What's that saying about March and Lions? or should I say Tigers? A few extra updates and a very special invite! in this early email.
PLUGOarts PLUGOarts
PLUGO: artist • comics • illustration (scbwi)

Howdy,
I'm early! For the past two years now (with only a few exceptions) I've been dropping these musings on the second Tuesday of each month. This is one of those exceptional Tuesdays, March is already so full and there are some things happening early enough in the month that I felt 3 weeks since my last message was long enough. Let me share some points –

  • That Movie Review I was Working On
  • #TigerTuesday - Behind Kung Fu SkillZ
  • A Tiger's Tale Kickstarter Update
  • Monday 3/13 Symposium on A.I. Comics
  • Tuesday 3/21 The Comics Fu Show

So has anyone else caught  ANT-MAN & THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA? When we last corresponded I was on the verge of writing the official KungFuMagazine.com review for it. Well you can read that now if you'd like; though it does contain spoilers.

 

https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/2022/10/24/3fe2ecc3-2100-4f7e-951a-aabe1782372d/ant-man-and-the-wasp-quantumania-poster.jpg?auto=webp&width=1688&height=2500&crop=0.675:1,smart

There's also a #TigerTuesday update on TigersTale.com which might be of interest to you. It's the sort of behind-the-project photo-essay that is fairly common for PLUGOarts, but there's a strong enough connection to our recent Kickstart.aTigersTale.com campaign and that project's client for it to make an appropriate update over there. And speaking of our recently concluded  campaign . . .
A Tiger's Tale vol. 1 & 2
A Tiger's Tale vol. 1 & 2
The Kickstarter campaign for A Tiger's Tale volumes 1 & 2 officially ended its 30 day crowdfunding campaign having surpassed it's goal of making 100 backers by 8 and its funding goal by 191% A list of bonus goals aand a fulfillment schedule can be found at the green button.
Learn More Here
Symposium: A.I. & Comics

Monday March 13, 2023
Free Online Event

5:00pm - 7:00pm PST | 8:00pm – 10:00pm EST

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the creation and production of comics has the potential to create major shifts in the business, ethical, and legal aspects of the industry. Understanding the potential benefits and challenges to each segment of the profession is vital for anyone who wants to have a career in comics.

Comics Connection is a community dedicated to helping comic creators build successful comic businesses. As a part of this mission, our goal is to bring together disparate voices to share thoughts, ideas, and insights on this important topic.

So we’re bringing together experts from different segments of the comic book and AI community to maximize the scope of the discussion. Scheduled guests include:

  • Heidi McDonald: Editor in Chief at Comics Beat (Moderator)
  • Mark Waid: writer for Archie, Boom! DC, Image, and Marvel
  • Mike Marts: editor for DC, Marvel, AfterShock, and Mad Cave Studios
  • Thomas Crowell: attorney and author of The Pocket Lawyer for Comic Book Creators
  • A. T. Scott.: Machine learning researcher at San Francisco State University
  • Gamal Hennessy: attorney and author of The Business of Independent Comic Book Publishing
  • Andy Schmidt: editor for DC, Hasbro, and IDW, Publisher at CEX Publishing
Register for Free

As a founding member of this community I played a small but pivotal role in this symposium. You see, I've lent comics to that participating machine learning expert. They are a patron and long time friend. Over the past couple of years, just before the recent boom in A.I. Art, we experimented with our own take on the technology. The goal was to teach that a.i. to learn to make the choices I'd make while illustrating; teach it to color like I would. I admit, I was hoping for an A.I. Intern. But it was a project we put on hold, in part, for the sake of actually publishing A Tiger's Tale volumes 1 & 2.

 

But the experiments were interesting, which has me certain this event could go to some great theoretical places.
AI Art example
The Comics Fu Show Live!
The Comics Fu Show Live!
Tuesday March 21st 11:00am PST | 2:00pm EST THE COMICS FU SHOW returns Live with special guest Laurie Calcaterra , martial artist and creator of the comics series Path of the Pale Rider.
Click Here

And so we're already off to a very packed March. March is always special, season of the fish. Enjoy tonight's full moon and watch for a few more sudden surprises, maybe some live-stream art maybe something else . . .

more soon

– PLUGO
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