Vault Comics showed up at Comic Con International with their biggest slate of programming to date and an exclusive pre-release of one of the year’s most anticipated series. The company has announced Beyond Real, an ambitious and psychedelic series from Zack Kaplan and a lineup of seven spectacular artists whose works will weave together through each issue. 

Beyond Real sees Zack Kaplan return to Vault after his recent celebrated series Mindset, joined by a slate of phenomenal artists including Fabiana Mascolo, Toni Fejzula, Vincenzo Riccardi, Dennis Menheere, Jorge Corona, and Liana Kangas. Each issue of this cerebral and ambitious series will see these artists working in tandem, handing off scenes back and forth to each other as part of the narrative structure of this mind-bending story about simulation theory, the creative spirit, and the struggle for self-determination.

Much of Beyond Real will be colored by the legendary Eisner-winning artist Jordie Bellaire alongside the series artists who will color their own work. The series’ lettering will be crafted by Eisner-winner Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, and every issue will be designed by the inimitable Tim Daniel. Each issue will have a main cover painted by Mindset co-creator and Eisner-winning artist John J. Pearson.      

The series follows the struggling artist June following a severe accident which leaves her boyfriend in a coma and causes her to experience bizarre visual phenomena. When she discovers that the world she considers “reality” may in fact be a computer simulation, she must set out on a perilous journey through metaphysical layers of the simulation to reach the true creator and save her love from death.

Beyond Real #1 hits store shelves in October 2023, and is available to preorder through your favorite retailer beginning today.