the snake eats its tail, we return again to

1. The FBI's Famous Cases & Criminals archive (fbi.gov/history/famous-cases) has detailed breakdowns of real fraud cases, Ponzi schemes, and confidence operations. The language they use is clinical and precise, which is perfect for getting the procedural details right.

2. The FTC Consumer Sentinel Network publishes annual reports on the most common fraud tactics in the US. Great for understanding how modern scams actually work and what makes people fall for them.

3. The Smithsonian's American Art Museum has a free digital collection of forgery case studies. If your character forges documents or art, this is gold.

4. Court Listener (courtlistener.com) is a free legal database where you can read actual court transcripts from fraud trials. Want to know how a real con artist talks under oath? This is where you find out.

5. The Internet Archive's collection of old newspaper crime sections. Search for "confidence man" or "swindle" in papers from the 1920s through 1960s and you'll find incredible real stories that would feel too dramatic for fiction.

Bonus: The Psychology of Fraud section on the Association for Psychological Science website has accessible articles about why people trust, how deception works cognitively, and what makes someone a convincing liar. Essential reading if you want your con artist characters to feel psychologically real.

Tag this blog in your posts or add your works to the AO3 collection! If you have anything to share for day 1, still feel free to do so!

As you may know, there was recently a DC Comics boycott as a part of the DCSoWhite movement since DC has not had a mainline ongoing solo with a Black lead for over 1200 days. You can read more about this here, here, here, and here. The boycott has been cancelled (link), but that doesn't mean we can't still show support for Black comic creators!

One of the things the movement called for fans to do was to "[Support] Black creators through independent and creator-owned projects." So this post is meant to provide tips on how to do this.

Check out other works of Black creators you're already familiar with

The Black comic creators you're already a fan of who have made comics for DC or Marvel have likely also made comics for other publishers too. You can usually find out about other comics they've worked on through their Wikipedia page, social media pages, and their own website if they have one. And it's a good idea to follow their social media to learn about any of their projects in the future!

Look through indie publisher websites

A great way to find out about indie comics is to check out indie publishers' websites. There will almost always be a page on their websites with all their comics so you can easily look through them and the creators will be listed so you can look into the creators too. This is one way to find out about Black comic creators who you might not already be familiar with.

The publishers that are listed as examples in the webpages linked above are Image Comics, BOOM! Studios, Vault Comics, Ignition Press, and Stranger Comics.

Check out existing lists

There are already lists online that specifically recommend Black creators to check out and comics by Black creators. You can also find recommendations and lists on social media. This is another great way to find out about Black comic creators you're not yet familiar with.

Speaking of lists, I would like to point you to this post by @bimboopo which includes a list of many Black webtoon creators which you can go check out!

E for violence, 14.6k, 1/2 chapters.

“We will be climbing down and then up,” Damian decides, given the evidence. “No, Damian,” she says, and starts off walking, forcing him to come after her as the rope tugs taut. He chews on his lip behind his gator, cringing and trapped by his mistake. Survivalist exercise? Or maybe navigation? Some sort of test? He can’t afford to be wrong again. “There shouldn’t be any crevasses,” Ommi says into the silence, “but if I start to fall, cut your rope immediately. Understood?” “Then I can’t stop your fall,” he argues. She gives him a look, just the briefest glance over her shoulder. “Understood.” They crunch on for a minute. “I could rescue you, Ommi.” “No.” The word clouds the air, just briefly. “You will preserve your own life only. You should think of saving your breath, it’s a long way down.” That’s not an order, however, so he’s free to push. “We are leaving the compound.” She doesn’t reply. Damian squirms for a moment, trying to find a way to ask that requires no question at all. “We have a destination already in mind.” “Yes,” Ommi says, finally. “Gotham.” Talia, Damian, and leaving the devil you know, the hell you've built, the life you've made your own.

Organizers of the DCBlackout boycott have announced the boycott’s end, citing discourse overshadowing the goal of the campaign, and acknowledging that some calls to action were limiting support of black, lgbt+, and female creatives.

While no longer calling for a boycott, they are still encouraging others to boost comics and media made by black creatives and about black characters to bring awareness to the lack of representation and to let publishers know that these stories are sought out and wanted.

from @jpenumbra on tiktok

here is a link to the campaign’s petition: change.org/dcsowhitecampaign

image text under cut:

Today is Eid Al-Adha, and the children in Gaza are still starving in tents and ruined homes. On a holiday like today, families and friends should be gathering, praying, giving to others, and dining together. However, in Gaza bombs still fall despite the ceasefire, and food is too expensive to buy.

Hamza’s family is suffering from the effects of malnutrition. His family includes him, his siblings, his parents, and several young nieces and nephews. Please consider donating something to him and his family, or boosting their fundraiser. Everything counts!

FUNDRAISER.