Writer Christopher Yost is no stranger to comics, having written hundreds of X-Men issues and more. The co-creator of X-23 has been busy in the television and film world lately, with shows like The Mandalorian and movies such as Thor: Ragnarok. This summer, Yost is making his return to comics with Vault Comics’ new series Unnatural Order.
The action/sci-fi/fantasy genre-bending series features art by Val Rodrigues and colors by Dearbhla Kelly. Andworld Design is on letters and Tim Daniel is on designs. Readers can look for covers from Rodriques and Joshua Hixson.
Yost chatted with The Beat about the new book and why it was time to return to the comic world.
Deanna Destito: How has it been returning to comics and why was this project the right one for that comeback?
Christopher Yost: It’s been fantastic, and all credit to the gang at Vault Comics for that. They’re making the process so easy, I keep waiting for it to be a trap or something. Comics are my first love; it’s what I grew up with it’s practically how I learned to read. I got my start writing animation, but writing a comic book was the gold ring in my mind. X-23 #1 was my first comic on the stands way back in 2005 which seems unreal. The last comic I wrote, I don’t even know… a MODOK series for Secret Wars and a one-off Deadpool short where he fought the Kool-Aid Man.
Unnatural Order is my first original ongoing series, and it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I’ve had a relationship with Vault on the film side of the business for a few years now, and when I brought this idea up to them, they were incredibly supportive.
Destito: What inspired this story?
Yost: I’ve never really done anything in the fantasy space, but what I really wanted to find was a project where fantasy collided with the real world, be it Conan the Barbarian or Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones. I love it all but wanted to do it from a modern-day perspective of sorts.
Unnatural Order isn’t what it seems for the preview pages floating around… on purpose! There are three characters in this series that are going to approach the story from radically different perspectives, each of them believing the world they’re living in isn’t how it’s supposed to be. The conflict here is reconciling what you believe versus what you think the world should be. Even if you know you’re wrong.
Destito: There is a definite color palette and atmosphere throughout. How did you and the art team create the look and feel of the book?
Yost: Vault put together a phenomenal art team. I see these pages at pencil all the way through color, and I’m constantly blown away. Val Rodrigues and Dearbhla Kelly have put so much talent and thought into this, it’s insane. I wish I could take more credit for it! I just make their life harder by basically giving them two worlds to design and bring to life, non-stop monsters, endless characters, and locations… and they’re killing it.
Destito: How has it been working with Vault and this creative team?
Yost: A dream come true. Like I said, they’ve made this easy. Unnatural Order is a complicated story, but Vault embraced it from “hello.” They’re doing it right, from the talent to the sheer amount of resources they’re putting against the book to even the logo, I couldn’t be more grateful.
Val has been killing it. There are images in this book that so far exceed what I hoped for it’s not even funny. Terrifying and cool and big and funny and heartbreaking. He draws a really mean beheaded werewolf.
Destito: Gunther quickly became my favorite character. Do you have a favorite and why?
Yost: Gunther’s a lot of fun, and he’s got another side to him you’ll see later that’s even more fun, but my favorite character is Iodoc the Druid. He seems to be one thing on the surface, but like everything in this book, he’s not exactly what he appears. He has a worldly perspective that’s pretty unique and hopefully pretty surprising.
Destito: What about this book would appeal to all types of readers, not just those who are typically reading fantasy, horror, etc.?
Yost: If you love three-headed dragons, werewolves, giant tree monsters, barbarians, and sorceresses this book is for you. If you hate all those things? This book might be even MORE for you. It crosses genres, it’s got a grounded POV…as we say, this is not the way the world is supposed to be. Beyond the action and humor and gore and horror and magic, there’s a real moral dilemma at the heart of the book, a humanity to it that hopefully, anyone can hook into.
Unnatural Order hits comic shops on August 30. Check out a preview below!
