The news is out!, courtesy of Forbes!
Aethon Books has acquired a majority interested in Vault Comics, a prolific comic publisher best known for hits such as Barbaric, Money Shot, and Post Malone’s Big Rig!
The companies have previously been strategic partners. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“Since we met the team at Vault, we have shared a vision of creating a one-stop-shop for the next generation of market-leading fantasy and science fiction authors and their stories. By joining forces with Vault, we believe we are one step closer to that dream,” said Aethon CEO, Rhett C. Bruno.
According to the announcement, Vault will continue to be led by CEO, Damian Wassel, and CCO, Adrian Wassel. Aethon co-founders Rhett Bruno and Steve Beaulieu will join the board of Vault. Wassel confirmed that the deal does not affect current staffing at Vault and team members will continue in their roles.
Wassel also indicated that high profile investors in Vault including Jeff Ubben, UTA, Crush Ventures and Metallica’s investment arm Black Squirrel Partners remain invested in the merged company.
“The goal is to expand what we’ve been able to offer everyone we’ve been working with across the publishing line,” said Damian Wassel. He promised that the increased resources resulting from the acquisition will enable “additional product categories and a significantly expanded marketing budget and resources behind everything we’re bringing to the comic and graphic novel categories.” He said announcements of new projects and licenses were forthcoming.
Vault has been making inroads in the comics industry with periodical titles like the action-fantasy series Barbaric, as well as with music-oriented comics like a recently-announced collaboration with Post Malone called Big Rig and current or forthcoming collaborations with Metallica, Def Leppard, The Beach Boys and others.
Aethon has had hits with He Who Fights with Monsters, The Primal Hunter and Drop Trooper, and has achieved success with readers using sophisticated data mining and targeted advertising campaigns to promote its digital titles.
Vault has been making inroads in the comics industry with periodical titles like the action-fantasy series Barbaric, as well as with music-oriented comics like a recently-announced collaboration with Post Malone called Big Rig and current or forthcoming collaborations with Metallica, Def Leppard, The Beach Boys and others. Aethon has had hits with He Who Fights with Monsters, The Primal Hunter and Drop Trooper, and has achieved success with readers using sophisticated data mining and targeted advertising campaigns to promote its digital titles.
Aethon has also become one of Webtoon’s largest western publishing partners, as well as publisher of its own original webcomics series including Return of the Runebound Professor, Defiance of the Fall, Beware of Chicken and others. Wassel indicated that the relationship with the multi billion-dollar global digital comics platform would benefit both companies moving forward.
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