin who escapes her past in Japan, only to find herself drawn into a hidden war against demons and monsters in the United States. We explore the emotional weight behind the story, the balance between action and trauma, and how monsters can serve as metaphors for the scars we carry.

John also shares insight into his upcoming Die Bold Comics Digital Library campaign on Zoop — a digital collection of nearly 30 previously published works, including A Girl and Her Dog, Alma, Robot Sex, and more.

This episode dives into legacy, longevity, crowdfunding strategy, and the realities of building a lasting indie comics career.

If you care about bold storytelling and supporting creator-owned comics, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

🔗 Support John Holland & Die Bold Comics

🌐 Website: https://www.dieboldcomics.com/
📰 Substack: https://jholland.substack.com/
☕ Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/dieboldcomics
🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/dieboldcomics.bsky.social
🧵 Threads: https://www.threads.com/@john.holland.1481
🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/dieboldcomics
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/john.holland.1481
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dieboldcomics/

🔥 Support Akemi on Fund My Comic:
https://www.fundmycomic.com/campaign/944/akemi

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The USDN Podcast — where indie comics come to life.