In Episode 38 of Rabbit Hole of Research, hosts Joe, Nick, and Georgia continue their Fantastic Four series with a deep dive into Ben Grimm a.k.a. The Thing—a character defined by the transformation of his body into a rocky, nearly indestructible form. They’re joined by NYT bestselling author Jonathan Maberry, who brings a unique pop-culture lens to the discussion as they explore characters with strange or strong skin, including his own tattooed investigator Monk Addison.
From the speculative science of scar tissue and bulletproof dermis to real-world experiments, body horror, and ancient myths of invulnerability, this episode examines skin as a battleground of trauma, memory, and mutation. Whether you’re into biometal snails, Luke Cage’s mental and skin toughness, or folkloric heroes dipped in dragon blood, this episode blends pop culture, science, and horror in unforgettable ways.
It’s science, it’s fiction, it’s science for weirdos.
And don’t forget to Pre-order: Red Line: Chicago Horror Stories Anthology featuring a new story by Joe!
The Scientist Article Featuring Joe: How Speculative Fiction Expands Scientific Horizons
Visit Jonathan Maberry at:
Visit Jonathan at:
Official Website: www.jonathanmaberry.com
Explore his full body of work, appearances, and writing updates.
Book Catalog:
Browse Jonathan’s entire bibliography of horror, thrillers, sci-fi, comics, and YA.
Books Featured or Referenced in This Episode:
Glimpse – A surreal horror-thriller about a woman slipping between realities through the crack in her vision—and the terrifying secrets on the other side.
Ink – A supernatural thriller where stolen memories live on through skin.
Joe Ledger Series – Techno-thrillers blending biowarfare, covert ops, and monster science.
Rot & Ruin – Award-winning YA zombie saga with heart, survival, and legacy.
V-Wars – A shared-world vampire outbreak series adapted by Netflix.
Nekrotek Novels – A dark fusion of science fiction and horror where necrotic technology powers reanimated soldiers, weaponized corpses, and post-human warfare under corporate-military control.
Comics & Graphic Novels:
Jonathan has written extensively in both prose and comics. Notable titles include:
Rot & Ruin: Warrior Smart (IDW)
V‑Wars graphic series (IDW)
Marvel Universe vs. The Punisher, vs. Wolverine, vs. The Avengers (Marvel)
Marvel Zombies Return (Wolverine issue)
2009–2011 Black Panther arcs: Doomwar, Power, Klaw’s of the Panther
Captain America: Hail Hydra and Punisher: Naked Kills
Masterclasses & Writing Workshops:
Learn directly from Jonathan through live and recorded workshops covering craft, genre, and publishing.
It’s Science for Weirdos
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We want to Hear From You (leave a comment):
If you could design your own “strong skin” power, what would it protect you from—and what would it cost?
What’s your favorite tough-skinned character across comics, mythology, or folklore?
Could emotional trauma literally reshape your body? Should superpowers reflect scars?
Would you volunteer for a real-world version of Luke Cage’s experiment if it meant near-invulnerability?
Future Episodes & Events
Ep 39: When the Torch Burns Out – Fire powers, metabolic cost, and legacy trauma with pyrokinesis. Featuring special guest Dr. David Pincus, research scientist at University of Chicago specializing in evolutionary stress responses—particularly heat and environmental adaptation.
Ep 40: Reed Richards and the Limits of the Body – A deep dive into stretching, elasticity, adaptability, and the mental/physical implications of extreme flexibility in comics and biology. Featuring special guest Dr. Maria Dowell, MD, pediatric pulmonologist at Northwestern
Live Q&A Event: Joe will be doing a book club Q&A at Reed’s Local on July 29 for Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else by Jotham Austin II. Event details here
Dragon Con: Joe will appear as an Attending Professional at Dragon Con in Atlanta from August 28 – September 1. Join him for panels, shop talk, and rabbit holes galore.
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Stay curious, stay speculative, stay safe, and we’ll catch you in the next rabbit hole. Love Y'all!
Images from Guest/Recording
Show Notes & Fun facts
Real-world “metal skin” exists: Deep-sea snails like Chrysomallon squamiferum armor their shells with iron sulfide.
Monk Addison’s tattoos are supernatural memory anchors—based on Maberry’s interest in trauma, justice, and skin as a medium of the dead.
Scar tissue is biologically tougher than normal skin—keloids and hypertrophic scars form natural dermal armor.
Ancient heroes like Achilles and Siegfried were mythologized through invulnerable skin—and undone by their flaws.
19th-century pseudoscience falsely claimed Black skin was “thicker”—a legacy of racism explored in our Luke Cage segment.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 – Welcome to the Rabbit Hole of Research
Kick off with a warning: this episode will peel back skin—literally and metaphorically.
00:33 – Meet Our Special Guest: Jonathan Maberry
NYT bestselling author shares his journey from monster kid to master of supernatural fiction.
01:54 – Defining Skin: Biological Armor and Cultural Metaphor
We ask: Is skin just protection, or a canvas for memory, trauma, and transformation?
02:43 – The Fantastic Four: A Deep Dive into Ben Grimm
Ben Grimm’s transformation isn’t just physical—it’s a symbol of post-traumatic embodiment.
05:06 – The Science Behind The Thing’s Skin
Could collagen overproduction, mineralization, and cosmic mutation make skin bulletproof?
12:01 – Luke Cage and the Symbolism of Tough Skin
From Tuskegee shadows to urban invulnerability—Luke Cage’s body as protest and power.
16:28 – Jonathan Maberry’s Personal Journey with Comics
Maberry reflects on discovering Fantastic Four at 9 years old and the emotional layers beneath the panels.
22:30 – Monk Addison: A Character Defined by Skin
Tattooed with the faces of the dead, Monk’s body is a living record of unresolved violence.
32:41 – The Future of Skin and Technology
From synthetic dermis to graphene tattoos—what happens when skin thinks?
35:00 – Sci-Fi Inspirations in Modern Technology
Tech companies are chasing sci-fi’s tail. Fiction gets there first.
35:28 – Advanced Technologies in Fiction and Reality
Biomimicry, smart tattoos, and self-healing armor—The Thing meets DARPA.
36:11 – Scientific Curiosities and Real-Life Inspirations
Yes, there’s a snail with iron-plated armor. Nature already built Iron Man.
36:37 – The Intersection of Science and Military Research
When DARPA studies dermal armor and programmable flesh, comics don’t seem so fictional.
36:57 – Exploring Biological and Technological Possibilities
Could you CRISPR your skin into armor? We walk the speculative tightrope.
38:45 – The Science Behind Superhero Abilities
Superpowers are metaphors—but they’re also blueprints. Science is catching up.
39:53 – Zombies: Fiction Meets Science
Maberry breaks down the plausible roots of zombie physiology—no viruses needed.
47:59 – Fun Facts About Skin and Biology
Did you know some beetles harden their jaws with zinc—and that scar tissue has no sweat glands?
57:09 – The Role of Science in Storytelling
The Scientist Article Featuring Joe: How Speculative Fiction Expands Scientific Horizons
58:49 – Upcoming Projects and Final Thoughts
Maberry teases future stories, more Monk, and the evolving fusion of horror and science.
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