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After a very public break-up with Marvel Comics over the past nine months, Rob Liefeld is plotting his future by reviving his team book series Youngblood. But after what he calls poor orders from comic shops for his recent Marvel work and variant covers, he has decided to skip selling these comics (at least for now) through comic stores and instead is selling direct to readers via the Whatnot livestreaming platform.

"Livestreaming is the first line of distribution for these comics," Liefeld writes on Facebook on March 2. Rob Liefeld is one of the most active (and most popular) comic creators using the Whatnot platform. According to stats from the company, Liefeld has sold 18,000 comics, prints, and other products through his store there.

"Retailers have proven unreliable with distribution of my work. I can’t allow their inconsistent practices to dictate terms of my engagement with customers. My customers are left scrambling again and again for copies of my work."

Liefeld has openly complained about low retailer orders and reports of some stores not stocking his work at all, with the orders for his variant cover to February 26's Batman The Long Halloween The Last Halloween #5 being the last straw.

"When they couldn’t even order my Batman cover correctly, that sealed it," Liefeld writes.

"For months, I go to stores and their shelves are stuffed with unsold product. 15-30 copies of comics that did not move off the shelves and won’t unless they are part of a discount sale opportunity," Liefeld writes. "My comics are all gone, my variants like Timeslide are hunted at top prices online. My Deadpool Team-Up’s are all gone and now my Batman cover is sold out everywhere. The retail situation is upside down. I’d much rather be the guy with the empty slot due to demand exceeding supply, but all these unsold comics represent a huge misfire on behalf of retailers."

"Direct to consumer will continue to grow."

This isn't Liefeld's first experience with selling directly to fans; in 2013, he launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund a relaunch of another series of his, Brigade. It accrued double its stated $17,500 goal, however as of 2025 one of the key rewards - a hardcover edition of select Brigade issues - has yet to be shipped to the 30 people who ordered it, who have been vocal on social media and the Kickstarter comments section.

There are currently four versions of Liefeld's Youngblood #1 for sale on his personal Whatnot store, all signed by the artist/writer. 

• Youngblood #1 Launch Edition 'Premium Premier' Goldfoil variant- $160
• Youngblood #1 Launch Edition 'Virgin' variant - $60
• Youngblood #1 Launch Edition 'Sketch' variant - $60
• Youngblood #1 Launch Edition 'Trade Dress' variant - $60

In October 2024, this new Youngblood series was announced - along with plans for Image Comics to publish this series and offer it to fans through comic shops. The Youngblood #1 issues Liefeld is selling through his Whatnot store carry the Image Comics logo, and are of higher "quality" - and when Youngblood #1 is eventually sold to comic shops it will have their own "bells and whistles." 

Following his initial post, Liefeld later wrote that he "loves" and "supports" retailers, and doesn't want them to fail - but they are no longer reliable to him as a creator.

"I buy online and in person. I’ve advocated on my podcast to support the clubhouses as that’s what I believe they are. I don’t want them to disappear like record stores, all of which have closed and vanished in my area and well beyond," writes Liefeld. "I’m a weirdo and I’m prone to saying weirdo things. One of those things is that I can’t continue to rely on the traditional marketplace to fully support my artistic endeavors. Expanding into new markets is part of evolution."

"To retailers that say my work doesn’t sell for you, I feel terrible that my work can’t move. I feel bad," he continues. "Hopefully, in the future, my work will sell again. Wishing all the best!"

Youngblood #1 is available for order direct through Rob Liefeld's Whatnot page right now, and hopefully later this year at your local comic shop.

Get ready for what's next with our guide to upcoming comics, how to buy comics at a comic shop, and our guide to Free Comic Book Day 2025.