Overwhelming Orders Force Zoom Suit #1 to Be Allocated. ZOOM SUIT ORDERS TOP 20,000!
Initial orders for the April 26 releasing Zoom Suit #1 hit the 20,000 mark, more than double distributor order estimates and more than triple the expectation of writer John Taddeo and penciler Billy Dallas Patton. Because of the high demand, the comic will be allocated to direct market comic shops at 90 percent of initial orders.
“John called me and told me we had orders for 20,000 copies of Zoom Suit #1. I couldn’t believe it. I had to ask if he was pulling my leg.” Said ZS Penciler Billy Dallas Patton. “Despite what you might hear to the contrary, independent comics publishing is possible for motivated fans with a shoe string budget.”
In order to utilize the special MetalFX technology that is featured throughout this first issue, the comic had to be printed in collaboration with the printer, technology provider, paper manufacturer and ink manufacturer. All of these steps meant the publisher could not “Print to order” as a print quantity had to be set in advance. The quantity chosen was a number that both distributor and publisher thought would be enough to satisfy orders, but has come up short.
“I approached the potential trade partners with the concept of creating a super high-end comic and they loved the idea,” said Zoom Suit creator, John Taddeo. “They needed to know how much it would cost, though, and that required setting the print run early. We printed triple what I thought fans and retailers would order, plus extras for conventions and film festivals. It turned out we were way off and we don’t have enough.”
Comic shops can expect to receive 90 percent of their original orders. Fans are urged to check with their comic shop and reserve a copy early.
“The books that we printed for conventions and film festivals will be going to comic shops. We’re going to be able to fill 90 percent of orders,” said Taddeo. “20,000 is way beyond anything that we expected.”
Zoom Suit #1 is scheduled to arrive in stores on April 26 with a cover price of $2.95. Since the book is printed, delivery is guaranteed on or before this date. The issue features a story by John Taddeo, with covers by Bill Tucci, Billy Dallas Patton and Bob Layton. The interior art is by Billy Dallas Patton. A total of five variant editions are available to retailers, including covers by Layton, Bart Sears, Gene Colan, Jim Starlin and the “Team Zoom” edition by Billy Tucci.
“It’s great to be involved in a project that’s been getting so much attention,” said Patton. “When John and I set out to make a comic book, we agreed it would be tremendous if we could sell 5,000 copies. Orders exceeded 20,000! The demand and eager anticipation is great. It really makes the hard work worthwhile.”
“Every longtime comics fan has some great stories to tell. Hopefully our sales numbers will inspire other comic fans to create their own comics”, said Taddeo. “Get your comic complete and hit the net to get the word out. You’ll be surprised how much you can accomplish, even on a shoe string budget such as ours.”
About Zoom Suit:
Zoom Suit has appeared in over 65 film festivals since the world premiere at the Palm Beach International Film Festival on April 18, 2005 where it won “Best Animation” from the Palm Beach Film Society. Since then Zoom Suit has been featured in film festivals across the country, including New York City, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Texas, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Michigan, San Francisco and San Diego where it was an official selection of the 2005 San Diego Comic Con Film Festival. Zoom Suit has garnered numerous awards including “Best in Show,” “Grand Festival Award,” and multiple “Best Animation” awards. At the current rate, Zoom Suit will be viewed by over 500,000 fans of comics and animation. Zoom Suit the comic, written by John Taddeo with art by Billy Dallas Patton and featuring covers by Gene Colan, Jim Starlin, Bob Layton and Bart Sears, is planned for release in April, 2006. For more information or artwork, please visit the Zoom Suit web site at www.superverse.com.
