Hollywood has taken some of Rob Liefelds creations and put them on the big screen. Now, he is taking lessons from Hollywood for his latest comic. Liefeld has watched as in recent years, with the box office struggling, revenues from ancillary markets have become more important for the lifecycle of a movie. (See: Wickeds massive $100 million PVOD sales.)

For Youngblood No. 1, Liefeld tried a similar tactic. He launched a bespoke, direct to consumer version of the book that he sold directly to fans on his website in April. The experiment worked and now reveals to The Hollywood Reporter that the book generated $500,000 in sales across five editions featuring different covers. I believe comic book talent, just like the studios, need different revenue streams, says Liefeld. Direct to consumer is a giant revenue stream. When Marvel and DC decide to tap that vein that I just tapped into, it will be massive.

For his next step, he is preparing to an additional revenue stream, with a mass market edition that will be released in stories by Image Comics in November. This version will come with covers from star artists Skottie Young (I Hate Fairyland), Daniel Warren Johnson (Transformers, Do A Powerbomb), Ryan Stegman (X-Men, Venom), Ryan Ottley (Invincible, Battle Beast), Kael Ngu (Venom), Erik Gist (UnDeadpool, Spawn), and Mark Spears (Monsters).

Liefeld is careful to note that the direct to consumer editions fans purchased in April will be unique to them with the mass market editions sporting different covers and even different pages in some cases to preserve what was special about the original versions.

Liefelds Youngblood comes after a public split with Marvel Comics, where he is known for characters such as Deadpool and Cable. Liefeld revealed in February in a fiery podcast and followup interview with THR that he was severing ties with the company following what he perceived as indignities at the Deadpool Wolverine premiere.

I went out a limb. Nuked that bridge behind me. Poured as much gasoline as I could, and said, Goodbye Marvel, Lifeld says. I probably needed to put that much pressure on myself to work as hard as I am now.

Read on for an exclusive look at the cover images.

Erik M. Gist Erik M. Gist

Ryan Stegman Ryan Stegman

Daniel Warren Johnson