The Team

Zack Benz

Editor-in-chief

He | Him

Zack Benz has been a fan of the Daily Planet since he was eight years old. The Daily Planet has always been a beacon of hope for him and it’s his life’s mission to make it shine in a similar light to so many around the world. Zack graduated with a degree in journalism and art from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2019.

Brianna Taggart

Executive Editor

She | Her

Brianna Taggart gets way too emotionally invested in TV shows and loves to bring her love of stories and writing to her work in journalism. She has two degrees in journalism and communication from the University of Minnesota Duluth and works full time at a weekly newspaper in Minnesota. When she’s not covering community news, she’s covering entertainment for Bri’s Binge right here on the Daily Planet.

Logan Rhoades

News Managing Editor

He | Him

Logan is an ambitious, yet head-strong, “underdog.” He strives to support the overlooked and bring attention to both big and small happenings in the world through journalism.

Brendan Rooney

Staff Writer

He | Him

Brendan Rooney has always been full of creativity and enthusiasm towards the world of widespread media. He is also a passionate comic book fan along with a die-hard sports pedigree. Brendan has written various articles covering all topics. Brendan dreams of forging a long-lasting legacy by bringing respect to the Rooney name as either a teacher, journalist, or whatever else the future holds. Brendan plans to graduate from Westfield State University in the spring of 2022 with a degree in English, and a minor in Journalism.

Celina Smith

News Managing Editor

She | They

Celina is someone who fights to be a voice for the voiceless, a teller of truth and is an aspiring field journalist. Celina is also a DC Universe fanatic, with her favorite heroes being Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.

Brian Adigwu

Podcaster

He | Him

Brian of Earth-16 is a podcaster for the Earth-16 Comics Writer and a contributing writer/journalist for the Daily Planet. You can also hear Brian on the DC Comics Geeks Nation podcast. When not writing, Brian enjoys going to the world of comic books, TV shows, video games, and pro-wrestling. He also loves listening to other podcasts and having a philosophical conversation.

Zach Moore

Contributing Podcaster

He | Him

Zach Moore hosts Always Hold On To Smallville, a retrospective podcast about the Superman TV series “Smallville.” Having worked as a cinematographer, editor and photojournalist in the news, entertainment and medical fields, if there’s a camera or microphone involved Zach isn’t far behind. Zach is a veteran podcaster having hosted multiple shows over the years including Fanchise Fatigue and Saswatch on the United Federation of Podcasts, and Standard Orbit on Trek.FM. He is a native Houstonian and proud Texan.

Daniel Sanchez

Investigative Reporter

He | Him

Daniel’s career includes being an award-winning magazine art director for “Boy’s Life” and multiple major metropolitan city magazines, writing for a Dallas newspaper, designing “that” vintage Superman watch with the phone booth in 1993, and having the NOVA program patch he designed for the Boy Scouts of America go into space aboard the Space Shuttle STS-135 and the International Space Station ISS Expeditions 28 & 29.

He currently represents the Christopher Reeve-era Superman for children (and their families) as @WearingTheCape, is the National President of the special needs charity Heroic Inner Kids, contributed to the book “Superman: The Richard Donner Years” by Jim Bowers and Brian McKernan, is an official researcher and designer for The Caped Wonder Network, enjoys uncovering lost facts and gems about the legend of Superman, and could not be more proud to be an actual reporter for the Daily Planet.

Jonathan Tyler Patrick

Contributing Podcaster

He | Him

Tyler, as he is known, has been a life long Superman fan since the dawn of his arrival on this planet. With that as a compass, he has always found that being a voice of reason was important. Tyler graduated in 2010 with a degree in Psychology and Counseling. He has worked with troubled teens in different capacities as well as his local paper. Currently, Tyler is pursuing his masters in screen writing along side teaching English and working in the local schools. The Krypton Report is a podcast Tyler runs as part of the Press Play Podcast Network. He has two children and a beautiful amazing wife, whom he has been married to for ten years.

Anthony Desiato

Contributing Podcaster

He | Him

Anthony Desiato, owner and founder of Flat Squirrel Productions, is a lifelong Superman fan, documentary filmmaker, and podcast host who has been chronicling the culture of comic shops for the past decade. Projects include the films My Comic Shop Documentary and My Comic Shop Country, as well as the podcast series My Comic Shop History and Digging For Kryptonite.

Domenic Purdy

Contributing Writer

He | Him

Whether it’s those told in the medium of comic books, in the pulp print of a newspaper or on the silver screen, Domenic Purdy has always held a passion for storytelling. Inspired to pursue journalism by Clark Kent, Lois Lane and others at DC Comics’ Daily Planet, Purdy tries to find the human in every story he writes. Specializing in entertainment interviews and reporting at the Planet, Purdy is a junior studying journalism at Louisiana State University’s Manship School of Mass Communication, where he covers news for the student paper, the Reveille. Purdy also writes about cultural news at Baton Rouge’s 225 Magazine, in addition to freelance work with the Advocate.

Jainam Turakhia

Journalist
He | Him

Jainam Turakhia has been a fan of DC for as long as he can remember, but what really tickles his inner creativity is Zack Snyder’s vision for the DC Universe. From there Turakhia has traveled to a lot of destinations exploring works of other artists who make movies or write books/comics. Zack Snyder however, is always his hometown. He loves watching, and analyzing, anything and everything. Still a student from India studying Chartered Accountancy, Turakhia’s passion for stories doesn’t seem to end.

Jimmy Reno

He | Him

Jimmy Reno has always had a passion for the creative arts. Singing and writing have been at the forefront of his career. A professional Christian country singer and songwriter, he discovered his love for writing and journalism later on. Working as a freelance journalist in addition to his music, he contributes to the Daily Planet. An avid, life-long Superman fan, discovering the Daily Planet and contributing to it, was a dream come true.

Luke Bugg

He | Him

Brian of Earth-16 is a podcaster for the Earth-16 Comics Writer and a contributing writer/journalist for the Daily Planet. You can also hear Brian on the DC Comics Geeks Nation podcast. When not writing, Brian enjoys going to the world of comic books, TV shows, video games, and pro-wrestling. He also loves listening to other podcasts and having a philosophical conversation.

Destiny Ricks

She | Her

Born and raised in Columbus, Georgia, Destiny Ricks doesn’t describe herself as the typical Southern Belle. Growing up, Ricks often lost herself in the various fascinating worlds she found in literature and comic books, particularly with Batman. Her mother, an educator, instilled a love of reading and writing in her and once her brother gifted her a camera, the rest, as they say, is history. On her YouTube channel, Ricks discusses and analyzes films and often geeks out about the latest comic book properties. Ricks is a nerd through and through and you can find her at her most chaotic on her Twitter.

Christopher Reed

He | Him

Christopher Reed is an entertainment reporter, and archivist for the Daily Planet. Since joining the Daily Planet in 2019, he has interviewed authors, covered film studios, and theme park activities.

Sanjayan Karthikeyan

He | Him

Sanjayan Karthikeyan has always loved super heroes and wants to become a comic book artist/writer. Over the years, he was introduced to Superman who went on to become an inspiration in his life. Superman was the reason he started writing, which has become one of his favorite activities. Karthikeyan just completed schooling and plans on pursuing a career in finance but also wants to pursue Journalism, a new passion of his.

Ryan Hyde

He | Him

Ryan is a lover of comics, comedy, film, and pizza. He resides in Delaware with his amazing wife and two rambunctious kittens.

Rob O’Connor

He | Him

By day, Rob O’Connor is a TV producer working in Ireland on a number of successful series. By night, Rob keeps his horizons broadened with a steady diet of 90s teen dramas, videogames and superhero comics. The phone won’t stop ringing.

Alan Burke

He | Him

Alan has an extensive knowledge and passion for comic book literature and the legacy of Superman in particular. Alan is an avid collector of rare comic book and film memorabilia and believes that comic book characters, such as Superman, represent the equivalent of a modern day mythology.