Q Con the Podcast

Building New Worlds in Gotham: A Conversation with Comic Book Writer Meghan Fitzmartin

This week on Q Con the Podcast, we’re talking with Meghan Fitzmartin — comic book writer, TV writer, and all-around storyteller. Meghan takes us through her journey from working in the Supernatural writers’ room to shaping the future of Gotham City in comics like Tim Drake: Robin, Dark Crisis: Young Justice, and Batman: Urban Legends. We get into what it meant to write Tim Drake’s coming-out story, how she’s carving out new spaces like Gotham Marina, and why queer stories belong right at the heart of superhero mythologies. Plus, we talk about finding hope in heroes and how growing up with comics and TV shaped the stories Meghan tells today. If you love big feelings, bigger battles, and queering up Gotham one page at a time, you’re going to want to hear this one. Q Con 2025 is an LGBTQIA+ comic book and pop culture convention happening on May 3rd, 2025, at Fiesta Hall in Plummer Park, West Hollywood, CA. Get ready for a fun-filled day celebrating queer fandom with diverse exhibitors, incredible LGBTQIA+ artists and creators, engaging panels, and an epic cosplay contest! Visit: www.PrismComics.org/q-con/ [http://www.prismcomics.org/q-con/] Q Con the Podcast is hosted by Julian Jetson, produced by Chris Riley, and presented by Prism Comics Org—bringing you conversations with the queer voices shaping comics, pop culture, and beyond.

Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon Talks Fanbase Press, Fandom, and Finding Your Voice

What do comics, queer storytelling, voice acting, and Jedi recruitment have in common? One fabulous human: Barbra Dillon. We’re hanging out with the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of Fanbase Press, the award-winning indie publisher that’s putting powerful, inclusive stories at the front of geek culture. Barbra spills on what it means to build a platform for marginalized voices, why indie creators are the real MVPs, and how fandom can fuel change. Oh — and did we mention she voiced Katniss Everdeen? Because she totally did. From the Latinx Comic Arts Festival to Graphic Medicine International Collective, Barbra’s got her hands in all kinds of game-changing creative spaces — and she’s doing it with heart, hustle, and hella style. If you’re into comics, queer rep, or just want to hear from a total boss in the world of geek media, this one’s for you. Hit play. Let’s go. Q Con 2025 is an LGBTQIA+ comic book and pop culture convention happening on May 3rd, 2025, at Fiesta Hall in Plummer Park, West Hollywood, CA. Get ready for a fun-filled day celebrating queer fandom with diverse exhibitors, incredible LGBTQIA+ artists and creators, engaging panels, and an epic cosplay contest! Visit: www.PrismComics.org/q-con/ [http://www.prismcomics.org/q-con/] Q Con the Podcast is hosted by Julian Jetson, produced by Chris Riley, and presented by Prism Comics Org—bringing you conversations with the queer voices shaping comics, pop culture, and beyond.

Comic Artist Rye Hickman on Faith, Erotic Fairy Tales, and the Journey to Self-Discovery

On this episode of Q Con the Podcast, we’re thrilled to welcome Rye Hickman, the powerhouse illustrator behind emotionally rich, visually stunning stories like Buzzing, Bad Dream: A Dreamer’s Story, and the hauntingly beautiful Hey, Mary. Based in Denver and fueled by good coffee and a love for dystopian tales, Rye opens up about their creative journey — from drawing hands (their favorite!) to crafting stories that challenge binaries, beliefs, and expectations. We take a deep dive into Hey, Mary, a graphic novel that unpacks Catholic guilt, queer longing, and what happens when saints and drag queens show up to help a teenage boy make sense of his identity. This episode is for the artists, the dreamers, and anyone who's ever wrestled with who they are vs. who they were told to be. Rye’s thoughtful insights and tender storytelling are a reminder that there’s power in vulnerability — and that yes, even Joan of Arc would root for the queer kids. Q Con 2025 is an LGBTQIA+ comic book and pop culture convention happening on May 3rd, 2025, at Fiesta Hall in Plummer Park, West Hollywood, CA. Get ready for a fun-filled day celebrating queer fandom with diverse exhibitors, incredible LGBTQIA+ artists and creators, engaging panels, and an epic cosplay contest! Visit: www.PrismComics.org/q-con/ Q Con the Podcast is hosted by Julian Jetson, produced by Chris Riley, and presented by Prism Comics Org—bringing you conversations with the queer voices shaping comics, pop culture, and beyond.

Supergirl’s Dreamer, DC’s Secret Six, and the Rise of GLAAD Award Winner Nicole Maines

Actor, writer, and all-around queer icon Nicole Maines joins Q Con the Podcast for a deep, joyful, and no-holds-barred conversation. From her groundbreaking role as Dreamer on Supergirl to her fierce performance in Yellowjackets, Nicole continues to break barriers on-screen—and now she’s doing the same on the page. A newly minted GLAAD Award winner and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Nicole is also the creative force behind DC Comics' Secret Six, with writing credits on Harley Quinn, Suicide Squad, and DC Pride. We talk about what it really means to write authentic queer and trans characters in today’s comic book industry, how representation still has a long way to go, and the power of telling your own story. She also opens up about her memoir, It Gets Better... Except When It Gets Worse, and how her personal journey fuels her creative fire. It’s insightful, hilarious, and packed with the kind of honesty that only Nicole can bring. Hit play—you’re not gonna want to miss this one. Q Con 2025 is an LGBTQIA+ comic book and pop culture convention happening on May 3rd, 2025, at Fiesta Hall in Plummer Park, West Hollywood, CA. Get ready for a fun-filled day celebrating queer fandom with diverse exhibitors, incredible LGBTQIA+ artists and creators, engaging panels, and an epic cosplay contest!  Visit: www.PrismComics.org/q-con/ Q Con the Podcast is hosted by Julian Jetson, produced by Chris Riley, and presented by Prism Comics Org—bringing you conversations with the queer voices shaping comics, pop culture, and beyond.

From Midnighter to Sainted Love: Comic Book Writer Steve Orlando Breaks Boundaries

Comic book trailblazer Steve Orlando joins Q Con the Podcast for a deep dive into the power of queer storytelling! From redefining DC’s Midnighter to crafting bold narratives in Martian Manhunter and Scarlet Witch, Steve has built a career championing complex, unapologetically queer heroes. In this episode, we go all in on Midnighter—his impact, his queerness, and why he remains one of comics' most radical gay superheroes. Plus, Steve takes us behind the scenes of his latest project, Sainted Love, a time-traveling, genre-smashing romance that bends reality and challenges what queer stories can be. Hit play for an inspiring conversation about pushing boundaries, honoring queer history, and making comics as wild and fearless as the people who love them. Q Con 2025 is an LGBTQIA+ comic book and pop culture convention happening on May 3rd, 2025, at Fiesta Hall in Plummer Park, West Hollywood, CA. Get ready for a fun-filled day celebrating queer fandom with diverse exhibitors, incredible LGBTQIA+ artists and creators, engaging panels, and an epic cosplay contest! Q Con the Podcast is hosted by Julian Jetson, produced by Chris Riley, and presented by Prism Comics Org—bringing you conversations with the queer voices shaping comics, pop culture, and beyond.