[LOS ANGELES] Ethernity, the original authenticated NFT platform (aNFT) is excited to announce the first-ever virtual theme park with in-world commerce powered by NFTs and virtual experiences with the iconic publishing and entertainment company, Heavy Metal. Metaverse partners YouCan Galaxy created the Heavy MetalVerse and in-world avatars from the Heavy Metal Universe. On October 30th for 72-hours, Ethernity is auctioning the characters reimagined by top NFT artist, Blunt Action, as NFT “metakeys” that unlock the Heavy MetalVerse virtual world. The characters also exist in the virtual world theme park as “metahumans” on display for guests. Additionally, fans can collect special limited edition art covers animated by the geniuses behind Heavy Metal Magazine. NFT collectors that are lucky enough to get “metakeys”--called Metal Keys--are granted special access to the Heavy Metalverse virtual theme park debuting during Art Basel Miami in December of this year. Not all NFTs come with keys. The NFTs themselves are the Metal Keys.
Heavy Metal is the premier storyteller of cutting-edge science fiction, fantasy, and horror. The trend-setting magazine has continuously published since its first issue in 1977 and inspired some of the most famous blockbusters in film history. It is credited as an inspiration behind Blade Runner (Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was originally published in Heavy Metal Magazine) and The Fifth Element, and published the official Alien graphic novel in 1979. Known for its stunning visual style, iconoclastic stories, and subversive content, Heavy Metal is a bastion of counterculture in the entertainment industry. Launched at a time when comic book publishers were strictly censored by the Comics Code Authority, Heavy Metal set the standard for how to thrill sci-fi fans through revolutionary storytelling and art. These NFTs are inspired by the iconic stories from the magazine and highlight Heavy Metal’s beloved characters.
"The movement from physical to digital existence is one that is happening all around us in real-time. Whether we know it or not, we are already cyborgs. We can't live without our technology, which is by definition, a cyborg. What Youcan Galaxy, Ethernity, and Heavy Metal have put together here is another step into that fusion of technology and the human experience. The first-ever digital theme park on the blockchain allows for more evolution than a physical theme park. The ability to quickly and efficiently bring more attractions to our customers will allow for the exponential growth of the Park,” said Heavy Metal Entertainment CEO Matthew Medney.
Continued Medney: “We wanted to kick it off by following in the footsteps of our iconic heroine, Taarna—it's her temple, her universe, her rules. And we're fusing this world with our sci-fi odyssey series Dark Wing by showcasing Dark Wing's bridge, allowing fans to soon pilot the Wing. This is the type of story fusion allotted to us by using a digital playground. Fans will be able to explore the first attractions as one of our four avatar characters: Taarna, Adrienne James, Mortermir, or Pon Valdur. The immersive experiences we are providing are unlike anything yet. Be it new avatars, flight simulators, or temple runs with Adrienne James, The Heavy Metal Theme Park on the blockchain is the first of its kind. We expect many other brands will follow because it's an opportunity to dip your toes into a Metaverse and provide a unique experience for fans."
“Youcan is especially excited about the rising discussions around the Metaverse,” said Youcan CEO Antonio Trincao. Youcan has been featured on Forbes, Yahoo Finance!, GQ, Vogue, WWD, and with more than 80,000 users registered, the Youcan Galaxy is the perfect partner for the Ethernity and Heavy Metal teams. “Bringing to life some of the most iconic Heavy Metal stories of all time in the first virtual theme park is a huge honor,” said Youcan CEO Antonio Trincao.
“Ethernity is fueled by our team’s insatiable desire to create incredible digital objects for art lovers, super fans, and beyond,” said Nick Rose, CEO and Founder of Ethernity. “We thrive off exploring opportunities to expand the worlds of existing creations and Heavy Metal is a perfect fit for our great ambitions and endeavors. Our team has nostalgic memories of Heavy Metal Magazine covers throughout their childhood. It’s an incredibly influential organization. We can’t wait to allow Heavy Metal fans new ways to explore the worlds they love.”
Past NFT releases from Ethernity cover a wide range of talent includes collections with soccer star Pele, legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, skateboard superstar Tony Hawk, NBA Icon and Champion Shaq, Pulitzer Prize-winning photos via Associated Press, and rapper Nas. Upcoming drops to be announced include current G.O.A.T. soccer player Leo Messi who just won Copa America.
