The TfC Ramble is a skimmable smorgasbord of noteworthy content that I ran across this week. Enjoy!
Not Legal Advice
AI
The big AI-related event this week was “Google presents: Live from Paris.” I found it somewhat anticlimactic but even that fact makes it important.
The following video is a good explanation of one type of machine learning: transformers. For my non-tech friends, if you get nothing else from this video, note the brief overview (at about the 8:30 mark) where she discusses where you can get free access to what you would need to use transformers (and more) in your own apps. This “easily accessible to a teenage programmer working in their bedroom” feature makes AI tech very, very different from other complex technologies like cloning.
Comic NFT News
AtomicHub Releases Launchpad; Partners With Beast Kingdom on Phygital Ultraman Collectibles
Notable Drops
Fantastic Four #52 - The first appearance of The Black Panther, T'Challa, and the nation of Wakanda. Edition size: 10,000 at $20. Sold out.
Devil Dinosaur #1 - The first appearance of Devil Dinosaur! Edition size: 10,000 at $6.99
Green Lantern (1960-1986) #87 Edition Size: 4450 copies at USD 9.99. Sold out.
Gunslinger - The first Gunslinger cover drawn by Todd McFarlane, animated with sound and music. Animated by Zaid Sarraf. Edition size: 666 at 1 (for holders of a tribute cover) or 1.5 Solana. (~ $22.86-$34.26) Sold out.
Independent
Ash Fall #2 Edition size: No limit. nb: At least 2400 issues claimed (a sold-out amount) at web3.liithos.com. An undisclosed number were minted at the primary source, nft.coinzoom.com . This is an example of a “comics meet social media influencer” comic.
Star Atlas Core Issue 4. Edition size: No limit. USD 20 at Star Atlas; 0.849 Sol at Magic Eden. This is an example of a “comics meet web 3 game” comic. The first four issues of the comic are available for free on Apple Books.
On Kickstarter Now
Ben Lacy is one of my Kickstarter heroes. Our comic careers started about the same time, but where I have two campaigns under my belt, he has six and each issue is better than the one that came before. His ability to execute inspires me. Ben’s sixth campaign is underway now. Have a look. If this fun, “pulpy” story doesn’t end up a movie one day, I’ll be shocked. Collectors, you’ve been forewarned. *As always, not financial advice* Ha!
Accountability Check In
The major accomplishment of the week was getting my read-aloud podcast for “Comic NFTs - An Ethical Approach” up on Spotify.
I went backwards this week as the majority of my script writing was for an entirely new scene/comic in TLSS. Now I’m noodling over which needs to become a comic first:
Lump Dog #1, where the main story gets rolling, or
the extension of the prequel I outlined this week.
What follows is a time-lapse video of using Scrivener for some of this latest new draft… this really, really rough draft.
Just for Fun
This video makes me so happy. I’ve had the privilege of taking several Comics Experience courses with these two and there has always been a hilarious frenemy dynamic between them. Ryan Reynolds vs Hugh Jackman; Kevin Michael Rowe vs Nikolai Fomich ... It's a thing. Joking aside, Nikolai’s comic Flowers for Henry from CEX is in stores now. I just got a call from my comic shop that my copies are ready for pickup. Seeing a comic go from idea to rough draft, to finished script, and eventually onto store shelves brings me such joy!
“If I can teach you anything as a comics creator, do not put comics before Valentine’s Day.” Brian Michael Bendis