Vault Comics
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersMissoula, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
Vault Comics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vault Comics
- Legal name
- Vault Storyworks LLC
- Website
- https://vaultcomics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vault Comics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Comic Book Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130), Book Retailers and News Dealers (4592)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Western Comic Books Publishing (Superhero, Indie) (MPAJAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Comic Books, Graphic Novels & Manga Retail (CRALAAAF), Licensed & Franchise Comics Publishing (Film/TV/Game Tie-ins) (MPAJAGAH), Art/Alternative/Underground Comics Publishing (MPAJAGAK)
Keywords
Where Vault Comics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Missoula
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Vault Comics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Publishing and Comic Sales: Vault Comics generates revenue through publishing comic books, graphic novels, and trade paperbacks sold directly to consumers via its e-commerce platform and through comic book store distribution.
- Merchandise Sales: The company sells branded merchandise including apparel items such as t-shirts, long sleeve tees, trucker hats, and accessories featuring comic characters and Vault Comics branding.
- Media Licensing: Vault Comics licenses its entertainment IP for television and film adaptations, such as the Barbaric series adaptation by Netflix and A+E Studios, generating licensing revenue from its comic book properties.
- Special Editions and Limited Editions: The company produces special and limited edition products including signed editions, collector's editions with special treatments (glitter, glow-in-the-dark, dark mode), and deluxe formats at premium price points.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Comic Books and Single Issues |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Trade Paperbacks and Softcover Collections |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hardcover and Complete Series Editions |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Limited and Collector's Editions |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Music Industry Graphic Novels (Headshell Line) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Apparel and Merchandise |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Vault Comics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vault Comics publishes, sells, and licenses creator-owned comic books, graphic novels, and trade paperbacks across horror, fantasy, and sci-fi genres through its direct e-commerce store at vaultcomics.com, complemented by branded merchandise/apparel and the Headshell graphic novel imprint developed with music artists. The company also licenses its comic IP for television and film adaptations, most notably the upcoming Barbaric series on Netflix through A+E Studios.
Product overview
Vault Comics is an independent comic book publisher operating as a direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform selling creator-owned comic series and graphic novels. The company's core offering is its comic book publishing catalog spanning fantasy, horror, and sci-fi genres, with titles including Barbaric, Dark One (from Brandon Sanderson), Heathen, Witchblood, Money Shot, and many more. Vault Comics also operates Headshell, a sub-imprint publishing graphic novels created with music industry partners including Def Leppard, Redman, and Pete Wentz. Additional revenue streams include merchandise and apparel featuring comic characters and brand logos.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Headshell: Graphic novels from music icons - a Vault Comics imprint publishing graphic novel collaborations with musicians including Redman, Def Leppard, and Pete Wentz.
Products and services
- Vault Comics Catalog (Comics, Graphic Novels & Trade Paperbacks) Creator-owned comic books, graphic novels, single issues, and trade paperback collections spanning horror, fantasy, and sci-fi genres, sold to readers via the vaultcomics.com storefront and through comic book store distribution.
- Vault Comics Merchandise and Apparel Branded apparel and accessories featuring Vault Comics characters and logos, sold directly to fans through the vaultcomics.com storefront.
- Headshell — Graphic Novels from Music Icons A Vault Comics imprint publishing graphic novels co-created with music industry artists and bands, including collaborations with Redman, Def Leppard, and Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy), targeting music fans and graphic novel readers.
Companies that use Vault Comics
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Vault Comics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Vault Comics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- NetflixflagshipNetflix ordered Barbaric series, a medieval fantasy drama based on Michael Moreci and Nathan Gooden comic, to be produced through A+E Studios. The show follows a barbarian cursed to only use violence for good, accompanied by a talking axe and young witch.
- A+E StudiosflagshipA+E Studios is producing the Barbaric television series adaptation for Netflix, with Academy Award nominee Sheldon Turner co-showrunning alongside Robert Rovner.
- 100% Productionscore100% Productions' Jennifer Klein is executive producing the Barbaric series, with Barry Jossen and Javier Grillo-Marxuach as additional producers.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Vault Comics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BOOM! Studios: Independent comic book publisher with a creator-owned focus and one of the strongest adaptation track records in the indie space (e.g., Something Is Killing the Children, Irredeemable). Directly comparable to Vault on publishing model, genre mix, and media-adaptation strategy.
- Image Comics: Largest independent comic book publisher, founded on creator-owned principles. Directly comparable as the leading indie alternative to Marvel/DC and the primary competitor for creator-owned talent.
- Dark Horse Comics: Independent publisher of creator-owned and licensed comics across horror, fantasy, and sci-fi. Directly comparable genre mix and longstanding track record of media adaptations (The Umbrella Academy, Hellboy).
- IDW Publishing: Independent comic publisher combining creator-owned titles with licensed IP across sci-fi and fantasy. Comparable in scale, distribution model, and genre coverage, and similarly impacted by Diamond distribution dynamics.
- Skybound Entertainment: Image Comics imprint focused on creator-owned IP with a vertically integrated media arm producing film, TV, and games (The Walking Dead, Invincible). Highly comparable as a creator-owned-to-adaptation pipeline competitor.
- Dynamite Entertainment: Independent comic publisher with a mix of creator-owned and licensed properties across horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. Comparable scale, genre coverage, and channel mix including DTC and comic shop distribution.
- Oni Press: Independent comic and graphic novel publisher with a strong creator-owned catalog and recent Lion Forge merger activity. Comparable in indie scale, genre mix, and youth/YA-adjacent readership.
- Titan Comics: Publisher of creator-owned and licensed graphic novels and comics, particularly strong in sci-fi, horror, and TV/film tie-ins. Comparable in combining adaptation-adjacent IP with genre-focused publishing.
- Aftershock Comics: Independent comic publisher focused on creator-owned horror, sci-fi, and fantasy titles. Closest comparable by scale, headcount, and genre mix within the indie space.
- Valiant Comics: Independent comic publisher with a shared superhero universe and active media adaptation efforts. Comparable as a mid-sized indie publisher pursuing both publishing and media licensing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Vault Comics social profiles
Digital presenceVault Comics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vault Comics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Vault Comics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vault Comics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Vault Comics
What does Vault Comics do?
Vault Comics publishes, sells, and licenses creator-owned comic books, graphic novels, and trade paperbacks across horror, fantasy, and sci-fi genres through its direct e-commerce store at vaultcomics.com, complemented by branded merchandise/apparel and the Headshell graphic novel imprint developed with music artists. The company also licenses its comic IP for television and film adaptations, most notably the upcoming Barbaric series on Netflix through A+E Studios.
Is Vault Comics a public or private company?
Vault Comics is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Vault Comics founded?
Vault Comics was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Vault Comics based?
Vault Comics is headquartered in Missoula, United States, in the North America region.
How does Vault Comics make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Publishing and Comic Sales are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales, media Licensing and special Editions and Limited Editions.
Who are Vault Comics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BOOM! Studios, Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, Skybound Entertainment, Dynamite Entertainment, Oni Press, Titan Comics, Aftershock Comics and Valiant Comics.
Does Vault Comics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vault Comics.
What industry is Vault Comics in?
Vault Comics's product category is Comic Book Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAGAB, Western Comic Books Publishing (Superhero, Indie), with a secondary code of CRALAAAF, Comic Books, Graphic Novels & Manga Retail. Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.