December Highlights
Have A Happy New Year!
And so this year ends. I’ve gotta say this whole year has been a ride. A lot of anxieties, reliefs, and joys. The month of December alone has been a couple of breakthroughs on expanding out beyond just reviews. But we should go over everything while we still can.
Beyond What Pays
The start of the month was a bit of catching up when my own real life had more going for it. Friends, another publisher reaching out to me, and more.
Admittedly the reviews give this all a little structure. But getting to try something new when time seems to get away a lot helps out. Including a stomach epidemic. I was so sick, I just couldn’t work the effort to display this post anywhere else:
Which brings me to thoughts on why a DC event from 2024 stuck with me so much. And the latest post about how comics make theory about AI.
The AI slop that goes around is the word of this year. Funny how every two years it’s something new that’s an aftereffect of some breakthrough. From cryptocurrencies to NFTs then AI all the way to slop. Makes me wonder what that means for 2026.
Finally the big thought that finally got out of my skull. Cultures that shape superpowers.
Honestly it’s more theory, the kind that invite discussion. I figure that’s why it was best left on here. Not unlike a post I brought from Gutternaut to here at the start of the year:
And yet it doesn’t have the same sense of viral outbreaks. That’s okay, I can’t come up with some drafts on theory all the time. I tried that and it didn’t always work out. But I still wanna try more than just a safety net.
Status of Gutternaut Website
If I can ever get myself to actually work on my website, I think I can update the underrated comic lists at the very least. Then make some posts about some comics I read. Probably not Sugar & Spies, I feel like I lost motivation for that. Update…it’s coming back.
Maybe some things I’ve read on GlobalComix like Veritas since it filled me with a few ideas on what to write about.
Then consider one of those AI plugins to make automatic updates, especially since that’s something I just make the effort without burning out.
Status of Wire Fence
Practically secondary now that the written drafts are finished.
Honestly, the thing that worries me most about this is money. Despite what I said last month, I overestimated just how much I can actually fund the creation. Hence why I updated that post.
Plus what if that money is better spent on that plugin?
Looking Back
Overall, it’s been a year of growth in followers. Including some very minor profits. But even that’s ending soon now that my only paid subscriber finally said his piece.
I will admit, I’d never get as many followers or free subscribers as I did without the people who recommend me. Especially Comical Opinions: Comic Reviews for Indie & Alt Comics. Probably because Substack says our audiences overlap the most.
Looking Forward
That does make me wonder if I should follow Gabe’s example and start a new Substack dedicated to web fiction.
That is if I don’t spend too much time on the games I’ve put off. Among other put offs.
Learning From New Fandoms
But one thing that I’m hoping for is getting more intrigue towards the stuff I do, especially the feeling of discovery. Something that I’ve been finding with this month’s big emotional investment.
The original Hollow Knight has been a blast. Not just with the gameplay and all of the effort to get one ending that leads into Silksong, but finding a life lesson I’ll take out of it, contentment.
One of the two endings that I was aiming for was just more trouble than it was worth. No matter how hard I tried I hit a wall and finally found an ending that I needed.
Especially when I find that there were other little things that made me look back on what I did in-game. I really felt like the characters had lives that weren’t revolving around the game’s achievements or easter eggs. They just exist like people do. Along with one big reflection I feel like I need to lean into: life doesn’t end at its peak, you keep going.
How Should I Finish The Short Stories?
It’s those little things that help make it all feel like something can become bigger and more lived in. Dedication and actually living in the real world. It’s something I’ve been trying to put into those short stories but can never seem to finish them. Just get a couple of ideas, lose the motivation, find what strikes my fancy.
Problem is, there is no system to control that fancy. Especially as a way to make the discipline to finish those stories.
It’s not that I’m not dedicated, it’s more like trying to choose between several needs at once. Less they pile up and get too hard to manage.
When it comes to those short stories, writer’s block and more stress that keep me from enjoying the process get in the way. I’m not getting paid or have other factors that pressure me to finish. Just risks of burnout. It’s why I have to consider using AI to at least get some outlines or next steps to write things out.
Not a crutch though, I’m finding more ideas to implement as these outlines come in. Especially since I’m not finding any collaborators like I wanted. Nobody ever tells you that patience can be lonely.
Still Doing Quick Reviews
I won’t neglect what bring so many people here, be even happier if I’m in even more demand. Having Mad Cave and Boom!’s catalogues are a big step forward. Not to mention select creators like David Pepose and Jay B. Kalagayan.
They’ve all made this newsletter richer and more fulfilling.
What Would Guests Like To Pay For?
Since the paywalls haven’t exactly been getting people over. I would like to know what are things people would spend money on for a newsletter like this.
Early access to reviews before they’re made public? No that doesn’t make any sense. The earlier something comes out publicly, the more chances for hype. Besides smarter, budget knowing comic fans know the value of saving things for later.
Links to gaming streams? No, that’s dumb. I don’t want things for fun to turn into more work.
Business insights? Who am I kidding. Anyone with access to ChatGPT can get those without any trouble.
Be a part of something bigger. What’s bigger than what I’m already doing? Gutternaut is supposed to be the place where cult classics, better with age, finding good comics where nowhere else is looking, and focusing on what makes them worth looking at despite what’s on someone’s phone.
But unless that’s being an inside source for this, shouldn’t that mean I pay them? Not the other way around?
If anyone has any real ideas, leave them in the comments.