I hope your holidays were fun, that you’re easing comfortably into the new year, that you’ve finally recovered from your food induced coma.

Next week I want to fill you in on my plans for 2023, but first, I have one more list of my favorite things from 2022 that I wanted to share with you. And this week, we’re looking at Podcasts. Whether you’ve got a long commute or you have a job where you need to keep your mind busy, I got just the thing to put in your ear holes.

So, without further adieu…

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things, 2022

Podcast edition!

Note: These are not necessarily podcasts I discovered in 2022 (though some are), rather it’s the stuff I listened to most.

In no particular order…

The Major Spoilers Podcast

I often joke about how I don’t have time to read comics because I’m too busy making them, so having a way to keeping up with industry news and listening to reviews from people who’s opinions I respect is a valuable asset for me. The panelists are witty and each brings an interesting and unique perspective to every episode. They also have a great network of interesting podcasts to listen to including…

Critical Hit

Pre-dating most other real-play RPG podcasts out there, I stumbled on to Critical Hit when I was between groups and looking for a fix of D&D shenanigans. What I found was a podcast that was actually kinda better than most gaming experiences I’ve had. The stories are intricate and well thought out, the group dynamic is great and, unlike most groups I’ve been a part of, they actually stay on task (mostly).

Hidden Brain

You may think that a podcast about psychology, neuroscience and sociology would be a rather dry topic or get stale quickly, but you would be very wrong. Hidden Brain tackles topics ranging from why wealthy people don’t think they’re wealthy to why we remember things the way we do. If you’re like me and you are fascinated by the complex mystery that is humans, I cannot recommend this show enough. I’ve learned as much about myself as I have others by listening to it.

Myths And Legends

I love mythology. I was always the kid in the back of the classroom with a big book of Greek or Norse myths. Spent most of my hours in church reading the old testament where all the crazy epic stuff happens. The Myths and Legends podcast is exactly what it sounds like, featuring retellings of lore from around the world and seasoned with snarky anachronistic asides that will keep modern audiences engaged. The host even makes a legit effort into arranging the different canons into a consistent continuity timeline, which… just… respect.

Levar Burton Reads

Again, this podcast is exactly what it says it is. Every week LeVar Burton reads a short story by some of the greatest authors out there. Neil Gaiman, N.K. Jemision, Stephen King, Ken Liu, just to name a few. If you’ve ever wished you could have Mr. Burton personally read you a bedtime story, this is as close as you will probably ever get. But you don’t have to take my word for it.

Hope that gives you some ideas for your listening pleasure in 2023! I’ll be back next week to share with you my slate of projects that I plan on launching this year! I have some good stuff on the way, that I really think you’ll like, and I can’t wait to tell you all about them!

Till then, be good!

But not too good 😉

– Nathan

So this year I think I’m going to start up a new tradition. With the impending end of the year upon us, ‘tis the traditional season of reflection on the year that was. Ergo for the next couple weeks, rather than focus on the things that I have made, I’d like to share my favorite things that other people have made. Media that I have consumed this year, that has stuck with me, and influenced my outlook and my work.

So, without further ado,

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things, 2022

(Movies and Series edition)

Note: This is not necessarily stuff that came out in 2022, rather it’s stuff that I consumed in 2022.

Let’s take it away! In no particular order…

The Sandman

I have been hoping for some kind of live action (or animated) adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s comic opus for literally decades and, against all odds, the Netflix series was worth the wait. Not only that, it stands as a testament to Gaiman’s vision, his ownership and control of his work, and his dedication to creating the best possible version of it or none at all. A rare example of the behind the scenes stuff being just as interesting as the work itself. I watched it, I went back and read the comic series, and then I watched it again. In an age in which we are spoiled for adaptations, The Sandman, stands next to Lord of the Rings, and Interview with the Vampire as gold standard examples of how to do it right.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds/Lower Decks

Together these two shows reminded me of what I love about Star Trek: It’s optimism. A lot of stuff has trended toward grimmer and darker material of late, and between Star Trek: Discovery and the reboot movies, I had emotionally parted ways with my favorite sci-fi franchise. Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks brought me back to the fold, though. There’s been a lot of fear and uncertainty in the world for a while now, so it’s only natural for that to be reflected in art and media. But that’s also why we need stuff like Star Trek. To give us hope, show us that things can get better, and that one day we will outgrow all the problems that hold us back.

And speaking of optimism…

Ted Lasso

I resisted watching this show soooo hard. I’m not a sports guy, I don’t go for saccharine stuff, and relationship dramas just don’t do it for me. So trying to get me to watch a feel-good interpersonal drama about soccer/football was going to be a hard sell. But, when I was finally made to watch it, I was hooked halfway through the first episode. Ted’s unreasonable positivity, the wittiness of the writing, an unending torrent of dad jokes, characters that handle their problems like adults (mostly) and come together in emotionally intelligent ways, all conspire to make Ted Lasso a show that consistently defies my expectations with plot twists and by being just really damn charming. I have yet to meet anyone who has seen this series and doesn’t love it.

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

I’m not even going to use the “I have daughters excuse” for this one because the truth is I tried to get them to watch it, they weren’t interested, so I binged the whole thing on my own. And holy crap She-Ra nails it, inspiring both my childhood desire to jump up and join the action and my adult appreciation for sophisticated stories. Magical girl transformations with kick-ass music, long form anime-style story arcs, self aware humor, fun action, and oh my god I could write a psychological profile on each of these characters’ damage. Beneath the bright colors and light-hearted girly charm is a show about trauma, cycles of abuse, and the coping mechanisms each character uses to manage their issues. This is a show that will simultaneously entertain your inner child while surprising your jaded adult.

Shin Godzilla

This was my sleeper favorite for the year. I’d been aware of Shin Godzilla for a while, but only really had a passing interest in watching it until I discovered that it was written and directed by Hideaki Anno, creator and show runner of Neon Genesis Evangelion, probably my all time favorite anime. Anno takes the king of the monsters back to his roots as a metaphor for man-made disaster (specifically nuclear ones) and takes plenty of digs at the inability of governmental bureaucracy to handle them. Prescient much? Fans of Evangelion will appreciate Anno’s distinctive visual style and tropes which translate well to live action, as well as a few musical spikes lifted directly from the anime. Even if you’re not a fan of Godzilla or Evangelion, this is worth a watch. It is the big guy at his best, not battling other kaiju, but showing us more than we’d like to admit about ourselves. It’s the smartest Godzilla movie in years and my personal favorite since the 1954 original.

Hope that gives you some good ideas for your 2023 watchlist. Did you see anything good this year? What spoke to you? Or what was the worst thing you saw?

Coming soon: My favorite books of 2022!

I  returned to the hallowed halls of my alma matter (The Minneapolis College of Art and Design) this week to give a talk about crowdfunding, art entrepreneurship, and most importantly, How (not) To Make Webcomics. Some interested faces and some interesting questions. Hope I got my message across.

Of course, $24/month Patrons can already access that talk in the tutorial vault 😉 …

Cyber Monday was the name of a Shadowrun character concept I had for a while. She was a moody 14 year old girl that had been in an accident, had most of her body replaced by cyberware, and became a Runner to pay off the debt. Think Wednesday Adams by way of Ghost in the Shell.

#cybermonday #shadowrun #originalcharacter #wednesdayadams #writing

And now has a billion dollars a year in interest payments and all the orcs have to pay $8/month.

That’s right! The books are in and now it’s time to start sending them out! I’m aiming to get them all shipped this weekend, so keep an eye on the mail! With a little luck, you’ll have a convenient distraction from any awkward Thanksgiving conversations you may wish to dodge.

Thanks again for making The Canon of Vangel #1 possible! Issue 2 is already underway, and I’m hoping to bring that to Kickstarter in April 2023!

If you’d like to follow along, you can get the latest page of The Canon of Vangel delivered to your inbox every week by SIGNING UP HERE!

Or, for early access, exclusive behind the scenes process videos, livestream art jams, and access to my 18 year back catalog of comics, consider becoming a Patreon Pal!

One more big thank you !! It is Thanksgiving, after all!

Till next time, be thankful!

But not too thankful 🦃

(does that even make sense?)

-Nathan

3 DAYS LEFT to back Concrete Arcanum on Kickstarter!

3 Days left to get this 120 page tome of modern fantasy tales from 35 awesome creators! Folks who have worked for Fantasy Flight Games, Image Comics and more!

3 Days left to get these 10 bonus comics included in your reward!

Or, max out your digital comics buying power by picking up the Digital Lueth Crate, Creator Compendium, or Digital Extravaganza tiers!

3 days left to get this bitchin’ Elf Rocker Pin!

It’s all over on Friday at 12 Noon U.S. Central Time!

So CLICK HERE to back us on Kickstarter!

And whatever happens, I do hope you’ll join us at 11:30 for the final countdown party!

You can CLICK HERE to watch on my YouTube channel

Or CLICK HERE to watch on Facebook

We have a little less than $4000 to go and it’s going to be down to the wire! I’m going to see how many of them I can get to show up in costume. Will we be celebrating? Will we be crying? Either way, it’s going to be entertaining!

More soon!

Till next then, be spooky!

But not too spooky

– Nathan

It’s official! Kickstarter looooovvves Concrete Arcanum! ♥️♥️♥️

And to celebrate, I’m giving away

I’ve got four of these slick pouches from Creating Meraki studios (also available as an add-on) that I’m going to give away this week!

Each one is handmade featuring the Concrete Arcanum cover art, reinforced for durability and lined. Perfect for keeping your spell components safe and dry! 8 inches wide, 5.5 inches tall, and 1.75 inches deep along the bottom edge (which allows this bag to stand on its own).

All you have to do to be eligible is to back (or adjust your pledge to) a tier that includes a physical book, and to answer the question of the day!

And today that question is:

Who or what is your favorite monster?

Just CLICK HERE to leave your answer in the comments below the post and I’ll select a winner at random!

Or, if you want to make absolutely certain you get a zipper pouch, they are also available as an add-on.

Good luck! I can’t wait to see what everyone is watching!

And remember to be spooky!

But not too spooky! 🎃

That will get you kicked out of places.

-Nathan

Hey, Nathan!

Just wanted to bop in and remind you that the launch party for Concrete Arcanum is live! Like, right now!

CLICK HERE to watch the show live on Youtube or

CLICK HERE to Join us on Facebook.

We’re going to hang out, talk about our respective stories, and why Concrete Arcanum is such a unique project. It won’t be a party without you though, so I do hope you can make it.

See you there!

– Nathan

The Canon of Vangel, Issue 1 launches next week on Kickstarter!

Click Here to get notified when we launch!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nathanlueth/the-canon-of-vangel-issue-1?ref=clipboard-prelaunch