🚀 The TfC Ramble: 2023.09.16
GlobalComix & dReader Release Android App; Holy Drop, Batman!
The TfC Ramble is a weekly digest of content from the intersection of technology and comics.
Digital Comics
GlobalComix
The GlobalComix app public beta is now available on the Google Play Store.
Link to download from the Google Play Store
It is exciting to see GlobalComix continue to move forward. Note that this is a beta project, but so far the product has worked almost flawlessly for me in early testing.
dReader
An early version of the Android version of dReader also went live on Google Play this week (use "alpha" referral code on setup). All comics are for reading only at the moment (no NFT sales).
I’ll do a full review once dReader is out of development, but so far I am super impressed. The fact that it is possible to find value in the app without knowing a single thing about crypto wallets, etc. is a new and refreshing approach.
AI
While not specifically comics-related, I felt it was important to highlight this event. Listening to the Senators, I found it a tad discouraging that there is clearly some misunderstanding about AI (e.g. algorithms and AI are not the same thing), but it was also encouraging that the event occurred.
NFTs
Veve.me
Sept. 12 Avengers (1963) #16 Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver join the Avengers Published: 1965 Price: $6.99 (Sold Out) Total Editions: 6,000
Sept. 13 Once Upon a Mouse...in the Future: Thru the Betaverse Published: 2023 Price: $6.99 Total Editions: 10,000 (Still Available)
Sept. 14 New Mutants (1983) #100 The first appearance of X-Force. Published: 1991 Price: $6.99 Total Editions: 6,000 (Still available)
nft.dcuniverse.com
Sept. 14 Batman (1940–2011) #1 Price: 19.99 (Sold Out. Max purchase: 1 per account) Total Editions: 5,000
Holy drop, Batman! This issue sold out in 30 minutes, even with the 1 per account limit, and is still very much in demand in the after market.
Just Charts
Data source: Data sources: Marvel_Comics.csv & Complete_DC_Comic_Books.csv via kaggle.com
In this case, “appearances” means “the times the name is listed with an issue” and is associated with the year it was released, not necessarily when the issue was written.
Writer Accountability
The next issue in The Lump Sum Saga, Lump Dog, is still on pause. I will provide more details when I hear more.
The pause has given me time to contemplate if maybe I am moving forward with the wrong book. I am exploring the possibility of moving forward with my all-ages book instead. This prequel to the prequel establishes the origin story for two of my main characters. Think Scooby Doo with aliens.
I continue to work on my DC pitch.
What I am reading
This week, I picked up Alpha Flight #1 (Fall of X), Daredevil #1, Kill Your Darlings, and The Devil’s Cut from DSTLRY.
Nothing to do with comics
Friday to Sunday, I attended Fully Charged Live! here in Vancouver. It was a great show. One of my highlights was meeting Robert Llewellyn, Kryten from Red Dwarf!
I finally finished my T-shirt quilt this week. You know those projects that sit around half-finished for ages? This was one of those, so it felt great to get it off my to-do list. #NostagliaOverload
Just for Fun
How is this adorable creature even a thing?! 🥰