Happy New Year 2024 (2023 in Review)
Happy New Year, everybody! Yeah, I know this post isn’t on New Year’s Day but I wanted to wish you all the best before the clock strikes 12 tonight.
For this entry, I’m going to reprint yesterday’s New Year’s edition of THE CANISTER X TRANSMISSION. If you like what you read and would like to subscribe, please use the subscription form to the left of your screen if you’re on a desktop. If not, please go here.
Thanks.
Enjoy.
Issue Three Hundred-three – December 30, 2023
Telecom handheld transmission:
Welcome to Issue 303 of THE CANISTER X TRANSMISSION and the final issue of THE VERY LONG YEAR SIX for 2023.
This past year was a busy one both professionally and personally, the majority of my time spent either working or sleeping. But we got a lot done and laid a firm foundation for PROJECT REBUILD 2.0. I’m happy with all that was accomplished this year and also am enjoying the feeling of finally being back into the swing of things.
This issue is going to be structured like all the rest but we’re going to gear each section as a kind of look-back on the year, but before we do, I promised my thoughts on New Year’s resolutions last issue so here they are: New Year’s resolutions, though well-intended in concept, are ridiculous because, objectively speaking, they have zero effect on the flow of Time. Sure, we as a species divided Time into chunks as per the solar cycle, but that doesn’t change Time as a whole. Time is Time, an unbeatable and unmanipulative force that we’re a part of the second we’re conceived through to our deaths.
In short, every day/evening/night is New Year’s resolution day. Lift off the calendar grid and we’re all just a bunch of fish swimming along Time’s current and only headed in one direction. That said, we can make our resolutions at any moment. We can act upon them at any moment. We also cannot act upon them at any moment.
The choice is ours.
* * *
Work log:
2024’s road map has been laid and this week we took a look at, and acted upon, some items of that map. Other parts were planned and locked down in terms of a we-first-do-this-then-we-do-that, step-by-step kind of way, which is how my brain is wired for any project, creative or not. I like to get the overview first with the endpoint made clear, then I look at the path to get there and break down the nuts and bolts of the goal so I know the thought-through way to get there as efficiently as possible while allowing grace for human error (because human error is also an unstoppable force).
This week’s work, due to Christmas and being on holidays, was pretty much cut in half as a result. But we still got stuff done and still maintained a holiday schedule because, as you know, this break was much-needed.
In short, we got things set up for the early part of 2024 so there will be a smooth transition when the clock strikes midnight tomorrow.
* * *
Blog headlines:
vLog – The Lord of the Rings vs The Dark Tower (Hollywood, Listen Up!)
Realm of Heroes and Monsters: Story Time Podcast Episode 18
Canister X Mailbag – Custom Funko Pop! Figures Christmas Unboxing – 10312023 – 122523
Boxing Week eBook Sale!
2024 Business Formulation: The House
The Way of the Fog (The Ark of Light Volume One)
Look, Up on the Screen! The Big Book of Superhero Movie Reviews Book Spotlight
vLog – Writer Rider? (Roger, Roger)
* * *
Content notice:
As is the usual around here, we made stuff for the public and for patrons.
Public:
Hotwheels Dream Garage Bone Shaker
Writer/Artist A.P. Fuchs Funko Pop! Figure – Merry Christmas
Hotwheels 55th Anniversary ’67 Camaro
Green Goblin Marvel Legends Retro Action Figure
DC Justice League 2” Superman Figures (blue suit and black suit)
Look, Up on the Screen! The Big Book of Superhero Movie Reviews Book Spotlight Teaser
Patreon:
My Secret (from CAUGHT IN BLACK HEADLIGHTS)
ZOMTROPOLIS – 17
* * *
Release notice (a different sort of list):
This year was packed with releases across various mediums. To round them up, I’ve broken them down into sections for you.
Books:
THE CANISTER X TRANSMISSION: YEAR FOUR
THE CANISTER X TRANSMISSION: THE LONG YEAR FIVE
ZOMTROPOLIS: A RECORD OF LIFE IN A DEAD CITY
Comics and cartoons:
FREDRIKUS Episode 38: Lobster (comic)
FRED THE DOG IN “ONCE UPON A WEINER” (cartoon)
AXIOM-MAN: Short Animated Film (cartoon; co-writer)
FRED THE DOG IN “ONCE UPON A WEINER” (storyboard video with cartoon comparison)
FIGHTING AND OTHER ANIMATED SHORTS AND ARTWORK (cartoon)
Video:
A ton of videos and shorts and reels were created this past year, all focusing on superheroes and monsters and my books and comics.
I’m looking to grow the channel so I invite you to subscribe and check out the stuff that’s there. Some cool stuff planned for 2024 so might as well get in on the ground floor.
Here’s the channel’s trailer.
Audio:
At the end of August we launched my first podcast, THE REALM OF HEROES AND MONSTERS: STORY TIME with A.P. FUCHS. New episode every Sunday. We’re 18 episodes of 30 into Season 1. After the season is done, we’ll take a month-long break then come back with Season 2 of which we’ll shake up the program and still deliver on story time.
The podcast is currently available for your listening (and viewing) pleasure at:
YouTube
YouTube Music
Canister X
Spotify
Blog/web:
Lots of content went out via the socials. The best place to ensure you and I are hooked up via various social channels is by checking out my LinkTree, which then branches off to my various web hideouts. Join me and let’s connect.
And, of course, we maintained a steady blog schedule, delivering content 6 days a week, sometimes 7.
We also launched Patreon 2.0 and stacked it with content along with a basic tier structure:
$1 – General tip jar; my gratitude for your support is your reward.
$5 – All access to both public and patron-only content. There is a ton of content for both on the site. Serial books and comics, essays and articles, videos, photography, artwork, and more. I hope you join the journey.
Newsletter:
We resumed THE CANISTER X TRANSMISSION and had to find a new transmission service along the way. I’m still getting used to using MailerLite hence why the past couple of issues had some unnecessary text.
As for TinyLetter, presently the site is still up along with THE CANISTER X TRANSMISSION back issues. Subscribing via that site is no longer an option and I don’t know if or when my TinyLetter page will come down so if you want to read the back issues, now’s the time. You can also support this newsletter by purchasing the collected editions (complete with a bonus issue unavailable anywhere else) in paperback or eBook via the usual suspects.
* * *
As we head into 2024, and as of the writing of this newsletter, my headspace is split in two. One side is focused on creating, the other focused on the business side and the necessary prep for doing shows, delivering content, maintaining the unseen business stuff behind the scenes, and the upcoming tax season.
I had hoped to accomplish a lot more during this winter break but to be honest, I desperately needed to slow down so I did get some stuff done, just not all.
2024 is coming. Time to finish resting up.
Have a great New Year’s Eve and, please, stay safe.
Thanks for spending 2023 with me.
All the best,
A.P. Fuchs
Happy New Year 2024, MB
End transmission
Thanks for sticking with me this year and digging into what I’ve been bringing into the Web. More to come.
So, again, Happy New Year 2024!
