#big spring sale 2024

[ismail786blog]

Explore Creator top sellers from the Big Spring Sale

[bakuhatsufallinlove]

Let's talk about Jump GIGA

Jump GIGA covers, 2016-2024. Volumes are published (left to right per row) as Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn releases, with 2018 and 2019 briefly breaking the pattern by having three Winter and three Summer volumes each. 2023 has an Early Spring volume in addition to the standard four.

So, people have pointed out that the 2024 Spring cover is, uh, not like other covers.

But I've only seen comparisons to other MHA GIGA covers and MHA Weekly Shonen Jump covers. Out of curiosity for what GIGA's typical marketing aesthetics might be, I put together a comparison between all of Jump GIGA's covers to date.

And, um. Some things stand out, to say the least.

First, let me clarify what Jump GIGA even is: it is a seasonal magazine from Shonen Jump, published separate from Weekly Shonen Jump. SJ is an absolutely massive brand and they have a number of magazines serialized outside of the most well-known weekly magazine.

The content of Jump GIGA is primarily made up of one-shots and spin-offs. From the beginning, a lot of the appeal has been the cool cover illustrations which showcase special merchandise that comes with the purchase of GIGA. Usually the cover also promotes big things going on related to the WSJ series, like movie events, new games, or special figurines for sale.

The marketing aesthetic has been clear from the start: the cover consists of one core illustration and a number of ads surrounding it. Most often you get a cover illustration of a protagonist, and then ads and merch for other series, e.g. Food Wars protagonist cover with One Piece film promotion and Haikyuu!! merch.

The purpose of this marketing direction is pretty obvious. Spin-offs and one-shots are not likely to generate a ton of interest consistently, so they lure people in with the cool covers and tempting limited edition merchandise of the series they already know and love. In this way, highlighting one series with the cover and different series with the merch makes sense, because maybe somebody doesn't care about Food Wars, but they definitely want those Haikyuu!! stickers, stuff like that.

Starting from 2020's Autumn volume, you can see a shift. For the first time, basically all of the merchandise is for the cover series. The Demon Slayer manga had already ended five months earlier in May, but a two-chapter spin-off was scheduled for release in WSJ during October. This GIGA was released exactly one day before the second chapter was published and it capitalizes on the hype.

After this point, only MHA and Jujutsu Kaisen dominate the cover and the merch in quite this way, with Black Clover getting attention last volume as a way to highlight the fact that it actually switched syndication from WSJ to GIGA.

Anyway, most commonly the cover illustration is a solo shot of a core cast member (usually but not always the protagonist), and if it's not a solo, it's a big cast illustration.

Only a few covers focus on two characters, and usually it's a crossover as opposed to characters from same series sharing the limelight.

Here we've got Food Wars' protagonist with the main characters from Dr. Stone and Act-Age.

The two covers most similar to the Izuku & Kacchan cover are 2022 Winter and 2023 Autumn.

Winter depicts the main trio of Blue Box in a seasonally-appropriate aesthetic. Not gonna lie, this one kinda makes me laugh--Blue Box is a romance and sports manga, and even though Christmas has a romantic air to it in Japan, instead of depicting any sort of like, hesitant but hopeful romantic energy between the heterosexual couple that actually get together later in the series, they focus primarily on the two girls being cute with the guy is a wee footnote? I mean, all right.

Meanwhile, Autumn depicts one of the protagonists with the series antagonist with a typical cool action style. I'm not very familiar with JJK, but I hear these two have got Some Drama going on, so, there's that.

The merch itself has also evolved over the years. Stickers and posters were present early on, but they have since expanded to decorative folders and now acrylic stands and coasters. 2021 Summer sees the first time the cover illustration is marketed as merch, with the Jujutsu Kaisen cover included as a decorative folder.

Right after that, the Kacchan cover of 2021 Autumn is included as a poster alongside earlier covers featuring Todoroki and Izuku.

2023 Summer's cover is a huge, wrap-around MHA cast illustration and it was published three days after chapter 396 came out, strategically timed to highlight the big shift in the final battle as Ochako vs Toga ends and All Might vs. AFO begins. Merch includes a decorative folder of the wrap-around cover and character motif stickers.

And then we get this!?

A duo cover illustration where the cover art itself has been merchandised to hell and back!?!?

Acrylic stand and pin set!?

Double-sided coaster showing bkdk greatest hits!? With volume 29's river scene cover!?

There's also a double-sided poster featuring the Spring cover with the ninth popularity poll art and a decorative bag with the anniversary art. The cover art itself is plastered all over the volume, front, back, and spine, apparently a total of 19 times.

I honestly don't know what to say about this. It feels wild that this is actually what the cover is. Obviously it is a huge marketing push in anticipation of season 7, and Izuku and Katsuki are the most popular characters, but. it just feels... unique.

In the course of Jump GIGA's publication, this direction is kind of unprecedented. Genuinely no one could have expected this. This seems to be the first time there's been this much merch for a cover. And it was a solid fucking move, marketing-wise--it's sold out basically everywhere, everyone is talking about it. And even people who don't follow the series or ship these two can't help but comment on how strikingly romantic it looks!?

I don't know how much say Horikoshi had in what the cover was, but damn it sure feels like he drew this with immense affection. I kind of wonder if he personally pushed for it to be these two, rather than the typical solo shot, cast shot, or even a protagonist vs. antagonist shot.

I'm KO'd, man. idek if this post is useful to anybody I'm just on my hands and knees here.

Everybody knows what we're all here for, and it's these cute boys finally getting their happy ending.

EDIT NOTE: I gathered much of the information and many, many of the images in this post from a fan-made Jump Database. I neglected to say it properly when I first posted this, but special thanks to the very dedicated people who maintain that website!

[fryingtoilet]

Hello Everyone! I'm super excited to announce my new sketch collection Artbook: ✿Halcyon Days✿

I decided to go the pre-order route this time to make the process smoother, since I've got a great system for fulfilling orders through my own shop, and I have some funds to start the production right away!

In order to secure the rest of the production funding, and to allow myself more time to work on Gloamingvale's Chapter 1, I am hoping to get as many preorders as possible quickly, and offering a big early-bird discount for the new book, as well as a big spring sale on the rest of my shop items! There will also be a couple of bundle-options available, with a big discount as well.

Let me tell you more about the book: I've been putting it together for the past couple of months, and ended up with a lot more pages than I anticipated. It's brimming with a huge variety of sketches! I included a ton of sketchbook scans, digital doodles, and all the fanarts that didn't make it into my previous artbooks. Here are the book details:

7' x 10' Inches - Softcover perfect bound, with Gold Foiling and soft touch Matte lamination - 104 Pages full Colour on premium munken paper with a matte finish

I have already begun production and the estimated preorder ship-out date is: Early-Mid AUGUST 2024

So only a few months of wait-time, much quicker than most Kickstarters!

I hope you will help me make the production of this book go smoothly by getting a copy early on and taking advantage of the reduced pricing! There will also be a brand new bookplate sticker design for this release, and an art print of the full cover illustration.

Your support is, as always, SO appreciated!

[ahedderick]

Drat

Oh, drat. In late fall of 2019 I was invited to show artwork (for sale) in one of the buildings at a large, lovely retreat center nearby in Pennsylvania. I had known the guy who runs the center for a couple years; he told me that they would handle any sales and send me a check, much like a gallery. In return they got decoration for their extremely plain building, which sounded pretty reasonable. So I accepted, hung the artwork, aaaand then 2020 punched us all in the gut.

The retreat didn't open their doors again for quite a while, and by that point I was ass-deep in alligators with end-of-life care for my father. The guy who had made the original invitation retired, and it took me a while for that issue to come to the top of my "issues to deal with" pile.

Last spring I sent an email to the general address of the organization, just checking in, and got a rather terse response back that they still had the artwork; I could pick it up if I wanted it or it could stay there. Since summer is their busy season, I figured it wouldn't hurt to let it stay there a little while longer. However, at this point in 2024, I thought it would probably be better to go ahead and take the display down.

My husband and I had time to run over there this afternoon, and I called ahead to be sure the building would be open and the Guy in Charge was expecting me. All was fine, until we actually got there and found only four paintings. I knew there had originally been 8 - 10, but I didn't know which ones or exactly how many were missing. Instead of tracking down The Guy (it is a very big area) I came home and looked up my records of what I took down there.

Now I have to write a polite email to Guy and let him know that someone sometime must have moved four paintings (I could see they'd changed some things around in the room and they would have to have moved them to get that big new cabinet in there). Where? Are they now? Sir? and I will send images of the missing ones to jog his memory.

Argh.

[shapeshiftersvt]

Big Update Post

Hiya, shapeshifters!

We have some announcements to make this evening.

Here’s the short of it:

The Shapeshifters website will be temporarily down this Sunday evening, March 3, 2024 at Midnight EST.

When it comes back up, you’ll find a shiny new website that is organized the same way with a couple of exceptions.

The Off-the-Rack Sale and Holographic listings will be temporarily delisted.

The Goth listings will be renamed. You will find Rainbow Constellations, Monster Mouths, and a couple of new options listed under Cosmic Horror.

The Skin Tone listings will have brand new additional color skin tone options!

The Island Time listings will also have a new option available.

The Binding 101 FAQ will be rolled into its own section in the FAQ.

There will be a brand new Events Page!

The blog will be temporarily disabled.

If you’re curious about the long of it, keep reading.

For everyone else, we appreciate your patience during this transition! Like so many other transitions, we’re delighted about where it’s going. 

Website Downtime

Shapeshifters is finally moving to Shopify! We’ve done a lot of work over the past few months building a more organized, streamlined website that will be easier to access for you and update for us. On Sunday night, we’ll shut down the current website to pause orders so that we can migrate everything cleanly.

Off-the-Rack and Holographic Listings

The Off-the-Rack listings will be delisted to give us a chance to reorganize the remaining stock so we don’t accidentally double-sell anything. 

The Holographic listings will be delisted while we assess our fabric options. Long-time customers might notice that we’ve removed Liquid Metal and Oil Slick from the Holo listings; we’re sourcing replacements and new options throughout spring. Once we know our options, we’ll either re-launch the Holo listings, or move the currently available fabric Prism to another home so it won’t be all alone anymore.

If you’ve been eyeing either Prism or an Off-the-Rack, buy it before Sunday if you can!

Expanded Skin Tone Range

We’re very excited to announce three new skin tone options will be available after the website migration: Pine, Chestnut, and Laurel! Pine is a pale shade, while Chestnut and Laurel are both on the darker end of the spectrum.

And, the new and improved Skin Tone listings will be the perfect place to see the results of our latest photoshoot! We’re excited for y’all to get to see these photos around the site and on the listings. We sought out models of color with darker skintones both to fill a gap in the modeled photos in our listings, and to show off our darker skin tones. All of our models were amazing, our photographer was great, and the photos are fantastic! We really leaned into the cozy Vermont vibes for this one.

Events Page

We’re going to events again! Hooray!

And we’re not just going to conventions and conferences and Pride festivals. We’re also talking queer markets, fashion shows, and binder sewing workshops!

That’s right, some lucky folks in the New England area will have the opportunity to take an in-person class with Eli, our head tailor and the developer of our DIY Binder Sewing Kits. They will walk you, step-by-step, through sewing your own custom-sized binder and help you troubleshoot along the way. These workshops are designed for sewists of any level and do not require you to own a sewing machine.

If you’d like to host a sewing workshop or would like to have us at any other event, educational, celebratory, fashionable or otherwise, please contact us!

Thanks once again  for bearing with us during this transition and we can’t wait for you all to see the new site!

[burningtacozombie]

‘Cold Case’ Reboot From Creator Meredith Stiehm Eyed By CBS

EXCLUSIVE: After bringing back CSI: Crime Scene Investigation with CSI: Vegas, CBS is looking to revive another Jerry Bruckheimer Television-produced crime procedural from the 2000s. The network is in negotiations with Warner Bros. TV for a reboot of Cold Case, which aired on CBS for seven seasons from 2003-2010, Deadline has learned. The followup comes from the series’ creator/executive producer Meredith Stiehm.

Set 15 years after the original series’ final episode, the untitled Cold Case reboot would follow a new team of tenacious detectives who investigate cold cases across the Southwest.

This is a new location as the original Cold Case was set in Philadelphia. The move would allow the potential new series to introduce a new group of characters as they tackle unsolved homicides.

Stiehm is writing the script. She is executive producing with JBTV’s Jerry Bruckheimer and KristieAnne Reed for WBTV and CBS Studios. Talks between CBS and WBTV have been going on for weeks, and sources stress that the two sides are not close to a deal. Reps for the network and the studios declined comment.

The original series follows Detective Lilly Rush (Kathryn Morris), a homicide detective with the Philadelphia Police Department specializing in cold cases, who was partnered for the majority of the show’s run with Detective Scotty Valens (Danny Pino).

No talent is currently attached to the reboot though I hear Pino has had informal conversations to reprise his fan favorite character Det. Scotty Valens, possibly in a significant way. I hear Morris has not been approached about the reboot but is aware of it and could potentially appear in some (likely limited) capacity to provide additional continuity, having led the original series for seven seasons.

Cold Case‘s main cast also included John Finn, Jeremy Ratchford, Thom Barry and Tracie Thoms.

Before proceeding with talent discussions, WBTV has to close a deal with CBS, which I hear had been a challenge. According to sources, the sticking points include some of the issues that the two sides faced during the renewal negotiations for WBTV’s then-freshman East New York last spring that reportedly contained a request from the network for additional streaming rights.

After months of back-and-forth, those talks fell through. The Cold Case reboot would mark the studio’s first drama sale to CBS since then as the two sides are trying to hammer out a new deal template. (The studio and network have an ongoing relationship on the comedy side through Chuck Lorre’s Big Bang Theory franchise which recently got another offshoot series, Georgie & Mandy, for next season.)

There is no particular rush as CBS’ 2024-25 slate is already stacked with three new drama series, Matlock, pushed due to strike-related delays, NCIS: Origins and Watson.

Since the end of Cold Case after 156 episodes, Stiehm worked as an executive producer on Showtime’s Emmy-winning drama Homeland and also co-developed and executive produced FX’s The Bridge, based on the Danish-Swedish format. She is repped by UTA and attorney Bruce Gellman.

In addition to CSI: Vegas, currently in its third season, JBTV has sophomore CBS drama series Fire Country, which has been renewed for a third season and is eying a potential Sheriff-centered spinoff. The company is repped by CAA.

via Deadline

[daifukumochiin]

Summary: Sasuke's orderly life at elite Sairiumu Academy is disrupted by the arrival of Hinata, a timid transfer student whose obvious crush on him, a young man dedicated to his craft and his current relationship, stirs unease. (Initial SasuSaku with SasuHina endgame, modern Norse myth AU, high school, angst, romance, photography, postmodern-ish fic). Rated T

LIGHTS,

BOWS, and

MISTLETOES

an entry for SasuHina Month 2024, Day 27 : Forget and Remember

(for peachy-hina, since December)

@sasuhinamonth

ffnet: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14369143/1/Lights-Bows-and-Mistletoes

ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/57030778

Part 1: Lights

go to Chapter List>

iv (Warning to my fellow sasuhina fans: sasusaku content ahead)

Their parents weren't well off when he and Itachi were very young; their father, a young but ambitious engineer from a working-class family who lived in public housing, and their mother, a college dropout turned insurance agent who didn’t make big sales but had a knack for getting downtown and central business district professionals to confide even their best-kept secrets to her.

They sent the brothers to public school. Itachi was well-adjusted and didn’t have problems; inevitably, they thought it would go well for Sasuke, too. But when Sasuke entered preschool, his experience was altogether different. There he had a foretaste of the human suffering that dominated his early years for he was a remarkably beautiful but shy boy whose delicate porcelain cheeks flushed crimson like blooming camellias at the squeals of girls in class. Teachers and strangers at the school playground smothered him with unwanted affection, and they thought it cute when he cried and protested no. This went on in grade school and even in middle school. Older girls from other schools who took an interest in him got a hold of his mobile number and sent him lewd texts. When puberty defined his features even more and he grew taller, his legs longer, the harassment worsened. Entertainment agents, pimps, and extreme fangirls—a whole lot of people he didn’t want to associate with—walked up to him on the daily. People took pictures of him without his permission and posted them online, stalked him and found out where he lived, and even stole his unwashed clothing.

Photography was a hobby his father dabbled with from time to time. For Sasuke, it was his only solace: capturing scenes in the world that offered respite from the bulk that only confused and constantly imposed on him with its shallowness.

The worst of what he had to endure eventually stopped when his parents transferred him to Sairiumu in the last year of middle school because of the higher standards of living that their family business afforded them from contracts dealt with Haruno Group. Still, he wasn't completely free from unwanted attention when he entered Sairiumu. 

So, it came as a rescue when Sakura Haruno of the Kyudo Club confessed to him the spring break before they turned high schoolers. Not only did she keep unwanted attention away, but something about Sakura made her irresistible. How she wielded a bow and arrow—the daughter of her brother's boss—would send a tingling, uneasy sensation in his chest. He loved the danger she posed to his mortality. He fantasized about getting hit by one of her arrows in the middle of the day at the Archery Club's dojo, while he watched on the sidelines with his eye in the viewfinder of the Leica R9 mounted with a DMR that the photography club owned, and it always felt too real. The fear was raw, bordering on arousal, and he couldn't get her out of his mind. There was no other way to explain what he felt: it was a fierce sort of attraction.

Lately, more often than not, that attraction bobs unsteadily, like how a bowstring that once so tightly wound, taut and firm with tension, slowly loosens its grip due to sources unfounded: could be the humidity in the air that causes ennui; it could also be the lack of genuine concern that Sasuke found himself reciprocated with.

They stopped for ice lollies on the way home and while on the apartment lift, Sakura stared long and hard at him.

"What is it?" he asked. He hated it when she kept him guessing what he'd done wrong. Already, he was scanning through his mind everything they'd done together throughout the day, the things he’d said and how he spoke to her. “If it’s about the picture: it wasn’t ugly. How could it be? You’ll see it uploaded later. Composition needs adjusting. There were distracting things in the background.”

Sakura took another bit off her green ice lollies. "You were being followed, that's what.” 

His heart skipped a beat. He was never used to telling anyone about his stalker problems. Only Sakura bothered enough to care—but he wouldn’t exactly use the word care.

“Was it so hard to tell me? All the way to the train! The cow was standing right behind you, did you see?" 

Sakura still spoke calmly, but if the edge to her tone was any indication, she wouldn’t let this easily die out. 

"Had she followed us out I would've peeled off her face then and there.” She threw the rest of her lolly on the floor. "She was wearing our uniform, was she not? You got her pale face in that pic. I'll have someone look her up." 

The elevator doors opened and as Sakura strode out, there was a vicious glint in her eyes.

"Wait." Sasuke hurried after her. "I know her. She's the new transfer student in my class."

Sakura slowly turned. "Oh. Is that so? Interesting." Her eyes were wide and devoid of emotion. "You and that girl got something going on?"

"No—"

"Is that why she's trying to tell me by creeping in my pic and coming up to you like that?!"

"Just listen! Every single time"—Sasuke groaned—"I just know because she's in my class, that's all. She must've been trying to explore places and saw us!"

"Okay." Sakura shrugged, flipping her hair. "It only sounded like you were backing up for her, whatever—"

"I'm not!" Sasuke interrupted.

"Don't get too worked up," dismissed Sakura. "I just don't like people thinking they could fantasize having what's mine."

Anyone who's ever been caught by Sakura stalking him had their companies driven to bankruptcy not long after. It's all too easy for the Haruno Group to change people's lives with a few calls. While that proved effective against his stalker problems, he couldn't help but wonder if someday, it would be his turn, too. 

Because, would anyone abandon something that's theirs on the side of the road? 

She didn’t call for weeks after breaking up with him. He took that as a sign that she didn't want to talk with him anymore. After his installment to the presidency of the photography club, she introduced him to her father and asked permission to live together as if nothing ever happened. However, she had already quit the kyudo club and kyudo altogether and ran for vice president of the student council. Kyudo was something she had devoted herself to since she was a kid. Yet, it was thrown out of her life and forgotten so easily like that. 

The next day, she surprised him by visiting his classroom during lunch break when everyone had already returned and was preparing for when the school alarm would go off. 

He went up to her while she scanned around for a face. "Sakura." 

She wasn't there for him, he could see that much. When she found who she was looking for, she smiled, all too pleased to find that person looking back at her, and whispered sensually in Sasuke's ear:

"Just thought I'd..." 

She wrapped her arms around Sasuke’s neck, stood on her tiptoes, and dove into his mouth for a long, deep kiss.

His classmates teased and hooted. Sasuke preferred intimacy in secret but at that moment had also fully immersed himself in the kiss. He understood it was a performance for Hinata Hyuuga. Whether it aligned with his aesthetics or not, such is lost in the hands of the theatre director. 

When their mouths parted, Sakura gently patted his face. 

"See ya later," she said sweetly.

go to Chapter List>

[lee-bella]

HP Fest News Brief: May 13, 2024

There are many new HP fests starting up recently, not counting the ones that have been announced and will be starting soon. Here's a list of ongoing fests that have started on April 28 and onwards.

Ladies of HP Fest: Prompt challenge. There's a different theme Runs from April 28 - August 31.

Marauders Rarepair Microfics: New monthly microfic challenge for any rare pairing that involves at least one Marauders era characters. See rules for a list of ships that will not be accepted.

Marauders Sports Fest: Sign-up open till August 3; prompting open till June 1.

HP Flowers Spring Round 2024: Flower language. Runs from May 1 - May 31.

Microfic May 2024: Runs from May 1 - May 31.

Prongsfoot Reverse Big Bang: Writer sign-up open till May 30.

Tiny Shorts Reg Fest: Regulus in tiny shorts. Submit works by July 31.

The Story of Us Fest: Draco/Hermione x Taylor Swift. Claiming open till July 28.

Bellatrix Fest 2024: Claiming open till July 31.

Harmony Summertime Madness Fest: Harry/Hermione. Claiming open till July 26.

Jeg Big Bang 2024: James/Regulus. Sign-up is open for authors (till July 15), artists (till Oct 15), and beta readers.

Sapphic Scot Fest 2024: Minerva-centric femslash. Gen also welcome. Prompting open till May 15.

Unleashed Fest 2024: Draco/Harry & HP rare pairs featuring animals and magical beasts. Prompting open till May 15.

HD Hurt/Comfort Fest 2024: Draco/Harry. Angst, fluff, hurt/comfort. Claiming open till July 1. Writer sign-up capped at 60 participants. No cap for art, craft and podfic.

HP Cest Fest 2024: Incest. Claiming open till June 28.

Wolfstar Bingo 2024: Sign-up open till June 1.

HP Drizzle Fest 2024: Weather theme. Claiming open till August 17.

Rarepair Shorts Summer Wishlist (Tumblr) Open to any HP rare pair not on the banned ship list. Accepts wishlists till May 30. Dreamwidth account is not required; you can submit your wishlist anonymously.

SnarryBang! Exchange 2024 (Dreamwidth): Severus/Harry gift exchange. Sign-up open till May 26. You can choose the remix option where your gifter will create gifts based on your own works.

Captivous: A Tomarrymort Fest: Harry/Tom|Voldemort. Both ship and gen are acceptable. Works must involve someone being held captive, kidnapped, taken away against their will, etc. Claiming open till June 20.

Marauders For Sale Fest: Inspired by The Beatles. Sign-up open till May 26.

Chaotic Fest: Unexpected HP rare pairs. New prompts will be added from time to time. Deadline to be announced.

There are many other HP fests and challenges happening right now. For a more complete list, see Potterfests' HP Fest News Round-up (May 5 edition). The next edition will be posted on May 19.

As always, for more HP fest news, visit Potterfests on Dreamwidth and Livejournal. Ta-ta!

[ultravioletfuture]

ULTRAVIOLET VISIONS: We Are Back Online!

May 10, 2024 - portal.rwb

Welcome back everyone to a brand new edition of ULTRAVIOLET VISIONS! It's been months since our last blog post on here and it's honestly been long overdue for some updates. Before I get into the usual music recommendations, discussions, and shoutouts, I just thought I'd give an update on everything going on with me and the label and some explanation for certain delays like with shipping and these blogs.

In August we will be hitting our 2 year anniversary since UVF's initial launch and it has been an absolute blast working on this project. Since Day 1, I've wanted to build a platform to emphasize and promote all of the amazing music I've been a fan of in this scene and giving them a place to really shine and highlight them for the hidden gems that they are. Every single release felt like such a great success in my mind, regardless of sales or numbers, but mainly just due to the fact that we were able to turn someone's digital release and give it a tangible, physical form. With music being so heavily emphasized in the digital space these days, there's a special feeling when getting to hold a physical release in your hand like a tape or a CD. Things have changed a ton since the start of this label (mostly for the better!) and it's been a hard time for me personally to balance everything going on in my busy life. I still have every bit of passion and determination inside of me to continue on with this project as when I first started 2 years ago, but I definitely feel like in the past year or so I haven't been able to live up to my ambitions and fulfill the goals I strive for. There's a lot more I could be doing to improve the whole experience on everyone's end regarding UVF and I really want to focus on just cleaning things up and trying to stay on top of new releases and updates. Currently we have a couple releases lined up for UVF that I'm excited to share, but I wouldn't feel comfortable continuing to put releases out knowing there are still delays for orders. Once all pending orders have been shipped out, I can't wait to continue on with expanding the UVF catalog and sharing more music with you all. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out to me with any concerns regarding your orders and I'd be happy to give you any info you need.

With all that being said, let's kick things off with a recap of all the latest updates regarding artists on the UVF roster!

UVF Updates

Spring Dream

On April 21st, TRUMAN! hosted the "Spring Dream" show at Complex24 in Denver, Colorado with most of the returning roster from the previous "Snow Dream" show. Truman was kind enough to invite me to play and with some planning, I was able to book a flight for the weekend and play my first ever live show!

Our trip to Denver was amazing and we had such a great time hanging out with everyone for the show! This was actually the first time I would be meeting any online mutuals so it was pretty nerve racking, but everyone was insanely kind and welcoming. Since starting our Lunar Data Garden project, Truman and I have gotten to know each other a ton and meeting in person for the first time was pretty surreal. Despite all the nerves, Truman was a great host and took us all around Denver. As soon as we landed we got some Korean BBQ and just yapped in person for the first time. The next day would be our one big day to pack as many things to do as possible before we had to really get into "show mode" come Sunday. We got these fire breakfast bagels, went to the Museum of Nature and Science, visited the Aquarium, stopped by a 4/20 music festival downtown, and ended the night at this super cozy bar with one of the best burgers I've had in forever. I swear all I was thinking of in my head after touring around Denver that day was "God a bacon cheeseburger and a beer would fucking smack right now" and when dinner came around it's like Truman read my mind immediately lol. Sunday rolled around and I met up at Truman's apartment to practice our sets when I met Sam (sigiliyph) and Aiden (Atekin) for the first time! They were super chill and we all practiced our sets for a couple hours before the show. Truman and I rode together to the show and bonded as we feasted on Wendy's Biggie Bags. When the actual show started, the energy was super sick and intimate in comparison to any other show I've been to. It's been a while since I've gone and been to any concerts or shows before so just being around people interested in similar music as me in this super underground venue was such a nice feeling. Without going into extreme detail over everyone's set, I just wanna say that everyone killed it and brought so much energy to the show that night! The whole night felt like it flew by so quickly and the thought of finally having to leave was starting to kick in. Shoutout to Luxury Noise, Big Baby Profit, Charlotte, Astrid, Aiden and Sam for sharing this night with and being super chill people to talk and hang out with! Thanks to Big Baby Profit for setting things up to get our set's recorded! You can watch both my portal.rwb set as well as the world's first Lunar Data Garden set over at the ULTRAVIOLET-FUTURE youtube channel. The Lunar Data Garden set will also be compiled into a Live Album over on the LDG Bandcamp page so be sure to support us there as well.

New scarecrow_ Album, "Our Shadow"!

Progressive Vaporwave artist scarecrow_ is back with their latest album "Our Shadow"! After the release of their ambitious double album "Flora & Fauna", scarecrow_ returns with another 10 boundary pushing tracks that further expand their already vast and intricate take of the NUWRLD style. Starting off the album, "Awake" takes us on a 7 minute expansive journey through multiple different switch ups that somehow blend coherently into each other. The track ranges from it's bright and punchy vocal stabs in the opening to it's melancholic arpeggio passages in the midpoint. I love the way that scarecrow_ can pack so many different styles and layers into one track while constantly keeping the listener on their toes, waiting to see what happens at every turn. Other standout tracks to me include "Lover" for it's tight groove chaotic energy throughout the track. "Station" is a track that takes you on a slow journey down a dramatic path of hard hitting drums and waltz-like melodies. At the halfway point, the song comes to a halt and transforms into this eerie slow building vocal chant that increases in energy as layers of drums and synths pile on top of each other beautifully. The vocal refrains on this track are very reminiscent of something you'd hear on a Giant Claw record. The penultimate track "Separate" is an instant favorite of mine for it's mind boggling production. Easily being the glitchiest track on the album with chops that will leave your ears begging for more, "Separate" is what I can only describe as a stroke of pure genius and masterclass in song structure and creativity. One of my favorite tracks I've heard all year for sure. "Just For Now" ends the album off on such a bittersweet note, wrapping the album up beautifully with a bow on top before crashing into it's destructive and explosive end in the later half of the track. Overall, scarecrow_ proves themselves once again as being one of the most forward thinking artists to come out of the Vaporwave genre in recent years and continues to expand the sound of their already vastly diverse catalog. As always I HIGHLY recommend this album as well as any of scarecrow_'s previous works. If you go into this extensive catalog of music with an open mind, I promise you'll come out the other end with your mind blown. As the title suggests, when I first discovered scarecrow_'s music 2 years ago I was truly "Never The Same" ;) . As previously mentioned, scarecrow_ also released their last album "Flora & Fauna" on ULTRAVIOLET-FUTURE! The album is available on CD and Minidisc if you would like to support both scarecrow_ and I in the process. Personally, this was one of my favorite albums of last year and I was super proud of how the whole CD and Minidisc design came out.

"Heaven's Medallion", a New Album under the Two Circles side alias, out://of//bounds

After the release of their all encompassing record "Inbetween Everything" back in December 2023, Two Circles is back with a brand new album under their more ambient/slushwave side alias out://of//bounds! "Heaven's Medallion" delivers us a heartwarming and enchanting collection of 6 songs that take your mind through a journey that can only be brought by Two Circle's signature charm. The first track "Amulet (魔法)" warps us into an empty plane as a heavenly landscape begins to slowly expand before you. The track slowly envelops every nook and cranny in your brain with its lush pads until suddenly you are stuck with a yearning melody as you stare into heaven itself. "Sailing the Cloud Sea // City Limits" is s slow 2 part endeavor as you traverse through this 10 minute trek. "Sailing The Cloud Sea" is a relaxing boat ride as you stare into a sea of clouds before you and lose yourself in the bright pink skies. Reaching the second half, the clouds begin to clear as we enter "City Limits" and view the city thats ahead of us. Beautiful ocarina melodies flood our ears as we arrive at our destination and dock for now. In "世界の木" , we are confronted with the almighty "World Tree" as we seek for answers from within through the means of connecting with the environment around us. A melancholic resting point to gather our thoughts before continuing on the rest of our adventure. Dawn approaches as "Eventide Nightfall // Moon In Front" brings us into a dreamy, spiraling lullaby where we can slowly melt away as layers of synths cascade onto the night sky. "The Balance of Many" leaves us to gather our things as our journey comes to an end. Pillowy synths build up as we connect one last time with the heavenly atmosphere that's been painted before our eyes. After travelling through clouds and dreams, "Heaven's Medallion" is there in the end, waiting for us to reach out and grab from the skies. As always, this new out://of//bounds adventure doesn't disappoint and will leave you filled with emotion and a sense of what I can only describe as 'home". With every new installment, I'm consintantly blown away by how effortlessly Two Circles is able to build entire worlds in front of you and paint sonic masterpieces for you to pick apart and add to your library of emotions. In case you missed it, Two Circles released their magnum opus "Inbetween Everything" on ULTRAVIOLET-FUTURE late last year! Minidiscs have sadly sold out but the album is still available on CD if you'd like to pick up a copy and support both Two Circles and I. The album is also accompanied by a spectacular visualizer that's available to watch on the UVF youtube channel as well as Two Circle's youtube channel. I can tell they put their entire heart and soul into the visuals they created so I highly recommend you all check it out whenever you get the chance.

UV Spotlight

Moving on from all the happenings with our UVF artists, I wanted to share a couple albums that I've been a fan of and have had in my rotation recently!

"Accela" by Lila Tirando a Violeta

I discovered this album while randomly digging through Bandcamp a few months ago and have been pleasantly surprised with how heavy yet beautiful this album sounds. "Accela" is a mind-melting amalgamation of heavy distorted electronic music with brilliantly crafted sound design experiments sprinkled throughout. The album is entrancing yet abrasive leaving you stranded in this desolate landscape filled with prickly electronics and hellish growls. Definitely might be a more challenging listen and not for everyone but has definitely peaked my interest since first discovering it. The album is also available on cassette through their Bandcamp page if you'd like to support Lila Tirando a Violeta either physically or digitally!

"No More Tears" by Venus Death Trap

Venus Death Trap seems to be an artist that popped up out of nowhere but has made quite a splash with this latest record to come out on Business Casual. "No More Tears" is a brand new hour long record with 17 tracks ranging from bright, upbeat tracks like “You Know I Love You, Right?”, to more NUWRLD styled tracks like “Love Me” that are very reminiscent of albums like “I’ll Try Living Like This”. I’m always happy to hear any new albums in the scene that take heavy inspiration from acts like death’s dynamic shroud so this will be right up your alley if you’re looking for more music in that style.

"👁​点​击​と​👁" by 👁️‍🗨️📲

Legendary Vaporwave duo 👁️‍🗨️📲 delivered with a monumental new album, “I Click With My Eye”. Honestly, I couldn't give all my thoughts here and could probably do an entire video on this album, but in short, this feels like the ultimate culmination of Vaporwave as a genre up to this point in time. A time capsule of sound that has just taken the past 10 years of Internet culture and jam packing it into a 50 minute experience. The Visual Album that accompanies this album is a must watch imo and truly elevates the entire album to a whole new level. 👁️‍🗨️📲 has truly cracked the Vaporwave code and concocted a generational album. The album was released on Kats kill Records along with a beautiful vinyl release that currently has a couple copies left on overstock so grab one while you can!

"The Wrong Side Of The Soul" by アバドン

アバドン (aka Abaddon) released their latest record "The Wrong Side Of The Soul" towards the end of last year, and ended up on my AOTY list. The album is filled to the brim with Abaddon’s usual fusion of heavy electronic instrumentals and glitchy vapor fueled vocal sampling. Abaddon has slowly and slowly perfected their style and you can see them finally reach a point with this album where they are able to show off their creative ideas to the fullest. The album was also accompanied by a gorgeous cassette release under Cityman Productions so be sure to snag a copy for yourself!

"ミ​ラ​ー​リ​ン​グ TOWER" by NUWRLD Clubhouse

Every year, the NUWRLD Clubhouse discord server comes together to form a yearly compilation made by various artists in the mixtape club. This year we decided on finally making a remix compilation of DDS remixes titled "ミ​ラ​ー​リ​ン​グ TOWER"! The compilation features 36 remixes of various songs from the vast DDS catalog. This has been a big passion project for members of the mixtape club and we are super happy to finally have it put together and released! Unfortunately, the compilation is only available to mixtape club members at the moment, but many of the artists have released their remixes on their various platforms to check out. Nevertheless, the DDS mixtape club is one of the best things this scene has to offer and would be a great excuse to check out over 3 years worth of NUWRLD monthly mixtapes! Also big shoutout to Two Circles for coming up with the cover art for the comp since they did such an amazing job I seriously can’t get enought of it!

Finally, I just want to give a huge thank you to everyone out there that checks out and reads these blogs! Writing these blogs up has taken up a lot more of my time than I had expected which is why I haven’t gotten one out in a while, but I figured we were long overdue for a new post. As always, it would be greatly appreciated if you share the blog with your friends or anyone who might be interested and be sure to join our Discord as well as follow us on our social medias to keep yourself updated with all of our releases. Hope you all have a great Friday or whenever you end up reading this and I’ll catch you on the next blog post 💜

-portal.rwb from UVF

[briankeene]

New Brick and Mortar Bookstore

At the respective ages of fifty-six and forty (mumbles incoherently), Mary and I are planning for our golden years. We have seen too many of our peers struggling to write in their later years, and dependent upon those advances and royalties from book sales. It's a sobering and frightening prospect, and we'd like a different future, with a second revenue stream so that we can continue to write in our old age. We also want to do something to give back to our peers and our community, both on a national and local level. Inspired by Dark Delicacies, Butcher Cabin Books, The Poisoned Pen, Bucket O' Blood, Mysterious Galaxy, and other indie bookshops, we are opening an independent bookstore specializing in Horror, Science-Fiction, Fantasy, Bizarro, and other speculative fiction genres.

Vortex Books & Comics will open Spring of 2024 in the historic district of beautiful Columbia, Pennsylvania -- easily and quickly accessible from Baltimore, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, New York City, Washington D.C. and more. We'll carry a full complement of books from the Big Five, as well as hundreds of books from many cool indie publishers and small presses, and titles in Espanol and other languages. We'll host weekly signings, readings, workshops, and other events. We know this business, and are intimately familiar with its ups and downs, ebbs and flows. Our goal is to make the store a destination. As our record for the last 30 years shows, we believe that Horror fiction is for everyone, and Vortex will echo that. All are welcome, and all will have a place on our shelves.

We have already invested a significant sum of our savings into this endeavor. It was suggested to us by several knowledgable mentors that we should give the community an opportunity to chip in and help. If you would like to show your solidarity and support with a donation via GoFundMe, it will be put toward further set-up costs such as fixtures, security, inventory, marketing and advertising, signage, etc. thus giving us a bit of breathing room and time to make the store profitable. However, you are under no obligation to donate. We appreciate your support regardless of whether you wish to donate or not. Thanks for reading us these last thirty years, and allowing us both a place at the table. We are very excited for this next chapter of our story, and giving back to our peers and fans in an all-new way.

— Brian Keene and Mary SanGiovanni (Keene)

[hotarutranslations]

There are 2 Deadlines Tomorrow (The 26th)

Evening

Ako-chan told me a story in detail,

But, I'll write about it tomorrow? 👓🎀⌚️🛹👟⚽

Kya ⋆͛📢⋆ Fighters Collab Goods⚾️

The application deadline is tomorrow, the 26th at 12:00PM! Don't miss out! On this opportunity! By all means!

Ako-chan

Since I worked hard today! I can't write much because its getting late, so!

For those who have registered, Hello Moba Mail, Since I sent it out late yesterday! LOL It arrived with a time difference!←

Thank you for your hard work today as well~~

Mann, Ako-chan is funny, right

She is super fun It cer-tain-ly made me happy

.😎🫶🏻

It felt like,

I gottt yoouu

.😎🫶🏻

Its not scary

.😎🫶🏻

But writing that is scary, right!!!! lol

See you tomorrow~~

My Birthday Event DVD is on sale❤️

Applications Here →April 26th 11:59PM Deadline

TOMORROW!

DVD "Morning Musume '24 Ishida Ayumi Birthday Event DVD"

📺Hello Pro Dance Gakuen Season 11

April 18th 11:30PM~ A Learning From TSUKUSHI-san Adventure🕺

Sendai Broadcast "Ara Ara Kashiko" April 13th (Sat) at 10:25AM~ Ishida Ayumi Goes~!

📺Sendai Broadcast "Sendai Broadcast-san's "Did You Know!? Have You Eaten It!? Everyone's #MiyagiMeshi Project supported by Midori Gin Soda"

27th (Sat) 6:30PM~

I appear once a month as part of the AraKashi Family

The previous shows, and makings, are on OX VIDEO STORE!

Thank you for following.. Instagram💙🩵

💿

May 15th Release Morning Musume '23 Concert Tour Fall "Neverending Shine Show ~Seiki~" Fukumura Mizuki Graduation Special YokoAri's 2nd Day With Fukumura-san's Graduation Performance

May 15th Release Morning Musume '23 Concert Tour Fall "Neverending Shine Show" SPECIAL YokoAri's 1st Day With OG Performances

🪩Spring Tour Has Been Decided Morning Musume '24 Concert Tour Spring MOTTO MORNING MUSUME

🪩JAPAN JAM Morning Musume '24 will be performing on May 3rd!

⚾️《LIVE DAYS！～Exciting Big Exhibition Match～》 June 2nd(Sun), after the Hokkaido Ham Fighters vs. Yokohama DeNa Baystars match, Morning Musume '24 will be having a special mini live!

🪩The MusiQuest 2024 July 21st (Sun) PiaArena MM

We're challenging a new festival stage❤️‍🔥 Absolutely, Definitely, Thank you for your support❤️‍🔥

🍉Sanrio Character Grand Prix Thank you very much for supporting Gaokki🍉

📻Morning Musume '24 Morning Jogakuin ~Houkago Meeting~

Airs Every Saturday, On Radio Nihon at 12:00AM~

Past Broadcast Episodes Are Available →Program Details

Yamazaki Mei's Panda-san Daisuki!! ~Expressing Love Towards My Favorite Panda-san♡ ver.~ in Adventure World

Yamazaki Mei's Panda-san Daisuki!! Mei-chan's Holiday. Adventure World with Oda-san and Ishida-san

see you ayumin <3 https://ameblo.jp/morningmusume-10ki/entry-12849798961.html

[gkerogurozine]

Introductory Post

Hello, this is the official blog for the proposed Golden Kamuy Ero Guro zine, as proposed by @bisexualleorio!

Currently, the official interest check & the applications are IN PROGRESS. The interest check will be posted first--and soon, hopefully!--and then the mods -- social media/graphic design, production/shipping, financial/budgeting, art/writing.

The approximate timeline is looking like

ASAP to Beginning of August -> Interest Check

August to September -> Mod Apps

September to October -> Contributor Apps/Guest Invites

October to December -> Development/Design Phase

January will begin sales, followed by Production Phase, and looking to ship out in spring 2024! Production/shipping is the most unpredictable part as it will vastly depend on how big the zine is, how much merch there is, etc. After sales close, a donation will be made to an Ainu charity (undecided yet) for all of the proceeds that remain after zine+merch are purchased.

Thank you to everyone who has shown interest so far!

[jeffhirsch]

Super Boom Spring Break Easter Sale!

Few at Dow 10,000 believed me in May 2010 when I forecasted a 500+% market rise that would put DJIA at 38,820 by the year 2025 in my Almanac Investor Newsletter. My 2011 book Super Boom took a deeper dive into the history and analysis of this groundbreaking forecast and the iconic market cycle and pattern that it’s based on. Now that Dow 38,820 has come true, what’s next? AI is clearly the culturally enabling, paradigm-shifting technology I predicted would drive the next phase of this generational Super Boom. Come find out what I expect to happen next. Get my latest outlook on how and why the AI Super Boom will drive the economy full steam ahead and the market higher and higher.

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MoneyShow Easter Sale

Come down to Miami for spring break and join me in person at MoneyShow’s Investment Masters Symposium – The Big Money Pivot – East. April 10-12, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency Miami. They have a special Easter Sale this weekend! Join us for 3 days filled with market education from the nation’s top experts on stocks, bonds, real estate, precious metals, cryptocurrencies, technology, energy, & more. Use $99 Standard Pass Coupon Code HOP99

Register here to join:

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Rally Respite After Big Best Six Months Gains

Monday is the beginning of the last month of the “Best Six Months (BSM)” (November-April) for the Dow and S&P 500 – and what a banner one it’s been so far. From our Seasonal MACD Buy Signal on October 9, 2023, through the close on March 28, 2024, DJIA is up 18.46% and S&P 500 is up 21.19% – more than double the historical average BSM gains. Our Best Six Months Seasonal MACD Sell Signal can trigger anytime on or after the first trading day of April, which is Monday April 1st this year. NASDAQ’s Best 8 Months end in June, which is up 21.47% since our buy signal, not quite double the average but give it time.

The big rewards we have reaped this Best Six Months and year-to-date so far have not left much on the table until later this year. Risks are more elevated now. Sentiment continues to run high. Valuations are extended. Geopolitical tensions have not eased. And persistent inflation pressures have the Fed in no rush to cut rates. As the election campaign rhetoric heats up and the Best Six Months comes to a close be prepared to shift to a more cautious stance when we issue our Best Six Months Seasonal MACD Sell Signal. We do not expect a bear market or major correction. We do not Sell in May and go away. We sell some things, tighten stops and consider defensive positions if warranted.

So sign up today to receive my Best Six Months Seasonal MACD Sell Signal as soon as it triggers!

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[davidmariottecomics]

A Matter of Time

Surf's up, gang! 

Aloha from the beach! Okay, not really. I'm at home at time of writing, but I've made 2 whole trips out to the ocean this week, so I'm feeling beachy! Which, if you live near the water, is a pretty good way to feel in the summertime! 

In enjoying the season, I started thinking about the complex production timelines of comics, the ways in which some comics feel timely when they were created well ahead of the events they seem related to, and a book I read recently that had one time element that really didn't work for me. So let's take some time to talk about time! 

Story of Seasons 

Where I live in the U.S., summer means a certain thing. At this time of year, we're largely through the June Gloom and into hot, sunny days. The sun rises before I'm usually up, and I wake up early, and sets around 8 p.m. Most nights, in at least some parts of town, there are fireworks. Folks are having barbecues at home and along the beach--which people are flocking too. The college-aged kids only roll up after they've got up, and since they don't have school, you can usually not expect to see them before noon. And while the coastline's popping, closer to us, things are quieter exactly because school's out and the college campus has largely cleared out. And, specific to where we live, it means the trolleys and buses and some buildings and street signs, have assumed their summer wrap, promoting Peacock and Futurama's return and whatever else companies spent boodles of money on to promote ahead of and during San Diego Comic-Con. 

That's what the exterior of my life is like right now. Sweet, hot, summertime fun outdoors--though I spend most of my time in with the cats. And there's still a little bit of that in my work. I'm planning meeting up with folks at San Diego Comic-Con and, while I'm not particularly involved, I'm watching Riley Farmer get the Sonic the Hedgehog: Endless Summer one-shot buttoned up for next month. But most of what I'm working on is already well ahead, working actively on releases across the fall, and switching from planning to the first steps of production on our winter releases with spring 2024 already cresting the horizon. 

It's a funky dichotomy. If you go into a comic shop in the next two months, summer programs will be in full swing, from DC's big summer crossover event, Knight Terrors to IDW's Endless Summer, to Ultimate Invasion and the Hellfire Gala stuff Marvel's got going on, as well as Skybound's kicking off their Energon Universe, and whatever stores have left of the projects kicked off for Pride. 

But because you're seeing those things in stores, it means they're done and as I've talked about a bit before, generally comics have to be done a ways before their release. In an ideal situation, a comic is done between 7 and 10 weeks before the on-sale date. In a less ideal situation, a comic needs to be done at least 3 weeks before the on-sale date for most printers/distributors/final-order-cutoff reasons. But, in the former case, it means this next week, I'd be looking at what needs to go out right around mid-September--the first week of fall. And those are the things that'd be finishing. Let's say you'd need at least 10 weeks before that for finalizing the script; drawing, coloring, lettering, and doing any production on the issue; and getting it approved by all the relevant stakeholders. So the things entering that phase in the next week wouldn't actually see stores until the last week of November. 

In the books world, there are three spans, rather than the four seasons. Those are Spring (Feb-May), Summer (Jun-Aug), and Fall (Sept-Jan). And when you're working purely with single-issue comics, when you're in one span, you're generally working on titles for the next. When it comes to collections and OGNs, you can be working on stuff years ahead of time. (As an aside to all this, it's also super interesting that this is how things are sorted because it really speaks to publishing in the northern hemisphere... sorry to anyone in the southern hemisphere who is looking at IDW's Endless Summer and thinking "but it's winter!") 

I bring all this up as a reminder that comics take a long time to make and when there are comics have a particularly timely element, like a summer event, they're the result of months of work and planning to hit that specific date that falls in that seasonal span. And while tons of planning can go into something like a 5th week event (in months with 5 Wednesdays, some publishers will add extra titles on the 5th week so they have releases for that Wednesday without disrupting the regular monthly schedule of their titles), it also means sometimes something happens that seems very intentional, but is purely coincidental! 

Unintended Timeliness

Wendy Xu has a new book coming out next month, The Infinity Particle. Like all of her books, it looks very good. Straight from the copy, it "explores big questions through the eyes of an aspiring inventor and the lifelike AI she finds herself falling for." And in the build-up to release, advance reader copies have gone out to booksellers, librarians, and reviewers--the folks who should see the book early because it will help the book get more traction in stores, libraries, and more visibility with readers. But because of developments over the past year, it also is now very closely tied to a hot button issue: AI. Through the circumstances of the world around The Infinity Particle's release, early reviews and examination of it are inherently looping it into the larger conversation. Wendy's gone on the record about, as she said, "'AI' (derogatory)" and "AI-in-fiction (complimentary)."  But one of the things she's also been very clear about is that she's been working on this book since 2018 when we weren't talking about AI in the same way. 

I bring this all up because, when taken with my previous point about how long it often takes comics to be made, a lot of the timeliness that you may seen in a work can be coincidental. As another example, I've been asked a few times about whether the Metal Virus arc in IDW's Sonic the Hedgehog was in any way inspired by the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. That arc is, in many ways, about a global pandemic. That arc, also, was pitched over a dinner at WonderCon 2018, where only the very first issue was on sale a week early and the series had not yet launched widely. The majority of it was written and in production before March 2020 when the U.S. really shut down in the early days of their response. So, no, the timelines don't really work out, it was just happenstance. 

And as a writer/artist/editor/etc, that's one of the things you have to keep in mind. I came from journalism, where timeliness was often an important part of storytelling. "New" is 3/4ths of "News." But outside of strips and editorial/political cartoons, it is much harder to incorporate true timeliness to your comics work. So, often, the default is to look for timelessness--something that isn't pegged to a specific event or set of circumstances, but that can be appreciated whenever because it speaks to something larger. Timelessness doesn't need to be forward-looking necessarily. It can be reacting to or interpreting long-standing history. But the benefit of trying to tell a story that always feels relevant, even if the cultural context around it may change the reader's interpretation from your intention (and there's a longer conversation to be had about interpretation vs. intention), is it usually doesn't feel immediately aged. 

The flip side of things having an unexpected timeliness is when you try to execute something to be timely, but in the interim of writing to execution or just through the flow of time, it just isn't anymore. Somewhat recently, Becca rediscovered "Boyfriend" by Big Time Rush. Obviously, this song is like 13 years old anyway, but boy howdy does the song feel it's age when they call out 2008 Best Picture winner, Slumdog Millionaire. It's not to say you can't or shouldn't put things in the context of the time they're written in, just that being considerate of it is probably to your benefit because specific cultural and contextual touchpoints should feel additive to the work and the intention, not haphazard as a way of showing modernity. (Two quick asides to this: 1. If you don't like "Boyfriend" by BTR musically, you do need to watch the video because it is wild. However, maybe "Boyfriend" by Dove Cameron will be more to your tastes and is incredibly funny if you listen to it as a response to the BTR song. 2. Cultural references aren't the only things that can feel dated or be misused and make your comic worse--see every time AAVE is misused in comics and the creators are immediately dunked on.)

A Timeless Romance... And Leia Organa

Last bit for today, building off what we were just talking about. I recently read Neon Gods by Katee Roberts. It's a smutty retelling of Hades/Persephone set in modern times. (I'm still figuring out some upcoming blogs, but certainly the aforementioned AI and also why SO MANY WORKS are gravitating to Hades/Persephone are on the shortlist). Overall, I liked it. Like many first books in a series, I hear it picks up in later volumes. There's a lot to say about it, but one thing that really stuck out to me was while I understand that it is set in modern day, anytime it made a specific modern reference, it really threw me off. 

Throughout the book, people make calls on their smart phones and have video conferences and there are guns and cars and skyscrapers and other hallmarks of modernity. And it is totally fine. It sets the scene and makes sense for the story being told. But every once in a while--I remember it happening 3 or 4 times--something specific gets called out and it feels weird. One of those times being a reference to the gold bikini Leia wears in Return of the Jedi. It's the sort of touchstone that should feel innocuous. Most folks know it, even if they don't super know Star Wars. But when it happens as like a singular pop culture reference in a work (the other specific callouts I remember feeling odd were a reference to UC Berkley and a brand-name medicine), it weirdly works against the modernity because it feels too concrete in a world of otherwise abstract modern life. It is so solid, so recognizable, that it almost begs the question of why there aren't more references throughout and it vaguely asks questions of the world and of the characters that aren't actually consequential to the plot--or, perhaps, that are consequential to a larger overarching plot that isn't really investigated in depth in the first book. Either way, it was just a little moment that in my reading created a bump that I'm remembering a week and a half later better than some of the actual plot elements or hot smutty scenes, which probably is not the intent of that otherwise kinda throwaway line. 

FRIENDS! 

Okay, shifting away from all that for a moment, I wanna talk about my many cool friends! Who have a new page on my website! Inspired by the webrings of old, I wanted to do a little something to help folks who find their way over to my site find their way over to the sites of other cool folks who are making comics! Right now, you'll notice a lot of family and people who work on Sonic in addition to a few other friends, but always happy to add folks that I've worked with or know and like who might want a bit more web traffic flowing their way. 

While we're on the topic, I know a number of former IDW folks are still looking for work. You'll find links to their LinkedIns there and if you have any opportunities that might be a good fit, please reach out! Also specific shout-out to Yu & Me Books, who could use some help at the moment. 

Patreon!

I'm now on Patreon sharing, wouldja believe, this very blog! As well as some other cool stuff that I've got planned! If you've been enjoying the blog for a while and want a new way to read or support it with a small tip, the Patreon might be for you. I'm also going to be doing Patreon-exclusive blogs that show off stuff like scripts and pitching materials that I can share, WIPs of some of my personal projects, some weird video/audio/streaming content at certain levels, and have a somewhat ambitious group funding goal where subscribers to my top tier mostly help me fund making more short comics by being able to pay cool artists I know! 

Do you not want to read this pitch for my Patreon? Good news: If you subscribe to it, this is cut out from the blog! Ooo aah! 

What I enjoyed this week: Blank Check (Podcast), Craig of the Creek (Cartoon), Dungeons & Daddies (Podcast), Yu-Gi-Oh: Duel Links (Video game), My Adventures with Superman (Cartoon), the beach, Girly Drinks by Mallory O'Meara (Book), the aforementioned Neon Gods (okay, that was last week, but y'know), Stab that Cake (TV show), the only real social media, Clapback, Cruel Summer (TV show), Crime Scene Kitchen (TV show), "Shy Boy" by Carly Rae Jepsen (my queen), the music video for "Water Slide" by Janelle Monae (really loving the aesthetics of their new stuff), Starship Troopers (Movie), thinking about The Love Witch (due for a rewatch). 

New Releases this week (7/5/2023): Sonic the Hedgehog #62 (Editor) Brynmore #1 (Editor) - Actually came out in my last gap week, but go grab it! 

New Releases next week (7/12/2023): Off week for me! Buy something else groovy!

Final Order Cut-Off next week (7/10/2023 - AKA Preorder Deadline) Brynmore #2 (Editor) Godzilla: War for Humanity #1 (Editor)

Announcements:

I'll be at San Diego Comic-Con! My schedule's gotten pretty full, but if you're going to be there, do reach out and let me know. I'll at least try to say hi! IDW announced our panels for the year and I'll see you at Sonic the Hedgehog: Speeding to the 900th Adventure on Sunday at 10, room 25ABC! 

Side note, because con is coming, I may or may not have an update the week of SDCC itself! And Becca's Twitch streams will be off that week, but they'll be streaming throughout the rest of the month. Just anticipate Tuesday streams, rather than Wednesdays, because of some scheduling conflicts. Just through July. 

Oh! And a reminder I am on Bluesky, but don't expect to see me on Threads! That service seems lousy! 

Pic of the Week:

Becca and I at the beach! Beach stuff including some cool shells and part of a crustacean's shell! 

[nawilla]

Craft Goals for 2023

Upcoming Craft Goals for 2023:

January: Finish the Big Boba Fett Cross Stitch and get it framed.  Hope to have the stitching done by the end of January.  Framing will take longer since I still have to find a good frame.  (I’ve found some good frames for other projects at Goodwill, still looking for the right one for this one).

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086X1PP7W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

February:  Gingerbread Tree Skirt.  This is a pattern from the Crochet Crowd and Yarnspirations, and the yarn has already been purchased.  The hope is to have a full-sized Christmas tree next year, so this is the skirt that will be used for it.  

https://thecrochetcrowd.com/gingerbread-afghan-tree-skirt-pattern/

(I want to do it in these colors, I think it will go well with my living room.  The pattern also allows one to make a round blanket, so if I like it I may make one for the back of the couch).

March: I bought all the supplies, um, before the pandemic to make a spring wreath and I never even unpacked the box.  I want to actually do it.  

https://www.bhg.com/holidays/easter/crafts/make-a-tulip-wreath/

I picked different colors when the silk flowers were on sale, but hell if I remember which I chose, so I guess I have a surprise in April.  It was pastel but not pink.

April: I found some sock yarn I still haven’t used so this spring I want to knit a pair of socks for me.  I also expect to be doing some yard work so I’m not planning anything bigger than that.  Hopefully I will find my sock needles by April.  They are . . . somewhere.

May: I bought an embroidery kit at ALDI sometime during the pandemic and I want to actually start using it.  I already know how to cross stitch but other than a kit I never finished sometime in the 2000′s the last time I learned to do embroidery was in sixth grade home economics class.  Eventually I want to put together enough supplies to cross stitch and embroider regularly.  Friends IRL, expect thready gifts in the future.  

https://www.hinkler.com.au/create-your-own-embroidery-box-set

June: Another kit I purchased years ago and never used is the Star Wars Crochet Kit.  I definitely want to use this (and if I like it, there is now a Mandalorian kit).  

https://www.amazon.com/Star-Crochet-Editors-Thunder-Press/dp/1645176010/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=star+wars+crochet+kit&qid=1672609548&sprefix=star+wars+crochet%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-4

July:  July is going to inevitably be hot, so it may be time to break out the rock painting kit I bought and stop trying to work with textiles.  Yes, I’ve been buying kits because I haven’t had the brain space to buy supplies and everything is ready when I am.  I also purchased this one from ALDI (this year.  I was about to buy a second identical embroidery kit and realized I already had one at home).  I have no idea what I will do with them, but we’ll see if I like it.

https://www.amazon.com/Metallic-Rock-Painting-Tuck-Box/dp/1488936358/ref=asc_df_1488936358/?tag=&linkCode=df0&hvadid=393872337347&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17191787448781098786&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9005930&hvtargid=pla-756203764489&ref=&adgrpid=78517715221&th=1

August: I have a knock off Diamond Dots kit and August seems like a good month to try that.  It’s supposed to be similar to cross stitch, but again, no textiles in the heat.  If I like it, I already have a few more kits that I bought on sale/on a whim/for free shipping on amazon. Those can be considered in 2024.

https://www.hinkler.com.au/crystal-creations-proud-peacock

September-December:  When fall comes Christmas is just around the corner.  I want to keep some time available to start doing holiday gifts, but I hope to do some craft painting.  I’ve got quite a few ceramic ornaments to paint that I’ve collected over the years, so I can work on those.  I also used to make marbled glass ornaments and fall is a good time to do that because they can take weeks to dry but only need to be turned 1-2 times a day so it’s good to make a bunch at once.  Also I will be doing Inktober again, so that covers October.

https://www.marthastewart.com/274467/christmas-ornament-projects?slide=f755a21b-ca8d-4267-91c5-c207114819cc#f755a21b-ca8d-4267-91c5-c207114819cc

https://www.favecrafts.com/Ornaments/Marbelous-Ornaments

I have a few orphan projects I may do when I have time (like that Mandala blanket) and I know I won’t make all of these goals.  And I’m sure holiday gifts will totally derail some.  But these are the fun plans.  And I may do some smaller cross stitch projects in between.

[laurathalassa]

2023 Book Schedule It feels like ages since I’ve sat down at my desk, but I’m finally back! And, as promised, here’s a bit about what’s going on this year: I’ll be releasing Bewitched, the first book in a new paranormal romance series, on April 18, 2023. This book is already complete—at the moment I believe copies of it are getting printed for its spring release. To be honest, these are totally new waters I’m navigating—to have a traditional publisher handle the print books. But I am excited to be able to release the e-book, print book, and the audiobook all on the same day, so hurrah to that! And Bewitched will be in Kindle Unlimited, for those of you who are members. I’m now working on the second book in my Bewitched series, along with the novella that will come between books one and two. I’m tentatively planning on that novella to be released fall/winter of this year, though that is a guestimate. It will release before book two in the series, which is set to come out spring of 2024. What else is going on? Well, I have some plans with a couple different book boxes, one of which is my Fallen World series. That will go on sale on January 13. I’ve seen some of the artwork already and it is so stunning. As far as author events go, I will be attending Book Bonanza in June. I don’t know if I’ll be doing any signings around Bewitched’s release, but I will definitely try to set a couple up in California. Oh, and I’m going to really, truly try to be on here more. Last year I just couldn’t swing social media, but this is a new year and I’m excited to change that. I’m terrible at all of it—I suck at taking pictures, I get even more squeamish about selfies, and I always panic at the last minute because I feel like I have nothing worth sharing. Oh, and my posts are usually speckled with errors. Buuuuut, I’m still gonna try to be more present online! Because besides my own updates, I have a million book recs I want to gush about, and I want to share more teasers and host more giveaways and have live chats with you all, so I hope you’ll hang out with me and maybe hold my hand if I’m a little rusty at this. Big hugs, happy reading, and happy new year! https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm9zkMkSSeF/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=