Inside the Massiverse with Kyle Higgins: Radiant Black, Rogue Sun, and What’s Next

Geek Freaks

In this episode of Geek Freaks Interview, I’m joined by comic creator Kyle Higgins, the visionary behind Radiant Black and the ever-expanding Massive-Verse. Kyle dives into how he built a creator-owned superhero universe at Image Comics and walks us through the evolution of Radiant Black, the challenges of dual timelines in Catalyst War, and the collaborative process behind Rogue Sun, The Dead Lucky, and Inferno Girl Red. We also talk about the audio book, animated promos, and his thoughts on live-action vs. animation adaptations. Whether you're new to the Massive-Verse or a longtime fan, this conversation is a deep look into one of comics' most ambitious storytelling worlds.

Timestamps and Topics:

00:00 Intro and welcome to Kyle Higgins 00:26 What is the Massive-Verse? 01:16 Radiant Black and its millennial superhero tone 03:34 The structure and accessibility of the Massive-Verse 05:07 Audiobook updates and voice talent reveals 06:59 Animated promos and creative marketing 08:03 The origin of Radiant Black and its influences 11:14 How Power Rangers and Toku storytelling shaped the series 14:15 Managing canon and creative direction in a multi-title universe 15:50 Writing dual timelines for Catalyst War 19:14 How the fan vote shaped the story’s direction 24:06 The "Rebuild Era" and aftermath world-building 27:33 Proliferation of 001 tech and rising threats 30:19 Rogue Sun’s new direction and layered family dynamics 33:37 Appreciation for the design and narrative tone of Rogue Sun 34:10 Live-action vs. animation: which is best for Radiant Black? 36:44 Navigating rights, control, and studio offers 40:28 Where to find the comics and meetups with the team

Key Takeaways:

• The Massive-Verse is a creator-owned, shared superhero universe with interconnected titles that can also stand alone.

• Radiant Black explores modern adulthood and friendship through a fresh superhero lens, inspired by Power Rangers and 90s nostalgia.

• The dual timeline storytelling in Catalyst War was one of the hardest yet most rewarding challenges of Kyle’s career.

• The team is exploring creative and immersive ways to promote the comics, including animated promos and an audiobook with a star-studded voice cast.

• Live-action adaptations are possible, but only if the creators are in full control of the production.

• The new "Rebuild Era" reflects the consequences of superhero battles and explores what comes after the big events—something rarely addressed in comics.

• Rogue Sun is shifting its spotlight with a new lead character, deepening its themes of family and legacy.

Quotes:

“I want this to be a superhero book that celebrates being a fan of superheroes.” – Kyle Higgins

“You’re either a Nathan or a Marshall... and you have a friend that’s the other one.” – Frank

“Animation’s great. But if we’re doing an adaptation, we want full control. No compromises.” – Kyle Higgins

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Apple Podcast Tags: Radiant Black, Massive-Verse, Kyle Higgins, Image Comics, Rogue Sun, Dead Lucky, Supermassive, Comic Books, Superhero Comics, Creator-Owned Comics, Geek Freaks, Comic Podcast, Comic Book Interview