Thank you for subscribing to Wordler Village Stories and Web3 AuthorNotes on Cent Pages, and this Mythoversal Newsletter on Substack. Somehow, I’ve assembled an ecosystem of newsletters and often don’t have all that much to say.

This week I’m shifting from Wordler Village back to Greek mythology to talk about a Medusa-themed short story I wrote for an upcoming issue of Vagobond Magazine. Paid subscribers are receiving access to a sneak peek version of the story itself, while everyone is receiving this story about the story behind the story. I’ll probably also put it out as a wordlerQUEST story which will make it accessible to everyone.

This month, The Web3 publication, Vagobond Magazine, will be publishing “Gwyneth Paltrow’s Head” alongside other stories inspired by NFT profile pictures, or PFPs. Although NFTs can be stories, tickets, membership passes, royalty shares, and a variety of other things, the NFT boom of 2021 was driven by PFP projects to such an extent that some people will always associate these tokens only with a menagerie of Punks, Apes, Doodles, and Moonbirds.

No matter what NFTs evolve into, PFPs will remain part of the Web3 culture for a long time. They identify members of like-minded communities and have been used as avatars on social media platforms. PFPs come in varieties to fit all tastes and styles. Some people are most amused by cartoon animals with a variety of fashion accessories. Others prefer 8-bit sprites, or anime-style characters, or abstract designs. Because they are often unique and can be bought and sold, some people enjoy collecting and trading whatever images best connote status or carry the potential to appreciate in value.

Personally, I’m not much into the PFP scene, but I was blown away by the Medusa Collection by Mieke Marple. Mieke used the tools of generative art to create gallery-quality, mythology-themed artworks that are stunning and unique, convey purpose and meaning, and evoke the emotions and experience of an artist’s soul.

Medusa #227 is one of the Brainstorm Medusai, a subset of the collection that includes a Rain Cloud vanitas next to the head. To me, the Brainstorms represent creativity, curiosity, and intellect. There are only 50 Brainstorm Medusai in the collection. Of these, only three of these are rose-colored Medusai, only one of which is a rightward-facing Cellini. The other two are front-facing Canovas, which really aren’t my jam.

Vagobond Magazine is providing an opportunity for authors to turn their PFPs into writing prompts by naming the characters, providing a backstory and personality, and using them as the basis for stories. These NFTs have become storytelling NFTs, catalysts for blockchain-published stories that distinguish them from other PFPs in their respective collections.

As the Web3 space continues to evolve, storytelling NFTs may provide a unique value proposition for collectors. The publication of “Gwenyth Paltrow’s Head” may bring value and interest to a future collector of Medusa #227, although she’s still not as famous as Medusa #439, which was briefly featured on billboards across Los Angeles.

One of my backburnered projects is a “Circe meets The Da Vinci Code” novel written with a community that will feature Medusa #227. Until then, this short story will have to do.

—Greg R. Fishbone, Mythology Disruptor

The Mythoversal Cryptoversal

About “Gwyneth Paltrow’s Head” and…