Vault has announced they will make Beyond Real #1 completely free to retailers. 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, Luana Vecchio, and Liana Kangas. Each issue of this 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.
In September Vault offered Christopher Yost and Val Rodrigues’ comic Unnatural Order#1 using the free-to-retailer model and the smash-hit book received over 137,000 orders, making it one of the highest-ordered comics of the past ten years.
Much of Beyond Real will be colored by the legendary Eisner-winning artist Jordie Bellaire alongside 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 after a severe accident 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.
The standard cover of Beyond Real #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 Jorge Corona, Luana Vecchio, and Fabiana Mascolo.
Beyond Real #1 will hit store shelves on December 13th, 2023.
Source: Graphic Policy
