This year’s San Diego Comic-Con is mere days away, officially beginning this week, Thursday, July 20th. Many comic book publishers will be there in full force, with Vault Comics among them. The company released its full con schedule, with a bevy of panels and creator appearances announced, including the debut of Christopher Yost and Val Rodrigues‘ new comic Unnatural Order. Judging from the official description of the comic, this is the creative team in their top form:
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.
Check out the full press release below with all the details on Vault‘s presence at the con, as well as the con-exclusive cover of Unnatural Order #1, drawn by Vault co-founder and Barbaric co-creator Nathan Gooden. Yost and Gooden will be present at the con to sign copies of the book.
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 (Deep Roots).
“Vault is back at SDCC with our coolest events and programming yet! It’s wild to think that we announced at SDCC 2016, and now we’re returning with cross-publisher panels, deep dives into genre, and discussions on how we went from brand new to chart-topping in under 5 years,” says Vault co-founder and editor-in-chief Adrian Wassel. “We’ll be hosting signings with some of the most incredible creators in comics, including writers and artists whose work is responsible for me falling in love with this medium and wanting to dedicate my life to it. Oh, and did I mention new announcements? Because we’ve got some of those coming, too!”
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.