In this episode of Geek Freaks Interviews, Frank sits down with the multifaceted Dan Henk—an artist, dark fiction writer, and tattoo veteran—to explore a career built on punk rock attitude, bold art, and haunting stories. Dan walks us through his journey from satirical magazine art to becoming a staple in the tattoo and indie horror scenes. He discusses how personal tragedy and health battles shaped his storytelling and gives us a preview of his upcoming anthology The Joke is on Mankind. Along the way, he shares what it takes to blend visual art and fiction, how community plays a role in independent publishing, and what his future book plans involve—including alien invasions and guerrilla warfare inspired by his military father.
Timestamps and Topics:
00:00 Introduction to Dan Henk
00:36 Dan’s daily creative routine
01:13 Early work in punk magazines and political cartoons
02:54 Transition to book covers and comics
04:04 Tattoo career and NYC hustle
05:08 Surviving personal loss and illness
05:32 Shift toward dark fiction and The Black Seas of Infinity
07:28 Artistic influences and the power of story
08:53 How art inspires writing (and vice versa)
10:01 How personal trauma shaped Dan’s writing urgency
11:13 Preview of new anthology The Joke is on Mankind
13:18 On curating diverse voices in indie horror
14:38 Dan’s podcast and building a creative network
15:43 Newsletter and staying connected with fans
16:39 Future writing plans: Alien invasions and father-son dynamics
Key Takeaways:
Dan Henk is an artist who channels his life experiences—punk roots, personal loss, and visual storytelling—into dark, compelling fiction.
His creative process intertwines art and writing, often one inspiring the other.
His new anthology The Joke is on Mankind draws influence from The Outer Limits and Lovecraftian horror with a focus on story over shock.
Dan curates a balanced mix of indie and mainstream voices, creating space for underrepresented yet talented creators.
He emphasizes authenticity over trend, aiming for lasting impact with each project.
Future projects explore themes of societal collapse and alien invasions, merging real-world military insight with speculative fiction.
Quotes:
"I don’t care what genre it is—as long as it tells a strong story."
"After Monica passed, I realized—I need to get these stories out now."
"Art inspires my writing and writing brings new life to my art. They feed each other constantly."
"You can talk about an idea forever, but at some point, you just have to make it real."
Call to Action:
If you enjoyed this conversation with Dan Henk, don’t forget to subscribe to Geek Freaks Interviews on your favorite podcast app. Leave us a review and share this episode with your fellow horror fans and creatives using the hashtag #GeekFreaksInterviews. For all updates and episode archives, head to GeekFreaksPodcast.com.
Links and Resources:
Dan Henk’s website and newsletter: danhenk.com
Preorder The Joke is on Mankind (releasing late June)
Podcast news source: GeekFreaksPodcast.com
Follow Us:
Instagram: @geekfreakspodcast
Twitter: @geekfreakspod
Threads: @geekfreakspodcast
Facebook: Geek Freaks Podcast
Patreon: Geek Freaks Patreon
Listener Questions:
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Apple Podcast Tags:
Dan Henk, tattoo artist, horror fiction, indie publishing, punk art, dark fiction, cosmic horror, art and writing, creative process, Geek Freaks Interviews
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