EXCLUSIVE: John Wick and Nobody franchise scribe Derek Kolstad‘s Planet Death from Bad Idea and Lunar Distribution has sold 655,000 copies before even hitting store shelves, which is a milestone for an independent comic book, the best sales since 1992’s WildC.A.T.s #1 from Jim Lee.
Planet Death #0 arrives in stores on April 30 and is timed to Free Comic Book Day which falls on Saturday, May 3.
The current total represents orders from stores that have taken a position early; the number of copies could skyrocket by April 30. Major orders have been placed by New Dimension Comics, Third Eye Comics, Bedrock City Comics, Collector’s Paradise, Borderlands Comics and Games, DCBS and Atomic Empire, we’re told.
Planet Death was co-written with New York Times best-selling writer Robert Venditti (Superman ‘78, Green Lantern) with visionary artist Tomás Giorello (Star Wars, Conan) and ten-time Eisner Award-winning colorist Dave Stewart (Hellboy, Star Wars).
“We’re absolutely blown away and frankly humbled by the massive response to Planet Death. Until now, the only way fans have been able to get our comics has been exclusively through 250 Bad Idea Destination Stores. This record-setting launch for our first wide release is a clear signal that fans everywhere are eager to dive into the phenomenal books, like Planet Death , that our creators are building.” said Bad Idea CEO & Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani.
“We couldn’t be prouder of the amazing story Derek, Rob, Tomás and Dave have put together and can’t wait for the world to see it.”
“This is such an incredible way to kick off not just Planet Death, but a series of projects Bad Idea and I are developing together. A massive ‘thank you’ to all the comic book stores and fans for their amazing support. Couldn’t be happier about this or more excited about what’s coming!” said Kolstad in a statement to Deadline.
“The reception to Planet Death has been nothing short of amazing, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. But make no mistake—this is just the opening shot in a year packed with Bad Idea projects I’m incredibly proud of. Survive and Ordained are up next, and while today is a huge moment for Planet Death, trust me—there’s even bigger news on the horizon for Ordained!” said Venditti.
The blurb for the comic:
Millions of miles from home, hundreds of ships descend into the stormy atmosphere of a hostile frozen world. On board, an army of resolute men and women brace for the coming assault.
They are an invasion force, on an impossible mission — destroy the devastating enemy weapon garrisoned below. Corporal Scott and his battalion are in the vanguard but the human forces are no match for their brutal alien adversaries. Scott’s battalion is dead within moments. He is its lone survivor. The landing force annihilated, the battle is lost.
Against overwhelming odds, Scott dares the unthinkable — cross behind enemy lines, survive the lethal landscape, evade capture by ruthless enemies, resist natural predators, face human deserters and finish the mission singlehandedly. Locked in his suit of full combat battle armor, sustained only by what he can carry, and driven by Earth’s wrath, Scott must do by himself what an entire army could not.
Destroy the weapon.
Return home.
Planet Death is the first title in a slate of upcoming comics hitting store shelves this year from Bad Idea including Ordained, Cul-De-Sac, Survive, Save Now and Habitat. Bad Idea recently announced at San Diego Comic-Con that Derek Kolstad would be writing the feature adaptation of Ordained. In addition, Akela Cooper (M3GAN, MALIGNANT) is currently adapting THE LOT as a feature for BAD IDEA.
The Kolstad scripted Nobody 2 is hitting theaters via Universal on Aug. 15 and the John Wick spinoff Ballerina starring Ana de Armas which are based on the scribe’s characters, comes out on June 6.
Robert Venditti is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 400 comics and graphic novels including a celebrated 5-year run on Green Lantern, an acclaimed 3-year run on Hawkman, popular runs on Superman ’78 and Justice League for DC Comics, as well as the graphic novel Six Days, inspired by the story of his uncle’s participation in D-Day. His debut graphic novel The Surrogates was adapted into a feature film starring Bruce Willis and Ving Rhames for Walt Disney Pictures. He has also adapted Rick Riordan’s global bestselling Percy Jackson and the Olympians and The Heroes of Olympus series. His most recent projects include Wesley Dodds: The Sandman, Ordained, Planet Death, and MrBallen Presents: Strange, Dark & Mysterious.
