ORDERS FOR VAULT’S UNNATURAL ORDER #1 EXCEED 137,000 COPIES
Vault Comics has announced that orders for Unnatural Order #1 from writer Chris Yost and artist Val Rodrigues dramatically outperformed on every level, exceeding 137,000 copies at the time of the issue’s final order cutoff. This makes Unnatural Order #1 one of the best-selling new independent comics of 2023 and of the last decade.
Last month in an industry-shaking move, Vault upended the traditional comic book sales model and made Unnatural Order #1 completely free to retailers. The issue retains its $4.99 SRP, enabling this gigantic launch to be a financial windfall for comic book retailers everywhere. The results are in, and Vault has established a completely new model for launching new titles in the comic book direct market.
“I was stunned by the orders on Unnatural Order (pun intended!) I still can’t even wrap my head around it,” said writer Chris Yost. “I’m truly overwhelmed and honored by the support retailers have shown for the book, for me, Val, Dearbhla, Andworld and all the team at Vault.”
“This is a story I’ve wanted to tell for a very long time and it’s one that I wanted to tell here, in comics. To see UO welcomed like this means the world to us.
“To every comic book store out there, THANK YOU! For real, from the bottom of my heart. We couldn’t do this without you, and I’m excited to have you alongside us for the journey that is Unnatural Order. I can’t wait for you to see where we’re going.”
Vault CEO and Publisher offered the following: “Anyone who works in comics knows that new series live or die by their orders on #2, #3, and so on. The best way to get readers to show up in droves for a second issue is to make sure you got the first issue into as many hands as humanly possible. Traditionally, that’s not easy. You have to start with a great book from a great team. You have to market the heck out of it. You have to get retailers to rally around you. And, then you hope you get lucky.
“Well, we set out to do something wild with Unnatural Order #1. We decided to take a gamble and break that traditional model by making it free to retailers. Yes, we started with a great book, but then asked ourselves, how do we give retailers something to fight for, give ourselves a path to break through the noise, and turn that all into a huge reason for readers to show up for the book.
“The results have exceeded even our most optimistic thinking. The numbers are a little staggering. They blow Free Comic Book Day numbers out of the water. They set this series up to have one of the biggest readerships of any independent book in the market. It’s an incredible position to be in.
“Naturally, we couldn’t have pulled this off without the support of the incredible comic book retail community. So, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the retailers who helped make this happen. And, this is just the beginning.”
Unnatural Order #1 marks the return to comics of legendary writer and MCU screenwriter Christopher Yost, joined by star artist Val Rodrigues, beloved colorist Dearbhla Kelly, extraordinary lettering house Andworld Design, and renowned designer Tim Daniel. Unnatural Order blends fantasy, science fiction, and high-stakes action. In ancient Britain an unstoppable evil known only as the Druid plunges the world into an age of horror, fire, and sacrifice. But there is one man even the Druid fears. A soldier from another time, who alone knows the Druid’s secret: this is not how the world is supposed to be.
Issue #1 is on sale this October, and features stunning variant covers from legendary artists Tula Lotay, Maria Wolf, and Joshua Hixson.
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- I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!
