Comic Transcripts

BRINDLA and KYLEEN have moved the park bench outside and are continuing their conversation about books:

BRINDLA: If the HEADSTABBERS: FATHOMS books AREN’T actually GOOD, why have you read so many of them?

KYLEEN: You go back home. You see a childhood friend.

KYLEEN (beginning a reverie): You’re on different paths now, but there are still some things you two share that aren’t present anywhere else in your life. You spent SO MUCH time together at Jambalaya Jim’s Juice Jumpery on Sixth Ave. Those COUNTLESS hours in the smoothie place that was also an unlicensed trampoline gym were FORMATIVE.

KYLEEN (now sitting in an imaginary vacant lot — this is an extremely subtle shift and will be missed by all but the most attentive of readers): That spot’s been a vacant lot now for DECADES. Who else has access to THAT PART of you? No one but someone who was THERE.

KYLEEN: Reading the books returns me, not just to the familiar world IN the books… But to a place where I can VISIT the ME that has spent so much time in that world.

BRINDLA: Got it. Sunk cost fallacy.

KYLEEN: I prefer to think of it as a sunk cost ADVENTURE.

BRINDLA (looking at one of the books): It says here that SUNK COST ADVENTURE is the title of book #57 in the series!

KYLEEN: THAT’S where I got the IDEA!

#1564; A Cold Stare From a Tall Bookshelf (Part 3 of 4) transcribed by in

BRINDLA and KYLEEN have moved the park bench outside and are continuing their conversation about books:

BRINDLA: If the HEADSTABBERS: FATHOMS books AREN'T actually GOOD, why have you read so many of them?

KYLEEN: You go back home. You see a childhood friend.

KYLEEN (beginning a reverie): You're on different paths now, but there are still some things you two share that aren't present anywhere else in your life. You spent SO MUCH time together at Jambalaya Jim's Juice Jumpery on Sixth Ave. Those COUNTLESS hours in the smoothie place that was also an unlicensed trampoline gym were FORMATIVE.

KYLEEN (now sitting in an imaginary vacant lot -- this is an extremely subtle shift and will be missed by all but the most attentive of readers): That spot's been a vacant lot now for DECADES. Who else has access to THAT PART of you? No one but someone who was THERE.

KYLEEN: Reading the books returns me, not just to the familiar world IN the books... But to a place where I can VISIT the ME that has spent so much time in that world.

BRINDLA: Got it. Sunk cost fallacy.

KYLEEN: I prefer to think of it as a sunk cost ADVENTURE.

BRINDLA (looking at one of the books): It says here that SUNK COST ADVENTURE is the title of book #57 in the series!

KYLEEN: THAT'S where I got the IDEA!

On certain days, when I pass by a trash can full of rotten fruit and children's vomit, I get a very strong sense memory of being inside Jambalaya Jim's

This storyline started with Part 1.

Bolted! Shipping is UNDERWAY

Bolted! games have been shipping to backers over the last couple of weeks! The non-US orders are (mostly) done and some folks have been reporting receiving them already!

@davidmalki.com My game arrived today!! It looks gorgeous 🙂 Hope you are well 🙂

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— Lar deSouza (@lartist.bsky.social) April 2, 2026 at 2:52 PM

My US inventory of games is now in-country, but still being staged at the fulfillment centers. It’s being distributed to regional warehouses, so the actual shipping to backers happens more efficiently. I hope the bulk of US shipping will start next week.

These are what the cartons (and games) look like!

bolted! games BOLTED! GAMES (pounding the table) B O L T E D ! G A M E S

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— david malki ! (@davidmalki.com) April 3, 2026 at 10:37 AM

I am also waiting on the bonus cards to be finished printing! I ended up needing many more of those than I had anticipated, so I decided to have the game factory print those too, for perfect matching with the base game cards.

Most people will be receiving two separate mailings: the game itself, and “anything else” (bonus cards and/or add-ons) which will be sent by me personally.

As of today, 86% of backers have completed their surveys so far! That’s pretty good, but it’s not everyone. I know YOU PERSONALLY have already completed YOURS though, so no worries!!

We have now moved OFF of Kickstarter and ONTO BackerKit for any new orders. You can bundle a game with basically anything else I sell on that there website, it’s pretty nuts!


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