Zubby Newsletter #139: Conquer the Holidays!

Posted by Jim Zub on December 23, 2025 Leave a comment (0) Go to comments

Wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I hope this Yuletide Dwarven Defender finds you well and that you’re able to make the most of the season.

Gift shopping is done and I’m just sending off a few more emails before I settle in for my holiday break. I’ll have more to cover in my annual Year In Review post but, in short, I’m feeling good and really looking forward to spending more time with family and friends to wrap up the year.

Patreon Update

I’ve updated my Patreon page with more material. If you join, you’ll get access to an archive of over 300 scripts, outlines, and other helpful behind-the-scenes material. Learn how comics are made for the price of a fancy coffee, or give access as a gift to an aspiring creator you know.

And if you’re tight on funds, I also have over 40 FREE writing tutorial articles on my website packed with advice that you can dig through and enjoy.

First Comics Interview

I spoke to Richard Vasseur at First Comics News about working on CONAN THE BARBARIAN – Who he is, key components of his lore, and why he continues to be such a legendary character 93 years after his first appearance in Weird Tales Magazine.

What’s Cookin’ in the Zub Kitchen

Last week I made a Teriyaki Flank Steak Stir Fry with Garlic Broccoli and Rice with beef that turned out extremely flavorful and tender. I ‘velveted’ the meat (a Chinese cooking technique) and that made all the difference. Definitely adding that to my cooking arsenal:

Cut the beef into small pieces, then marinade them in this mixture for around 30 minutes before stir frying (per 1 pound of beef):
♦️1 tsp corn starch
♦️1 tsp soy sauce
♦️2 tsp of oil
♦️1 tsp mirin
♦️1 egg white
with a dash of salt and white pepper

After I quickly cooked the meat in my wok pan, I added a homemade teriyaki glaze and it tasted fantastic. One of the best stir fry meals I’ve ever made.