Jesse-Lee

Set up at a comic show today, and I only bought one book - low grade is better than no grade, and I've wanted this one for awhile, figured it was definitely worth it for $20.

Oh yeah, good call! I was saying back when I got the Snake Mountain that I couldn't bring myself to pay a huge fee for an Orko, and then a couple of months later, this deal poppoed up - good things come to those who wait!

Got this in today - this set was short run for whatever reason, and it currently goes for around $80+ on eBay. I lucked out and Amazon had a few randomly in stock a couple of weeks ago, shipping from the Amazon UK site but free shipping to the US, so I got it for $26. It's currently the only way to get Orko, Whiplash and Wun-Dar for the MEGA line (plus the other 3 are exclusive colorways for this set). Amazon's overseas packing leaves a little to be desired, but I'll likely open this anyway, which will destroy the packaging anyway since it's a glued cardback.

Shows it as $1,111 on 130point, no feedback I can find on that one though...

For what it's worth, 130point.com does show that this Batman 1 sold for a best offer of $8,500, and the seller received positive feedback on eBay for the sale. But again, all of that could be manipulated through collusion on eBay if someone really wanted to. https://www.ebay.com/itm/175274969140

Coverprice has also told me for the past months that my raw Batman New 52 #1 newsstand in an 8.5 is worth $700, and my CGC 9.6 copy of the same book is worth $280... There's also a "Walmart" copy of this book with a different barcode that is neither direct nor newsstand - watch out for that one, a lot of sellers list it as a newsstand and it's not.

Oof, the way he's perched above those books, ready to fall on them...

Yes, I think these are all great points. I'm not sure how old you are, but I'm 45. I learned typing in high school on typewriters, but I also learned how to use computers from an early age, first using LOGO on Apple IIc's in elementary school, then learning HyperCard (an HTML precursor) on Macs in high school. We had a PC in our house my junior year, with a 50MB hard drive but no internet. In order to load programs on it, we had to understand how to use DOS because we didn't have Windows. I first got onto the web in college, and by the time I was leaving college, we had accelerated to the point where I was using Napster to download mp3 audio - we're talking a massive leap in tech in 4-5 years, one that meant the fall of stores like Tower Records, not to mention the mom and pop shops. Even my grocery store back then sold CDs before the advent of digital media. Fast forward a couple of years (or less) and we were downloading actual video - I remember my buddy telling me he had downloaded the entire Fellowship of the Ring movie! Then came the death of Blockbuster and all of the other video stores and the emergence of Netflix et al. But the crazy thing is, the peer-to-peer nature of downloads and disruption didn't stop at pure tech - when you think about it, Uber and AirBnB are just another form of peer-to-peer networking, just physical rather than digital. So there goes taxis, hotels, etc. (I know it didn't kill those like it did physical media, but the effects are there). I worked for a major metro newspaper after college, and it's on its last legs at this point obviously. When each tech revolution comes, it disrupts itself, but the repercussions are felt far beyond just the digital. Autonomous driving, automated industrial applications, automated service industry - these are all ultimately what we're headed toward. It may start in digital and creative services, but the implications in every sector are huge and undeniable. So where does that leave us? For example, when you move beyond autonomous driving to a vehicle that can assess its own damage or issues, schedule itself an automated service check, navigate to a service center where it receives automated repair from mechanic robots... What does Gomer Pyle who would have worked at the service station do at that point? Does that then open the conversation for Universal Basic Income? Where does that come from, especially if corporations are either not on board, or (more likely) find a new way to monetize automated processes without replacing the jobs that were displaced? As you slowly follow each thread, it's easy to see why people are terrified.

We're in the Wild West days of AI right now. I've definitely used it to help get me started writing video scripts, cleaning up HTML code, etc. I'm not using it to do my work for me, but basically as a faster, more efficient "Google" - where before if I had a code issue I'd Google it and find a solution, now I can ask ChatGPT and I have an answer in seconds without looking. I haven't really dug into the purely creative aspects of it before now - writing, art, etc. - but the more I do, the more I understand why pure creatives are so concerned. And I understand there are more powerful AI instances out there than ChatGPT (which as of now seems like the "fun" intro to AI). So I think you're spot on, and I can see why it would potentially be terrifying. It sounds hyperbolic to say, but to put it in comic book terms, it seems like it really could have the potential to be an Ultron-like entity if left unchecked.

The crazy thing is, as a consumer, I would love to be at a point where I could say "create a full comic sequel to The Killing Joke using Alan Moore's writing style and Brian Bolland's art style, and make me a central character." I mean, how cool would that be? But I also understand it would be a soulless ripoff, and it would basically be stealing Moore and Bolland's talents. So how do you reconcile that?

The more I play around with this, the implications for comics writing are downright scary. Here's another interaction with ChatGPT that literally took no more than 1 minute: My prompt (this is exactly as I wrote it): How would Barbara Gordon confront the Joker after the events in the Killing Joke? ChatGPT's answer: After the events of "The Killing Joke," where the Joker brutally paralyzed Barbara Gordon, Barbara, now operating as Oracle, would confront the Joker in a very different way than when she was Batgirl. Here's a hypothetical scenario of how Barbara Gordon, as Oracle, might confront the Joker: INT. ORACLE'S HIDDEN BASE - NIGHT Barbara Gordon sits in front of an array of computer monitors, her wheelchair parked beside her. The screens display various surveillance feeds and information about the Joker's recent activities. ORACLE: (speaking into a microphone) "Batman, I've tracked down the Joker's location. He's holed up in an abandoned amusement park." BATMAN: (voice over the comm) "Oracle, be cautious. The Joker is unpredictable." Barbara nods, her expression determined. She uses her computer skills to tap into the Gotham City Police Department's radio frequencies, gathering information about the Joker's movements. ORACLE: "Commissioner Gordon, this is Oracle. I've located the Joker's hideout. I need your officers to surround the area." COMMISSIONER GORDON: (over the radio) "Copy that, Oracle. We're en route." As Barbara coordinates the efforts of the police and Batman, she continues to monitor the Joker's hideout. She also cross-references the Joker's known associates and recent activities, looking for any patterns or clues. BATMAN: (voice over the comm) "Oracle, I'm entering the amusement park now. Stay on comms." Barbara watches the live feeds as Batman stealthily infiltrates the Joker's lair. She listens to their conversation through Batman's communicator. JOKER: (taunting) "Oh, Batsy, you're here to play? I hope you brought your sense of humor!" BATMAN: (stoic) "This ends tonight, Joker." Barbara's fingers fly across the keyboard, hacking into the Joker's communication devices. She records the conversation as evidence. Suddenly, the Joker triggers a trap, causing an explosion in Batman's vicinity. Barbara's heart races as she watches Batman barely escape the blast. ORACLE: (frantic) "Batman, are you okay?" BATMAN: (coughing) "I'm fine. Keep tracking him, Oracle." Barbara continues to monitor the situation, providing real-time information to Batman and the police. She guides Batman through the perilous maze of the amusement park, her determination unwavering. As the confrontation reaches its climax, Barbara's technological skills and unwavering resolve prove crucial in ensuring that justice is served, without having to directly face the Joker physically. Her transformation into Oracle represents her transition from a vigilant hero to a brilliant strategist and information hub for the heroes of Gotham City. ----- My follow-up prompt (again, exactly as I wrote it): What would Barbara Gordon say if she were face-to-face with the Joker after the events of the Killing Joke? ChatGPT's answer: If Barbara Gordon, as Oracle, were to come face-to-face with the Joker after the traumatic events of "The Killing Joke," it's likely that her words would be filled with a mix of emotions, including anger, sorrow, and determination. Here's a hypothetical dialogue: INT. A DIMLY LIT ROOM - NIGHT Barbara Gordon, in her wheelchair, is unexpectedly in the same room as the Joker, who's restrained and surrounded by security personnel. JOKER: (grinning maniacally) "Well, well, well, look who decided to drop by. Babs, my dear, how's the back?" Barbara's eyes narrow, but she maintains her composure. ORACLE: (calmly) "You always did have a twisted sense of humor, Joker. But let's talk about your little 'joke' from that night." The Joker's grin widens, relishing the confrontation. JOKER: (mocking) "Oh, that little misunderstanding? It was just a bit of fun, my dear. I'm a performance artist, after all." Barbara takes a deep breath, fighting back tears of anger and frustration. ORACLE: (firmly) "You shattered my life that night, Joker. You took away my mobility, but you didn't break my spirit. I've become something you never expected." The Joker's expression briefly changes from amusement to curiosity. JOKER: (raising an eyebrow) "Oh, and what's that, dear Oracle?" Barbara leans forward in her wheelchair, her eyes locked onto the Joker's. ORACLE: (with determination) "I've become the one who's going to ensure that you never hurt anyone again. I'm the voice that guides justice, the eye that never blinks, and the one who'll make sure your madness ends." The Joker's laughter echoes through the room, but Barbara remains resolute. JOKER: (laughing) "Oh, Barbara, you're almost as crazy as me now! But isn't that what Gotham does to us all?" Barbara nods, her gaze unwavering. ORACLE: "No, Joker, you're wrong. Gotham needs heroes. It needs people who'll stand up to monsters like you, even from behind a keyboard." As Barbara turns away, leaving the Joker to his laughter, her words linger in the air, a testament to her strength and her commitment to fighting the darkness he represents.

That was my tongue-in-cheek, ChatGPT generated answer. My real answer is that there could be breakthroughs that would absolutely adversely affect creatives, but at the same time could be seen as desirable to us as content consumers. Some in the entertainment industry have postulated a world in which a consumer could enter a prompt like, "Create a movie set in the Marvel and Star Wars Universes, using all of the characters from previously released movies, where I am the main character and need to help the Avengers and the Rebels battle Thanos and Darth Vader," and AI could make such significant advances that it would create that movie using likenesses of your favorite actors across the spectrum of those movies. Obviously we're nowhere near that now, but it's not that far-fetched to imagine advancements in technology that would make that possible. Looking at your friend's examples you posted above, you can see how the tech would be concerning to artists. Even just playing with the publicly available instance of ChatGPT, you can make it do some crazy things from a writing standpoint too - here's a scene between Thanos and Darth Vader, where they argue over universal domination (by the way, it took about 20 seconds for it to spit this out): ----- INT. INTERGALACTIC THRONE ROOM - EERIE AMBIANCE The room is shrouded in darkness, illuminated only by the faint glow of distant stars through massive windows. At the far end of the room, THANOS, the Mad Titan, sits upon a colossal obsidian throne, his eyes burning with an eerie purple light. Opposite him, DARTH VADER, the Dark Lord of the Sith, stands with an aura of malevolence, his black cape billowing. THANOS: (grinning) Ah, Darth Vader, the Sith Lord. What brings you to my domain? DARTH VADER: (deep, mechanical voice) Thanos, your ambition knows no bounds. The universe is mine to command, not yours. Thanos rises from his throne, towering over Vader with a sinister grin. THANOS: (booming voice) Your galaxy is a mere speck compared to the vastness of the cosmos. I seek to bring balance to it all. DARTH VADER: (raising his lightsaber) Balance? Your quest for balance is nothing more than an excuse for genocide. THANOS: (calmly) Genocide, you say? It's a small price to pay for salvation. With the snap of my fingers, I could erase half of all life in the universe, sparing it from suffering and overpopulation. DARTH VADER: (clenching his fist) Your arrogance blinds you, Titan. Power should be used to control, to shape the galaxy in one's image. Thanos chuckles darkly and extends his armored hand, revealing the Infinity Gauntlet studded with gleaming gems. THANOS: (waving his fingers) And what is this, if not power to shape the universe? With these Infinity Stones, I can rewrite reality itself. DARTH VADER: (igniting his lightsaber) Your Stones and your ambitions are irrelevant. The dark side of the Force is the true path to dominion. It bends life and death to my will. Thanos clenches his fist, and the room trembles as he summons an ethereal energy, creating an illusion of planets orbiting his hand. THANOS: (mocking) The Force, a mere parlor trick compared to my cosmic might. I could extinguish stars with a thought. Vader's mechanical breathing intensifies, and his crimson lightsaber crackles with malevolent energy. DARTH VADER: (advancing) Then let our power decide, Titan. Only one can rule the universe. Thanos steps off his throne, and the two powerful beings face off in the darkened throne room, the fate of the universe hanging in the balance. FADE OUT. ----- It may be trite, but it isn't awful. Creators do need to figure out a way to harness and embrace this technology, and as much as I hate oversight, they may have a point that something needs to be done to protect their jobs and their industry.

Curious about the "Paid KMC" stamp - is that a military book, or what does that stamp designate? Book looks great, and I think the stamp is actually a cool addition.

AI has the potential to significantly impact the comic book industry in various ways: Artistic Assistance: AI-powered tools can assist artists and illustrators in creating comic book art. These tools can generate backgrounds, character designs, and even help with coloring, making the production process faster and more efficient. Content Creation: AI algorithms can generate story ideas, plotlines, and even dialogue. This can be useful for writers who might be facing creative blocks or looking for inspiration. However, it's important to note that AI-generated content may lack the depth and emotional resonance of human-created stories. Personalized Comics: AI can be used to personalize comic book content for readers. Based on a reader's preferences and history, AI algorithms can recommend specific comics, genres, or storylines, enhancing the reader's experience. Accessibility: AI can make comics more accessible to individuals with disabilities. Text-to-speech and image recognition technologies can help convert comic book content into audio or text formats, making it available to a broader audience. Distribution and Marketing: AI-powered algorithms can analyze market trends and reader preferences to optimize distribution and marketing strategies. This can help publishers target their audience more effectively and predict which comics are likely to perform well. Content Curation: AI-driven recommendation systems can curate collections of comics tailored to a reader's taste, introducing them to new series or characters they might enjoy. Adaptive Storytelling: AI can enable interactive and adaptive storytelling in comics. Readers could have choices that influence the plot's direction, similar to choose-your-own-adventure books, creating a more engaging and personalized reading experience. Cost Reduction: AI-driven automation can reduce the costs associated with comic book production, making it more economically viable for independent creators and small publishers to enter the industry. However, there are also challenges and concerns: Creativity and Authenticity: AI-generated content may lack the emotional depth, creativity, and authenticity that human creators bring to comics. Readers may prefer the unique perspectives and styles of human authors and artists. Job Displacement: As AI takes on certain tasks in comic book creation, there could be concerns about job displacement for artists, writers, and other creative professionals. Quality Control: AI-generated content may require careful quality control to ensure it meets the standards expected in the industry. Copyright and Ownership: There may be legal and ethical issues surrounding the ownership of AI-generated characters and stories, as well as concerns about plagiarism. In summary, AI has the potential to enhance various aspects of the comic book industry, from production to distribution and personalization. However, it's important to strike a balance between AI-driven automation and the creative input of human artists and writers to maintain the unique and artistic qualities that make comics a beloved form of storytelling.

That's an absolutely amazing accomplishment - congratulations!!

I like @ADAMANTIUM's cover better...

Sorry for two posts so close together, but I just got these organized, and I wanted to give a shout-out to the incomparable @John R. At the risk of inviting more competition, I have to say that his sales threads are some of the most fun; his books are in great, as-advertised condition (and at amazing prices); and his customer service is second-to-none. I'm afraid to tally how much I've actually spent with him over the past couple of years, but I definitely owe a large chunk of my collection - runs for sure, but also keys and harder-to-find stuff - to his threads. Check out this haul!

I keep an eye out for this book at every show and shop I go to - I realize I could have just bought it online, but I really just wanted the fun of finding it in the wild. It's the first Batman team-up in the Brave and the Bold. I finally found it today, and for just $15:

Went to the Milwaukee MightyCon show today. I felt like there were far more toys/pops/etc. vendors and far fewer comic vendors than there have been in the past. That, along with the total cost to get in ($8 ticket and $10 parking) is making this show less worth it to me, especially compared to the other great, albeit smaller, local shows that are more comics-focused. I did manage to find a few fun things; spent just over $60:

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