Bovodar and his Folk

 

AI image prompted by Jack Mikkelson

Jack Mikkelson, author of Bovodar and the Bears, a fantasy adventure novel of which I draw the comic adaptation, has launched a new Substack all about the world of this story! 

It has all kinds of extras, scenes, background, maps, where he got ideas, and more to come! He also speaks very highly of myself and my work, for which I can only thank him.

This is especially of the moment because we have completed the first volume of the comic, three issues, 75 pages, and we plan to get it printed. As we're seeking how best to do that, I encourage you to dive into Bovodar's world! It's an epic land of mystical talking animals with a uniquely American spirit.

Since there are those who will object, I must state, yes I know Jack is using A.I. trained on my art to make pictures for this, and he has my full permission. As long as folks are open and honest about use of A.I., I do not condemn it. As a collage artist, it would be awfully hypocritical of me to do so on the basis of it using bits and pieces of other art. And on the basis of it not being made by a conscious mind, yes that does mean it's not art, but that doesn't mean all of it is necessarily worthless and shouldn't exist. Much of it is objectively more beautiful than a lot of art made by human minds, some of which shouldn't exist. So there's no point preaching at me, but if you wish, you are absolutely free and fully informed so as to avoid it. I myself generally prefer not to read fiction written with A.I.; I'm not condemning you either.

And everyone including A.I.-avoiders should definitely check out the novel!

And the comic!