John McLaren of Phantom Ink Comics | ToteMan, Villains Anonymous & Indie Comics

About this episode

John McLaren discusses his journey from comic collector to creator, sharing insights on indie comics and personal inspirations behind his work.

What happens when a lifelong comic fan, toy collector, and convention veteran turns his passion into creator-owned comics? In this episode of the USDN Podcast, The Chairman sits down with John McLaren of Phantom Ink Comics to discuss the origins of ToteMan, Villains Anonymous, Argyle Avenger, NinjaBoy, and the journey from comic collector to comic creator. John shares the personal inspiration behind ToteMan, including how the character helped explain epilepsy to his son, while also discussing the realities of independent publishing, convention culture, creator-owned storytelling, and the enduring appeal of classic comic book adventures. From Gen X nostalgia and comic collecting to building a universe of original characters, this conversation explores why indie comics continue to thrive through passion, creativity, and community. Follow John McLaren / Phantom Ink Comics: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Gen.X.Toybox Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genxtoybox YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PhantomInkProduction Follow the USDN Podcast: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/USDN_Podcast 📧 Business / Media Inquiries: thechairman@usdnpodcast.com 🛒 Support USDN & Protect Your…

People in this episode

Host: The Chairman

Guest: John McLaren

Topics covered

• independent comics
• comic creation
• convention culture
• creator-owned storytelling
• comic collecting
• Gen X nostalgia

Keywords

• indie comics
• comic creator
• ToteMan
• Villains Anonymous
• comic collecting
• convention culture
• creator-owned comics

Sponsors

BCW Supplies

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Phantom Ink Comics

Books & works: ToteMan, Villains Anonymous, Argyle Avenger, NinjaBoy

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