Barry Lyga: From Fanboy to Master Storyteller

Barry Lyga has written everything from serial killer thrillers to superhero origin stories, but at his core, he’s always been one thing: a fan. In our latest Geek Freaks Interview, we sat down with the prolific author to explore his career across genres and publishers, and his unique ability to give voice to the outsider.

Barry’s journey began not with publishing but with passion. A lifelong comic book reader and self-proclaimed geek, Lyga got his start working in the comic book industry before transitioning to prose. His breakout novel, The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, was inspired by his own childhood and a love for comics that never faded. That book didn’t just launch his writing career. It also established a theme that runs through nearly all his work: the outsider looking in.

“I didn’t think there was a common thread,” Barry told us during the interview. “Then a kid pointed out all my books are about outsiders. And they were right.”

Whether it’s Jasper Dent, the son of a serial killer in I Hunt Killers, or Nowhere Boy in Wolverine: Worst Day Ever, Lyga’s protagonists are often characters struggling to find their place. That empathy for the misunderstood is what makes his writing both emotionally resonant and widely relatable, especially to readers in geek culture.

Barry doesn’t just write about heroes. He’s helped shape some of the biggest ones. His six-book Flash series took the CW show’s foundation and ran in a bold new direction. Thanks to an alternate timeline approach, he was free to explore deep-cut DC characters like the Phantom Stranger and Ambush Bug while staying true to Barry Allen’s science-driven voice. As a lifelong Flash fan, it was a dream come true.

Marvel also came knocking with the monumental task of fleshing out the MCU’s greatest villain. Thanos: Titan Consumed offered fans a chance to see what shaped the Mad Titan long before the snap. Working directly with Marvel Studios, Lyga had limited material and no access to other major characters but still nailed the tone. “I was in the theater watching Infinity War thinking, ‘That’s my guy.’”

Beyond fiction, Barry’s influence extends to the real world of comics. As part of the team that helped launch Free Comic Book Day, he played a major role in revitalizing comic shop culture and making the medium more accessible to new readers. It’s a legacy he still celebrates each year with his own kids.

Now with Before the Hunt, an anthology of prequel stories to I Hunt Killers, Barry continues pushing boundaries. He even self-published the collection after traditional publishers passed. As he put it, “Fine, I’ll do it myself.”

From writing Superman with guidance from Mark Waid to introducing Ambush Bug into his Flash novels just because he could, Barry Lyga embodies everything we love about geek culture. Deep knowledge, endless curiosity, and a fearless passion for storytelling.

You can listen to our full conversation with Barry Lyga on the latest episode of Geek Freaks Interviews, available now on all major podcast platforms.