Kaepernick’s New Venture Faces Backlash from Comic Creators
Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL quarterback turned civil rights activist, has raised $4 million to launch a new publishing venture called Lumi. Lumi aims to “democratize storytelling by providing creators with the tools to independently create, publish, and merchandise their stories.”
Sounds promising, right? But here’s the catch:
“Lumi leverages advanced AI technology to enhance the creative process and ensure diverse and authentic stories shape our future.”
Uh oh.
Kaepernick appeared at San Diego Comic-Con, mingling in Artist’s Alley and networking events to promote Lumi. Mentioning “AI” likely made him a target for angry comic creators ready to tackle him.
News about Lumi had been circulating, but it wasn’t until another comics news site highlighted “AI” and “$4 million” in the same headline that creators united against the idea. They argued that democratizing storytelling shouldn’t involve exploiting human creators for tech profits.
A Bold Mission
According to a press release, Lumi “empowers creators by providing them with the tools needed to independently create, publish, and merchandise their stories both digitally and physically.” Lumi’s mission is to enable creators to turn their ideas into finished products and distribute them, transforming any creator into a one-person Disney. By using advanced AI tools, Lumi helps creators focus on their stories while handling logistics. This should benefit creators, who often face exploitation and lack of independence.
Creators have a significant impact on AI, and they should be primary beneficiaries of its use. However, many creators argue that AI use must reflect diverse and authentic perspectives, ensuring a more equitable future.
Buried at the end of the press release, Lumi’s focus on comic book and graphic novel creators highlights the need for multiple creative skill sets in this market.
Mixed Reactions from the Community
Kaepernick tweeted:
“My new company #Lumi is empowering anyone to be a storyteller, regardless of their skill set. Lumi enables you to create, publish, and monetize your stories all in one platform.
How do we do that? By creating access to:
- End-to-end story creation
- Simple AI tools
- Physical and digital publishing
- Built-in merchandising
The best part is CREATORS OWN ALL OF THEIR WORK! It’s everything a creator needs to build and scale their stories, without relying on personal connections in Hollywood or bankrolling a full team.
This is how we level the playing field. This is how we create access and opportunity for the world to tell their stories. Lumi is about to turn every storyteller into their own personal Disney. Sign up now to start creating ↓”
While Kaepernick has become a hero for calling out racism, his embrace of AI has drawn significant backlash. Many argue that storytelling should come from human creativity, not AI, which often scrapes content created by humans.
Community Outrage
Khary Randolph, a respected artist, shared his concerns:
“To be clear, I was one of a number of artists that had meetings with Colin a few months ago. He told me broadly what his AI platform was about. He mentioned removing ‘gatekeepers’ and benefiting people from underserved backgrounds. I told him while I was a fan, I couldn’t support this because those ‘gatekeepers’ are people like me who put our blood, sweat, and tears into our craft. Hard work, a pencil, and paper are all you need to make comics. I let him know that his product would hurt us long-term.”
Randolph wasn’t alone. Many other artists expressed similar sentiments. Here are a few examples from social media:
- Liana Kangas: “Kaepernick is trying to demolish creative jobs in this industry. We entered this field for the craft, not the money. Our storytelling is better than AI’s every time.”
- Mark Brooks: “Kaepernick raised $4 million for AI comics. He could have funded dozens of comics by skilled POC creators. Instead, he’s stealing from them. Sad.”
- J.H. Williams: “Disgusting. As someone marginalized himself, I thought he’d know better. I expect those investors to lose their money.”
- Ben Templesmith: “I left irate comments on Kaepernick’s Twitter. He thinks working comic professionals are dirt. This joke doesn’t respect the medium. No thanks.”
- Cheryl Lynn Eaton: “Black artists won’t support AI robbing them of career opportunities and work they’ve already produced. This is CRAZY!”
Even artist Scott Morse commented on seeing Kaepernick at Comic-Con, expressing disappointment in the use of AI for storytelling.
The Venture Capital Connection
Lumi’s fundraising was led by venture capital firm Seven Seven Six, founded by Alexis Ohanian. He previously helped raise $9 million for Zestworld, which didn’t achieve much. His involvement raises further skepticism about Lumi’s success.
Overall, the anger at Kaepernick’s embrace of AI is unanimous among comic creators. While some may give Lumi a shot, it seems like another tech-driven venture that may not deliver on its promises.
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