Tag Archives: christopher yost

Preview: Kidpool/Spider-Boy #1

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Kidpool/Spider-Boy #1

(W) Christopher Yost (A) Nathan Stockman, Various, Jed Dougherty (CA) Humberto Ramos
RATED T+
In Shops: Dec 25, 2024
SRP: $6.99

HISTORIC FIRST MEETING!
Your favorite foul-mouthed adolescent, KIDPOOL, is back in comic book form starring alongside the biggest debut character in recent memory, SPIDER-BOY!
Will the Adolescent-Arachnid be able to keep the Murderous Middle-Grader from causing the return of the Comics Code? UNLIKELY! But Bailey is going to try! Don’t miss the comic that every kid and kid-at-heart in America is going to sneakily read under their sheets with a flashlight!

Kidpool/Spider-Boy #1

Kidpool makes her comic debut in Kidpool & Spider-Boy!

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Over the summer, Deadpool & Wolverine introduced fans to an army of Deadpool variants and standing out amongst the crowd was Kidpool! This November, this breakout star enters the Marvel Comics universe for the first time ever in Kidpool & Spider-Boy #1, a one-shot by writer Christopher Yost, artist Nathan Stockman, Chris Campana, and Jed Dougherty.

It’s a historic first meeting as your new favorite foul-mouthed adolescent, Kidpool, teams up with another one of the biggest debut characters in recent memory, Spider-Boy! Will the Adolescent-Arachnid be able to keep the Murderous Middle-Grader from causing the return of the Comics Code? UNLIKELY! But Bailey is going to try! And could this all-new KIDPOOL be the very same one from the multiverse-shattering movie? Nothing is off limits when it comes to the Merc with a Mouth!

Check out Humberto Ramos’ cover along with new variant covers by Paco Medina and Todd Nauck. Preorder Kidpool & Spider-Boy #1 at your local comic shop today!

Justin Simien and Christopher Yose are adapting Heist: Or How to Steal a Planet for Confluential Films

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Heist: Or How to Steal a Planet

Tommy Oliver’s Confluential Films is developing a feature film adaptation of Heist: Or How to Steal a Planet, a science fiction crime thriller published by Vault Comics. Filmmaker Justin Simien is attached to direct the adaptation and Christopher Yost is writing the screenplay, with Oliver producing. Wayne Horton, who brought the project in, is also producing through his production deal with Confluential Films.

The comic, created by writer Paul Tobin and artist Arjuna Susini, is set on the planet Heist, home to billions of the worst criminals in the galaxy. The Pan-Galactic government has no idea what to do with the planet, but conman Glane Breld and his band of thieves know exactly what to do with Heist. They’re going to steal it. The story follows Glane on his madcap scheme to pull off the biggest heist in the history of the galaxy.

Newly hired SVP, Film & TV, Liliane Bedford will oversee the project for Confluential Films. Damian Wassel and F.J. DeSanto will executive produce for Vault. Simien and Kyle Laursen will executive produce for Culture Machine.

Justin Simien is represented by CAA and Grandview. Christopher Yost is represented by Verve and Industry. Vault is represented by UTA, Industry and Weintraub Tobin. The deal was negotiated by Confluential’s Head of Business and Legal Affairs, Alexa Camarena.

Unnatural Order #1 is an interesting debut but it’s the marketing that stands out

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After the fall of the Britons and the Roman invasion of Hibernia, the captive known only as the Druid is released, sending a darkness across the world…an age of horrors, of fire and entrails. As the innocent burn in the Wicker fields, those who would resist learn of the existence of a man who even the Druid fears. Unnatural Order #1 is an interesting debut whose ending and marketing is what really stands out.

Story: Christopher Yost
Art: Val Rodrigues
Color: Dearbhla Kelly
Letterer: Andworld Design

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

Zeus Comics
Kindle

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Unnatural Order #1 is a choppy opening but that ending…

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Unnatural Order #1

After the fall of the Britons and the Roman invasion of Hibernia, the captive known only as the Druid is released, sending a darkness across the world…an age of horrors, of fire and entrails. As the innocent burn in the Wicker fields, those who would resist learn of the existence of a man who even the Druid fears. Unnatural Order #1 is an interesting debut whose ending and marketing is what really stands out.

Written by Christopher Yost, Unnatural Order #1 is an intriguing comic. Unlike others, it was offered for free to comic shops resulting in an impressive amount being ordered. The thought process is simple, get enough out there to start you then hook enough people to come back for the second issue and beyond and make the money there. But, to do that you need a really solid debut issue. I’m not sure Unnatural Order #1 really pulls that off.

The comic introduces us to The Druid, a being were supposed to fear but with little to go off of other than his powers and what others say, it’s a villain that feels more myth than actually a threat.

Beyond that opening, much of what we know is a group of survivors who have banded together and whose lives have been ruined by the Druid. We get a bit of what he did to them and their backgrounds but none of it really connects enough to deliver the fear and strength that Yost is going through with his force of nature. The telling isn’t as effective as the showing would be.

The group decides to split, never a good idea, with some going after the Druid trying to destroy his base of power while the others on a mission to free a person who the Druid fears. If you skipped the solicit, who that person is, is actually interesting but after the long slog to get there, it feels a little too little too late.

The issue is a bit choppy in its narrative jumping locations as our band of warriors travel and none of it really connecting together. It’s a series of events and scenes as opposed to a flowing narrative. The end result feels very choppy like there’s sequences that ended on the cutting room floor.

The art by Val Rodrigues is good. With color by Deadbhla Kelly and lettering by Andworld Design, the art captures both the fantasy and hellish nature of what’s going on. The character have a unique look but at the same time cohesive. The Druid’s powers and his allies have a nightmarish quality about them that’s interesting like the overall concept. None of it is really explained, so the visuals are what stands out as far as that.

Unnatural Order #1 has an interesting ending, enough for me to see where it’s going for the second issue but I’m not sure it gets to that quickly enough or an interesting way. Things drag on a bit and how it’s all presented doesn’t really build to either excitement or builds up the dread. It just kind of is. Still, depending on how your shop treats the issue, it’s worth picking up if it’s free or cheap but beyond that, not sure it’s worth the cover price on its own.

Story: Christopher Yost Art: Val Rodrigues
Color: Dearbhla Kelly Letterer: Andworld Design
Story: 7.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read

Vault Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Underrated: Scarlet Spider (2012)

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Scarlet Spider has always been one of my favourite Spier-Man sub characters, and even more so when his former enemy (and clone) Kaine took up the mantle. However unwillingly. I recently reread the series, and so, as you can see, wanted to revisit an old column.

The series more than holds up.

This is a column that focuses on something or some things from the comic book sphere of influence that may not get the credit and recognition it deserves. Whether that’s a list of comic book movies, ongoing comics, or a set of stories featuring a certain character. The columns may take the form of a bullet pointed list, or a slightly longer thinkpiece – there’s really no formula for this other than whether the things being covered are Underrated in some way. This week: The 2012 Scarlet Spider run.

Scarlet_Spider_Vol_2_1

I have always enjoyed stories about villains becoming heroes, struggling to atone for or come to terms with their actions; I’m a sucker for a good redemption story, I’ll admit. There’s something about somebody striving to earn forgiveness when surrounded by people who don’t believe in them I’ve always enjoyed.

With 2012’s Scarlet Spider we get almost the exact opposite of that. A man who just wants to disappear surrounded by those who inexplicably believe in him.

I originally added this to my pull list with its first issue way back in 2012, I had assumed that the Scarlet Spider in question was Ben Reilly in a new costume, and not Kaine. I’m sure had I been reading the Spider-Man comics at the time I’d have known better, but I figured this was a good place to jump on board – and I wasn’t wrong in that sense, but I was wrong about who was wearing the costume. So I settled in to enjoy a story about Spider-Man’s clone, and as I hoped I ended up loving the series.

But not for the reasons I expected. Instead of a heroic story featuring Ben Reilly, Scarlet Spider delivered something I wasn’t expecting – and ended up loving more than I thought I would given my initial expectations of who I was going to be reading about.

The story starts with Kaine trying to get to Mexico, having recently been cured of the cellular degeneration he was suffering as a clone (it’s a whole thing that’s explained in multiple stories and other resources), he’s seeking a chance to finally live his life free of the constant agony he used to suffer. But, as with any good story featuring a Spider, things inevitably get in the way of that and Kaine gets stuck in Houston, quickly becoming the city’s own resident super hero. The series was written by Chistopher Yost, who was joined by a variety of hugely talented pencillers, inkers and colourists throughout the series 25 issue run (there were also  couple of specials and tie-in issues that bulk up the issue count if you want the whole story).

The full run remains one of my favourite Spider stories, in part because of the redemptive nature, but also because it’s just really good. But like all series that features a lesser known character it was cancelled because of low sales – though Kaine still pops up as the Scarlet Spider from time to time, and I will always try to grab those issues as and when I can. Scarlet Spider is a brilliant alternate to Spider-Man as we see a hero with, as the tag line so eloquently puts it, “all of the power, and none of the responsibility.” But Kaine is still a Parker, and as he begrudgingly accepts the responsibility of being the Scarlet Spider, we get to see a villain slowly change into (well, almost) a hero. However reluctantly.

This is a fantastic run, easily one of my favourite parts of my collection, but it’s one I don’t see getting the love it deserves – that’s why the book is Underrated.

Join us next week when we look at something else that is, for whatever reason, Underrated.

Vault’s Unnatural Order #1 gets over 137,000 in orders after going free

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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.

Unnatural Order #1 marks the return to comics of 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.

Vault makes Unnatural Order #1 free for retailers

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In an industry-shaking move, Vault is making Unnatural Order #1 completely free to retailers. Unnatural Order #1 marks the return to comics of legendary writer and MCU screenwriter Christopher Yost, joined by star artist Val Rodrigues. This landmark event is guaranteed to be one of the biggest comic launches of 2023 and Vault, Yost, and Rodrigues want to ensure it’s a windfall event for retailers, too. 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.

The standard cover of Unnatural Order #1 will be offered to retailers in free bundles of 25 copies. The issue will retain its $4.99 SRP, and retailers will be free to sell, discount, or freely distribute copies to their customers.

In addition to the standard cover, Vault will offer net-priced, open order premium variants from Tula Lotay and Maria Wolf that are sure to be some of the most in-demand variants of the year.

Retailers can contact retailers@vaultcomics.com for more information.

SDCC 2023: Vault returns with exclusives, signings, and panels

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Unnatural Order #1 SDCC exclusive

Vault Comics first debuted at Comic Con International, and this year will return in their first appearance since 2019, with a full slate of programming and signings; including a special early exclusive debut of Unnatural Order, the highly anticipated series from Christopher Yost, co-creator of X-23, writer of hundreds of X-Men issues and films and shows like Thor: Ragnarok and The Mandalorian, and artist Val Rodrigues. 

THURSDAY:

The festivities kick off on Thursday with a special cross-publisher panel presented by the publisher in partnership with friends from around the industry.

Vault Comics Presents: Stranger Than (Science) Fiction- Outer Worlds and Other Voices in Comics
Thursday, 7/20/23, 10:15AM – 11:15AM, Room: 6DE 

When independent upstart publisher Vault Comics arrived on the scene in 2017, the mission was simple: to publish the BEST in science fiction, fantasy, and horror comics. Since that time, the company has established new voices in the genre as well as worked with some of the most well known names in fiction, graphic or otherwise. To celebrate the company’s now firmly established place in the industry, Vault creators and friends share the stage to discuss how these creators are pushing the genre to the furthest reaches of the universe and back again.  Join Rodney Barnes (Monarch), Christopher Yost (Unnatural Order), Zack Kaplan (Mindset) and more.

Following that, Yost will be joined by Vault co-founder and Barbaric co-creator Nathan Gooden to sign a special exclusive edition cover of Unnatural Order #1, drawn by Gooden.

Limited to 100 copies, this special edition of Unnatural Order will only be available for pickup at We Can Heroes, booth 1901 at San Diego Comic-Con! Pre-Order now so you don’t miss your chance at this exclusive, limited edition early release! With your preorder you are guaranteed a spot at the signings with Chris and Nathan!

Signing: Unnatural Order SDCC Exclusive cover w/Christopher Yost and Nathan Gooden @ We Can Be Heroes Booth #1901 12PM – 1PM  

The schedule continues throughout the weekend as below!

FRIDAY:

Crack Open the Vault: The Best in Creator-Owned Comics Unlocked
Friday, 7/21/23, 11:00AM – 12:00PM, Room: 25ABC

Vault Comics has risen to the title of the best in genre-based sequential storytelling with multiple award winning series from comics’ top creators over the course of their six year history, including critical darlings, fan favorites, and sales record breaking series. Vault makes their triumphant return to Comic Con International this year to premier their latest series Unnatural Order from X-23 co-creator Christopher Yost. Vault invites attendees to join Yost, alongside Christopher Cantwell (The Blue Flame, Iron Man, Doctor Doom), Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly (Dark One, Captain America, WifWulf), Corin Howell (Queen of Swords, Shadow Service), and Zack Kaplan (Mindset), as the publisher offers a sneak peek at their fall lineup of the best in science fiction, fantasy, horror and more! Moderated by Vault’s own Daniel Crary, host of the company’s weekly WhatNot stream and Director of Community Engagement and Events.

Signing: Unnatural Order SDCC Exclusive cover w/Christopher Yost and Nathan Gooden @ We Can Be Heroes Booth #1901 1PM – 2PM

SATURDAY:

Signing: Mindset and The Blue Flame with Zack Kaplan and Chistopher Cantwell @ We Can Be Heroes Booth #1901 1PM – 2PM 

Vault Comics: The Horror of it All – The Golden Age of Scary Stories
Saturday, 7/22/23, 4:00PM – 5:00PM, Room: 28DE

Independent comics have never been more prominent and more diverse. Bold ideas across genres are being released every Wednesday by more publishers than perhaps any other time in the history of the medium. Vault Comics, known for some of the most celebrated science fiction and fantasy, have expanded their reach into horror under their Nightfall imprint, and to celebrate, is inviting some friends on stage to discuss what makes for the best blood in four colors. Join Knotfest’s Ryan J. Downey, alongside Tim Seeley (West of Sundown), Cavan Scott and Corin Howell (Shadow Service), Rodney Barnes (Killadelphia, Blacula), Storm King publisher Sandy King Carpenter, Patrick Kindlon (Leaded Gasoline), and more.

Christopher Yost returns to comics with Unnatural Order

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Vault Comics has revealed official details on Christopher Yost’s return to comic books with Val Rodrigues, who will weave together Dark Fantasy and action-packed SciFi in Unnatural Order!

After the fall of the Britons and the Roman invasion of Hibernia, the captive known only as the Druid is released, sending a darkness across the world…an age of horrors, of fire and entrails. As the innocent burn in the Wicker fields, those who would resist learn of the existence of a man who even the Druid fears. For it is this prisoner, a soldier from a different time, who alone knows the Druid’s secret: this is not how the world is supposed to be.

Unnatural Order will be solicited in the May dated catalogs for release this July ahead of Comic Con International, with related events planned at the convention in San Diego. Reserve your copy today with your favorite retailer, with two covers available from series artist Val Rodrigues and a variant by Joshua Hixson.

Unnatural Order
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