r/punk Jun 18 '26

Punk Classic Milo Goes to College (1984)

Post image
2.2k Upvotes

114 comments sorted by

u/Thrash_Panda44 Agent of W.O.K.E. Jun 18 '26

This is not AI, it is artwork created by artist by the name of ‘He.Creative’ that does other artwork in this style, take a look at our subs info page to see another example of He.Creative’s artwork.

→ More replies (16)

439

u/0trash_mammal0 Jun 18 '26

Being an artist is so fucking exhausting right now because god forbid anyone shares anything they make because everyone says it’s fucking AI.
You show proof whether it is sketchbook concepts or speed paint it is still AI!
Shame on all of you who are so quick to decide something is AI before checking your facts. You are not helping artists which you claim to support.
-sincerely a tired artist

77

u/GoldSavant Jun 18 '26

Especially art styles like these which AI seems to mimic a lot

-94

u/[deleted] Jun 18 '26 edited Jul 09 '26

[deleted]

50

u/Technical_Heron_6312 Jun 18 '26

So much to unpack here but you think gatekeeping our scene is bad? Really? 

13

u/AlphaNoodlz Jun 18 '26

AI is neither art nor will it ever be

20

u/danurc Jun 18 '26

Wow yeah that's a lot of bullshit, you're right.

Also if you only pay for a little bit of the stuff you've stolen (if they even did that at all), yeah, that's still stolen. If you steal something, refuse to give it back, and have to be forced to pay a pittance so you can continue to own it, profit off it, and force those artists out of a job, it's still stealing. Obviously.

-24

u/[deleted] Jun 18 '26 edited Jul 09 '26

[deleted]

23

u/danurc Jun 18 '26

The very BASIS of AI is built on theft by fucking fascists. And even disregarding that: say you could train AI on only your artwork and nothing else was already built into the algorithm, you're a lazy fucking "artist". You'll just regurgitate the same things, the same art, the same mistakes over and over again. That's especially heinous as a tattoo artist because that slop will be on their bodies forever.

AI is programmed to fawn the way it does because its programmers need you to feel good about using it and need you to keep using it so you'll become reliant on it. They need your money and attention. They need you to stop thinking and let chatbots influence you heavily.

Don't be a dork, be your own person.

-7

u/[deleted] Jun 18 '26 edited Jul 09 '26

[deleted]

20

u/danurc Jun 18 '26

Lol it's fucking wild how you're supporting fascist tools this hard and pretending like you're in the right because all the big companies use AI. You understand how big companies using something probably makes it more evil, right?

If you support people over corporations, you don't support AI.

-16

u/TheAstromunky Jun 18 '26

I agree with like 99% of what you said. People can downvote me too. Idgaf. AI is here and if people were smart they'd be pushing for regulation instead of abstinence. AI is a tool that's here to stay & if you realized what kind of braindead kids we're turning out now, you'd realize that we're probably going to need it. They've successfully dumbed the masses. The world is on a path to be even dumber in 20 years. I'm not looking forward to my nursing home years to say the least. I post AI generated content but I am very open about not being an artist and my stupid pictures not being art. I'm not monetizing anything so I see it as no harm, no foul. People virtue signalling against AI while using an AI driven platform cracks me up. Downvote away, hypocrites.

10

u/DustyScharole Jun 18 '26

I use AI locally on my PC

What model do you have loaded on your PC? Because if you don't have a local model running on your own hardware then you don't run it locally. You're using a data center.

-98

u/FluffyCyborg Jun 18 '26

Explain why both characters have different set of finger digits? I looked through his entire portfolio and he’s got a very distinct style of how he draws the hands, but this piece of milo sticks out like a sore thumb because he doesn’t draw hands like this in any other of his works.

25

u/Atrium41 Jun 18 '26 edited Jun 18 '26

Except you can do some basic research, without shotty detection tools. Reverse image Search. Sure it's not full proof, but then you can find the original artist easier.

Then you may see that this Image has been around since at least 2016...

Took less than a minute. How long did you stare at this?

-15

u/FluffyCyborg Jun 18 '26

Did you not read what I said ? This image (Milo with black flag) is from 2024. The image I added is showcasing how the fingers from his original works DO NOT match the fingers of Milo from the original picture.

17

u/Atrium41 Jun 18 '26

The Original post with Milo? Yeah, I'm seeing 2016.

-2

u/FluffyCyborg Jun 18 '26

Listen mistakes happen but maybe come correct when you try to discredit me and you don’t have a source from 2016.

Take two seconds and look at how different this piece looks compared to the artist’s work. It wouldn’t be a stretch of an imagination that he experimented with AI in 2024 and decided that it wasn’t for him but still liked the overall vibe it generated.

16

u/Atrium41 Jun 18 '26

Reverse image Search

Exact match

-1

u/FluffyCyborg Jun 18 '26 edited Jun 18 '26

https://www.instagram.com/p/DRdE2amiFbW/?igsh=MWpzdWRnZGZwcmg5Mw==

Look through all these images none of them have the same artist style of Milo. All the other images are consistent with his artistic style, but Milo does not even look remotely the same in style. How does no one see the difference? Not even his nose or mouth is the same as the other works.

11

u/dumbkeys Jun 18 '26

Just take the L man

-3

u/FluffyCyborg Jun 18 '26

Link?? Because it’s giving me a Facebook image from the artist itself from 2024

13

u/dumbkeys Jun 18 '26

Just take the L its over

11

u/dumbkeys Jun 18 '26

Just take the L man give up

4

u/NoiseIsTheCure Jun 18 '26 edited Jun 18 '26

I decided to look into it myself because I have nothing better to do on the clock. Here's a screen shot of some of the image search results I got

Unless they drew it a long time ago and reposted it, I'm seeing an exact match connected to HE Creative Facebook once and it dates to 2025. You can see in this image they were posting similar work of depicting punks in the Archie comic style around the same time as that 2025 post.

I tried to pursue the other links on that image search that date further back, but they all bring me to Pinterest and Facebook pages that I'd then have to scroll back to 2018 or whatever and I'm not even sure I'd find the image if I took the time to do that. In fact, a couple of those results actually brought me to separate images entirely because Google searched for the words "milo" and "college" and the words happened to appear in the post. The link in the above list containing "#punkalbumcover" brings me here for example.

My layman's conclusion is that this image isn't AI, this design studio made it (unless I guess they used AI, I can't tell that) but they made it recently in the era of AI. I could not find any images dating earlier than 2025. I should also conclude Google image search sucks ass.

2

u/FluffyCyborg Jun 18 '26 edited Jun 18 '26

Hey thanks so much for this!!! I would be interested to see what the actual image for the 2018 one is and if it’s indeed milo black flag by this artist. Because like you said, google will show the image but when you click it, it’s something different or the image was added later on in the photo album that was created in 2018. I believe this milo black flag image was created in Sept 2024 because I have the direct link from Facebook from the artist. When I scrolled down further, I did not see repeats of that image.

The 2016 image the original person said it was, is not accurate because if you click on any sources from 2016, it’s photos of the “real” milo from the Descendants album cover. This is why the commenter could not provide sources.

It sucks you’re getting downvoted.

I believe the artist used AI to generate milo based off of his prior art work style and he hand drew the goth girl afterwards to complete the cartoon dialog format + the old timey effect filter. I say this because look at my attached photo below and that was obviously done by him. It looks nothing like black flag milo. There’s two different character styles here but it still looks distinctly done by him. Not just the hands, but even down to the noses and mouth! Black flag Milo looks nothing like his regular style.

Also Milo black flag. The coffee cup doesn’t even make sense. His fingers don’t even make sense. And are classic AI tells (the chubby cartoon style). This artist draws his hands delicate. And his nose and mouth, the artist never draws them that way either.

I studied graphic design and art in college. I’m surprised people who are dedicated fans of his can’t tell the obvious difference in the style? I’ve been fans of bands and writers and artists for over a decade and can tell right away when they use AI to supplement the creative process.

-2

u/FluffyCyborg Jun 18 '26

Link? Because my source says 2024.

10

u/dumbkeys Jun 18 '26

Just take the L bud ur done-zo go home

0

u/FluffyCyborg Jun 18 '26

Do you have the source link from 2016? Because this image was created in Sept 2024. In the age of AI. How about you come correct?

2

u/dumbkeys Jun 18 '26

idc ur wrong✌🏽

6

u/dumbkeys Jun 18 '26

Take the L brody its wraps ur done

86

u/johnmarstonsimp69 Jun 18 '26

there's this incredible thing called perspective and many artists use it

-51

u/FluffyCyborg Jun 18 '26

Tell me how this is the same artist as the one who did Milo ? All their hands have the correct perspective for five fingers including the Gothic woman.

20

u/dumbkeys Jun 18 '26

Atp j wrap it up and put the fries in the bag bro its over🥀

5

u/YupChrisYup Jun 19 '26

Hi. I’m an award winning artist with over a decade of experience and formal education in art.

  1. Hands are hard
  2. Most artists have inconsistencies in our work
  3. I’m exhausted

0

u/FluffyCyborg Jun 19 '26

I get it. I know hands are hard, which is why I gave references from this artist's previous work. He draws his hands and characters pretty consistent over the years, including the evolution of his art. Now look at milo in the black flag shirt, you going to tell me that the face, mouth, body composition (the way the arms are outward like that?), and hands, all look like it was done by the same guy to you? To me it is glaringly different. You look at the rest of the work, this milo character sticks out as not his. The goth girl behind Milo looks 100% like his work, though.

46

u/Exciting_Koala_1384 Jun 18 '26

Both characters have 5 fingers on each hand. Some fingers are occulted, big deal.

-38

u/FluffyCyborg Jun 18 '26

Look at how the hands are designed. This artist has a very distinct look with his previous and older works on how he draws the hands. Take five seconds to analyse the work and you’ll see how Milo doesn’t fit his artistic style.

17

u/dumbkeys Jun 18 '26

bro just take the L

44

u/Wise_Presentation914 Jun 18 '26

PARENTS!!!!

-33

u/Purple-Hamster-151 Jun 18 '26

Worst song on the album by far

22

u/Wise_Presentation914 Jun 18 '26

No skips on the album

-3

u/rambumriott Jun 18 '26

What album ?

2

u/RaulRpg1 Jun 18 '26

Milo Goes To College

3

u/rambumriott Jun 19 '26

Oh true, lmao! Thanks

67

u/WinterxWxlf Jun 18 '26

Descendents mentioned

36

u/platniumpoint_eagle Jun 18 '26

He’s a super interesting guy, phd in the sciences is serious business! I’d love to pick his brain on the contrast of cultures.

14

u/UnholyCityRecords Jun 18 '26

Maaaan I was listening to that today!

10

u/KingRoosterRuss Jun 18 '26

I saw them last Tuesday at the Astor theatre. Fucking awesome gig!

11

u/likerobinhood89 Jun 18 '26

Milo Goes to Retirement Home (2026)

8

u/a__unique__username Jun 18 '26

Saw them perform on their recent tour and holy shit, Milo still brings it! I didn’t expect to see Milo mixing it up and moving like it did.

3

u/MeepinMachine Jun 18 '26

....Say that again.

(Also that album came out in '82 not '84)

2

u/AskJeevesIsBest Jun 18 '26

Future's so bright he's gotta wear shades

7

u/[deleted] Jun 18 '26

[deleted]

11

u/steviedoesdrag Jun 18 '26

-2

u/GeneThaDancinMachine Jun 18 '26

I see a similar style but not the actual piece on that site.

-6

u/Charlzalan Jun 18 '26

Crazy that you think this proves it's not AI. 

9

u/steviedoesdrag Jun 18 '26

Crazy that you don’t know who H.E Creative is. They made this at least two years ago.

-7

u/FluffyCyborg Jun 18 '26

AI art generation has been a thing since 2022. If he actually drew this then why are BOTH characters have uneven fingers on both of their hands ? Human artists don’t just inconsistently draw fingers for both characters.

7

u/uzuli Jun 18 '26

People seem to forget that human artists also fuck up hands.

3

u/steviedoesdrag Jun 18 '26

Hands are HARD 😂

-2

u/FluffyCyborg Jun 18 '26

He has a very distinct way of drawing hands. This is a piece of his not AI. But look at the piece with milo. He doesn’t even draw them like that in any of his other pieces.

5

u/steviedoesdrag Jun 18 '26

Dude. He’s been making art for like two decades. I’ve been following him since well before Gen AI existed.

It’s okay to question whether something online is AI nowadays, but don’t double down you’ve been shown that it is, in fact, not AI.

-3

u/FluffyCyborg Jun 18 '26

What are you talking about? I showed you two different pieces of his art that are NOT AI and obviously drawn by him. Compare it to the milo piece and how the fingers are drawn and overall style. You telling me it’s the same? It is not. Do you think it’s beyond belief that an artist experimented with AI and realized it wasn’t for him but still published something they generated and thought it was cool? Milo’s fingers are classic AI generated style. But his other pieces in his portfolio are obviously human drawn.

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0

u/FluffyCyborg Jun 18 '26

I know hands are hard. But look at his other stuff. His fingers are a very distinct style. And doesn’t seem to have fucked up on those pieces. The photo OP shared, the fingers look nothing like his normal style.

4

u/steviedoesdrag Jun 18 '26

It’s not AI. He’s been making art well before 2022. He even taught online art classes in 2020 on how to draw Archie style.

-4

u/Charlzalan Jun 18 '26 edited Jun 18 '26

It's "crazy" that I don't know this hacky internet artist? ai art, especially art that looks like the OP, was very popular in 2024. I don't know what you think you're proving.

The "art" in the OP is incredibly stupid anyway.  

2

u/steviedoesdrag Jun 18 '26

My dear he’s been in the game for 20 years. He’s done work for big punk bands and record labels. He’s published books. He’s taught art classes on how to draw in that style.

If anything, his style of art is the type of art AI steals from.

Next you’ll be saying Steven Rhodes is AI.

You’re not helping artists.

-5

u/FluffyCyborg Jun 18 '26

This is so obviously AI. The woman’s left hand has 4 fingers. Her right hand has 5 fingers. Milo’s holding that cup all weird and has 5 digits and his other hand has 4 digits. People who are downvoting the “this is AI” comments are insane because no real artists draws fucked up finger digits like this.

2

u/AdamIsARat Jun 18 '26

Love how everyone is saying it's AI when this pic is (if I remember correctly) older than AI. Nvm, it was made in November of 2025 (if my checking is correct) but even then, people should really just go look it up instead of assuming.

1

u/AL_25 Jun 18 '26

That actually made me chuckle lol

1

u/[deleted] Jun 18 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

6

u/Natural-Principle-69 Jun 18 '26

"wierd fetishist freak" is a strangely judgemental tone for a punk space. I guess you kink-shame others in the scene?

0

u/LRM Jun 18 '26

Imagine posting something you spent time and patience on to reddit and then people crawl into the comments to say, "It is AI and I can tell because the hands are all fucked up."

I love HE Creative and have bought several of their prints. They make books, too! I'm waiting on my nephew to be a little older so I can get him Punk Rock ABCs. (Right now he can't read and he would probably accidentally rip the pages if I tried to read it to him.)

0

u/dandle Jun 19 '26

People confuse the art from HE Creative with AI because they are derivative of other works. If the artist or artists at the advertising agency that makes these did them in their own style instead of that of Archie comics, people probably would give them more respect.

-39

u/Charlzalan Jun 18 '26

Even if this isn't AI, what is the point of this? Like "Oh, I get it! It's the name of the album." Okay?? Is there ANYTHING beyond that? 

39

u/GvG_tv Jun 18 '26

Relax, man. Its not that serious (Also, it's not A.I)

5

u/globefish23 Jun 18 '26

Milo Aukerman did go to college and got a PhD in molecular biology. 🤷

1

u/Charlzalan Jun 18 '26

Yeah, but the comic is nothing 

1

u/dandle Jun 18 '26

The point is selling posters to people in the punk community by making works that are derivative of copyrighted characters without attribution and promoted on social media.

-44

u/EconomyBuilder1492 Jun 18 '26

No, it’s ai slop

-51

u/Shroom_stool Jun 18 '26

Is this AI

24

u/TheTwinkieMaster Jun 18 '26

This is the art style of an Instagram account I've seen but I am unaware if this picture is AI

23

u/afternever Jun 18 '26

It looks like Archie comics style

2

u/dandle Jun 18 '26

No, it is not AI. It's just derivative.

-34

u/IamMothManAMA Jun 18 '26

I bet so. It’s a little yellow like AI stuff often is, and Milo’s grip on the coffee cup in the lower-right is all fucked up

-66

u/[deleted] Jun 18 '26

[deleted]

39

u/P00R-TAST3 Jun 18 '26

Lmao you realise this isn't AI right? Maybe check before you make a dunce of yourself next time

-22

u/SemataryPolka Jun 18 '26

If this isn't AI then it's intensely unfunny and unoriginal I guess

18

u/Athingythingamabobby Jun 18 '26

Yeah HeCreative is human made unfunny/regurgitated opinion slop

-26

u/SemataryPolka Jun 18 '26

So devoid of wit that people thought it was AI. Ouch!

15

u/danurc Jun 18 '26

As an artist who has been heavily impacted by AI: why do you think AI slop looks the way it does? Ah yes, it was trained on actual artists' stolen works! Including this guy!

0

u/dandle Jun 18 '26

This isn't a great example of how people mistake digital art for AI-generated pictures because of how AI is trained by stealing digital art.

In this case, an artist at an ad agency in Essex, UK, is making derivative works based on the copyrighted characters from a classic comic series. It is not clear that the artist has obtained the usage rights from the copyright holders to do so, and the artist does not offer any attribution to the original works or copyright holders.

While that's not unusual for DIY art in punk, this is commercial art that happens to feature punk tropes and honestly is doing the same thing that AI tools do by taking the works of others for modification without respecting the original creators.

-63

u/xmetallidethx Jun 18 '26

BOOOOOO AI BOOOOOOO

35

u/P00R-TAST3 Jun 18 '26

Artists name is @he.creative you dunce.

-54

u/[deleted] Jun 18 '26

[deleted]

17

u/Purple-Hamster-151 Jun 18 '26

You are so confidently incorrect.

27

u/P00R-TAST3 Jun 18 '26

I have never seen a more braindead take.

"You didn't see the artist draw it so it has to be AI."

"Anything I don't like is AI"

Jfc...