The retailer exclusive variant has now become accessible to an even wider array of retailers, as Dynamite Entertainment has made 500 copies the minimum order for which it will create and print a unique retailer variant for its Swords of Sorrow launch in May.  Minimum orders for retailer exclusive variants have been trending downward over the years, but this is a new low from a major publisher, according to Dynamite president Nick Barrucci.

Retailers can art direct a cover by a Dynamite artist for Swords of Sorrow #1, the launch of the core book in Dynamite’s all-female crossover event (see "Dynamite's All-Female Crossover Event") with that minimum order, at a net price of $3 each.  The book itself is written by Gail Simone, who created the framework of the event and recruited the female writers for the other titles.  Three miniseries and a one-shot launch in May, with more to follow.