Starting the year off with THREE failures... and that's okay, right?
Episode #335
Hello Tribe.
It’s the end of January already, huh? As cliche as it sounds, where does the time go?
It’s wild January is barely finished, and I have three failures to my name already.
From what I perceive as the biggest ball-drops, to the smallest, inconsequential:
As previously discussed, the fulfilment of GORILLA MY DREAMS TEAM-UP #2 to international customers,
Had to cancel my RPG bestiary launch,
Came dead last in the biggest Marvel Crisis Protocol tournament in Australia (see the post credit sequence for more on this one).
🦍GORILLA MY DREAMS TEAM-UP #2
I already discussed this one last time, and it’s taking longer to resolve than I had hoped. The third-party distributer I was using has “found” my order in their warehouse, and having worked in a warehouse as a young man, I don’t quite understand what that means.
I have requested an update on when we might see the order packaged an in the mail, and I’ll let you all know as soon as I get a reply.
🧪THE LAB 5E Bestiary
I was super keen to take part in Backerkit’s Zinetopia next week, but as the saying goes…
I’m the first to admit that I’m a technological Neanderthal and this time it has been my undoing.
I had an issue hooking up my Stripe account to my Backerkit project. I reached out to Backerkit support, who told me to reach out to Stripe support. I reached out to Stripe support, and they told me to reach out to Kickstarter support. I said, “What do they have to do with anything?” and they assured me that was the correct course of action. I reached out to Kickstarter support and they said, “What do we have to do with anything?” and I said, “THAT’S WHAT I SAID!”
I’ve spoken to no less than six people between Backerkit and Stripe, and it just got too overwhelming, and I just said, “Not this year, Backerkit.”
Which is a shame, because I’ve done a heap of work on THE LAB. But I’ll regroup and maybe release it on Kickstarter sometime, or try Backerkit again next year. Either way, we’ll get back to it eventually.
But if nothing else, it frees me up to give my full attention to my upcoming comic releases.
🧑🏫I guess the point is…
I’m good at catastrophising when things don’t go to plan. But you know what? As big a deal as these things are to me, I’m not spiralling right now.
I’ve been going to therapy since my friend Kathy died last year. The therapist I have now is a good one.
Anyway, I guess when you start at the bottom, the only way to go is up. I mean, the realist in me says I’m not anywhere near rock-bottom, and that is true. But now, my focus is on the two comics I have on the brink of completion and launch.
I don’t know if that’s toxic positivity or not, but my stress levels seem is appropriate to the circumstances, and knowing action is being taken is helping. But all in all, I’m content with where I am with it all right now.
BUT I will be looking for a new third-party distributor for my next comic in attempts to avoid this all happening again.
That’s about it for today. Thanks again for your support and patience.
I love ya, and I mean it.
Big Tim!
“It’s alright to be scared. Remember, there is no courage without fear.”
COMING SOON: MASTIFF #1 - Black, White & BLOOD Edition Kickstarter
COMING SOON: GORILLA MY DREAMS: OLD MAN KG - An Apocalyptic Monster Romp Kickstarter
COMING SOON: GORILLA MY DREAMS TEAM-UP #3 (Featuring TORN) - Oz invades Struggle-Town Kickstarter
COMING SOON: Cirque du Nocturne: CRYPTIDS for 5E Kickstarter
COMING SOON: GORILLA MY DREAMS TEAM-UP #4 (Featuring TORN) - Conclusion of OZ invades Struggle-Town Kickstarter
COMING SOON: GORILLA MY DREAMS TEAM-UP #5 (Featuring TORN) - A Superhero Romp
Over the long weekend, I attended CanCon, (debatably) the biggest board games and RPG convention in Australia, and I partook in the Marvel Crisis Protocol tournament. I have never taken part in something like this before, and honestly, it was two long, exhausting (though super fun) days.
There were 70 players signed up for the event, and they came from all over Australia. The first day we played four games, and the second we played three.
Before this tournament, I had played 5 games total. And lost every single one.
But in this tournament, I WON MY FIRST GAME EVER!
That one win wasn’t enough to save me from coming dead last in the entire event.
But it was all a lot of fun.
Being a Midnight Sons fan from the 90’s it was really awesome to see the likes of Ghost Rider and Blade in action. I think that was my favourite game, despite being given the Penance Stare and losing drastically.
And at the end of the event, I got this tiny trophy to celebrate my crappy playing.
If nothing else it’s gotten me more excited to try the different teams and characters I have painted up.
There are three boxes being released this year that I want to get (Xavier’s Students Affiliation Pack which contains Colossus, Magick, Bishop, and Night Crawler, X-Factor Pack featuring Dani Moonstar, Havoc, Multiple Man, and Jubilee, and being released at Halloween is a box containing Blackheart, Jack O' Lantern, and The Orb).
Problem is, I literally have 25 minis that I haven’t gotten around to painting yet. It rivals my unread comics tower of shame.
So, I thought I’d make up this little bingo card; the idea is that I’m not allowed to buy any more Crisis Protocol minis, unless I complete a line of 5 on my bingo card. With Xavier’s Students Affiliation Pack already released and selling out here in Australia, I have gotten to work.
So far, I’ve painted three minis. I started Red Guardian and Ursa Major before creating this Bingo card, but upon completing them, I have to be more strategic, to get a line completed. So, I’ll be working on the end column with Dormammu, Darkstar, and Rhino.
I’m not a great painter, but I enjoy doing it, so if you don’t mind, I’ll continue to keep you posted on my little side hobby too.
Every child wins a prize!