Danny Trejo stopped in the middle of a video game recording session to tell Keith Arem he wanted to make a comic together, and that moment became Year of the Devil, a five-issue supernatural action-horror graphic novel starring Trejo as Diego, a warrior bound to the Devil. Keith Arem (Call of Duty, The Exiled) and Chris Yates (Marcus Walker: Kingslayer Protocol) join Frank to talk about building the story from Trejo's family history, his tattoos, and his lifelong love of history.

The conversation covers how Diego stays himself across five historical eras, why Etzel is more than a plot device, and how the team approached the Toxcatl massacre with help from historian Matt Torres. Keith and Chris also talk about Frank Mazzoli's interior art, the macuahuitl they plan to build and test on conquistador helmets, and why publishing through PCB Entertainment lets them run riddle contests with the Devil and surprise fan meetups at Trejo's Cantina in Hollywood.

Chapters

• 0:00 Meet Keith Arem and Chris Yates
• 0:47 How Year of the Devil Came Together
• 4:10 Where Danny Ends and Diego Begins
• 7:31 Etzel, the Devil, and the Heart of the Story
• 15:00 Five Eras and the Four Horsemen
• 20:37 Built for Games, Film, and Beyond
• 23:11 Aztec History and Cultural Authenticity
• 29:08 Frank Mazzoli's Artwork
• 31:07 PCB, BackerKit, and Trejo's Cantina Surprises

Key Takeaways

• Year of the Devil started when Danny Trejo, recording for the Like a Dragon games, saw Keith's graphic novel The Exiled with Wesley Snipes and asked to make one of his own.
• Diego carries Trejo's tattoos and attitude, and the Devil's mark on his body changes each time he kills one of the Four Horsemen.
• Diego dies and returns younger in each issue, landing in a new real-world era, while Etzel and Death act as his conscience between lives.
• Every cover artist on the book is of Latino descent, and historian Matt Torres consulted on the Aztec weapons, language, and relationships.
• PCB builds every property with games, animation, and film in mind, and Keith says they are already fielding those calls but refuse to treat the book as a cash grab.
• Publishing independently through BackerKit lets the team run fan experiences like the Devil riddle contest at San Diego Comic-Con and exclusive drops at Trejo's Tacos, Trejo's Donuts, and Trejo's Cantina.

Pull Quotes

• "We really felt like it had to have something like some dirt under the fingernails." (Chris Yates)

• "He's not really a clean superhero. He's super violent. He's flawed, and he's haunted, and he's also searching for this redemption path." (Keith Arem)

• "What's interesting about a comic book is that the story doesn't progress unless you turn the page." (Keith Arem)

• "Sometimes a story is better told when you read it, and sometimes it's better when you watch it, and sometimes it's better when you play through it." (Keith Arem)

• "He made Diego feel like a part of this world. It felt like it was seamless, instead of just insert Danny Trejo." (Chris Yates, on artist Frank Mazzoli)

Links and Resources

• GeekFreaksPodcast.com is the source for all news discussed on the podcast.
• Back Danny Trejo's Year of the Devil on BackerKit: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/pcb-entertainment/danny-trejo-s-year-of-the-devil

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Ken M from the Ocho Duro Parlay Hour joins Frank to unpack how ODPH started, why the long title became “the O.D.P.H.,” and what it takes to keep a show thriving for years. We get into releasing that first episode on Memorial Day 2017, the shift toward video, editing choices that keep conversations human, and how community support has changed since the early “podcast Twitter” days. Ken also shares a favorite New York Comic Con memory and talks about leadership at Nerd Initiative and what’s next.

00:00 — Meet Ken M and the ODPH origin story, including an early detour and why the show finally launched in 2017.
01:25 — Naming the show: craps “hard 8,” parlay, and why they shortened it for listeners.
04:41 — Rehearsals, buying gear, and the decision to ship on Memorial Day 2017.
05:57 — “Day and night”: how episode one compares to today and crossing 800 episodes.
08:03 — Still nervous sometimes, and why that spark matters; an NYCC moment with Scott Snyder.
13:19 — Money talk and podfade: expectations, Patreon, and why consistency wins.
17:19 — From retweet rings to real support: how the community evolved.
22:38 — Video vs audio: what changed after 2020 and why audio isn’t going anywhere.
31:16 — Editor in Chief in 2023, creative freedom, and moving on in good standing.
42:11 — Editing philosophy: keep the “ums,” fix the facts, sound natural.

• Ship it before it’s “perfect.” Momentum beats perfection, especially early on.

• It’s normal to feel some nerves. That’s part of what keeps interviews exciting and honest.

• Audio isn’t dying. Video grew fast after 2020, but audio remains a core, durable medium.

• Edit for clarity, not polish. Keep natural cadence and correct only what truly needs it.

• Community has matured. Shoutouts with substance beat retweet loops every time.

• Consistency over vanity metrics. Focus on craft and cadence to outlast podfade.

• “The audio will be here till the end of time.”

• “If we make it sound too perfect, people are going to think it’s not.”

• “If your goal is all monetary, you’re in the wrong business.”

• “He has a fantastic podcast. You need to check it out.” (Scott Snyder at NYCC)

Enjoying the episode? Follow and subscribe, leave a quick review, and share this one with a friend using #GeekFreaksPodcast. It helps more listeners find the show.

• Check out more from Ken and ODPH: https://odphpodcast.com/

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TV & Film, Entertainment News, Interviews, Podcasting, Geek Culture, ODPH, New York Comic Con, Editing Tips, Video Podcasting, Community Building

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Voice actor Eliah Mountjoy joins us to talk about bringing the Winter Soldier to life in Marvel Rivals, why Bucky’s duality resonates with him, and what it actually takes to nail lines when you’re alone in the booth. We get into the craft behind anime dubbing, how directors guide performance in fast-moving game sessions, and his thoughtful stance on where AI helps and where it harms. He closes with grounded advice for anyone thinking about voice acting as a career.

00:00 Intro and why Eliah’s Bucky leaves a mark on players
00:55 How he landed Winter Soldier and learned it was Bucky mid-callback
02:22 Building a take that isn’t a Sebastian Stan voice match
05:20 Playing a century-old, battle-worn hero with real baggage
06:05 Community with the Rivals cast and that “donut video” origin story
10:21 Recording solo vs ensemble and learning to “act to no one”
12:20 Why fast sessions still feel grounded, plus getting scripts early
14:15 Calibrating banter vs in-battle reads with the director’s context
15:14 What Eliah brings to Bucky from real-world tactical training
19:15 Quiet confidence vs “flip mode” for big moments and ults
20:25 The Bucky stories he still wants to tell with Natasha
21:17 Dubbing anime: timing, intent over mimicry, and “spoken-word karaoke”
29:59 AI in voice work: the line in the sand, compensation, and the uncanny valley
36:30 Practical steps for aspiring voice actors: classes, improv, and knowing your “why”

• Winter Soldier wasn’t a voice-match job. Eliah built a take rooted in Bucky’s history and weight rather than mimicking the MCU.

• Real tactical training informed his performance: calm, capable, and dangerous until it’s time to flip the switch.

• Directors matter. Fast, line-heavy sessions still feel truthful when context is clear and actors get material in advance.

• In anime dubbing, timing rules everything. He aims to match intent, not the original voice.

• On AI, the bright line is human performance. Use tools without replacing actors, and protect credit and compensation to avoid hollow, uncanny results.

• If you want to voice act, start acting. Take classes, do improv, study the craft, and be honest about your motivation.

• “Voice acting is acting… you have to find a way to do that with your voice.”

• “He’s the killer of killers… and very relaxed until it’s time to ramp it up.”

• “We have to find a way to protect human performance and the people who bring it to life.”

• “I try to match the intent, not the exact voice.”

If you enjoyed this conversation, follow the show, rate us, and leave a short review. Share the episode with a friend and tag your post with #GeekFreaksInterview so we can find it.

• All news discussed on our shows comes from GeekFreaksPodcast.com

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TV & Film, Pop Culture, Interviews, Voice Acting, Marvel, Anime, Video Games, Entertainment News

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