When Sylvester Stallone wanted to enter the NFT market, he reached out to someone who predicted the rise of the collection before many of his peers..
Joel Comm won his first NFT, or non-fungible token, in 2017, making him one of the earliest investors in digital collectibles. His “Bad Crypto Podcast” mention the topic while many can’t even explain what “NFT” is. And he created a number of delivery mechanisms and technologies to help the NFT go viral.
Comm’s collaboration with the iconic “Rocky,” along with Learning Annex founder Bill Zanker, has produced results to come. PlanetSLY (TBD launch date).
It’s a unique spot for fans of the actor to join Stallone’s foray into the digital market.
SLYGuys is a limited edition series of 9,997 NFTs honoring the star of “Rocky”, “Rambo”, “The Suicide Squad” and more. Stallone, curator of the collection, helped create the NFTs mentioned with artist Clark Mitchell (Marvel, “Star Wars” and Hasbro).
Comm met Stallone at the actor’s Florida home, an art-filled space created by the star herself.
“He’s been drawing all his life… it’s a new side [of Stallone] for everyone to discover. He’s very expressive with colors and fabrics,” Comm said, adding that the superstar appeared unaffected by his decades-old fame.
“I already knew him. He’s a super nice guy,” he said.
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PlanetSLY turned 75-year-old Stallone into a cutting-edge technology, but it wasn’t his primary interest.
“For him, it’s really important to connect with his fans… they love him,” Comm said, adding that it’s a deeper bond than the star/fan bond ordinary graves.
“He inspired so many people,” Comm said of Stallone, whose “Rocky” brand has shaped the American dream for generations of fans.
Stallone’s NFTs, called SLYguys, are not open to everyone. To qualify for the invitation-only pre-sale, a person must share their “SLYLove” – posting a message on Twitter, Instagram or TikTok to promote their relationship with the star.
Think of Stallone’s artwork, video, collectibles, or even a heartfelt message sharing the impact the actor’s work has had on their lives.
The NFT market, formerly booming, has achievedough patches in recent weeks along with cryptocurrencies. Inflation and interest rate hikes have hit the market, while others say the NFT is experiencing necessary maturity.
Comm knows many would consider any star’s entry into the NFT market with skepticism. We’ve seen NFTs from pop figures as diverse as Paris HiltonSnoop Dogg and deadmau5.
Madonna is the leap in the NFT landscape landed with a thud.
Comm notes that skepticism can be warranted.
“There are a lot of famous people out there that make money… people put up with NFT because it’s hot,” he said, adding that he worked with Stallone to avoid that pitfall. “Not just [PlanetSLY] the collection is worth collecting in terms of visuals, it has real value attached to them… they get something more than just a work of art. ”
“NFT audiences are now looking for utility,” he added. “Some buy just to make art… others want to unlock IRL [In Real Life] experience. That includes a key-like function for Planet Sly members, which unlocks a box with “whatever the creator wants to put in it”.
“It’s the ultimate loyalty card,” Comm says. “We are just beginning to envision the products that creators can deliver with NFT.”
Comm’s list of digital accomplishments is substantial, from co-hosting one of the top crypto shows, “The Bad Crypto Podcast,” since 2017 to launching one of The first bargain shop on the web, DealOfDay.com in 1999.
More importantly, he minted over a million NFTs of original intellectual property.
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Surprises await PlanetSLY collectors, and the more NFTs you buy, the deeper the rewards. Some customers have been able to take part in live movie screenings with Stallone themselves, hearing him comment in real time about the on-screen action.
Other perks for loyal and frequent customers include tickets to a private dinner in Miami hosted by Rocky Balboa.
Comm says Stallone’s NFT work provides another element of his entertainment career.
Comm said: “Stallone will not live forever. “What happens to the value of these once he’s gone? It was the legacy he left behind, part of his portfolio of work. ”
